Whyte, William Edward
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | William Edward |
Surname | Whyte |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 07-03-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Frederick Whyte and Edith Whyte (née Gartley) of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | de Havilland Mosquito XVI |
Serial Number | RV306 |
Markings | M5-U |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 8. D. 11. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 264 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/42207 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 128 |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | RAF Wyton Memorial Garden, Wyton, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating the Pathfinder Sqns operating from RAF Wyton, 1942-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Some sources quote aircraft number RV305, which is incorrect |
William was born at Toronto on 30 June 1923. His father was born in Toronto and was the Manager of a Bowling Club and his mother was born at Georgetown, Ontario. He had a brother, Gartley who was a Corporal. (Shown as RCE C.A.O.). The schools he attended in Guelph were Central Public, 1929-1938 and then the Collegiate Institute 1938-1942. Between 1937 and 1942 William was working part time for Maher Shoe store, Guelph and then as a Shoe Salesman and Assistant Manager, from 1942 until enlisting on 21 October 1942. |
After initial training William was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Halifax on 25 May 1944 arriving at 3 PRC on 3 June. He was then at 3 (0) AFU on 15 August 1944, 1655 MTU 13 September 1944, and 125 Squadron on 29 October 1944. Sadly William was then to lose his life on 7 March 1945. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/932/41 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/932/40 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 07-03-1945 |
End Date | 08-03-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Wyton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (42% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 1 of 80 Mosquitoes |
Reason for Loss | Returned on one engine, the crew decided to land at Gilze Rijen airfield, Holland. Made a downwind approach and crashed while going around again |