Willis, Calvin E

Name: Calvin Erskine WILLIS

Born 2 June 1916

Birthplace: Ottawa, Ontario

Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 28

Died 17 December 2014 in Ottawa, Ontario, age 98

Service: Royal Canadian Air Force

Service ID: J/25541

Service Rank: Flight Officer

Duties: Bombardier

Air Group: 640 Squadron

Airbase: Leconfield, Yorkshire UK

Aircraft: Halifax bomber LW434

Date shot down: 3 June 1944

Fate of crew: 5 KIA, 2 evaded and captured (Willis and SHEPHERD).

Evasion summary:

Date captured: 3 June 1944

Capture summary: Arrested with SHEPHERD.

Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #1 or #2

Buchenwald ID: 78342

Notes on Buchenwald internment:

Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III, East Compound

Kriege ID: 8073

Notes on SLIII internment:

Subsequent transfer to: Winter march to Stalag Luft IIIA, Luckenwalde.

Notes on internment:

Liberation: 22 April 1945 by units of the Red Army but held for negotiated release in mid-May.

Repatriation from ETO: War Claims papers indicate repatriation on 26 May 1945

Discharged: 3 October 1945

VA status: No pension awarded.

Notes on Post-War period: Extended battle to get per diem compensation for time at Fresnes and Buchenwald (see file).