Gillin, James William

F/S James William Gillin, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. James Gillin, R.R. 6, Brantford, was reported missing after air operations on July 12, 1943, over Turin, Italy, after more than two years' service with the R.C.A.F. Born on December 5, 1914, in Brantford Township, Bill, as he was called, attended Howell's School, graduated from the Brantford Collegiate Institute and Vocational School and from the Brantford Business College. He was a member of Zion United Church. Enthusiastic over athletics, he was on the Y.M.C.A. Basketball Team for three years, played baseball in the Rural Softball League and was a good man at track meets. He was employed for a time by the Summerhayes

Lumber and Construction Company and then by the National Steel Car Company, Ltd., Hamilton, until he enlisted in the R.C.A.F., in April, 1941. After training as an observer in Toronto, Malton and Jarvis, he graduated and received his wings at Jarvis on February 13, 1942. F/S Gillin was then posted to Penfield Ridge for an astro-navigation course and in May sailed overseas. He was stationed with Squadron 70, R.A.F., in Lincolnshire, England. On that last mission, F/S Gillin flew in a Lancaster bomber, and it was his 26th raid with the Squadron which had been doing shuttle-bombing from England to Italy and Africa and then returning. Besides his parents, he is survived by his wife, and a daughter, Patricia.

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