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No. 428 (Ghost) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force
No. 428 (Ghost) Squadron was formed at RAF Dalton, on 7th November 1942, with No. 4 Group. On 1st January 1943, 428 transferred to No. 6 (RCAF) Group, The squadron moved to Middleton St. George in June 1943 remaining there until 1945 when 428 returned to Canada.
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Annual Service of Remembrance 2023.
The Middleton St George Memorial Association Annual Service of Remembrance will take place at the Memorial Garden, Teesside International Airport at 10.45am on the 10th of June 2023 Please arrive in good time, if you would like to lay a wreath or other tribute please let a member of our committee know before the service begins.
Remembrance Service 2023.
The Middleton St George Memorial Association Remembrance Day Service will take place at the Memorial Garden, Teesside International Airport at 10.45am on the 11th of November 2023 Please arrive in good time, if you would like to lay a wreath or other tribute please let a member of our committee know before the service begins.
The memorial garden is the resting place of the ashes of many who served at Middleton St George. If family members of those who served would like to have ashes placed in the garden, please get in touch so arrangements can be made. We are currently compiling a memorial book, if you know of anyone whose ashes have been placed in the garden, please could you let us know as we would like to include as many names as possible.
The Memorial Garden is open to visitors, please park in the visitors car park. Access to the garden is via the pedestrian gate on the north side of the long stay car park, follow the striped path from the terminal building to the gate. Please be aware there is no access to the old St George Hotel building or car park, as it is currently in use as a business facility.
Airfields at which No. 428 (Ghost) Squadron were based:
- Dalton. Nov 1942 to June 1943
- Middleton St George. June 1943 to 1945
Read the incredibly moving story of one man's bravery and the long campaign to ensure that he will never be forgotten.
18th April 1943 Shot down off Tunis
10th Jul 1943 Aircraft Lost
6th Sep 1943 Aircraft Lost
6th Jun 1944 Coastal Defences
6th Jun 1944 Supply Lines
17th Aug 1944 428 Squadron Lancaster lost
5th Jan 1945 Night Ops
27th Feb 1945 Night Ops
2nd Mar 1945 Night Ops
3rd Mar 1945 Night Ops
7th Apr 1945 428 Squadron Lancaster lost
8th Apr 1945 Night Ops
9th Apr 1943 A Difficult Flight
13th Apr 1945 Night Ops
22nd Apr 1945 Night Ops
30th Apr 1945 428 Squadron Lancaster lost
30th Apr 1945 Lancaster Lost
15th August 1945 Tiger Force
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Logbooks
Do you have a WW2 Flying Log Book in your possession?
If so it would be a huge help if you could add logbook entries to our new database. Thank you.
View Logbook entries
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
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Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. |
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Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted
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World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
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Want to know more about No. 428 (Ghost) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force? There are:2025 items tagged No. 428 (Ghost) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Donald Harling 419 Sqd. This is a photo that my mother left me of my dad, Donald Harling and others, her notes show that it was taken at Middleton St. George in 1942. He was a radar technician and worked on the radar sets in the bombers. He is the one in the back row under the arrow. I do not know the names of any of the others.
He mentioned, many years ago, that he had been in the Moose (419) and Ghost (428) squadrons. He worked on the radar sets in the bombers and remembers touching the high voltage wires more than once. He said it would straighten out his arm so fast, the screw driver would sometimes punch a hole in the side of the plane. On a sadder note, he occasionally had to clean out a gunners position for those who didn't make it.
If you have any information about others, please feel free to e-mail me.
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Flight Sergeant J L Keighan 428 Squadron Halifax LK928
Squadron 428
Operation Frankfurt
Date 1 20th December 1943
Date 2 21st December 1943
LK928 was one of two No.428 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation (the other was EB252). Airborne 1614 20Dec43 from Middleton St.George. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Glees some 7 km NNW of Mendig. Burials are reported from Glees 27Dec43; their graves are now located in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
The brother of Sgt Jessiman, William Herkis Jessiman, was also KIA. F/S Tycoles survived the crash as his death is reported to have taken place at Reserve Lager Maria Loast 24Dec43.
