500961 Flt. Sgt. J. P. McMaster RCAF 428 Sqd
Flt Sgt McMaster flew with My uncle, F/S Paul Barske a Canadian, in 428 Squadron "B" RCAF. His partial diary was handed down to me from my grandmother. The crew were:
- S/L J.R.Beggs RCAF
- Sgt T.C.Qualey
- F/S J.P.McMaster RCAF
- Sgt P.J.Barske RCAF
- F/O G.M.Ruff RCAF
- Sgt F.Moore RCAF
- Sgt G.W.Redwood
Halifax NA-G, Serial Number LK969, took off from Middleton St.George on the 25th of November 1943 at 23:33. The aircraft was shot down at 19,000 feet over Frankfurt by a night-fighter. The opening burst set the starboard inner engine on fire and its second pass killed Sgt Barske as well as setting light to the outer starboard engine. The rest of the crew survived but were all captured and taken prisoners of war; S/L J.R.Beggs was held in Stalag 9C with F/S J.P.McMaster who also spent time in Stalag 357. Sgt F.Moore was held in Stalag 4B, with Sgt T.C.Qualey and Sgt G.W.Redwood, the later also spent time at Stalag Luft 3. F/O G.M.Ruff was held at Stalag Luft 1. Sgt Barske was buried in the Durnbach War Cemetery.
Can anyone tell me more? Additional Information: | I am the son-in-law of Thomas Qualey, the flight engineer. He is still alive and living near Newcastle, Australia. I believe that he was very close to Paul (in fact, my wife is named Pauline in his memory). Please contact me if you want to be put in touch with him. Brad Saillard
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| LK 969 was claimed by Uffz Robert Krohn, his 1st Abschuss from 5/NJG6 over Unteroffenback 4Km north of Aschaffenburg at 03:25hrs.Mark Dennison
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