The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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245936 Flt/Sgt. Manuel "Tinker" Sharko Royal Canadian Air Force 432 Squadron from:Nisku, Alberta My father is Manuel Sharko. He enlisted with the RCAF at age 19 and completed 36 operational flights as a mid-­upper gunner on Halifax bombers with RCAF 432 Squadron. He completed a tour of duty at 30 “ops” but continued on through six more. All 36 ops were completed with a crew of NCOs and pilot F/S (later P/O) Robert Campbell DFC, who were all RCAF members except for the flight engineer. Another member of the crew was also decorated. F/S Stewart Cassels, the navigator, was awarded the DFM. Manuel was born in a log house on the family farm near Nisku, Alberta, just south of Edmonton, on February 21, 1925, and lived there until he enlisted in the air force at age 17 in 1943. After qualifying as an Air Gunner at No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School at MacDonald, Manitoba, when he was shipped overseas, Manuel was based with his squadron in England at East Moor, Yorkshire. Despite odds, Sgt. Sharko and all in his crew survived the war. He says his scariest and longest flight was a bombing run to Stuttgart when his Halifax was shot up and losing fuel but was able to land safely at an American base in England where the bomber was repaired, then flown back to East Moor. My father, Manual Sharko resting on his turrent. He was an upper gunner . My fathers best friend and Tail Gunner, Brian Rice, pictured here Manuels Halifax Manual is far right. Out with friends. Wayne Sharko Add to this record.  Related Content: No. 432 (Leaside) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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