In memory of

Flying Officer

Alexander Jerry Salaba

who died on 2 Jan 1944

Service details
  Conflict WWII
  Service RCAF
  Unit No. 405 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
  Rank Flying Officer
  Service number J14787
  Date of death 19440102
  Cause of death killed in action
Narrative history
  J14787 Flying Officer (No. 405 City of Vancouver Pathfinder Squadron RCAF navigator) Alexander Jerry (Alex) Salaba (b.1916) of Willow Bunch was KIA 19440102 and is buried at Oud Schoonebeek general cemetery, Schoonebeek, Drenthe, Netherlands near the German border. Salaba's Lancaster failed to return from a night raid on Berlin. He was the son of James and Mary (Slawich) Salaba, both Czechs, who came from Galicia to homestead NW20-28-16-W2 northeast of Punnichy in 1907. The family moved to Willow Bunch early in 1916 where they operated the Salaba coal mine into the 1950s. A twin brother of Philip, Alex taught at Anchor school and Willow Bunch before enlisting in the Army (L41551) at Saskatoon in 1941, transferring to the RCAF at Hamilton, Ontario, early the next year.

R Zimmer died on the same flight.
       A Glossary of abbreviations to help understand the terms used is available.
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Memorial information
  Saskatchewan rural municipality for commemoration 42 - Willow Bunch
  Cemetery or memorial location Oud Schoonebeek general cemetery, Schoonebeek, Drenthe, Netherlands    

Please click here to view the cemetery/memorial information on Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  Honour roll location(s) Willow Bunch
  Geo-memorial Salaba Lake, Saskatchewan     
  Geo-memorial location 57.75°N / 103.6833°W
  Geo-memorial NTS map reference 64E12
  Geo-memorial details Southwest of Wollaston Lake.
Personal information
  Date of birth 19161005
  Place of birth Willow Bunch    
  Date of enlistment 19410705
  Place of enlistment Saskatoon    
  Residence on enlistment Willow Bunch    
  Occupation teacher
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