Tobin, Warrant Officer Class II William Robert

Service highlights

  • R90026, Warrant Officer Class II William Robert Tobin
  • Born 29 May 1918 in St. Marys
  • Royal Canadian Air Force airman, later aircrew on Halifax bombers
  • Served in England with RCAF squadrons and training units
  • Killed on operations 19 February 1944, shot down near Ghode
  • Buried at Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery
  • Commemorated on the World War II plaque at St. Marys Town Hall and in The St. Marys Legion banner program

A Life and Service Remembered

William Robert Tobin was born in St. Marys on 29 May 1918. He went to Holy Name of Mary School and later attended St. Marys Collegiate Institute from 1932 to 1934. Like many young people of his era, he left school early. At sixteen he was already working, taking a job with Treanor Plumbing and stepping into adult responsibilities long before the war fully reached Canada’s daily life.

That changed in late 1940, when he was called up under the National Resources Mobilization Act for a month of training with the Perth Regiment. Not long after, he chose to go further. On 22 January 1941 he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at London. Training moved quickly. He reported to No. 1 Manning Depot in Toronto, then to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School. By July 1941 he had been promoted to Leading Aircraftman, and in early November he sailed overseas.

England brought a new pace of service. After arriving on 24 November 1941 he was posted to 410 (Night Fighter) Squadron RCAF at Ouston in Durham. He advanced to corporal in July 1942, then moved again into further training, including time with No. 1 Initial Training Wing. In January 1943 he was posted as a sergeant to No. 23 Operational Training Unit, where he trained on Wellington bombers and was assigned to a crew. That is one of the quiet turning points in his story. His war shifted from the airfields and units that prepared men for service into the steady routine of bomber operations.

He joined 429 Squadron RCAF in May 1943, but as that squadron transitioned away from Wellington aircraft he was sent to No. 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit to train on the Handley Page Halifax III. When that training was complete at the end of June 1943, he was posted to 427 (Bomber) Squadron RCAF at RAF Leeming. In January 1944 he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class II.

For the months that followed, he and his crew flew a demanding mix of sorties over occupied Europe. The book describes bombing raids on the Ruhr, Hamburg, and Berlin, and also mine laying operations over the North Sea and the English Channel. Those lines carry a lot of weight. Each target meant long hours, weather that could change everything, and the constant knowledge that small navigation errors or shifting winds could decide the outcome.

On 19 February 1944, his squadron took part in a raid on Leipzig with other squadrons from No. 6 Group RCAF under RAF Bomber Command. Conditions were poor. Bad weather and northerly winds pushed many aircraft too far south, and William’s aircraft was among those blown off course. It was shot down by a German fighter near Ghode, Belgium.

William was buried in the Berlin 1939 to 1945 War Cemetery in Germany. He was survived by his parents, William John and Emma Tobin, and six siblings, Stanley, Norman, Joseph, Margaret, Helen, and Mildred. In St. Marys, his name was also placed on his parents’ gravestone at St. Marys Cemetery, another kind of memorial for a family that needed a place to hold their grief close to home.

Major battles and operations

  • 29 May 1918, born in St. Marys, Ontario
  • 1932 to 1934, attended St. Marys Collegiate Institute
  • 22 November 1940, called up for 30 days training with the 2nd Reserve Battalion, Perth Regiment
  • 22 January 1941, enlisted in the RCAF at London, Ontario
  • Basic training at No. 1 Manning Depot, Toronto
  • 13 February 1941, posted to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Fingal
  • 22 July 1941, promoted to Leading Aircraftman
  • 2 November 1941, sailed overseas
  • 24 November 1941, arrived in England and posted to 410 Squadron at Ouston, Durham
  • 1 July 1942, promoted to corporal
  • 17 October 1942, transferred to No. 1 Initial Training Wing
  • 19 January 1943, posted to No. 23 Operational Training Unit, trained on Wellington bombers
  • 27 May 1943, joined 429 Squadron
  • Posted to No. 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit, trained on Halifax III
  • 28 June 1943, posted to 427 Squadron at RAF Leeming
  • 15 January 1944, promoted to Warrant Officer Class II
  • Sorties included Ruhr, Hamburg, Berlin, and mine laying over the North Sea and English Channel
  • 19 February 1944, raid on Leipzig, shot down near Ghode, Belgium

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