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Wartime Heritage
ASSOCIATION
Remembering World War II
Name:
Henry Kenneth Billingsley
Rank:
Flying Officer (Air Crew Navigator)
Service Number:
J/28471
Service:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Date of Birth:
August 20, 1913
Place of Birth:
Quebec, Capitale-Nationale Region, Quebec, Canada
Date of Enlistment:
May 26, 1942
Place of Enlistment:
Vancouver, BC
Address at Enlistment:
Victoria, BC
Age at Enlistment:
28
Occupation:
Building Manager
Marital Status:
Single
Religion:
United Church
Next of Kin:
Olive Annie Billingsley (Mother) Vancouver, BC
Height:
5 feet, 7¼ inches
Complexion:
Dark
Hair Colour:
Dark Brown
Eye Colour:
Brown
Date of Death:
March 4, 1945
Age:
31
Cemetery:
Royal Oak Burial Park Cemetery, Victoria, BC
Grave:
Sec. G. Plot 162. Grave G.
Commemorated on Page 496 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance
Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on October 22
Henry Kenneth Billingsley was the son of Henry Billingsley (1876-1930) and Olive Annie (Smith) Billingsley of
Vancouver, British Columbia. He was the brother of John Malcolm Billingsley (1910-1984).
Henry was educated in Victoria, BC between 1921 and 1931. He then completed a Commercial Course (1931-
1932 and Special Commercial Course (1933-1934). He was employed with Credit Foncier from 1934 to 1942
until his enlistment with the RCAF.
In his youth his hobby was model plane building. He was a 3 metre Fancy Diving Champion of Winnipeg and
Vancouver, and participated in all swimming and sports. He was Senior Leader Corps of YMCA in Victoria, and
leader in Victoria High School Gym Teams for three years.
Flying Officer Billingsley enlisted with the RCAF on May 26, 1942. He trained in Canada was served with
Western Air Command and Eastern Air Command. He was assigned to Eastern Air Command on November 15,
1943 and joined No 5 RCAF Squadron serving in Gander, Torbay, and Yarmouth. He was taken on strength at
RCAF Station Yarmouth with 5 Squadron on July 29, 1944.
On the night of March 3, 1945, he encountered an argument between two officers and was struck by one of
the officers. He fell back and suffered a cerebral haemorrhage that led to his death in the early hours of
March 4.
His body was returned to Victoria and he was
buried there in the Royal Oak Burial Park
Cemetery .
Henry Kenneth Billingsley
