Airborne Assault MuseumArticle
Normandy (Operation Overlord)
Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of occupied Europe commonly known as D-Day, saw the 6th Airborne Division in action f...
Bombardier William Cornealous Whitney was born on 4 September 1919. He was the son of Robert and Emily Whitney, of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire and had a younger sister, Elizabeth. His death devastated his family.William originally enlisted in late-July 1940 with the 14th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment (TA), with whom he served for over two years before transferring to the Royal Artillery with 103rd Anti-Tank Regiment, RA as Acting Bombardier in December 1942. In July 1943 he began his Airborne service, having been posted to 3rd Airlanding Anti Tank Battery RA and would eventually commence extensive training for the glider insertion to North West Europe as part of the planned invasion of Normandy.
He emplaned on 5 June 1944 at RAF Tarrant Rushton, Dorset. His glider landed successfully on 6 June where he deplaned and was Killed In Action later that day.
Bombardier Whitney died on 6 June 1944, aged 25 years old. He is now buried at St Vaast-en-Auge Churchyard, Normandy.
Service History
- 1940 14th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment (TA) (Private)
- 1942 14th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment (TA) (Lance Corporal)
- 1942 Acting, 103rd Anti-Tank Regiment RA (Bombardier)
- 1943 War Substantive, 103rd Anti-Tank Regiment RA (Bombardier)
- 1943 3rd Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, RA (Bombardier)
