Kroeker, Walter
Personal Information
Rank | F/L |
Forename(s) | Walter |
Surname | Kroeker |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 04-04-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Frank Diedrich Kroeker and Elizabeth Kroeker (née Pankratz), of Langham, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | RF182 |
Markings | PH-P |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 6. Z. 18-27. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 60 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/24167 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 12 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Kroeker Lake, Saskatchewan |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Wickenby Airfield, Wickenby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial with Sculpture of Icarus & Information Board |
Memorial Text | Royal Air Force Wickenby No1 Group Bomber Command 1942-1945 In memory of one thousand and eighty men of 12 & 626 Squadrons who gave their lives on operations from this airfieldin the offensive against Germany and the liberation of occupied Europe Per ardu |
Miscellaneous Information
Walter was born on 11 July 1920 at Langham, Saskatchewan. His parents were both born in Russia and his father works as a drayman. Both now naturalised Canadians. He has three brothers, Arthur, Orlando and Benjamin and a sister Laurina. One of the brothers is in the RCAF and another working in a Steel factory. He went to Langham school 1927-1935 (grades 1-8) and back again 1935-1939 for Senior Matric. He had no hobby but enjoyed hockey and baseball. Walter took on general small duties between 1939-1940 and then spent the winter of 1940-41 in Lumber Camps. From 1941 onwards he worked as a Relief Agent for the Monarch Lumber Company until enlisting on 20 February 1942. |
After training he was sent to the U.K. on 4 April 1943, then to 11 (P) AFU. 1 June 1943, 81 OTU 17 August 1943, 1656 CU 8 November 1943, and 12 Squadron on 31 December 1943. In his records he is marked as having been slightly injured on 5 June 1943, missing on 4 January 1944, interned on 12 January 1944 in Sweden and safely back in U.K. by 27 September 1944. Sadly Walter lost his life on 4 April 1945. (He and his crew force-landed their 12 Squadron Mk III Lancaster ND324 PH-E at Kalmar, Sweden). |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/169/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/169/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 04-04-1945 |
End Date | 05-04-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Wickenby |
Day/Night Raid | Night (58% moon) |
Operation | Lutzkendorf |
Reason for Loss | Airborne 20:54 on 4 Apr 1945 from Wickenby to bomb the oil refinery in Lützkendorf. Crashed near the small town of Braunsbedra approximately 10 km SW of Merseburg |