Wilbert Henry Oliver Heidman Pilot Officer J/90753 420 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force July 2, 1925 Toronto, Ontario March 29, 1943 Toronto, Ontario Toronto, Ontario 17 5 feet, 8½ inches Fair Blue Light Brown Single Plater Presbyterian Bessie Gladys Heidman (Mother) Toronto, Ontario March 16, 1944 18 Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany Coll. Grave 4.H.13-16

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Place of Enlistment: Address at Enlistment: Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Eye Colour: Hair Colour: Marital Status: Trade: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Grave Reference:

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Wilbert Henry Oliver Heidman was the son of Harry Heidman and Bessie Glady (Gray) Heidman of Toronto Ontario and the brother of Dawn Jeannette. He completed one year of high school at the age of 16. Prior to enlistment with the RCAF he was employed as an electro-plater with Research Enterprises Ltd., a war plant, in Leaside, Ontario. Pilot Officer Hiedman trained in Canada between March 29, 1943 and November 1, 1943. He was awarded his Air Gunners Badge on October 15, 1943. He embarked Canada on November 1, 1943 and disembarked in the United Kingdom on November 9, 1943. He was taken on strength with 420 Squadron on January 9, 1944. On the night of March 15/16, 1944, Pilot Officer Heidman was an Air Gunner on Halifax III LW 426 that departed RAF Tholthorpe, Easingwold, North Yorkshire, for bombing operations against Stuttgart, Germany. The aircraft, with a crew of eight failed to return to base and the crew and aircraft were presumed lost. Investigations in March, 1947, determined that during the attack on Stuttgart an aircraft was seen on fire after aerial combat and crashed four km. east of Bernhausen in the locality of Neuhausen, at approximately 10:30 pm. Local officials arriving at the scene of the crash found the remains of the crew. The body of Air Gunner Heidman was the only one identified by his watch and signet ring. The bodies were buried in Neuhausen Cemetery on March 22, 1944 at 3:00pm. There was no ceremony as the authorities had forbidden any funeral arrangements. The crew were re-buried in the Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany.