Operation: Bodenplatte (‘Baseplate’)

Date: 01st January 1945 (Monday)

Unit: 438 Squadron (Wildcat)

Type: Typhoon Ib

Serial: PD556

Code: F3-Q

Base: RAF B78 Eindhoven

Location: B78 Eindhoven, Netherlands

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Peter Wilson J/9876 RCAF Age 31 Wounded

We are extremely grateful to François Dutil (438 Squadron Archivist) for supplying photographs and information to Aircrew Remembered in October 2017. All photographs shown within this page are available to relatives at a higher resolution (as are most of those named within this page) - courtesy of François.

REASON FOR LOSS:

The Luftwaffe had planned an all attack on allied airfields in Belgium, Holland and France in late December to assist the Ardennes offensive. They recognised that the allies posed the biggest threat to success. Due to bad weather it was postponed to dawn on the first January.

During once such attack on B78 Eindhoven JG3 attacked. Fl/Lt. Wilson was the acting C/O and leading 8 aircraft on the airfield at 09:20 hrs he aborted takeoff and pulled to the side of the runway mid-way down. He was found immediately after the attack on the ground by his aircraft unconscious with an abdominal bullet wound, he died an hour later. Fl/Lt. Wilson was to take command and be promoted Squadron Leader the very next day on the 02nd January, 1945.

Understood to have been shot down by Major Heinz Bär of Stab/JG 3, who was flying a Focke-Wulf Fw190 D-9 from Lippspringe airfield in Germany. (courtesy Francois Dutil - July 2021)

Also lost from the squadron 22 year old, F/O. Ross Keller in Typhoon PD503 F3-R taxying behind Fl/Lt. Wilson he managed to take off, but was immediately shot down with the aircraft breaking up. His body was discovered still in the cockpit.

Above L-R: P/O. Ricard Gordon Crosby C/22655 DFC, P/O. Donald James Campbell J/94418, Fl/Lt. Pete Wilson J/9876, P/O. Joseph Henri Louis Philippe Jodoin J/93577 - Eindhoven, Netherlands. (with thanks to Francois Dutil for correction - April 2021)

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Peter Wilson. Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery. Grave: XV.D.1. Son of Thomas W. and Edith J.P. Wilson and nephew of Fred K.H. Bates, of North Vancouver, British Columbia. Assistant Headmaster, Chesterfield School, North Vancouver, Canada. Grave inscription reads: “Greater Love Hath No Man St.John XV.13”.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Francois Dutil, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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