Warrant Officer Class I WILLIAM CHARLES POWERS (photo added)



Rank | Warrant Officer Class I |
Forenames | WILLIAM CHARLES |
Surname | POWERS (photo added) |
Initials | W C |
Place of Birth |
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Date of Birth | Thursday, 11 March 1920 |
Date of Death | Thursday, 20 July 1944 |
Age | 23 |
Nationality |
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Residence or Entered Service From | BRANDON, MANITOBA, CANADA |
Service Number | R/71499 | Force |
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Service/Corps/Regiment | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Unit / Ship / Battalion / Squadron | 403 (Royal Canadian Air Force) Squadron |
Military Honours and Awards | |
Place of Burial/Commemoration |
SAINT-CHARLES-DE-PERCY WAR CEMETERY
Roll of honour |
Grave/Memorial Location | VIII. B. 10. |
Previous Place(s) of Burial | RENNES, ILLE-ET-VILAINE, BRITTANY |
Epitaph | |
Family Details | SON OF W.L. POWERS AND JEAN POWERS; HUSBAND OF JOAN MOLLY POWERS. |
Additional Information
Warrant Officer Class I WILLIAM CHARLES POWERS was pilot of Spitfire IX MK881, on an armed reconnaissance mission.1 He was shot down near Rennes on 14th July 1944.2
An alternative source confirms he was shot down on the 14th July 1944 while on an armed reconnaissance mission, and add that it was in the evening and encountered flak over Flers.3
He was taken to a German hospital in Rennes on 18th July with gunshot wounds to his left eye and both arms. He died in hospital on 20th July 1944.
Initially buried in a civilian cemetery in Rennes, later his body was exhumed on 20th July 1965 and reinterred at SAINT CHARLES-DE-PERCY.4
An alternative source claims he was shot in a prisoner-of-war camp after he was shot down.5
Presently, no primary sources have been located to verify either account.
The widow of Warrant Officer Class I WILLIAM CHARLES POWERS, Joan Molly Powers, passed away in 2014 aged 91.
References |
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1. | Additional information kindly provided by Shirley Stone. |
2. | Additional information kindly provided by Jeff Powers, grandson of Warrant Officer Class I WILLIAM CHARLES POWERS. |
3. | Royal Air Force Fighter Command Losses of the Second World War, Volume 3 Operational Losses: Aircraft and Crews 1944-1945 (incorporating Air Defence Great Britain and 2nd Tactical Air Force). p.67. Published by Midland Publishing. 2000. by Norman L R Franks. |
4. | Additional information kindly provided by Shirley Stone. |
5. | Additional information kindly provided by Jeff Powers, grandson of Warrant Officer Class I WILLIAM CHARLES POWERS. |
Acknowledgements and Credits |
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Source of original data: | Commonwealth War Graves Commission |
Headstone photograph: | Carl Shilleto |
Cross marker photograph: | |
Individual photograph: | Jeff Powers, grandson of Warrant Officer Class I WILLIAM CHARLES POWERS. |
Additional photographs provided by: | Jeff Powers, grandson of Warrant Officer Class I WILLIAM CHARLES POWERS. |
Additional information provided by: | Shirley Stone, Jeff Powers, Carl Shilleto and Royal Air Force Fighter Command Losses of the Second World War, Volume 3 Operational Losses: Aircraft and Crews 1944-1945 (incorporating Air Defence Great Britain and 2nd Tactical Air Force). p.67. Published by Midland Publishing. 2000. by Norman L R Franks. |
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What other people have said
Margaret Gaunt
Rest in peace ... you are remembered with honour and gratitude.
On Tuesday, December 16, 2014