William James Champion                  Updated: 14 MAR 2022

Airman: a019043.htm Surname: Champion Init: W J Rank: P/O Service: RAF Sqdn: 75

P_link: p242.htm Plane: STI BF461 Operation: Minelaying Crash_site: Near Kallerup

Crash_d: d041143 Buried_d: b131143 C_link: c019.htm At_Next: Frederikshavn, gr. 48

  STI BF461 - se foto af besætningen - styrtede ned her ved Kallerup den 4. november 1943. (Kilde: Mogens Kruse) Dette er den korte version:

"I forbindelse med en mineudlægningsoperation til Østersøen blev et Stirling fly skudt ned af 2 tyske JU88 natjagere. Flyet nedstyrtede ved Kallerup, sydvest for Thisted (overblik her). Et dræbt besætningsmedlem, Sgt Champion, blev begravet den 13. november 1943.
Fem overlevende flyvere blev taget til fange, mens en (W.F. Morice) flygtede fra Thisted Sygehus og blev hjulpet til Sverige via Biersted Præstegård og Frederikshavn." (FAF)

Pilot Officer (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner) William James Champion, 25 år, var søn af Edward og
Mary Champion; gift med Edna Champion, Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom. (Kilde: CWGC)  7 flyvere.

STI BF461 - see photo of the crew - crashed  here at Kallerup on 4 November 1943.
(Source: Mogens Kruse) This is the short version:

"A Stirling was shot down by 2 German JU88 night fighters in connection with a minelaying operation to the Baltic Sea. The plane crashed at Kallerup southwest of Thisted (overview here). A killed crew member, Sgt Champion, was buried on 13 November 1943.
5 surviving airmen were captured, while one (W.F. Morice) evaded from Thisted Hospital and was helped to Sweden via the vicarage in Biersted and Frederikshavn." (FAF)

Pilot Officer (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner) William James Champion, 25, was the son of Edward and Mary Champion, and the husband of Edna Champion, of Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom. (Source:CWGC)
Enshrined forever in our hearts. Au revoir
He is remembered on The Walls of Names at the International Bomber Command Centre, Ph 2, P 143.  

75(nz)squadron has more, also 75(NZ) Squadron RAF Records from November 1943, find entry of 4.11.1943,
and see that this plane with Captain Williams failed to return. See also Roll of Honour with Champion.
See No. 75 Squadron RNZAF * 75 Squadron Association NZ + UK * 75(nz)squadron has more, also 75(NZ) Squadron RAF Records from November 1943,
find entry of 4.11.1943, and see that this plane with Captain Williams failed to return. p242MACR has more. 75(nz)squadron has more about each member of the crew.
Stirling III BF461 AA-B took off from RAF Mepal at 16.01 hrs on 04 NOV 1943. (Source: Aircrew Remembered has this.) 7 airmen. Google Map planesRNZAF