MAJAKI BA
Majaki, Bert Alex Died
Personal Information
| Rank | P/O |
| Forename(s) | Bert Alex |
| Surname | Majaki |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 23 |
| Decorations | DFC |
| Date of Death | 09-10-1944 |
| Next of Kin | Son of Stanley and Antonia Majaki of 57 Bridport Place, Shoreditch, London. Husband of Dorothy Eileen Majaki (née Hobday), of Edmonton, Middlesex. Their marriage registered in Islington in October 1943. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
| Serial Number | LK830 |
| Markings | LK-N N-Nust |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Leytonstone (St. Patrick'S) Roman Catholic Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | Plot 11A. Row 1. Grave 1046. |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 2 |
| Panel Number | 203 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 184621 |
| Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Group | 4 |
| Squadron | 578 |
| Squadron Motto | Accuracy |
| Trade | Air Bomber |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
| Location | Adjacent to A19, Burn, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
| Memorial Text | For all who served in 578 Squadron Royal Air Force Burn 1944 - 1945 |
| Location | Methodist Church, Burn, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
| Memorial Text |
| Location | Selby Abbey, Selby, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | RoH in Glass topped wooden cabinet |
| Memorial Text | In memory of all 578 Sqn Aircrew who failed to return from Ops at RAF Burn |
| Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Memorial Gardens, Propeller, Inscribed Marble Tablets |
| Memorial Text | In everlasting homage to the courage of those who have found their winged victory through the skies of Yorkshire |
| Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Propeller Unit & Inscribed Marble Tablets |
| Memorial Text | They made the supreme sacrifice so that you & I may go in peace with freedom. 4 Group 1939 - 1945. |
| Location | Heslington Hall, York, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
| Memorial Text | Heslington Hall 1941 - 1945, 4 Gp Headquarters Bomber Command. In remembrance of those Air & Ground personnel who made the supreme sacrifice that we all may walk in peace with freedom |
Miscellaneous Information
| Sgt Ken Shearsby was also injured |
| This was the crew's 40th and final operation. |
| Text written by Charles William Adams DFM- Rear Gunner LK-O.......... October 9th, 1944 BOCHUM, GERMANY A night operation on this Ruhr town to complete the destruction of the town. Twenty Halifax Mk3 of 578 detailed and all attacked the primary. Bomb loads 2 x nickels WG2C, 6 x AN.M59 T.D 059,2 x 500lb GP TD.025 bombs carried by 'A' and 'O' bomb. Bomb loads varied for other aircraft. Take off started at 1711 and finished at 1741. 'O' took off at 0737 hours. For those who returned to base times varied on landing from 2209 to 2312 hours. 'O' landed away at Woodbridge Crash landing strip. This aircraft came back on three engines with a dead Bomb aimer, F/Sgt B.A Majaki and a wounded Flight Engineer Sgt.K. Shearsby The rest of the crew of 'O' LK830 were F/O J. Bluring (P), F/O A.E McNaughton (N), Sgt P. Romback Mid Upper gunner, Rear Gunner F/Sgt C.W. Adams and F/Sgt G. Costidell W/O (this crewman’s first operation since coming out of hospital after being wounded on an earlier operation on Bourg Leopold on May 27th. On this operation their aircraft was attacked by fighters which broke off attacks after receiving fire from the Rear Gunner. This night was to be this crewman's second landing in succession at a crash landing strip with dead or wounded crew members). After bombing and on the homeward run this aircraft was attacked and fired on by a Halifax from ahead and slightly to Starboard 5116N-0459E at 21.05 hours at 10,000 feet. The Bomb Aimer was killed immediately and the Flight Engineer Ken Sheasby was wounded in three places. The Rear Gunner F/Sgt C.W. Adams (and author) takes up the story: I had arranged to get married on the 14th October, four days after this memorable mission. Suddenly tracers came from behind me and the Aircraft immediately corkscrewed, this shortly stopped as soon as firing stopped. I never saw this aircraft as it was ahead. Pete the Mid Upper said it was a Lancaster. When things had settled to level flight, Mac the Navigator said that Bob had been hit. I asked him if blood was flowing in spurts-fast, slow etc i.e. to find out if arterial or not at which Mac said that Bob was dead, it was stated later that Ken the Flight Engineer was also wounded. I then asked Jim the skipper if I should come and attend to things knowing that things would be a little rough on George, his first Op after coming out of hospital, after being wounded on an earlier operation. Jim said yes so I told George to go in the Mid Upper and Pete came to my turret. I then went forward to deal with matters. I passed Ken on my way to the from and asked him by signs if he was O.K.-he nodded 'yes', so I went further forward (it was not possible to talk in bomber aircraft due to the noise from the four engines). I then went to Bob who had obviously died instantly as the left rear side of his head (a piece as large as my hand) was blown away with his brain exposed. I then laid out Bob where had fallen as best as I could and covered him with his parachute which was also very torn during the attack. Bullets had also penetrated Macs (our very capable Navigator) desk and charts as Bob had fallen almost at his feet. I then took part of his parachute to wipe myself, and I still have this piece to this day in the same condition as when I used it. I then gave a nod to Mac who I was aware would be working at the side of Bob's body for the rest of the flight. I was the obvious man to deal with such emergencies as I could also do the Wireless Operator's job as I had done the Ground and Air Wireless Operators courses and was well versed in First Aid. I had in fact done the Wireless/Op job on a previous operation when George had been wounded with injuries that required him to lay down as sitting would have made his injuries worse. I thought about staying and doing the W/Op job again, knowing it would be rough on George it being his first operation after being wounded. Then I realised that the defence of the aircraft was my prime responsibility so I then reversed the position of the crew to back to the original. We landed at Woodbridge Crash landing strip at 2205 hours When we had been debriefed, etc and Jim had let Burn know our fate, we were shown to a Nissen hut for the night. When about three yards from the hut the tannoy stated that a Flying Bomb (called by all a buzz bomb) would be passing overhead, which it did almost immediately, this would presumably have been launched from an enemy twin engined aircraft which they were doing at this time and range. It was the first time we had heard the noise of these machines, although we had seen them in the air, including the first day when they were sent on London where a number of the Squadron aircraft were hit by our own flak passing over the Thames area. Knowing this sound was to come in handy at a later date. The following day we were brought back to Burn by S/Leader Daw in aircraft 'D' NA574 (This aircraft was later to kill five of its crew after an engine fire occurred during fighter affiliation in which the wing collapsed on January 26th 1945). I was married four days later. Instead of having my crew at the wedding as I expected, those that were left and able went to Bob's funeral. He was buried at private grave 1046, Plot 11B Section 1.St Patrick’s Cemetery Leytonstone, London. At a later date I visited the grave with his wife. This was the last operation for most of the crew having done forty operations. Their Wireless Operator had only just joined them from hospital and afterwards they would leave the Squadron for other duties. |
| Born 15 February 1921 in Islington, London, Bert was the youngest of eight Majaki siblings. |
| Bert was a Bespoke Tailor before enlisting. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 09-10-1944 |
| End Date | 10-10-1944 |
| Takeoff Station | Burn |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (41% moon) |
| Operation | Bochum |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Fired upon by another Halifax ('friendly fire'), killing P/O Majaki instantly. The aircraft returned safely to base without further injury. |