Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Pilot Officer Gordon William Lillico is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Pilot Officer Gordon William Lillico is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Group Photo – Gordon's mother, Russell, Grace, Gordon and a neighbour

Group Photo – Gordon, Grace and Russell. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Attestation paper – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Document – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Letter – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Letter – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Photo of GORDON WILLIAM LILLICO – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star May 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram June 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Wartime diary – Royal Canadian Air Force, Pilot’s Flying Log Book recording the final flight of Halifax U, Apr 17, 1944 which went missing after “Gardening - Keil Bay”. Pilot Gordon Lillico F/S Johnson P/O Westlake F/S Zbytnvik SGT Doyle SGT Manson SGT Olmsteaf

Wartime diary – Royal Canadian Air Force, Pilot’s Flying Log Book recording the final flight of Halifax U, Apr 17, 1944 which went missing after “Gardening - Keil Bay”. Pilot Gordon Lillico F/S Johnson P/O Westlake F/S Zbytnvik SGT Doyle SGT Manson SGT Olmsteaf

Medals – COLLECTION OF GORDON LILLICO'S MEDALS, SWEETHEART JEWELLERY, HIS POCKET BIBLE AND PILOT'S LOGBOOK.

Photo of Gordon William Lillico – Pilot Officer Gordon William Lillico

Newspaper Clipping – The Toronto Star May 12, 1945, page 9 Additional information is from the book They Shall Grow Not Old published by the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Brandon, Manitoba. P/O Gordon William Lillico, age 20, was a member of 428 Squadron and pilot of Halifax JN 973 on the night of April 17/18, 1944. The target: mine laying at Kiel, Germany. This was the only aircraft out of the twelve ordered on the mission that did not return. The names of the crew are inscribed on the Runnymede Memorial for those with no known grave. They are: P/O (N) William K. Johnson, age 22, from Toronto, Ont. P/O (BA) Tony Zbytnuik, age 23, from Kamsack, Sask. F/O (WAG) John M. Westlake, age 21, from Moose Jaw, Sask. F/Sgt. (AG) Wilfred J. Olmstead, age 22, from Owen Sound, Ont. Sgt. (FE) John Doyle, RAF, age 32, from Lancashire, England P/O Gordon William Lillico, age 20, was a member of 428 Squadron and pilot of Halifax JN-973 on the night of April 17/18, 1944. The target was mine laying at Kiel, Germany. This was the only aircraft out of the twelve ordered on the mission that did not return. The names of the crew are inscribed on the Runnymede Memorial for those with no known grave. They are: P/O (N) William K. Johnson, age 22, from Toronto, Ont. P/O (BA) Tony Zbytnuik, age 23, from Kamsack, Sask. F/O (WAG) John M. Westlake, age 21, from Moose Jaw, Sask. F/Sgt. (AG) Wilfred J. Olmstead, age 22, from Owen Sound, Ont. and RAF Sgt. (FE) John Doyle, age 32.

Newspaper Clipping – The Toronto Star May 12, 1945, page 9