Joseph McWilliams was the son of Bernard and Margaret McWilliams. He was born about 1918. Aircraftman 1st Class Joseph McWilliams served with the Royal Air Force in World War Two. He died on 7th October 1945. Aircraftman Joseph McWilliams was a passenger on a Stirling aircraft which was travelling from Cairo bound for the UK. The aircraft crashed at Rennes airfield in France, killing all 26 occupants.
Further Information
Joseph McWilliams was the son of Bernard and Margaret McWilliams. He was born about 1918.
The family lived at Dunmurray, Draperstown.
Joseph enlisted in the Royal Air Force around 1938.
Aircraftman 1st Class Joseph McWilliams served with the Royal Air Force in World War Two.
Aircraftman 1st Class Joseph McWilliams died on 7th October 1945. He was 27 years old.
On 7th October 1945 he was a passenger on a Stirling aircraft (Serial Number LJ668) from 299 Squadron, a special transport flight, was travelling from Cairo bound for the UK with a crew of 6 and 20 service personnel.
The aircraft had been airborne for nine hours. Fuel supplies were running low and the weather was poor. It attempted to make emergency landing at Rennes airfield.
After midnight, while completing a last turn in the poor conditions, the aircraft nosed down and crashed in flames in a field short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. All 26 occupants were killed.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 20th October 1945:
Aircraftman 1st Class (A.C.1) Joseph McWilliams. Royal Air Force, son of Mr and Mrs B McWilliams, of Dunmurray, Draperstown, is reported to have lost his life in an airplane accident on his way home from France on 7th October. He had seven years’ service.
Aircraftman 1st Class Joseph McWilliams was buried in Rennes Eastern Communal Cemetery. His inscription reads: OF YOUR CHARITY PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF JOSEPH BELOVED SON OF B. AND M. McWILLIAMS. R.I.P.
The CWGC record Aircraftman 1st Class Joseph McWilliams as the son of Bernard and Margaret McWilliams of Draperstown, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
