William Wahl was  the son of Eustach Edward and Elisabeth Wahl, of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. He was married to Dorothy Wahl.

William joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and became a pilot with 166 squadron, flying Wellington out of Kirmington, Lincolnshire.

On 14 May 1943 F/O Wahl and his crew were sent out on a mission to Bochum. His crew consisted of:

P/O W.Wahl RCAF
Sgt S.A.H.Davis RCAF
P/O H.W.Newby RCAF
Sgt W.N.Partridge RCAF
Sgt J.A.Wright RCAF
Sgt S.A.H.Davis
P/O H.W.Newby
Sgt J.A.wright

166 Squadron

At 00.01 on 14 May they took off in Wellington HZ280 AS-Q from their base Kirmington. After bombing their target and homebound, they were hit by Flak. Not long after they were attacked by a night-fighter. F/O managed to ditch the Wellington in the
IJsselmeer.

F/O Wahl did not survive. He is buried in Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery; Sgt Partridge was also killed and is buried at Stavoren General Cemetery. Sgt Wright was seriously wounded about the face, chest and knees by cannon shell splinters. He was later repatriated. The others were either unharmed or slightly injured and were take PoW.

Sgt S.A.H.Davis was interned in Camps L1/L6/L4, PoW No.1238. P/O H.W.Newby in Camp L3, PoW No.1349.

F/O Wahl is buried in Amsterdam, Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 14. He lies in a communal with F/L John Eldridge DFC & Bar, also of 166 Squadron, who was killed ten days later.

Requiescat in Pace

Amen

 

See also:
Sgt William Partridge

Sources:
www.lostbombers.co.uk
www.cwgc.org

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

Directions to Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery

Posted 27 January 2007

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

 

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