The son of Mr. and Mrs. George Lilley of  61 Edgar Street, Chatham, ON.George was married  and his wife was living with her parents in Windsor, ON. She was visiting her husband’s family while he was on leave.   George enlisted in the RCAF in September of 1942 and was reported leaving Chatham for RCAF Brandon, MB. to begin his training as a wireless operator. CDN 14/09/42(P).

Trained at Brandon and Calgary. Served one year in Ferry Command, overseas, in England  and Ireland. Promoted to Warrant Officer First Class.

The CDN 12/05/44 home on furlough. He was reported that W.O. Lilley had been serving in Ferry Command after an absence of several months and he had flown oceans on several occasions. He had flown on big land planes and Catalina flying-boats on trips from Canada to Scotland and Britain and India. George carried an interesting souvenir in the form of a “string of money he exchange in various countries where his planes had stopped.

WO Lilly was a member of the “short-snorter club” a club of people who have flown oceans and prefers not to talk about their particular work. One of his exciting trips in which a big ship became lost in a fog on a flight from Canada to Scotland. They were unable to make contact with the base for a considerable time and it was only after the  plane was flown at various altitudes that he was able to pick up the required signals and get “on the beam” to bring in the aircraft for a safe landing.  

Discharged October 1945.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

IODE(N), CCI-RH, CDN(2)

Birthplace	Chatham, Ontario
Religion	Protestant
Marital Status	Married
When Enlisted	September 9th, 1942
Next of Kin	Wife- Mrs. Lois Lillay

---

Notice something wrong with this record? Or, do you have something to add? Report it using our online form.