Scott, William Earl
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | William Earl |
Surname | Scott |
Gender | M |
Age | 33 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 23-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of a William Stuart Scott and Grace Scott (née Mason), of Campbelton, New Brunswick, Camada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LV989 |
Markings | AL-R |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. B. Row D. Grave 5. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 239 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/29485 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 429 (Bison) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Roman Rd, Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brass plaque set into a stone plinth into which is carved with the Canadian maple leaf and the Yorkshire rose. |
Memorial Text | This memorial is dedicated to those men and women who served at RAF Leeming during World War II, including those from the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadrons, whose members came from all parts of the Commonwealth from 1942 to 1945; 405 Vancouver, 408 Goose |
Location | Opposite old Main Guardroom, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In commemoration of those men and women of many nations who served at RAF Leeming during the second world war. |
Miscellaneous Information
Incredibly, F/O Swordy the Wireless Operator, managed to bale out and landed safely |
William was born at Campbelton, New Brunswick on 27 November 1910. His father was born at Hopeton, Québec and was a Lumbering Contractor and his mother was born at Shigawake, Quebec. William had three sisters, Gladys, Grace and Eleanor, all married, and brothers Winston and John. There were three other siblings: Albert died 1919, Harry 1927 and Sarah who also died 1919. William attended Richardsville Public School, New Brunswick 1918-1926. He then went to Kingston School to study Drafting 1940- 1941 and home study for mechanics 1939-1942. Between 1926-1931 William worked as a labourer and between 1936-1938 he was a Line man. He then became a Rigger Foreman at a gold mine. The sport he enjoyed was boxing and his hobby was mechanics. William then enlisted on 23 September 1942. |
After training. He embarked from New York on 8 October 1943. arriving at 3 PRC on 17 October 1943. He then progressed through 24 OTU on 2 November 1943, 61 Base 28 February 1944, 1666 CU on 13 March 1944 and 429 Squadron on 15 April 1944. Sadly William then lost his life on 23 May 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1853/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1853/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 22-05-1944 |
End Date | 23-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Le Mans- to bomb railway installations. 133 aircraft, 3 Halifaxes Lost (2.3%). Bombing was accurate with much damage caused to the railways and, as a 'bonus' to the nearby Gnome and Rhone factory. Casualties were mercifully light. |
Reason for Loss | Presumed to have stalled while climbing away from the airfield. Spun and crashed SW of Snape. A fire engine attended the scene just as the bomb load exploded, injuring all the tender's crew |