CRANZ, William August
| Service Number: | 407927 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 February 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, 14 December 1909 |
| Home Town: | Broken Hill, Broken Hill Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | St Peter's College, Adelaide (1922 - 1927), Technical College, Broken Hill (1927 - 1938) |
| Occupation: | Mechanical Engineer, C/- B.H.P. Broken Hill |
| Died: | Flying Battle, France, 28 October 1942, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Panel 109, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England, United Kingdom. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hackney St Peter's College WW2 Honour Roll, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Feb 1941: | Involvement Flying Officer, 407927 | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 1941: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA | |
| 3 Feb 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 407927 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement | |
| Date unknown: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 407927 |
Help us honour William August Cranz's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Dianne Black
Parents: - William Nelson Cranz and Rosina Beatrice Kitchen (married 1903 in Broken Hill), of Beulah Park, South Australia.
Details of Final Mission: - Wellington X3957 of No. 150 Squadron took off at 1719 hours on 28th October 1942 from Kirmington. It was one of 9 aircraft on a gardening (mine laying) expedition off the French coast. X3957 did not return to base. Visibility over the target area was fair. There was some haze and ten tenths cloud cover to within a short distance from the French coast, after which it dispersed. Some heavy and late but inaccurate anti-aircraft fire was encountered at Lorient. In a 1949 search report it was recorded that the aircraft and crew were presumed lost at sea.
The crew members of X3957 were:
Flying Officer William August Cranz (407927) (Pilot)
Sergeant John Roberts Ovens (656766) (RAFVR) (Bombardier)
Sergeant Harry Pollitt (1006357) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Arthur Reginald Rudd (971942) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant James Arthur Taylor (1379000) (RAFVR) (Navigator)