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William J Cameron
William was born Aug 3rd 1920 at Stoney Plain, Alberta and passed away in Nov 18th 2000

RAF number J6487

POW Number 2595

 72 squadron 

On the 12th July 1943 during a flight of 13 aircraft of 1.5hrs flying JK429 a Mk IX spitfire., he engaged and damaged a bf 109 and a fw 190.

He was shot down on the 26th July 1943 about 1745 on a warm sunny day. He was leading a flight of 4 Spitfire Mk IX on a shipping recce at 8 - 10, 000 ft over the north corner of Scilly. He was with 72 squadron flying a

72 Sqn flew four missions on 26th Jul 1943. On the last of these four Spitfire Mks IX flown by F/O WJ Cameron (EN358), F/O GN Keith (EN107), P/O BJ Ingalls (MA245)and F/O RD Scrase (EN553)were on an armed recce north east of Sicily at 8-10,000ft. Cameron was leading. Assorted vessels were seen up the east coast. One large vessel had a list to port 2 miles north of Messina. Five medium vessels were sighted 5 mile NW of Reggio. Three Siebel ferries were seen crossoing east to west from Reggio. There was a heavy continuous curtain of flak both sides of the straits. The ORB notes Cameron missing from this operation and last seen between N/E (undecipherable) and Messina.The Strait of Messina was busy with two-way shipping traffic and the unit diary reported “a continuous curtain of flak from both sides of the strait.” His machine was hit and he, too, parachuted into residency at Stalag Luft III and participation in the Great Escape.

 Aircraft 

Mk IX Spitfire RN – N   EN429 - Originally a Mk V built in 1942 at Catle Bromwich, but converted to a Mk IX at Rolls Royce with a Merlin 63 Engine in 1943

Mk IX Spitfire RN – J   EN 358 - Originally a Mk V built in 1942 at Catle Bromwich, but converted to a Mk IX at Rolls Royce with a Merlin 63 Engine in 1943

air crew remembered

legion magazine article

 Great Escape  He was the only Canadian escapee to survive the Great Escape being of one of seven RCAF men to emerge from "Harry", he was the only one not shot. He was the 67th man out of the tunnel. Captured on the 26th of March and returned to Stalag Luft III sometime in early April. Teamed up with fellow Canadian Tommy Thompson. They were only a couple hundred metres from the tunnel when it was discovered by the Germans. They carried on for a kilometres or two through the brush and then hid under a pile of brush for the day. At nightfall, the two men set off again and were trudging through the forest when two figures appeared from behind some trees. At first they thought they were Germans, but realized the two men were fellow escapees Brian Evans and Chaz Hall. The four men joined up and set out further. At about 4 am on the morning of the 26th, the men found a barn at the edge of a field and decided to spend the day hiding in the hayloft. Once they settled down, Cameron began shaking uncontrollably, obviously suffering from the effects of the cold. Soon he was hallucinating and talking to himself. The men considered turning themselves in to get help for Bill, but were unable to find anyone to surrender to. They decided to leave Bill bundled up in the barn with some rations and door open—hoping that the barn owner would notice. The three men then slipped away. A few hours later Bill was discovered by a farmer with a pitchfork and a vicious looking Alsatian dog. He was taken to a nearby house and then to the local military post. Eventually a car came to take him to Sagan Police station, where he arrived around 7 am. At 2 am on March 28, Cameron and 18 others are loaded into a truck at Sagan Police station and taken to Gorlitz Prison. Over the next few days, 35 men would arrive at Gorlitz. They were interrogated by the Gestapo who often threatened the men. There is no record of Cameron's interrogation found in research to date. Sometime in early April, Cameron is returned to Stalag Luft III.

More information to follow - work in progress