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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

William Melvin McQueen

In memory of:

Flying Officer William Melvin McQueen

June 17, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

J/19843

Age:

24

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

434 Sqdn.

Additional Information

Son of Percy James McQueen and Ivy Emily McQueen, of Hamilton, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 391 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Netherlands

Grave Reference:

XV. A. 1.

Location:

Groesbeek is located 10 km south east of the town of Nijmegen and close to the German frontier. The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery is 3 km north of the village and 1500 metres east of the main road to Nijmegen. On leaving the A73 motorway at the junction Overasselt Mook Groesbeek follow directions to Mook. Follow direction signs towards Mook War cemetery. After passing Mook War cemetery continue to the village of Groesbeek to a set of traffic lights. Turn left at the lights onto Dorpstraat passing through Groesbeek. The road name then changes to Molenweg. A Commonwealth War Graves Commission direction sign indicates the right hand turning from Molenweg onto the Zeven Heuvelenweg. The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery is located on the right hand side, about 1 km after entering this road. On the Memorial in the Canadian War Cemetery at Groesbeek are inscribed the following words:
Pro amicis mortui amicis vivimus, We live in the hearts of friends for whom we died.

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
    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

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    Memorial
    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

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    Memorial
    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

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    Photo of WILLIAM MELVIN MCQUEEN
    Photo of WILLIAM MELVIN MCQUEEN – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Identification– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Identification
    Identification – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Service Book– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Service Book
    Service Book – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Grave marker– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Grave marker
    Grave marker – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation Paper– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Attestation Paper
    Attestation Paper – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Document
    Document – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star January 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    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

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    Newspaper clipping
    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

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    Newspaper clipping
    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

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Hamilton Spectator c.1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • 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. 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. (F/Sgt Alan Kingston's Nephew - Darrin Kingston is currently researching this crew) Courtesy CFJIC PL - 22526

    Details

    Group Photo
    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. 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. (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

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    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

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