Poulin, William John
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | William John |
Surname | Poulin |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 01-09-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Vincent Poulin and Irene Poulin (née McCoul), of Dodsland, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JN903 |
Markings | NP-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Poix-de-Picardie (Poix-de-la-Somme) Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Row D. Coll. grave 21-29. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 227 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/128171 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 158 |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 158 Sqn, RAF Lissett 28th February 1943 - 17th August 1946 |
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window in memory of 158 Sqn RAF |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born on 28 September 1920 at Dodsland, Saskatchewan. His father, a merchant, was born at Toledo, Ontario and his mother in Ottawa. He had sisters Noreen and Elizabeth as well as two brothers Bernard and Vincent G., who was in the RCAF overseas. He had studied at Dodsland Public School 1926-1934 followed by Dodsland High school 1934-1939 ( grade 12). Also at the University of Saskatchewan 1939-1941 (arts and science). His sport interests were baseball, hockey and basketball. William worked for a short while at Searle Elevators as a second elevator man and then in the autumn (fall), he worked for George Poulin in Dodsland on a farm. He enlisted on 10 September 1941. |
After training he was sent to the U.K. and arrived at 3 PRC on 5 November 1942 then continued to 10 (0) AFU 14 December 1942, 28 OTU 2 February 1943, 1652 CU 20 May 1943 and 158 Squadron on 16 June 1943. Willian sadly lost his life on 1 September 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1048/39 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1048/38 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 31-08-1943 |
End Date | 01-09-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Lissett |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 622 aircraft, 47 losses (7.6%). Stirling losses were some 16.0% Fighter flares were used by the German night-fighters for the first time to mark the path of the main force both into and out of the target area. This raid was not a success. Cloud, combined with the now familiar problems with the H2S equipment and the effective defences of the city conspired to make the PFF marking very difficult. Creepback was an additional problem and it is said that the fires stretched back some 30 miles! Only 85 homes were destroyed. There were 68 deaths. Goebbels ordered that all children and any adults not engaged in war work be evacuated to the country. |
Reason for Loss | Believed to have been shot down by flak. Crashed at Criquiers, SE of Dieppe, France |