F/S J.L.Keighan RCAF PoW, interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.1463
Sgt George Herkis Jessiman RCAF R/68645 KIA age 22
F/O Keith Maxwell Mosher RCAF J/21553 KIA
F/S Elmer Lawrance Tycoles RCAF R/128073 Inj
Sgt John Patrick Slater RAF 1516173 KIA age 29
Sgt George Kensall RAF 1052337 KIA age 22
Sgt Thomas Stanley Roy Dagnall RAF 1600759 KIA
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Sergeant Thomas Stanley Roy Dagnall 428 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) Halifax LK928
Squadron 428
Operation Frankfurt
Date 1 20th December 1943
Date 2 21st December 1943
LK928 was one of two No.428 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation (the other was EB252). Airborne 1614 20Dec43 from Middleton St.George. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Glees some 7 km NNW of Mendig. Burials are reported from Glees 27Dec43; their graves are now located in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
The brother of Sgt Jessiman, William Herkis Jessiman, was also KIA. F/S Tycoles survived the crash as his death is reported to have taken place at Reserve Lager Maria Loast 24Dec43.
F/S J.L.Keighan RCAF PoW
Sgt George Herkis Jessiman RCAF R/68645 KIA age 22
F/O Keith Maxwell Mosher RCAF J/21553 KIA
F/S Elmer Lawrance Tycoles RCAF R/128073 Inj
Sgt John Patrick Slater RAF 1516173 KIA age 29
Sgt George Kensall RAF 1052337 KIA age 22
Sgt Thomas Stanley Roy Dagnall RAF 1600759 KIA
F/S J.L.Keighan was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.1463.
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Sergeant George Kensall 428 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) Halifax LK928
Squadron 428
Operation Frankfurt
Date 1 20th December 1943
Date 2 21st December 1943
LK928 was one of two No.428 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation (the other was EB252). Airborne 1614 20Dec43 from Middleton St.George. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Glees some 7 km NNW of Mendig. Burials are reported from Glees 27Dec43; their graves are now located in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
The brother of Sgt Jessiman, William Herkis Jessiman, was also KIA. F/S Tycoles survived the crash as his death is reported to have taken place at Reserve Lager Maria Loast 24Dec43.
F/S J.L.Keighan RCAF PoW
Sgt George Herkis Jessiman RCAF R/68645 KIA age 22
F/O Keith Maxwell Mosher RCAF J/21553 KIA
F/S Elmer Lawrance Tycoles RCAF R/128073 Inj
Sgt John Patrick Slater RAF 1516173 KIA age 29
Sgt George Kensall RAF 1052337 KIA age 22
Sgt Thomas Stanley Roy Dagnall RAF 1600759 KIA
F/S J.L.Keighan was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.1463.
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Sergeant John Patrick Slater 428 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) Halifax LK928
Squadron 428
Operation Frankfurt
Date 1 20th December 1943
Date 2 21st December 1943
LK928 was one of two No.428 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation (the other was EB252). Airborne 1614 20Dec43 from Middleton St.George. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Glees some 7 km NNW of Mendig. Burials are reported from Glees 27Dec43; their graves are now located in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
The brother of Sgt Jessiman, William Herkis Jessiman, was also KIA. F/S Tycoles survived the crash as his death is reported to have taken place at Reserve Lager Maria Loast 24Dec43.
F/S J.L.Keighan RCAF PoW
Sgt George Herkis Jessiman RCAF R/68645 KIA age 22
F/O Keith Maxwell Mosher RCAF J/21553 KIA
F/S Elmer Lawrance Tycoles RCAF R/128073 Inj
Sgt John Patrick Slater RAF 1516173 KIA age 29
Sgt George Kensall RAF 1052337 KIA age 22
Sgt Thomas Stanley Roy Dagnall RAF 1600759 KIA
F/S J.L.Keighan was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.1463.
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Flight Sergeant Elmer Lawrance Tycoles 428 Squadron (d.24th December 1943) Halifax LK928
Squadron 428
Operation Frankfurt
Date 1 20th December 1943
Date 2 21st December 1943
LK928 was one of two No.428 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation (the other was EB252). Airborne 1614 20Dec43 from Middleton St.George. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Glees some 7 km NNW of Mendig. Burials are reported from Glees 27Dec43; their graves are now located in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
The brother of Sgt Jessiman, William Herkis Jessiman, was also KIA. F/S Tycoles survived the crash as his death is reported to have taken place at Reserve Lager Maria Loast 24Dec43.
