Profile image
Military service
Service number:
J/19650
Age:
31
Rank:
Pilot Officer
Force:
Air Force
Unit/Regiment:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Division:
No. 431 (Iroquois) Squadron
Birth:
August 10, 1912
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Enlistment:
August 9, 1940
Ottawa, Ontario
Death:
April 28, 1944
Overseas, Belgium
Burial/memorial information
Grave reference:
IVa. D. 35.
Additional information
Son of Fred and Bertha F. Woodrow. Husband of Frances L. Woodrow, of Eastview, Ontario.
Digital gallery of Pilot Officer William Edwin Woodrow
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Photo of William Woodrow
Pilot Willaim (Bill) Woodrow, flew his Halifax Bomber MZ 529, along with 144 other bombers, in the April 28th, 1944 raid on the marshalling yards of Montzen, Belgium, an important railway installation not far from the German border. The bombers were attaked and Woodrow¿s Halifax was set on fire. He stayed at the controls to keep the shuddering bomber as steady as possible while the crew tried to jump to safety.<p> Four crew members were able to jump free; Les Anderson, Wes Knowlton, John Ling and Don Harrison, the other four crew members - Bill Woodrow, Roy Hazael, Albert Gabel, and Robert Aiano (RAF) were killed in the crash. -
Group photo
Five members of William (Bill) Woodrow's original Wellington Bomber crew (before converting to Halifax Bombers).<p> (L to R) Roy Hazael, Les Anderson, Bill Woodrow, John Lyng and Wel Knowlton. Hazael and Woodrow were killed in the crash of their Halifax on 28 April, 1944. -
Wellington Bomber
Wellington Bomber similar to that which Bill Woodrow flew as a pilot. (Bomber later converted to Halifax Bomber) -
Halifax Bomber
"Friday the 13th" Halifax Bomber, 158 Sqn., RAF, similar to that which Bill Woodrow flew as a pilot in 431 (Iroquois) Sqn. RCAF. -
Cemetery
View of Plot 3 … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Cross of Sacrifice
Cross of Sacrifice located in Plots 4 & 4A … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Grave Marker
Grave marker … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Cemetery Entrance
Entrance … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Memorial
Pilot Officer William Edwin Woodrow is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Memorial
Pilot Officer William Edwin Woodrow is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Memorial
Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Photo of WILLIAM EDWIN WOODROW
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Service Book
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
Newspaper clipping
From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.May 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William Edwin Woodrow
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William Edwin Woodrow
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William Edwin Woodrow
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William Edwin Woodrow
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William Edwin Woodrow
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 482 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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