Trafford

Colin was born at Denton, Lancashire during the March quarter 1906 in the
Ashton-under-Lyne R.D. - ref: 8a/517, the son of William & Annie Wilson
(nee Hulse).  Annie was the daughter of a self employed Undertaker.

1911 Census - Osbourne House, 457 Manchester Road, Denton.    Son - aged: 5
- born: Denton, Lancashire.   Head of Household - William Wilson - aged: 38
- occ: Felt Hat Manufacturer (Employer) - born: Audenshaw.  His wife -
Annie Wilson - aged: 30 - born: Denton.    Also listed was Colin's younger
brother and two younger sisters.   His parents had been married 7 years and
produced 5 children - all of whom were still alive.   No trace of the 5th
child on the return ?   The family employed two servants.

He was a member of the Royal Aero Club and his membership certificate,
shows his address in 14 June 1931 as Greyfriars, Chapel-en-le-Frith,
Derbyshire.

Colin married Joyce H. Essam during the September quarter 1936 in the
Sheffield R.D. - ref: 9c/1305.  I can find no trace of Joyce's birth
registration, nor any reference to her on the 1911 census returns.   Joyce
may have married a Peter Wilson during the December quarter 1947 in the
Manchester R.D. - ref: 10e/275.

D.F.C. Gazetted on the 11th February 1944 -  "Acting Squadron Leader Colin
Howard WILSON - No. 75996 - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve - No. 97
Squadron".

Now a Squadron Leader, Colin was the pilot of Lancaster bomber Mk III - No.
ND443  MG-L that was taking part in a raid on Nurnburg.   They took off
from RAF Oakington, the home of the Pathfinder No. 7 Squadron, at 22.08
hours on the 30th March.   Outbound, they were intercepted by a German
night fighter and crashed at Ober-Moos, 4 kms north-west of Freiensteinau,
Germany.   All the crew were killed.

He is commemorated on the WW2 war memorial book held in St. Thomas Becket
Church, Chapel en le Frith.

The other crew members were :-  Sgt. Wycliffe Jenkins  -  Sgt Joseph
Stevens  -  Fl/Off James Stewart Ferrier (RCAF)  -  Sgt Kenneth Geoffrey
Francis  - Sgt Thomas Burgess Liddle  -  Sgt Frank Tilden Fuller.