Lankin, William Walford
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | William Walford |
Surname | Lankin |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 02-11-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Arthur William Lankin and Constance Lankin (née Walford), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ829 |
Markings | KN-X |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hotton War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | III. E. 6. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 196 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/94171 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 77 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Foyeuru, Jalhay, Liege Province |
Country | Belgium |
Memorial Type | Memorial stone & inscribed metal plaque & stone tablet |
Memorial Text | En reconnaissance des aviateurs tombes a JALHAY le 2 Novembre 1944. H.F. LE NOURY CANADA, R.E.B. PIKE CANADA, V.J. LAZIER CANADA, F.J. JUDGES CANADA, W.H. HANES CANADA, W.W. LANKIN CANADA, E.J. PAYNE ANGLETERRE. Weumes au British Cemetery a HOTTON BELGIQU |
Location | Holy Trinity Church, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Memorial windows and Roll of Honour for 77 Sqn. R.A.F. |
Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Column with Metal Sculpture and Plaques |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 77 Sqn. R.A.F. City of Lancaster's own |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born at Toronto, Ontario on 18 November 1924. His father was born at Toronto and was a soldier in the Canadian Army and his mother was born in Lancashire, England. He had a brother Donald Arthur and a sister Margaret Constance. He attended the Duke of Connaught school 1929--1940 (Entrance). His hobby was woodwork and he enjoyed playing hockey, baseball and rugby. William worked in Electrical at J. K Macleod & Co, 1940-1941 and then as a Lathe Operator 1941-1942 for the Victory Aircraft Company. |
On 30 December 1942 he enlisted and after initial training he was posted to the U.K. After embarking from Halifax on 25 March 1944 he arrived at 3PRC on 3 April 1944 then continued to 19 OTU on 18 April 1944, 41 Base 21 July 1944 and 77 Squadron 14 September 1944. William sadly lost his life from there on 2 November 1944, shortly before his 20th birthday. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/657/22 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/657/21 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 02-11-1944 |
End Date | 03-11-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Full Sutton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (92% moon) |
Operation | Dusseldorf. 992 aircraft, 19 losses- 4 of which crashed behind Allied lines (0.4%). Most of the bombing fell on the northern suburbs with more than 5000 houses being destroyed . 7 industrial premises were destroyed and 18 seriously damaged, including some important steel works. At least 678 people were killed. This was the last significant raid on Düsseldorf. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed near Verviers, Belgium |