McQueen, William Melvin
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | William Melvin |
Surname | McQueen |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 17-06-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Percy James McQueen and Ivy Emily McQueen, of Hamilton, Ontario. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LK792 |
Markings | WL-N |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | XV. A. 1. |
Epitaph | TILL WE MEET AGAIN |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 210 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/19843 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 434 (Bluenose) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Race Control Building, Croft Auto Circuit, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Roadside Location, A167, Dalton on Tees, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial topped with metal statue |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Former Control Tower, old Tholthorpe airfield site, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
This was his 32nd sortie |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 16-06-1944 |
End Date | 17-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Croft |
Day/Night Raid | Night (16% moon) |
Operation | Sterkrade to bomb a synthetic oil plant, despite a poor local weather forecast The target was indeed covered in thick cloud and the PFF markers were not easily visible. Bombing was scattered as a result and there was little impact on production. The bomber stream passed within 30 miles of the Tame Boar night-fighter beacon that was being used that night, resulting in large bomber losses on the approach. Total losses for the night were 31 aircraft (13.6%) although losses among certain squadrons were higher still- notably 77 Sqn which Lost 7 of its 23 aircraft (30.3%). |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Otterlo, Holland |