WILSON, Russel Nelson
NAME WILSON Russel Nelson
RANK Flying Officer 25378 Group 6 RAF Bomber Command
SQUADRON RCAF No. 419 “Moose”
“beware of the moose” RAF Middleton St George - County Durham
Squadron Markings VR Y Born December 17, 1916 - Landis - Rural Municipality of Reford - Saskatchewan Residence Sudbury - Ontario Died June 13, 1944 27 years 6 month
Cemetery Meharicourt Communal Cemetery - Meharicourt - Somme - France
British Plot 41
Mother Mrs. Kathleen Wilson - Brussels - Ontario Brothers Mr. Eldon Wilson-Brussels Mr. Stanley Wilson - on active service Sister Mrs. J. Cote - Trenton - Ontario
Russ was born on December 17, 1916 in Saskatchewan. The family moved to Ontario at some point in 1918 prior to Russel beginning school. Russel attended Brussels Public School 1921-29 and attended Brussels Continuation School 1929-33 before attending Seaforth Collegiate 1933-34 and then finishing his schooling at the Brussels Continuation School 1934-35. Growing up he enjoyed swimming, tennis, softball and football. After his education he was employed as a farmer for a year, in logging as a bushman for a year, worked in a smelter for 2 years and was a miner and motorman at International Nickel in Sudbury from 1939-42. The family would have attended Melville Presbyterian Church.
Canada
He enlisted into the RCAF in Sudbury on March 27, 1942.and at that time he stood 5' 9" tall and weighed 160 pounds. He had fair complexion with blue eyes and red hair. From March 27-April 23 Aircraftsman Wilson was posted to the North Bay Recruitment Centre. His next posting from April 24-July 18 was to No. 5 Manning Depot in Lachine - Quebec. Between July 19-October 10 he was posted to No. 5 Initial Training School at Belleville - Ontario and while here achieved the rank of Leading Aircraftsman. He was 44 in a class of 79% with an average of 77%. His next posting took him to No 13 Elementary Flying Training School at St Eugene - Ontario from October 10-December 27. While here he 8 in a class of 39 with an 83% average. was It was a short trip to Upland Base where No. 2 Service Flying Training School was and he was posted here until April 3,1943. He was 26 in a class of 56 with an average of 82%. On April 3, 1943 LAC Wilson was posted to Summerside - Prince Edward Island to No. 1 General Reconnaissance School and while here received the ranks of Sergeant and Pilot Officer. He was 9 out of a class of 24 with an average of 71%. Then it was off to No.1 "Y" Depot in Halifax on Ju;y18. Two days later he volunteered for the RAF Training Pool.
Overseas
Pilot Officer Wilson embarked from Canada on July 21 and disembarked in the United Kingdom on July 29 and the following day here reported for duty at No. 3PRC. He was here at August 17 he was posted to No. 21 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit While here he obtained the rank of Flying Officer. He obtained an average of 55%. From December 28-March 28,1944 he was posted to RAF No.24 Operation Training Unit. While here He was on a training Flight and he was the Captain of an aircraft he was trying to land. He had an error in judgement and continued with his landing instead of going around and trying to land again. He was flying a Whitley Mk V LA929. He landed much too far down the runway. Pilot Officer Wilson explained the sun was in his eyes and it was determined in the inquiry the sun was a factor. On March 29 he was posted to No. 61 Base (Dalton Battle School) at RAF Dalton - North Yorkshire. His next posting was No. 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit based at RAF Topcliffe - North Yorkshire. On May 15 he was involved in a non enemy incident. At 5:57 pm at RAF Topcliffe He was the pilot of Halifax BB248. The take off run was normal until the end of the runway when there was a slight bump before being airborne. At a height of 100' He selected the landing gear be raised but that it only raised partially and he then tried to lower the gear but this was not successful. Flying Control suggested using emergency methods with no results. He the made a smooth landing at which time the main landing gear collapsed. It was found that Flying Officer Wilson raised the landing gear to soon after take off. His final posting on May 19 was to RCAF 419 Squadron
In the Field
The target for this mission was Cambrai - France with the objective being to destroy the railway yards. Flying Officer Wilson had completed 6 missions prior to the upcoming mission. Flying Officer Wilson was the pilot of Lancaster Mk X KB 714 VR Y which lifted off the runway at RAF Middleton St George at 9:35 pm on June 12, 1944. This aircraft had 87 hours of flying time prior to this mission and had arrived with the Squadron on May 13. This aircraft was one of 16 aircraft tasked for this mission. It was due to be back at base by 2:35 am on June 13. This mission was from low ;evel with bombs being dropped from 2,000'. They had successfully reached the target and completed their bombing run and were on the return leg back to base. This aircraft was shot down near Vourse Leete in France, and as the bomber stream was leaving the target area on the return leg of the mission. At the target, the searchlights were sweeping the skies and the stream now had to go from a lower altitude to a higher altitude. The German Ju 88 night fighters were also in the air that night and they were deadly. Many crews reported multiple attacks. As well the flak defences of the Germans were very strong. KB 174 with Flying Officer Wilson crashed at 01:30 hours. The crash site was in the vicinity of Albert, on the River Ancre and 1 mile south of Courcelette. The local school master witnessed the crash and said Flying Officer Wilson circled Courcelette twice with one engine burning. On the 2nd pass five airmen bailed out but were too low for their parachutes to deploy and died. At 5 am those five men plus the two men in the aircraft were taken away It is not known if F/O Wilson and his crew were lost to enemy aircraft, German ground guns or night
fighters but Lancaster KB 714 crashed at Courcelette (Somme) 6 miles northeast of Albert.
It was during this raid that Andrew Mynarski who was from the same squadron and on the same mission lost his life and was later awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic acts.
His mother Kathleen in October of 1945 received the Memorial Cross and two years later she received the 1939-45 Star, the France & Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp that had been issued to Flying Officer Wilson. She also received his Operational Wings.
Flying Officer Wilson is honoured and remembered on the Melville Presbyterian Church Memorial Plaque and on the Brussels Cenotaph, as well as in the Books of Remembrabce on Parliament Hill in the Centre Block. In addition, he is honoured and remembered on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and on the RCAF Bomber Command Memorial. He is possibly honoured and remembered on the Seaforth Collegiate Memorial Plaque.
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