Date of birth:

January 22nd, 1925 (Sault Sainte Marie Ontario, Canada)

Date of death:

November 2nd, 1944 (Foyeuru, Jalhay/Liege, Belgium)

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Cemetery Hotton
Plot: 3. Row: E. Grave: 8.

Service number:

J/95269

Nationality:

Canadian

William was born on January 22 1925 in Sault Sainte Marie Ontario, the son of Alvin Edward Hanes and Katie Maude Hanes nee Stienburg of Sault Sainte Marie. They were married on August 31 1921 in Sault Sainte Marie. His brother was Alvin Walter Hanes and two other brothers died during the infancy and his sister was Emily Margaret St George and one sister also died during the infancy.

He was a brakeman at the Algoma Steel Corp. and member of the Lutheran Church. He visited the S.S. 4 Base Line Public School from 1931-1939 in Sault Sainte Marie (High School entrance) and then the S.S. 4 Continuation School there from 1939-1940 (one year High School) and he completed Grade 1X. at the Ontario Academy. His sports were hockey, swimming, skating, fishing, hunting and bowling (moderately).

He enlisted on May 26 1943 in North Bay Ontario and he went on March 14 1943 thereafter overseas to the UK. He received on December 24 1943 the Air Gunner’s Badge in Canada. He took part after the arrival in the UK to the different air operations of his squadron on NW Europe.

William was killed in action on Thursday November 2 1944 age 19 due to a crash 20 miles southeast of Liege Belgium before or after a night attack on Düsseldorf Germany. He was temporarily buried then at the Henri Chapelle American Cemetery in Plombières Belgium before being reburied on April 24 1947 in Hotton. The other fallen RCAF crew members were P/O William W. Lankin age 19 in grave 3-E-6, F/O Harold F. Le Noury age 26 in grave 3-E-3, P/O Vernon J. Lazier age 22 in grave 3-E-6, F/O Robert E. B. Pike age 21 in grave 3-E-7 and P/O Joseph Judges age 21 in grave 3-E-5. The other fallen RAF crew member Sgt Edward J. Payne age 21 was buried in grave 3-E 4.

He was awarded on February 11 1947 posthumously the Operational Wings and Certficate in recognition of the gallant service against the enemy.

Pilot Officer Hanes is also commemorated on the Canadian Memorial of Tigelot in Jalhay, Belgium (since September 21 1951).

He served with The Royal Canadian Air Force 77 (R.A.F). Sqdn.

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• Photo 1: Edwin van der Wolf
• - Pilot Officer William Herbert Hanes | War Casualty Details 2726470 | CWGC
  

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