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Bill Sumner was born on August the 12th 1924 in London,
Ontario and enlisted in the RCAF on September the 3rd
1942.
His postings included:
He attended the Wartime Emergency Training Program in Hamilton,
Ontario.
No.1 Manning Depot, Ontario
No.3 Initial Training School, Victoriaville, Quebec
No.11 Elementary Flying Training School, Cap-de-La-Madelaine, Quebec,
learning to fly on the Fleet Finch
(June-July
1943).
No.5 Service Flying Training School, Brantford, Ontario (Flying Avro
Anson’s Aug-Nov.1943)
Posted overseas to No 20(P) Advanced Flying Unit, RAF Kidlington and
the satellite aerodrome at Weston-on-the-Green on Airspeed Oxfords.
In
the fall of 1944, Bill was assigned to No 20 OTU at Lossiemouth, Scotland where he selected his crew. Bill flew Vickers Armstrong
Wellington Mk.X aircraft at the OTU followed by the Handley Page Halifax Mk.III at
1663 HCU, RAF Rufforth and the Avro Lancaster BI/III at No 1668
HCU at RAF Bottesford.
The crew consisted of:
|
Name |
Service |
Trade |
Hometown |
|
F/O “Bill” Sumner |
RCAF |
Pilot |
London, Ontario |
|
Sgt Jim “Jock” Oliver |
RAFVR |
Flight Engineer |
Edinburgh, Scotland |
|
F/O Jim O’Neil |
RCAF |
Navigator |
London, Ontario |
|
F/Sgt William Lloyd Fulford |
RCAF |
Bomb Aimer |
Clinton, Ontario |
|
F/Sgt T. "Yogi" Merchant |
RCAF |
W/Op/AG |
Toronto, Ontario |
|
W/O Harry Armstrong |
RAAF |
M/U Gunner |
Allendale, Australia |
|
F/O Bill Gordon |
RCAF |
Rear Gunner |
Sault Ste Marie, Ontario |
The entire crew was proud to have a Skipper as competent and capable
as Bill and more than once they attributed their safe take-offs and
landings to Bill’s flying abilities.
|
 |
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Bill at 20 OTU |
Bill was discharged from the RCAF on October the 18th
1945.
He was married to his wife, Kay,
for over sixty years.
He passed away in December of 2010 and is greatly missed.
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