Flight Sergeant (Pilot) 1338017 William John Hillier
Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Theatre of War: Home
Age at death: 24
Date of death: 18th of April 1945
Born: St Helens, Lancs
Resided: St Helens, Lancs
Burial / Memorial: St Helens Cemetery
BMD details:
Marriage of William J Hillier to Hilda M Pennington reg Q3 1944 St Helens. Vol 8b page 1379
Family details:
Son of William Charles and Mary Hillier; husband of Hilda Mary Hillier, of St. Helens.
Census details:
1939 Register - Not Identified.
Flight Sergeant WJ Hillier -Pilot, 12 Operational Training Unit.
During a training sortie on the 18 April 1945 on Wellington Bomber Mk X LP286 the plane returned to Chipping warden following engine problems. Following an overshoot and go around, the plane stalled and crashed at 14.03 into Egcote park south east of the airfield killing all but one. The crew was as follows:-
[list]
[*][b]Flight Sergeant WJ Hillier -Pilot[/b]
[*]Sergeant H Mairs -navigator
[*]Sergeant AG Grant- Air Bomber
[*]Sergeant JB Egan - Wireless Operator
[*]Sergeant P McGowen- Air gunner
[*]Sergeant PV Birch- Air gunner (only survivor)
[/list]
[pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/William_John_Hillier.jpg[/pic]
[caption]William John Hillier's headstone at St Helens cemetery.
(Photo courtesy of Jeff Keenan)[/caption]
