Brother John H. Williams

With the outbreak of the Second Great War in Europe, Canada was selected by the Commonwealth Forces to train Flight Pilots, Navigators and Bombers for the war effort. Twenty Six airports and bases across Canada were chosen to house these training schools. The Windsor Elementary Flying Training School was established in July of 1940 at Windsor Airport.

One of the local Airman who graduated from several of these training schools was Pilot Officer Brother John Harrison Williams.

John Williams was born in Tilbury, Ontario on November 23^rd 1921, son of Ethelda and Harrison Williams. Growing up in the Tilbury area John attended local elementary and high schools.

With the outbreak of the War in Europe John enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in December of 1940. Private Williams was assigned to the Commonwealth Training School at St. Thomas, Ontario and trained as a aero-engine mechanic.

After being certified as a mechanic John continued training at the Toronto, Windsor and Hagersville centers, ultimately receiving his Wings. After receiving his commission as a Pilot Officer, John enrolled at the Arnprior centre, becoming a pilot instructor.

As a Student Flight instructor Pilot Officer Williams was transferred to the Windsor Elementary Training School in 1943.

It was during this time that John Williams was shown the Great Light of Freemasonry. On March 16^th 1943 Brother Williams was initiated as a member of Naphtali Lodge No. 413 in Tilbury, passed to the second degree on May 18^th and was scheduled to be raised to the third degree of a Master Mason, but destiny intervened.

On June 15^th 1943 Brother Pilot Officer Williams was flying a Tiger Moth airship with student Lloyd Jackson. At the same time another student pilot was flying close by. For some unknown reason both planes collided in mid-air, the plane flown by Pilot Officer Williams crashed to the earth killing both John and the student. Three days later on June 18^th 1943, Pilot Officer Brother John Harrison Williams was buried in Stewart Cemetery at Tilbury.

Brother Williams name appears on page 226 in the Book of Rememberance in Ottawa and on the Lancaster Bomber Memorial in Windsor.