Flight Sergeant William Burnaby Wheeler
- Rank
- Flight Sergeant
- Service number
- 436353
- Unit
- Royal Australian Air Force Attached 233 Squadron Royal Air Force
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Holland, Netherlands
- Date of death
- 21 September 1944
- Age
- 20
- Plaque number
- L215
- Dedicated by
- Friends on 28 July 2007
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Flight sergeant William Burnaby Wheeler of 233 Squadron was born in October 1924 in Bunbury. He was the only child of William and Elsie May Wheeler.
He was known as Burnie to save confusion with his father. He attended Bunbury High where he was a good student, being in the top three of the school.
He was a member of the Bunbury Surf Club and enjoyed playing sport.
He was 19 when he enlisted in the RAAF in December 1942 and completed his basic training at Geraldton before going to Canada to complete his training.
He then went to Britain and was assigned as a navigator to 233 Squadron of the RAF flying in Hudson Medium Bombers.
In February 1944 the squadron was re-equipped with Dakotas in preparation for D-day. Their role was to tow Horsa Gliders loaded with troops to Normandy and drop parachute troops and supplies.
In September they carried out similar missions over Arnhem Land.
Flight sergeant William Burnaby Wheeler, service number 436353 of 233 Squadron, was shot down and killed in action over Holland on 21 September 1944. He was 20 years old.