On May 28, 1940 William Henry Baldwin enlisted in the RCAF. He was described by his interviewer as "Very much above average in all respects" and that he "is taking air crew assignment through eagerness to serve." Also, the interviewer adds to his report "strongly recommended" which classifies him as a good candidate. As soon as July 1 ,1940 William was moved to a manning depot in Toronto Ontario, entering the Initial Training School on July 20. It was here that his BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan) training really began. In the middle of September he left to Malton for Air Observer School and then to Jarvis for Gunnery school. While being there he trained mainly in the Anson trainer plane. After this, William was moved to an Air Navigation School at Rivers, Manitoba for about 2 months before being moved to Halifax and shipped overseas. 

For William it would have been a big deal to be placed in the 405th. They were the first RCAF squadron to be formed overseas and the only pathfinder squadron in the entire RCAF. The British and Canadians flew their bombing missions at night to minimize the chance of being hit unlike the Americans that flew during daylight. This meant that a lot of accuracy was lost, as a pathfinder in the squadron would go up and drop flares to mark targets helping the other squadrons pinpoint targets. William flew in the Halifax bomber, the Canadian equivalent to the British Lancaster. In his time serving he took part in operation millennium (the bombing of the city of Cologne) which was the first allied bombing raid with over 1000 planes (May 30, 1942).

In late August of 1944 William Baldwin was reported missing after air operations. In fact, the plane was "hit by enemy fighters" near Zobbenitz, Germany. While his crew members were removed and buried, William's body was found only 3 months later near the crash site hanging from a tree with fractures all over. He was identified by branded handkerchief, and his leather name tag. The body was buried in Zobbenitz, but later moved to the British War Cemetery in Heerstrasse, Berlin. His Grave is located Plot 6 Row F Grave 27. William died leading the way for the RCAF marking targets. He made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. 

Au moment de s’enrôler, William H. Baldwin était fonctionnaire. Il est entré dans l'armée le 28 juin 1930, pour rejoindre l’escadron 405 de la “Royal Canadian Air Force”. Avant la guerre, William n’avait pas d'expérience avec des avions. Après être officiellement entré dans l’armée, il a été envoyé en poste a l’étranger en juin 1941. Entre le 5 septembre 1941 et le 13 septembre 1942, il a effectué 31 sorties. William a eu la médaille “flying cross” pour ses efforts dans la guerre.

William H. Baldwin a disparu le 23 Août, puis est mort le 24 Août. Baldwin combattait dans la bataille de Berlin et il a probablement été abattu par un chasseur de nuit quand il était dans un avion. Son avion s’est écrasé au nord de Haldensleben, en route vers Berlin. William était dans l'avion avec  le sergent S. Cugley et l’officier pilote L.R. King. Baldwin a été enterré en Allemagne, dans le cimetière de la guerre de 1939-1945 de Berlin.  

'If we do preserve it, we honour them, and when we in our turn pass on, we will know that behind us lives a generation of free men and of free women to be the keepers of this great heritage of ours - Canada.'

- Ian A. McPhee, former student at GCI, 1937.