James, William Birdsall
Personal Information
Rank | W/O |
Forename(s) | William Birdsall |
Surname | James |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | DFM, MiD |
Date of Death | 10-11-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of William Thomas James and Clara James, of Leeds. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V |
Serial Number | Z6566 |
Markings | MH-Q |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Leeds (Lawnswood) Crematorium |
Grave Reference | Screen Wall. Panel 2. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 188 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 989723 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 51 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Hall, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque on external wall |
Memorial Text | 51 Sqn RAF Snaith Oct 1942 - Apr 1945 |
Location | St. John the Baptist Church, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Sqn Crest & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | 51 Sqn Roll of Honour |
Location | RAF Snaith Memorial Gardens, Pollington, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Monument, Multiple Inscribed Metal Plaques, Propeller Unit |
Memorial Text | In memory of the 687 airmen of 51 Sqn, 4 Gp, Bomber Command who lost their lives flying Halifax bombers Mks 2 and 3 at RAF Snaith between October 1942 and April 1945 |
Location | Stn Church, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in Wooden Case |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour of 51 Sqn |
Location | Grounds of Selby Abbey, Selby, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | 51 Sqn RAF. In proud and undying memory of all ranks killed or missing 1939 - 1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
James contracted consumption whilst a PoW and was repatriated but died 10/11/44 |
Casualty Pack Number Find Out More
AIR 81/8418 (P361502/41) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 18-08-1941 |
End Date | 19-08-1941 |
Takeoff Station | Dishforth |
Day/Night Raid | Night (16% moon) |
Operation | Cologne |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak 15 minutes after leaving target area and crashed near Maastricht. All crew became prisoners. James's DFM was awarded due to him giving up his parachute to the wireless operator whose own parachute had been rendered unusable by the flak. |