1920 (Approximate) - December 15, 1998
Flying Officer William Birch was a member of 438 Squadron during the Second World War. He had trained at No. 56 O.T.U. Course 2B at Milfield, Northumberland U.K. This was a ten week course. Intake date: 23.1.45; outtake date: 3.4.45.
In an RCAF Press Release dated May 1945: "Flying Officer William Birch, Brownsburg, Quebec, member of the City of Montreal Squadron, made the 10,000th trip and he reported,'It was a marvellous show. We saw a lot of MET (enemy road transport) and knocked hell out of everything. I think we got 22 destroyed and 29 damaged. There was a big house blazing when fires spread from the vehicles beside it."
Birch also served in the British Air Forces of Occupation (BAFO) prior to repatriation.
After the war, Bill and his wife had a son and daughter and became a Canadian Tire dealer.
For additional information about his training and service, please visit Paradie RCAF Archive (Air Crew Remembered), link provided below.
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