F/S J.L.Keighan RCAF PoW
Sgt George Herkis Jessiman RCAF R/68645 KIA age 22
F/O Keith Maxwell Mosher RCAF J/21553 KIA
F/S Elmer Lawrance Tycoles RCAF R/128073 Inj
Sgt John Patrick Slater RAF 1516173 KIA age 29
Sgt George Kensall RAF 1052337 KIA age 22
Sgt Thomas Stanley Roy Dagnall RAF 1600759 KIA
F/S J.L.Keighan was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.1463.
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Flying Officer Keith Maxwell Mosher 428 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) Halifax LK928
Squadron 428
Operation Frankfurt
Date 1 20th December 1943
Date 2 21st December 1943
LK928 was one of two No.428 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation (the other was EB252). Airborne 1614 20Dec43 from Middleton St.George. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Glees some 7 km NNW of Mendig. Burials are reported from Glees 27Dec43; their graves are now located in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
The brother of Sgt Jessiman, William Herkis Jessiman, was also KIA. F/S Tycoles survived the crash as his death is reported to have taken place at Reserve Lager Maria Loast 24Dec43.
F/S J.L.Keighan RCAF PoW
Sgt George Herkis Jessiman RCAF R/68645 KIA age 22
F/O Keith Maxwell Mosher RCAF J/21553 KIA
F/S Elmer Lawrance Tycoles RCAF R/128073 Inj
Sgt John Patrick Slater RAF 1516173 KIA age 29
Sgt George Kensall RAF 1052337 KIA age 22
Sgt Thomas Stanley Roy Dagnall RAF 1600759 KIA
F/S J.L.Keighan was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.1463.
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Sergeant George Herkis Jessiman 428 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) Halifax LK928
Squadron 428
Operation Frankfurt
Date 1 20th December 1943
Date 2 21st December 1943
LK928 was one of two No.428 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation (the other was EB252). Airborne 1614 20Dec43 from Middleton St.George. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Glees some 7 km NNW of Mendig. Burials are reported from Glees 27Dec43; their graves are now located in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
The brother of Sgt Jessiman, William Herkis Jessiman, was also KIA. F/S Tycoles survived the crash as his death is reported to have taken place at Reserve Lager Maria Loast 24Dec43.
F/S J.L.Keighan RCAF PoW
Sgt George Herkis Jessiman RCAF R/68645 KIA age 22
F/O Keith Maxwell Mosher RCAF J/21553 KIA
F/S Elmer Lawrance Tycoles RCAF R/128073 Inj
Sgt John Patrick Slater RAF 1516173 KIA age 29
Sgt George Kensall RAF 1052337 KIA age 22
Sgt Thomas Stanley Roy Dagnall RAF 1600759 KIA
F/S J.L.Keighan was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.1463.
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Flight Sergeant J L Keighan 428 Squadron Halifax LK928
Squadron 428
Operation Frankfurt
Date 1 20th December 1943
Date 2 21st December 1943
LK928 was one of two No.428 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this operation (the other was EB252). Airborne 1614 20Dec43 from Middleton St.George. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Glees some 7 km NNW of Mendig. Burials are reported from Glees 27Dec43; their graves are now located in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
The brother of Sgt Jessiman, William Herkis Jessiman, was also KIA. F/S Tycoles survived the crash as his death is reported to have taken place at Reserve Lager Maria Loast 24Dec43.
F/S J.L.Keighan RCAF PoW
Sgt George Herkis Jessiman RCAF R/68645 KIA age 22
F/O Keith Maxwell Mosher RCAF J/21553 KIA
F/S Elmer Lawrance Tycoles RCAF R/128073 Inj
Sgt John Patrick Slater RAF 1516173 KIA age 29
Sgt George Kensall RAF 1052337 KIA age 22
Sgt Thomas Stanley Roy Dagnall RAF 1600759 KIA
F/S J.L.Keighan was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.1463.
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Stu Hanlin 428 Squadron My father Stu Hanlin was flight engineer on a Lancaster bomber NA-Z in 428 (Ghost) Squadron. He was lucky, completed his tour and returned home.
In 1982 I met a man named Bob Mosher. We were talking one day and he told me about his uncle Keith Mosher who wasn't so lucky. His uncle was in 428 squadron and was killed on his very first sortie. At that time 428 squadron were flying Halifax. Today Bob is one of my best friends. If it wasn't for the bravery that his uncle and my father had we, perhaps would never have become fast friends. We owe a lot to them.
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Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
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The History of RAF and RCAF Middleton St George and Teesside Airport
Into the Night Sky: RAF Middleton St George: A Bomber Airfield at War Paul Tweddle
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