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| Name | COLLINS |
| First names | William Alfred |
| Rank | Sgt |
| Service | RAF |
| Service number | 903486 |
| Crew position | Wireless operator/Air Gunner |
| Age | 26 |
| Date of death | 10/04/42 |
| Cemetery | Reichswald Forest cemetery Kleve Germany |
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| 10/11 April, 1942; ESSEN:
Despite forecasts of clear weather conditions over the target, a main force consisting of over 250 bombers, found Essen covered in cloud. 49 Squadron had 13 Hampdens airborne of which 8 attacked the primary target but were unable to see the results. Bomber Command suffered the loss of 14 aircraft on the Essen raid, mainly due to the heavy flak defences in the Ruhr. Of the 5 Hampdens reported missing, 2 were from 49 Squadron: F/Lt Marshall (AT190) and Sgt Webster managed to escape from their downed bomber, but two fellow crew members perished when the aircraft came down in Germany; Sgt Bill Collins and Sgt Stuart Woodhead are both buried in the Reichswald Forest Cemetery. Hampden AT190 (EA-A) F/L C. Marshall Pilot (P.o.W.) Sgt W.A. Collins W/Ag (Killed) Sgt S. Woodhead A/OB (Killed) Sgt F. Webster W/Ag (P.o.W.) |
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