Date: 18th December 1944 (Monday)
Unit: No. 432 Squadron R.C.A.F.
Type: Halifax Mk II
Serial: NP699 (Oscar the Outlaw)
Coded: QO-O
Location: Rocroi, Ardennes, France.
Pilot: F/O. Max Krakovsky (Carson) D.F.C. J/26685 R.C.A.F. Survived
Fl/Eng: P/O. Michael Joseph Boylan 187754 R.A.F.V.R. Age 19. Killed
Nav: F/O. Robert Leslie Cann J/36389 R.C.A.F. Age 22. Killed (1)
Air/Bmr: F/O. Gordon Douglas Wilson J/37726 R.C.A.F. Age 22. Killed
W/Op/Gnr: P/O. Alfred Goodman-Wells Blayney J/90837 R.C.A.F. Age 27. Killed
Air/Gnr: P/O. Stanley Ernest Zadorozny J/95483 R.C.A.F. Age 21. Killed (2)
Air Gnr: P/O. James William Green J/95292 R.C.A.F. Age 20. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
On the outward leg, just after 06.00hrs, in the vicinity of Rocroi, Ardennes, France, Halifax Mk VII NP699 QO-O of 432 Squadron R.C.A.F. collided with Halifax Mk III LV818 ZA-F of 10 Squadron R.A.F.
Both aircraft fell to earth, and fourteen of the fifteen crew on board were killed.
The one survivor was F/O. Max Krakovsky, R.C.A.F, the Pilot of NP699, who landed safely by parachute near Bruly, Belgium. Max became a friend of David Mole but sadly he recently passed away. (September 3rd 2005) On the morning of the crash, six bodies were recovered by the Americans and buried in an American Cemetery at Fosse, near Namur, Belgium.
A short time afterwards another four bodies were recovered, again by the Americans and buried in an American Cemetery at Champigneul, Marne, France.
In late 1945 a further body was recovered and buried in the Communal Cemetery at Taillette, Ardennes, France, by the local Civil Authorities.
A further body was found in 1948, and again buried in Taillette Communal Cemetery by the Local Authorities.
In 1951 a body was found near Sevigny-la-Foret, Ardennes, France, and buried in the local Churchyard by the Commune.
After the War the bodies at Fosse were exhumed, identified, and re-buried at Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Belgium.
The bodies from Champigneul were exhumed, identified where possible, then the two Canadians were re-buried at Dieppe Canadian Cemetery and the One British plus one un-identified were re-buried at Clichy New Communal Cemetery, near Paris, France.
The body from Sevigny-la-Foret was exhumed in 1953, identified, and re-buried at Choloy Military Cemetery, France.
Crew of NP699 - left to right: F/O. Krakovsky, F/O. Cann, F/O. Wilson, Sgt. Blayney, Sgt. Zadorozmy, Sgt. Green and Sgt. Boylan.
P/O. Alfred Blayney and P/O. Stanley Zadorozny awaiting debrief following a raid on Osnabrük in September 1944 . (Shown here as Fl/Sgt's)
Above left: F/O. Cann and right: F/O. Krakovsky (Carson) D.F.C.
Above left: P/O. Boylan with P/O. Green. Right: F/O. Wilson with P/O. Blayney
Above left: NP699 "Oscar the Outlaw". Right: P/O. Michael Joseph Boylan
F/O. Max Krakovsky D.F.C. Citation:
Distinguished Flying Cross - No.432 Squadron - Award effective 10 May 1945 as per London Gazette dated 25 May 1945 and AFRO 1291/45 dated 10 August 1945. Born 1923 at Cobalt, Ontario; home in Toronto (chemist).
Enlisted in Toronto, 12th May 1942. Trained at No. 6 I.T.S. (graduated 23 October 1942), No. 20 E.F.T.S. (graduated 22 January 1943) and No.6 SFTS (graduated 28 May 1943). Commissioned May 1943.
No citation other than "completed...numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty."
DHist file 181.009 D.5557 (RG.24 Vol.20668) had recommendation dated 16 January 1945 when he had completed 34 sorties (156 hours five minutes), 7th August to 18th December 1944.
This officer has completed a lengthy operational tour most successfully. His trips include some of the most difficult targets in Germany. His co-operation, coolness and devotion to duty contributed in a large measure to the success of these operations. His splendid record and high degree of technical ability warrant a strong recommendation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. (Photo's of Max courtesy Bonnie Wasser)
(Newspaper cutting from the Globe and Mail for Max, courtesy Bonnie Wasser)
Max Krakovsky later changed his name to Carson on the 8th June 1945, prior to marrying on the 24th June 1945. He passed away on the 3rd September 2005 and is buried in Toronto, Canada. His headstone carries the R.C.A.F. logo.
(1) Cann Island in Nahili Lake, Manitoba is named after F/O. Cann
(2) Zadorozny Lake in Manitoba is named after P/O. Zadorozny
Burial details:
P/O. Boylan Michael Joseph. Leopoldsburg War Cemetery: VIII.B.11.
Son of Thomas and Henrietta Boylan of Motherwell, Lanarkshire.
F/O. Cann Robert Leslie. Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery: N.30
Son of Leslie O. Cann and Margaret G. Cann of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
F/O. Wilson Gordon Douglas. Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery: N.20
Son of James and Elizabeth Wilson of Chatham, Ontario, Canada.
P/O. Blayney Alfred Goodman-Wells. Leopoldsburg War Cemetery: VIII.B.7.
Foster son of Frederic C.H. and Beatrice Louise Blayney, husband of Hazel Isobel Blayney of Little Shemogue, Westmorland, New Brunswick, Canada.
P/O. Zadorozny Stanley Ernest. Choloy War Cemetery: 4.D. 10.
Stepson of Mr and Mrs. George Jesson of Sanford, Manitoba, Canada.
P/O. Green James William. Runnymede Memorial: Panel 250
Son of James and Emily Green of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
This great selection of photographs have recently been received by the Aircrew Remembrance Society from David Mole - further information follows on other losses by David and we would like to express our sincere gratitude for this information received. Thanks also to Bonnie Wasser, the daughter of Max, for various photographs and information sent. We would also like to thank Mike Harrison who has also recently supplied further information and photographs to us. Mike specialises in research of Canadian squadrons and continues to assist us with updated information. With thanks also to Anthony Boylan for the new photo of Sgt Michael J. Bolan.
This way these people will never be forgotten and for the surviving relatives and aviation researchers we can now show the faces to the names placed on graves by the C.W.G.C. who carry out such tremendous work. With thanks to the following: Bill Chorley - "Bomber Command Losses Vol 4", Martin Middlebrook "Bomber Command War Diaries".
