Habiluk, Mike
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Mike |
Surname | Habiluk |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 17-06-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Harry Habiluk and Mary Habiluk (née Galagail), of Winnipeg, Manitoba |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LK792 |
Markings | WL-N |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Ede General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Row H. Grave 17. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 174 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/86999 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 434 (Bluenose) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Habiluk Lake, Manitoba; 30km NNW of Lake Winnipeg |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Race Control Building, Croft Auto Circuit, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Roadside Location, A167, Dalton on Tees, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial topped with metal statue |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Former Control Tower, old Tholthorpe airfield site, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Mike was born 6 March 1922 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Both parents were born in Austria and his father worked as a labourer. Mike had a brother Peter and a sister Helen. The family lived in Manitoba Avenue, Winnipeg. Mike went to King Edward School 1929-1935 where he took grades 1-7 and then at Isaac Newton where he took grades 7-11 between 1935-1939. He went on to St. John Technical College where he took an Industrial Course studying electrics, forging, woodwork etc. Between 1939-1942 he worked as a clerk for the Western Packing Company in Winnipeg. His sporting interests included baseball, hockey and swimming. His hobby was aircraft. |
Mike enlisted on 8 September 1942 and after training was posted to the U.K. He embarked from New York on 3 August 1943 and had arrived at 3 PRC by 12 August.He then went on to 1664CU 20 August 1943, and 434 Squadron on 18 October 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 16-06-1944 |
End Date | 17-06-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Croft |
Day/Night Raid | Night (16% moon) |
Operation | Sterkrade to bomb a synthetic oil plant, despite a poor local weather forecast The target was indeed covered in thick cloud and the PFF markers were not easily visible. Bombing was scattered as a result and there was little impact on production. The bomber stream passed within 30 miles of the Tame Boar night-fighter beacon that was being used that night, resulting in large bomber losses on the approach. Total losses for the night were 31 aircraft (13.6%) although losses among certain squadrons were higher still- notably 77 Sqn which Lost 7 of its 23 aircraft (30.3%). |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Otterlo, Holland |