Flight Sergeant William Columba Boyle (651585) served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He was the son of James Boyle and Mary Rebecca Boyle, and the husband of Christina Boyle of Belfast.
He died on 17th May 1942 aged 26 years old while serving as a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner with RAF 86 Squadron based at RAF Sumburgh, Shetland. His crew took off in the Mark II Bristol Beaufort AW251 along with others from the Squadron to attack the German Cruiser Prinz Eugen. Crews from RAF 42 Squadron accompanied them on the mission under the command of Wing Commander Mervyn Williams. A total of 19 Bristol Blenheim bombers and 27 Bristol Beaufort torpedo bombers took part in the strike.
Prinz Eugen was off the coast of Egersund, Norway, returning to Germany after undergoing repairs. The Royal Air Force lost 4 Bristol Beaufighters in the attack. German ships and accompanying Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter planes shot down the Allied bombers. The German Cruiser made it safely back to Germany unscathed.
Remembering the crew of Beaufort AW251
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyle | William Columba | Flight Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | RAF 651585. Killed. |
| Crozier | Cyril Johnson | Sergeant | Observer | RAFVR 1061583. Killed. |
| Ford | John Francis Vincent | Sergeant | Pilot | RAFVR 1168841. Killed. |
| Mercer | Alfred Henry | Flight Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | RAFVR 901656. Killed. |
William Columba Boyle’s grave is in the British Plot, Row E, Grave 7 of Sola Churchyard, Norway. His headstone bears the inscription:
Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord, may perpetual light shine upon him.