Date of birth:

April 3rd, 1921 (Winnipeg/Manitoba, Canada)

Date of death:

March 23rd, 1945 (Gammelke/Overijssel, The Netherlands)

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Graves Roman Catholic Cemetery Weerselo
Row: 17. Grave: F.

Service number:

J/86304

Nationality:

Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

William was born on April 3 1921 in Winnipeg, the son of Charles Frederick and Wilhelmina Kilpatrick of Winnipeg. They were married on October 9 1915 in Winnipeg.

His sister was Wilhelmina (Wilma) Kilpatrick.

He was a student and member of the Church of England. His sports were swimming, boxing, cycling and gymnastics. His hobby was wireless.

He enlisted on August 31 1939 in Winnipeg the Non-Permanent Active Air Force. He enlisted on September 4 1939 then for full time Air Force duty The RCAF in Winnipeg and he went on February 4 1943 thereafter overseas to the UK.

William was killed in action on Friday March 23 1945 age 23, just 11 days before his 24th birthday due to a crash near the hamlet of Gammelke before or after an attack on the Twente Airfield. He was buried on March 26 1945 then in Weerselo.
The other fallen RCAF crew member was Reginald A.H. Allen age 23 in grave 17-G.

He and the other RCAF fallen crew member are mentioned in March 2020 at a memorial sign near the crash site on the occasion of 75 Freedom.

On his headstone: JOHN III.16. FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

He served with the 406 Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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• Photo 1: The Canadian Virtual War Memorial
• Photo 2: Arjan Vrieze
• - Edwin van der Wolf
  - Verliesregister
  

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