William George Mclaughlin
Willliam was the son of Donald and Jean Janet Wilkins and stepson of Miriam. He was born in Toronto on July 23, 1922 and had three brothers, Robert (WW2), James (WW2) and Donald. William attended Bedford Park Public School, Upper Canada College, and his first year of mechanical engineering at the University of Toronto. Between May to September of 1941, he worked in maintenance before enlisting in the RCAF on September 22, 1941. At that time, he reported his permanent residence as R.R. # 3 Georgetown, his religion as Presbyterian and his marital status as single.
In his RCAF Interview, it was noted that he had “good appearance and personality, he was well adjusted, responsible, well educated, athletic and was potential officer material”. Upon enlistment William reported having spent 5 years in the Upper Canada College Cadet Corps, attaining the rank of Sergent-Major and had only 10 hours passenger flying experience. He indicated that he played hockey (Upper Canada College School champs 1940 and U of T champs 1941), golf, rugby, tennis, softball and track. The training notes from his military file noted “air work above average, excellent in all ground work, very keen, should make an outstanding success, excellent in Astro (airplane), would be suitable for instructor, except too young”. Graduating with high honours, William was one of three chosen from his class to be an Observer and was sent overseas immediately for further training.
Serving with the 1659 Conversion Unit RCAF, William was involved in a flying accident on March 10, 1943, when during a training flight and banking in readiness to land, the airplane went out of control and crashed bursting into flames. All eight aboard were killed including 20-year-old William. He had been overseas a short six months.
Not long after being notified of their son’s death, his parents received a letter at their Merridon Farm address from their son Robert informing them that William had spent his leave with him in London, shortly before his death. Hopefully this news was of some comfort to the grieving parents.
Fight Officer William George McLaughlin was buried at Ripon Cemetery, England. He is commemorated on the Georgetown Cenotaph at Remembrance Park and Georgetown High School.
Truly a Canadian Hero. His Story lives on.
Information taken from Ancestry.ca, Findagrave.com and Veterans.gc.ca
