Person Page 1,535

Ann Collier was born on 8 August 1870 at New Rattray in Blairgowrie, Perth, ScotlandO.

David McLaren was born in 1866.

David Alexander McLaren was born on 4 July 1892 in Mains and Strathmartin, Angus, Scotland. He died in 1965 at age ~73 in AustraliaO.

Jane Hynd was born in 1885 at St Clement in Dundee, Angus, ScotlandO. She died in 1971 at age ~86.

William Hynd McLaren was born in 1913 in Cargill, Perth, ScotlandO. He died in 1980 at age ~67 in AustraliaO.

Joan Campbell was born on 14 May 1914 in Blairgowrie, Perth, ScotlandO. She died in 1992 at age ~78 in Perth, Western Australia, AustraliaO.

Roderick Alexander McLaren was born in 1917 in Blairgowrie, Perth, ScotlandO. He died on 18 March 1962 at age ~45 in Dundee, Angus, ScotlandO.

Margaret Duffy Young was born on 28 February 1920 at Possilpark in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, ScotlandO. She died in 2010 at age ~90 in Blairgowrie, Perth, ScotlandO.

William Alexander Willits was born on 17 November 1885 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, EnglandO. William and Ida were married on 24 January 1913 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, EnglandO. He died on 14 February 1954 at age 68 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, EnglandO.

William Edward Willits was born on 5 October 1914 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, EnglandO. He died on 14 December 2003 at age 89 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, EnglandO.

William Edward Willits served in the military as a pilot in the RAF during WWII. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal on 1 November 1939. Sergeant Willits was co-pilot and navigator of an aircraft that engaged an enemy flying boat in September 1939. After the pilot was shot in the head during an attack and collapsed over the control stick, this airman, despite the pilot's immobility and the extremely low altitude, managed to regain control of the aircraft. After the dead pilot was removed from the control stick, Sergeant Willits flew the aircraft back to base, a distance of approximately 200 kilometers.
This man's skill and presence undoubtedly saved the aircraft and the lives of the other crew members.

He was most likely the first pilot of WWII to receive the DFM. The award ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 1, 1939, and was the first such award during WWII. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 9 July 1943. Since this pilot rejoined his squadron for a second tour, he has attacked four U-boats. On a patrol in April 1943, a U-boat was spotted making no attempt to submerge. F/Lt. Willits attacked with his front gun while flying in to drop his depth charges, which hit on either side of the boat. The U-boat then dived, but through clever maneuvering, F/Lt. Willits was able to attack again with a well-placed bomb.

Marjorie Willits was born on 17 July 1918 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, EnglandO. Leonard and Marjorie were married in 1942 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, EnglandO. She died on 14 January 2013 at age 94 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, EnglandO.

Leonard Oswald Merrick was born on 5 April 1913 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, EnglandO. Leonard and Marjorie were married in 1942 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, EnglandO. He died on 4 November 2005 at age 92 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, EnglandO.

Edward John Willits was born in 1942 in Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, WalesO. He died in 2012 at age ~70.