The Last Flight of Halifax JB837
 25/26th May 1943
William HILLS

Rank Warrant Officer Class II
Name William James HILLS
Position Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Nationality Canadian
Service Royal Canadian Air Force
Unit 7 (RAF) Squadron
Age 22
Service No. R/107211
Grave Rheinberg War Cemetery, 4.D.22

William Hills was the son of Mr & Mrs. Chester Hills of Perdue, Saskatchewan in Canada. He had completed over 20 bombing missions when he was killed on May 26th 1943 in a Short Stirling heavy bomber brought down in the blast of an accompanying Halifax bomber, JB837. The newsapaper cutting below is taken from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.


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Service Record
MISSIONS WITH 214 SQUADRON
Date Aircraft Target
18-19/01/1943 Stirling Mk I W7577 Sea Mining (?)
3-4/02/1943 Stirling Mk I R9163 Hamburg
4-5/02/1943 Stirling Mk I R9323 Turin
13-14/02/1943 Stirling Mk I R9323 Lorient
16-17/02/1943 Stirling Mk I R9163 Lorient
17-18/02/1943 Stirling EF335 Sea Mining?
19-20/02/1943 Stirling EF335 Wilhelmshaven
19-20/02/1943 Stirling Mk I R9323 Nuremberg
26-27/02/1943 Stirling Mk I W7577 Cologne
MISSIONS WITH 7 SQUADRON
Date Aircraft Target
22/3/43 Stirling BF339 'B' St Nazaire - Flak Damaged Slats.
27/3/43 Stirling Mk I R9199 MG-F Air Sea Rescue. Failed Mission
27/3/43Stirling Mk I R9199 MG-F Berlin - Abandoned - Rear Turret Not Working.
28/3/43 Stirling Mk I R9199 MG-F St Nazaire
29/3/43Stirling Mk I R9199 MG-F Berlin
4/4/43 Stirling Mk I R9156 MG-H Kiel
10/4/43Stirling Mk I R9156 MG-H Frankfurt
14/4/43 Stirling EF361 'MG-B' Stuttgart
1/5/43EF361 'B.2' 'MG-B' Bocholt
13/5/43EF361 'B.2 'MG-B' Bochum
23/5/43Stirling Mk I EF361 'MG-B' Dortmund
25/5/43 Stirling Mk I EF361 'MG-B' Dusseldorf - Missing