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

This image has been enhanced from an original photograph

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.


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