Canadian Forces

Willie the Kid

gsellars

Son of Herbert and Frances Williams, of Chilliwack, B.C. Born 1 February 1922 in Kamloops, British Columbia Educated there and in Chilliwack (1936-1940) Name changed from "Larson" to "Williams" - following his mother's second marriage He was so keen to enlist that he took a six month - ground course in aviation by correspondence Enlisted in Vancouver, 24 October 1940 Attended No.2 Manning Depot, Brandon Trained at No.2 ITS, Regina (17 January to 20 February 1941) No.16 EFTS, Edmonton (21 February to 3 May 1941) & No.32 SFTS, Moose Jaw (4 May to 16 July 1941) graduated as Sergeant, 30th in a class of 61 - (school mates included J.H. Turnbull and H.J. Everard) Arrived in Britain, 30 August 1941 Trained at No.57 OTU, 5 September to 21 October 1941 No.132 Squadron, 21 October 1941 to 30 March 1942 Promoted to Flight Sergeant, 1 February 1942 No.603 Squadron, 30 March to 28 April 1942 No.164 Squadron, 28 April to 9 May 1942 No.249 Squadron, 9 May 1942 Commissioned 22 June 1942 No.2 SPTC, 29 June 1942 No.145 Squadron, 21 July 1942 No.1413 Flight, 8 September 1942 Killed 31 October 1942 in crash of Liberator AL516 - (No.511 Squadron), Gibraltar ; (Buzz Beurling & Gord Farquharson survived) Known on Malta as "Willie the Kid" Award presented to next of kin, 18 May 1944