Canadian Virtual War Memorial
William Edwin Woodrow
In memory of:
Pilot Officer William Edwin Woodrow
April 28, 1944
Overseas, Belgium
Military Service
J/19650
31
Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
No. 431 (Iroquois) Squadron
Additional Information
August 10, 1912
Winnipeg, Manitoba
August 9, 1940
Ottawa, Ontario
Son of Fred and Bertha F. Woodrow. Husband of Frances L. Woodrow, of Eastview, Ontario.
Commemorated on Page 482 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY
Belgium
IVa. D. 35.
Antwerp lies 57 Km north of Brussels on the E19 and 59 km north east of Gent on the E17 motorway. The cemetery itself is located in Wilrijk, a suburb of Antwerp. From the Bistplein in front of the railway station in Wilrijk follow the Kleinsteenweg for 300 M until you arrive at the ring road. Turn right and follow the ring road for 100 M to the first set of traffic lights and turn left. Go under the flyover and continue straight on over the dual carrageway into Jules Moretus Lei. Follow this street for 1 kilometre and the entrance to the Municipal Cemetery is on your left. After entering the cemetery follow the Commission signs to the three Commission plots at the far end of the cemetery. Alternatively ask for their location at the office within the cemetery.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Digital Collection
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Photo of WILLIAM EDWIN WOODROW – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Service Book – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Newspaper clipping – From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.May 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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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. 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. -
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Group photo – Five members of William (Bill) Woodrow's original Wellington Bomber crew (before converting to Halifax Bombers). (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. -
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Wellington Bomber – Wellington Bomber similar to that which Bill Woodrow flew as a pilot. (Bomber later converted to Halifax Bomber) -
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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. -
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Cemetery Entrance – Entrance … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Cross of Sacrifice – Cross of Sacrifice located in Plots 4 & 4A … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Cemetery – View of Plot 3 … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Grave Marker – Grave marker … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Memorial – Pilot Officer William Edwin Woodrow is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Memorial – Pilot Officer William Edwin Woodrow is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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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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