Sneath, William Alfred
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | William Alfred |
Surname | Sneath |
Gender | M |
Age | 30 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 23-06-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Charles Alexander Sneath and Lois Rebecca Sneath, of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington X |
Serial Number | HF457 |
Markings | AL- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Heverlee War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 8. K. 6. |
Epitaph | THEY ARE NOT DEAD; LIFE'S FLAG IS NEVER FURLED ( Based on words by Edwin Markham) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 245 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/17777 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 429 (Bison) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Cemetery, Houthalen, Limburg Province |
Country | Belgium |
Memorial Type | Sculptured marble pillar & inscribed marble tablet |
Memorial Text | Gevallen vleugels. Zij verloren hun leven voor onze vrijheid - Wellignton HF 457 - 23 juni 1943 |
Location | Village Centre, Sutton on the Forest, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone & Metal Sun Dial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to all those who served at RAF East Moor and in particular 415 Sqn RCAF |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1852/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1852/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 22-06-1943 |
End Date | 23-06-1943 |
Takeoff Station | East Moor |
Day/Night Raid | Night (70% moon) |
Operation | Mülheim. 557 aircraft, 35 losses (6.3%) A thin layer of cloud hampered PFF marking efforts which were, nevertheless accurate (as detailed by the German report on the raid). As a result the bombing was concentrated and devastated this small town. All communications were cut off from Oberhausen, on which Mülheim was dependent for emergency services. 578 deaths and 1135 homes destroyed. A post war British report put the damage at 64% of the town. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Houthalen, NNE of Hasselt, Belgium |