Salaba, Alexander Jerry
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Alexander Jerry |
Surname | Salaba |
Gender | M |
Age | 27 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 02-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of James Salaba and Mary Salaba (née Slawich), of Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | JB280 |
Markings | LQ-K |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Schoonebeek (Oud Schoonebeek) General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot 3. Row 1. Coll. grave 735. |
Epitaph | LOVE'S GREATEST GIFT, REMEMBRANCE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 237 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/14787 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 405 (Vancouver) |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Salaba Lake, Saskatchewan |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Adjacent to Village Windmill, Mill Rd, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Remembering 405 (Vancouver) Sqn. PFF at Gransden Lodge 1942 - 1945 |
Location | St. Bartholomew's Church, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, RoH and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating the 801 airmen of 405 Sqn. RCAF who gave their lives 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Pillar and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of 102 (Ceylon) and 405 (Vancouver) Sqns. Pocklington Airfield |
Miscellaneous Information
Alexander was born in Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan on 2 October 1916. Both of his parents were both born in Horochov, Czechoslovakia and his father was a farmer. Alexander had a sister Annie, and brothers James, Frank, Philip and Joe. He went to Sitkala school 1925-1933 (General course), Willow Bunch High School 1933 -1936 (Senior Matric) and Willow Bunch Normal School 1936-1937 (French). The sports Alexander played were softball, hockey, basketball and tennis. Alexander was a school teacher between 1937-1942, when he then enlisted at Hamilton on 5 January 1942. |
After training he was sent to the U.K. where he disembarked on 30 November 1942. He went on to 6 EFTS 16 April 1943, 1(0)AFU, 4 May 1943, 23 OTU 8 June 1943, 1659 CU 26 August 1943, 429 Sqn. 20 September 1943 and 405 Squadron 1 December 1943. He lost his life exactly one month later. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1789/2 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1789/1 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 01-01-1944 |
End Date | 02-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Gransden Lodge |
Day/Night Raid | Night (41% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 421 Lancasters, 28 losses (6.7%). German fighters were directed to the main bomber stream early in the approach and the German controller was not deceived by the Mosquito diversion on Hamburg. However, the night-fighters were not particularly effective over the target and the flak was also restricted in height due to their presence. Berlin was cloud covered once again and the sky-marking was not especially accurate. Bombing was scattered but mainly in the southern suburbs. Only 21 houses and one industrial building were destroyed and 79 people killed. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter on outbound leg and crashed at Nieuw Schoonebeek, Holland |