William Carrall Hilborn

William Carral Hilborn
Born	5 July 1898 Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada
Died	26 August 1918 Grosso, Italy
Plot 6, Row A, Grave 8, Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension, Italy	Plot 6, Row A, Grave 8, Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension, Montecchio Precalcino, Italy
Allegiance	Canada
Service/branch	Aviation
Years of service	1917-1918
Rank	Captain
Unit	No. 66 Squadron RAF, No. 28 Squadron RAF, No. 45 Squadron RAF
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross

Captain William Carrall Hilborn (whose middle and last names are variously spelled Carroll and Hillborn) was a World War I Canadian flying ace. He was raised as a western Canadian pioneer. He undertook his own aviation education in his eagerness to join the Royal Flying Corps. He overcame physical problems and a tendency toward airsickness to become a wingman to famed Canadian ace William George Barker. After scoring seven victories in Italy, Hilborn died on 26 August 1918, of injuries received in a flying accident.

William Carrall Hilborn was born on 5 July 1898 in Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada; his middle and family names were later variously given as "Carroll" and "Hillborn". His parents were Josephine Elizabeth and Stephan Lundy Hilborn. William Carrall was the second son; he would come to have six younger siblings. He grew up on his family's ranch and was taught his primary education in a school built by his father. In later years, Stephen Lundy Hilborn would build an in-town house near the nearest high school for his children to live in while receiving their post-primary education.

In 1916, during World War I, William Carrall Hilborn and his older brother Clarence decided to learn to fly so they could join the Royal Flying Corps. They borrowed money towards fees of C$300 each and began training at British Columbia Aviation School Limited in October 1916. When they ran out of money, they returned home. However, they were called for training at Deseronto and graduated in Summer 1917. William enlisted on 23 July 1917,commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on probation, and embarked on the troopship Scotian for England, all on the same day.

HIlborn began advanced training in England at the Central Flying School on 15 August 1917. On 3 October 1917 he was appointed as a flying officer onto the General List, signifying his readiness for deployment as a pilot. He actually graduated from the Central Flying School on 14 October 1917. He was then supposed to have a nasal operation and spend two weeks recovering. He confided to his brother Clarence that he got airsick in anything but straight level flight, and that he expected to become an instructor at Upavon.

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