Barske, Paul Jack
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Paul Jack |
Surname | Barske |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 26-11-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Mike Barske and Stephania Barske (née Somzurs) of Whitemouth, Manitoba, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LK969 |
Markings | NA-G |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Durnbach War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 6. J. 13. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 127 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/157138 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 428 (Ghost) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Barske Lake, Manitoba; Between Lac du Bonnet and Pointe du Bois |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Adjacent to fomer St. Georges Hotel, Teesside Airport, County Durham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed slate tablets |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served on 428 (RCAF) Sqn at Middleton St. George during WWII, especially those who made the supreme sacrifice |
Miscellaneous Information
The rest of the crew became PoW |
Paul was born at Ladywood, Manitoba on 16 November 1917. Both parents were born in Glenaria, Poland and his father was a farmer. He had two brothers William and Frank and sisters Mary, Stefania, Bernice, Rose and Agnes (Stefania is also shown as Stephania). Paul went to Whitemouth Public School 1925-1932, and continued 1932-1938. He also attended Wesley College 1936-1938. His sport interests were baseball, football and hockey and his hobbies were mechanics and carpentry. He worked in a Brickyard 1937-1940, part time, as well as working in maintenance, 1938-1940, also part time. Paul also worked in the Defence Industries Cordite Plant, July 1941-Sept 1942, as a Kneader operator (rubber manufacture). |
Paul then enlisted on 18 February 1942 and after training embarked from Canada for the U.K. He arrived at 3PRC on 18 March 1943 and was then sent to 3(0) AFU. 11 May 1943, 23 OTU 8 June 1943, 1664 CU 28 August 1943 and 428 Squadron on 26 September 1943. Sadly just two months later, Paul was to lose his life on 26 November 1943. Barske Lake, S/W of Lac due Bonnet and also called Hampshire Lake, locally, is named after him. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 25-11-1943 |
End Date | 26-11-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Middleton St. George |
Day/Night Raid | Night (3% moon) |
Operation | Frankfurt. 262 aircraft, mainly Halifaxes. 12 losses (4.6%) with no diversionary raids. The German controller correctly surmised that Frankfurt was the target. Cloud cover led to scattered bombing and it is thought that fewer than 100 bombs landed on the city. 80 deaths on the ground and 1500 people were bombed out |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter at 19000' over the target. Its first pass set light to the starboard inner engine while its second killed Sgt Barske and inflicted damage on the starboard outer engine |