Bentz, Wilbur Boyd
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Wilbur Boyd |
Surname | Bentz |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | Croix de Guerre avec Palme (Belgium) |
Date of Death | 13-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Guy and Edith Bentz, of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW682 |
Markings | OW-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Geraardsbergen Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. Grave 1. |
Epitaph | CHERISHED SON BELOVED BROTHER HEROIC UNCLE GOD GRANT YOU PEACE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 130 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/87378 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 426 (Thunderbird) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Gabriels Petrol Stn, Astridlaan (N42), Geraardsbergen, Oost Flanders Province |
Country | Belgium |
Memorial Type | Recovered aircraft engine, inscribed metal sculpture & stencilled information board |
Memorial Text |
Location | Adjacent to Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with Inscribed Metal Plaque & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Outside Village Hall, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of Canadian personnel who served at RAF Linton on Ouse during WW2, including 408 and 426 Sqns RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Aluminium from this aircraft forms part of the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London and also the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1842/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1842/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-05-1944 |
End Date | 13-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
Day/Night Raid | Night (77% moon) |
Operation | Leuven/ Louvain- to bomb railway yards. 120 aircraft, 5 losses (4.2%). A more accurate bombing raid than the previous night with considerable damage to the yards. According to the local report, repairs were still being carried out some six months later. Civilian casualties were heavy with 160 deaths and 208 injured. Part of the local University, 8 factories, 4 convents and a church were also damaged |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Schendelbeke, Belgium |