Profile image
Military service
Service number:
J/19843
Age:
24
Rank:
Flying Officer
Force:
Air Force
Unit/Regiment:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Division:
434 Sqdn.
Death:
June 17, 1944
Burial/memorial information
Grave reference:
XV. A. 1.
Additional information
Son of Percy James McQueen and Ivy Emily McQueen, of Hamilton, Ontario.
Digital gallery of Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen
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Group Photo
McQueen Crew 52 L to R (facing interrogators) F/O Lee Shaw (2nd Dickey?), F/Sgt W. McQueen, W. G. Pearcy? RAF, F/Sgt C.T. Beech, Sgt Michael Habiluk, F/O D.F. McAllistar, A. Warrington? RAF, and F/Sgt Alan Kingston. Some crews took longer to get home for debriefing than others. Crew #52 ditched their Halifax in the North Sea while returning home from a raid on Leipzig. Rescued by the navy, they were given dry rubber boots, old flannel slacks and sweaters. After three days they made it back to Tholthorpe, rumpled and weary, but not looking much like the "pirates, thugs, and brigands" that Lord Haw Haw described as belonging to the squadron.<P> On 16/17 June 1944 this crew (minus F/O L. Shaw) flying a Halifax III, serial # LK-792, coded WL-N, on a bombing raid to Sterkrade would "Fail to Return" all were killed.<P> (F/Sgt Alan Kingston's Nephew - Darrin Kingston is currently researching this crew) Courtesy CFJIC PL - 22526 -
Newspaper Clipping
Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Newspaper Clipping
Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Newspaper Clipping
Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Newspaper Clipping
Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Memorial
Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Memorial
Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Memorial
Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Photo of WILLIAM MELVIN MCQUEEN
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Identification
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Service Book
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Grave marker
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Attestation Paper
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Document
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Star January 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Hamilton Spectator c.1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Hamilton Spectator c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From the Hamilton Spectator c.1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen
Digital gallery of
Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen
Digital gallery of
Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen
Digital gallery of
Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen
Digital gallery of
Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen
Digital gallery of
Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen
Digital gallery of
Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen
Digital gallery of
Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen
Digital gallery of
Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 391 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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