Born 5/02/1917 on the Scane side-road R.R. #2 Ridgetown, Howard Twsp., Kent Co., ON. The eldest son of Mrs. Helen (neeMcNally) and Mr. J.D. Casey of R. R. #2 Ridgetown, ON. The brother of Nora (Dunlop). William attended S.S. No.6 (Scane’s) Public School, Ridgetown High and Vocational School, graduating in 1934, receiving a scholarship and gold medal for highest marks. He went to the Haileybury School of Mining from which he obtained a position with the Hollinger Gold Mines in Timmins, ON.

He enlisted in the RCAF on 2/06/1940 in Sudbury, ON. He had come from Timmins to enlist. William trained as an observer at Malton, Jarvis, ON. and Rivers, MN. with the No.3 Observer Class. He received his commission in 21 December of 1940 before going overseas.  P/O Casey arrived overseas 6/02/1941 attached to 99^th Sqd. (RAF) and was entertained by the Royal Family at Windsor Castle. After further training with No. 3 Observer Class, he was posted to 99 Sqd. RAF stationed at Water Beach near Cambridge. As an Observer-Navigator in a Wellington bomber. In May of that year, he began flying operations over enemy territory. During his career in service, he had made more than twenty trips over enemy territory.

He was reported ‘Missing In Action’. At the age 24, he was confirmed KIA – Date of Death: 17/08/1941, in Wellington bomber # X 9700 on Air Ops., over Enemy territory on his 21^st Ops. Service No: J/3270, four others of the crew of six were also killed. Only the wireless operator survived.

William was officially listed as MIA on the 65th casualty list on August 17 of 1941. According to the CDN 25/08/41, 569 dead or missing had been reported to that date by the RCAF since the war started.

 

“Pilot officer William Casey took part in operations Aug. 17 and failed to return to his base. He enlisted in Sudbury June 2, 1940, and trained at Malton, Jarvis and Rivers Manitoba. Casey received his commission before leaving Canada and arrived overseas Feb. 6 last.” – Source Globe & Mail 20/02/1941.

 

The following is a transcription of the telegram Mrs. Casey received:

Mrs. J. D. Casey, Ridgetown, Ont.

Immediate from the Air Ministry, Kingsway P3492.

Regret to inform you that your son J3270 Pilot Officer William A. Casey is reported missing as the result of air operations on August 17 Stop. Any further information received will immediately communicated to you Stop. Should news of him reach you from any other source please advise this department Stop Letter confirming this telegram following.

Canadian Air Force Casualties Office

Kingsway, London

Official channels take time but on 19 August, 1941 a message was received via HAM radio to Mrs. Nora Dunlop that her brother was the first Ridgetown fatality of the war.

The CDN 14/10/41 Reported that the Canadian Red Cross, London, England had notified Mr. and MRs. Casey “that his craft had no survivors”. As a result of this final confirmation a funeral mass was held Thursday, 16 October, 1941 in his home church in Ridgetown by Rev. Fr. W. T. Moran and Captain Rev. Fr. C. Walsh from No. 12 BTC in Chatham.

He was reported ‘Missing In Action’. At the age 24 years, he was confirmed KIA – Date of Death: 17/08/1941, in Wellington bomber # X 9700 on Air Ops., over Enemy territory on his 21^st Ops. Service No: J/3270, four others of the crew of six were also killed, only the wireless operator survived.

The CDN 14/10/41 Reported that the Canadian Red Cross, London, England had notified Mr. and Mrs. Casey “that his craft had no survivors”. As a result of this final confirmation a funeral mass was held Thursday, 16 October, 1941 in his home church in Ridgetown by Rev. Fr. W. T. Moran and Captain Rev. Fr. C. Walsh from No. 12 BTC in Chatham.

According to the Cdn. Virtual War Memorial P/O. Casey was the only Canadian in the crew five others were killed and one was taken as a POW. The aircraft was shot down by at 02:15 by a  German ‘Night Fighter’ 17 August, 1941 9 km. NW of Roemind, Holland. Originally they were buried at Venlo but were moved to Jonkerbos War Cemetery.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: 16. G. 2., Cemetery: JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY. P/O. Casey Aloysius Casey also appears on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	Globe and Mail (20-02-1941), Cenotaph Ridgetown, ON. Index of Overseas Deaths., CVWM, RC, CDN – (19/08/41, 25/08/41, 14/10/47, 25/04/47,), IOSD, TSGNO, RIN (6/II/02), Br243-RH
Supplemental Information	Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: 16. G. 2., Cemetery: JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY. Cenotaph Ridgetown, ON. Index of Overseas Deaths. Cemetery: JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY.

Age

24

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