William was born on December 14 1920 in Toronto, the son of William George Powell (English) and Marion Gertrude Powell nee McGee (American) of Toronto. He had two brothers and one sister.
He was a bank messenger and member of the Church of England and his sports were hockey, baseball and swimming.
He enlisted on August 12 1940 in Toronto and he went thereafter on January 8 1942 from Canada overseas to the UK.
William was killed in action on Wednesday February 3 1943 age 22 due to a crash near Leusden, between the Valleikanaal and the railwayline. His other fallen RCAF crew members were F/O John I. MacKenzie age 26 in grave 13-5-87, W/O II William M. Murdoch age 21 in grave 13-5-82, P/O Daniel O’Neill age 24 in grave 13-5-88 and F/Sgt Arley H. Thiessen age 24 in grave 13-5-84. The fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members were P/O Denis H. Smith age 22 in grave 13-5-86 and P/O Derek G. De Garis age 21 in grave 13-5-85. And the fallen RAF crew member was Sgt Ronald F. Evans age 26 in grave 13-5-81.
On his headstone: TIME CHANGES MANY THINGS BUT LOVE AND MEMORY EVER CLING
His name is, together with the other 7 fallen crew members, at the monument in Leusden.
He served with the 214 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.
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