Notes

Note N948 Index

England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2006 - possible
Name: Jean Coxon Birth: abt 1892 Death: Mar 1968 - Derby, Derbyshire, England

Notes

Note N968 Index

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: William West Mother: Blanch West Father: Aurthur West Birth: abt 1918 - Oregon Residence: 1920 - Medford , Jackson, Oregon

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: William West Father: Arthur West Birth: abt 1918

U.S. School Yearbooks
Name: Bill West Estimated Birth Year: abt 1915 School: Medford High School School Location: Medford, Oregon, USA Year: 1931

UK Marriage certificate gives William's age as 36 (ie dob 1907) and father as Arthur West (deceased) occupation soldier. [all wrong except father's name]

World War II
Service Record from the Library and Archives Canada:
William stated that he had served in the US Army, Company M, 15th Infantry Regiment 1935-38 - no Service Number recorded
Note: The 15th Infantry Regiment left China for Fort Lewis, Washington, on 2 March 1938. On 12 January 1940, the regiment was assigned to the 3d Infantry Division.
RCAF photo album contains images related to Fort Lewis

Branch of Service: Canadian Army (Active)
Service number: D-72113
Date and place of enlistment: 12 September 1940 Montreal, Quebec
Date and place of discharge: 23 February 1942 Vancouver, British Columbia

Branch of Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
Service number: J-18686
Date and place of enlistment: 2 March 1942 Vancouver, British Columbia
Date and place of discharge: 16 September 1944 Rockcliffe, Ontario

in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947

ViewU.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
Name: William Arthur West Age: 29 Birth Date: 20 Mar 1917 Birth Place: Medford, Oregon Residence Place: Nia. Falls, Nia., New York Registration Date: 27 Aug 1946 Registration Place: Nia Falls, Niagara, New York
Employer: Unemployed Discharged from RAF. Weight: 175 Complexion: Light Eye Colour: Brown Hair Colour: Red Height: 6'

Other data for William Arthur West based on family documents:
The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Bomber Training Base was located at Dafoe, about 50 miles East of Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Canada, during World War 2, see Word doc. It was opened in May 1941and trained bombers and air gunners. He went there for training, probably about Nov 1942 if the dated photo was taken in Dafoe - see photo album notes. No. 5 B&GS Dafoe, Saskatchewan opened on 04/26/41 and ran till 02/17/45. Aircraft used included Anson, Lysander, Battle, Bolingbroke.

Photo album notes:
He is in photos processed in Saskatoon: Dafoe Liberator 61-H Air Bombers Molson calendar Nov 1942 Labbat clock

In March 1943, wedding photos show uniform with sergeant's stripes - Flt Sgt. Undated photo, probably winter 43 does not show stripes but looks like unfaded patch after removal of stripes - promotion to Flying Officer? as on birth certificate.

RAF Wellesbourne Mountford, the base of No.22 Operational Training Unit during WWII. The base trained UK and Commonwealth aircrews, pilots, navigators, bomb-aimers, wireless operators and air gunners. At it's peak in March 1944 RAF Wellesbourne was turning out 113 aircrews a month.

432 Squadron formed at Skipton-on-Swale on 1 May 1943 as part of No. 6 Group; the squadron moved to East Moor 5 months later on 18 Sept.
Originally equipped with Vickers Wellington Mk Xs, it had become operational with these before the month was out, using the type for night bombing until November, when it was re-equipped with Avro Lancaster Mk IIs at East Moor. This gave the squadron greater capabilities, but in February 1944 this type was withdrawn and No. 432 was given Handley Page Halifax Mk IIIs. With these and Halifax Mk VIIs, which were very similar, the squadron continued to operate in the bomber offensive role throughout 1944 and into 1945, flying increasingly around the clock as the German fighter defences evaporated.
Its final operation was on 25 April 1945, and the squadron disbanded 20 days later on 15 May at East Moor.

432 Sqadron records from Ivan Mulley, 82 Penshurst Rd, Ipswich, IP3 8QU
23 Nov 1943 bomb aimer for P/O Meaden 'Sea Search' op in Lancaster Mark II - Sea Searches were familiarisation exercises for those converting from Vickers Wellington Mark X
20/21 Jan 1944 bomb aimer for P/O Meaden to Berlin
27/28 Jan 1944 bomb aimer for P/O Meaden to Berlin P/O W. Meaden was attacked by an ME-110, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Wratting Common on return.
30/31 Jan 1944 bomb aimer for P/O Meaden to Berlin

[Meaden, P/O William Harold David (J18290) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.432 Squadron - Award effective 19 June 1944 as per London Gazette dated 30 June]

8 May 1944 joined 425 Squadron at Tholthorpe
No. 425 Squadron RCAF
Squadron Base County Arrived Comments
425 Tholthorpe Yorkshire 12/12/43 Halifax III,
data from AIR 27 documents:
31/1 May 1944 .. for W/C Lecomte Bombing Le Fevre Sorties preliminary to Normandy invasion
5/6 June 1944 .. for W/C Lecomte Bombing Houlgate
6/7 June 1944 .. for S/L Bryson Bombing Coutances

no more ops found before court martial

Toronto buddy - Gordon Welch?

Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956 about William West NB Border Crossings are v poor quality images of poor quality typed records - ie almost unreadable.
Name: William West
Arrival Date: 21 Aug 1946
Port of Arrival: Niagara Falls, New York, USA
Departure Contact: Wife Eva
Birth Date: Mar
Birth Place: Medford Or
Gender: Male
Race/Nationality: English
Record has photo?: No

Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956 about William Arthur West
Name: William Arthur West
Arrival Date: 25 Apr 1948
Port of Arrival: Niagara Falls, New York, USA
Age: 30
Birth Date: 20 Mar 1917
Birth Place: Mudford Or
Birth Country: USA
Gender: Male
Race/Nationality: English
Record has photo?: No
Record Type: Cards

late 40's a radio station in Toronto where my mother worked

U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1
Name: W H West [W A West] Birth: 20 Mar 1917 Residence: 1974 - Walnut, CA [Camarillo, CA]

U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1
Name: William A West Birth: 20 Mar 1917 Residence: 1993 - Oxnard, CA

U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current
Name: William Arthur West Birth: 20 Mar 1917 Death: 4 Apr 2006 - Camarillo, Ventura, California, USA Civil: New York

Research:

Dafoe is a very little town located at the southwest corner of the Quill Lakes at the junction of Highways 6 and 16. Population of the town is now less than 10 people. 2003

Bill not obvious in photos:

Fort Lewis vs Vancouver Barracks 1937
15th Infantry Tents - Fort Lewis Washington US Camp on Hoods Canal - at Blue Ox

joined RCAF in Toronto?