WARRINGTON, William Ivon
| Service Number: | 437909 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 April 1943 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | No. 50 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia, 8 December 1923 |
| Home Town: | Payneham, Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Turner |
| Died: | Flying Battle, North West Europe, 13 August 1944, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bas-Oha Communal Cemetery, Belgium Collective grave |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 10 Apr 1943: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 437909, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Apr 1943: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 437909 | |
| 11 Apr 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 437909 | |
| 13 Aug 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, No. 50 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
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Plane was Lancaster NE 135
50 Squadron
Rank -Flight Sergeant
William was rear gunner of a Lancaster which was fatally damaged over a German target. The plane later crashed near the little Belgium town of Bas-Oha not far from the Meusse River. Town seople saw several bodies in the plane when it was burning but could do nothing to assist the crew. However William was not one of those in the plane. William's body was found the following day in the Meusse River.
Willaim's body was brought into the Bas-Oha Communal Cemetery for burial. His burial was attended by the local priest and a dozen armed German Soldiers to keep the townspeople away. The German officer in charge of the soldiers dragged the Union Jack from William's coffin and threw it on the ground after which he proceeded to walk over the the flag at every available opportunity. A week later the Germans left the area and the townpeople attended a mass at William's grave
After the war the local population raised funds for a headstone for William and his fellow crew members
Son of William Walter and Alice Emily (known as Totts) Warrington, of Payneham, South Australia. Brother of Hebe
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