Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Wilbur Boyd Bentz
In memory of:
Pilot Officer Wilbur Boyd Bentz
May 13, 1944
Geraardsbergen, Belgium
Military Service
J/87378
23
Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
426 Squadron
Croix de guerre and Palm.
Additional Information
July 7, 1920
North Bend, British Columbia
December 16, 1941
Vancouver, British Columbia
Son of Guy Boyd and Edith, both were United States citizens who had immigrated to Canada. Wilbur had one sibling, a sister, Romaine. He graduated from high school in Nelson, British Columbia in 1940, and then began working as a telegraph operator for the Canadian Pacific Railway in Penticton. His father was the Chief Train Despatcher. Afterwards, his parents moved from their home on Winnipeg Street in Penticton to 2nd Street in Medicine Hat, Alberta. At 6 feet tall and weighing 179 pounds, Wilbur was very active in sports, particularly baseball, hockey, tennis and badminton. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. Single, he disembarked for the United Kingdom on June 4, 1943.
He was the pilot of LW 682/M. He was posthumously awarded the Croix du Guerre 1940 with Palm (Belgium) in recognition for his contribution toward the liberation of Belgium.
Commemorated on Page 248 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
GERAARDSBERGEN (GRAMMONT) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Belgium
Coll. Grave 1.
The town of Geraardsbergen is located south of the town of Aalst on the N42. From the motorway E40/A10, which runs between Oostende and Brussels, turn off at junction 17 onto the N42, direction Geraardsbergen. Follow this road to the town of Geraardsbergen and the junction with the N493. Turn right onto the N493, direction Parike, and the cemetery is along here on the right. The graves are located towards the centre of the cemetery.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Digital Collection
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Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Memorial – Pilot Officer Wilbur Boyd Bentz is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Memorial – Pilot Officer Wilbur Boyd Bentz is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Photo of WILBUR BOYD BENTZ – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Id Card – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Photo of WILBUR BOYD BENTZ – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Photo of WILBUR BOYD BENTZ – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Grave Marker – P1080434 Gravestone of W. Bentz, located in Geraarsbergen, Belgium. 80th anniversary commemoration of the loss of LW682 and its crew. -
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Inscription – Bentz W name is cut out on one of the many commemoration plate metal sheets surrounding the spire at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincolnshire, England commemorating the losses of bomber command. (this image was taken on the opening of the centre on 12/4/2018) -
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426 Squadron and the Halifax LW682 -
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Biography
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