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World War II Honoree

Killed in World War II

Wendell N. Watkins, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Gowanda, New York

Honored By

A Grateful American

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

AMERICAN CITIZEN WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AIR TRAINING PLAN, HELD THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND SERVED AS A PILOT IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE. TRANSFERRED TO THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES AND RECEIVED THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT ON DECEMBER 17, 1943. KILLED IN A FLYING ACCIDENT WITH HIS ENTIRE CREW AT THE AGE OF 21 WHILE ON DETACHED SERVICE WITH NO. 1664 HEAVY CONVERSION UNIT, ROYAL AIR FORCE (BOMBER COMMAND) WHEN HIS ROOTES SECURITIES LTD. HANDLEY PAGE HALIFAX MK. V (EB203) CRASHED IN BAD WEATHER NEAR BISHOP MONKTON, NORTH YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND ON APRIL 15, 1944. BURIED AT COLLINS CENTER CEMETERY, COLLINS CENTER, NEW YORK. COMMEMORATED ON THE WORLD WAR II HONOR ROLL, ERIE COUNTY, NEW YORK.