William Harcourt Coleman was born on 29 November 1916. He was the son of Mrs. C. M. Walton and lived in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

He joined the Royal Air Force in 1937 and transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in July 1939 when he was one of the very first men to join the newly formed 75 Squadron. This squadron was meant to be equipped with Wellingtons and flying personnel and flown to New Zealand for duty there. After the outbreak of the war, it was decided that 75 Squadron would remain in England and fly operations against Germany. Many New Zealanders already flying with the RAF found their way to 75 Squadron.

75 (RNZAF) squadron was flying Wellingtons out of Feltwell, Norfolk.

75 Sqn RNZAF

On 26 June 1940, F/O Coleman's crew was scheduled to fly a mission to Kassel. It was F/O Coleman's 27th mission. It is thought their Wellington IC R3235 was brought down over the IJsselmeer. The bodies of all six crew washed ashore and are buried in Amsterdam. That of F/O Coleman washed ashore on 3 August 1940.

Flying Officer Coleman was awarded his Distinguished Flying Cross on 22 October 1940.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

See Also:
Sgt John Dowds
Sgt William Annan
P/O Frank Poole
Sgt William Nevill
Sgt Norman Brown
 

Sources:
For Your Tomorrow, Errol W. Martyn, Volplane Press, Christchurch, 1998
New Zealanders With The Royal Air Force
Portrait picture courtesy of Auckland Museum War Memorial

Acknowledgements:
RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Directions to Nieuwe Oosterbegraafplaats

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

Home | Search | Research | About