In memory of

Warrant Officer class 2

Michael Alexander Saruk DFM

who died on 23 May 1944

Service details
  Conflict WWII
  Service RCAF
  Unit No. 576 Squadron, Royal Air Force
  Rank Warrant Officer class 2
  Service number R163670
  Date of death 19440523
  Cause of death killed in action
  Decorations Distinguished Flying Medal
Narrative history
  R163670 Warrant Officer 2 (No. 576 Squadron RAF bomb aimer) Michael Alexander Saruk DFM (b.1918) of Alvena was KIA 19440523 and is buried at Reichswald Forest war cemetery, Kleve, Germany. Saruk's Lancaster went missing during a night raid on Dortmund, crashing at Hindingsel, a small village near Dulmen. He was the son of Nickolas and Ephemia (Bilouser) Saruk who came from Ukraine. Michael was born on the farm, educated at Vladimir school and Rosthern and was farming with his family when he enlisted at Regina in 1942.

Distinguished Flying Medal recommendation (1944):
Since commencing his operational tour on 17th January 1944, Sergeant Saruk (a Canadian) has completed 17 operational sorties and 104 hours 30 minutes flying hours against many of the most heavily defended of the enemy targets as Bomb Aimer in a Lancaster bomber.
On the night of 3rd/4th May 1944, he was in an aircraft detailed to bomb a tank depot at Mailly in France. When the aircraft was about 20 miles from the target it was hit, severely damaged and set on fire by a night fighter. The aircraft immediately went into a step dive and after much exertion the captain, aided by the Engineer, managed to straighten out after having lost a good deal of height.
Soon after this the navigator who had gone aft to see what damage had been done, returned and reported by shouting to the Engineer, as the inter-communication system was useless, that the fire had gone out but that there appeared to be a great deal of damage.
The captain returned to the target area, and was directed on a bombing run over the objective by Sergeant Saruk using hand signals, which were relayed by the Flight Engineer to the captain, and in spite of tremendous difficulties a successful attack was achieved.
Almost immediately after leaving the target the aircraft was again attacked and set on fire in the middle of the fuselage. The Engineer went aft and successfully put the fire out; meanwhile Sergeant Saruk helped his captain to control the aircraft which was almost unmanoeuverable. By his coolness and presence of mind this Non-Commissioned Officer was to a large extent responsible for a successful bombing attack on the target. Throughout the flight and throughout his tour he has shown considerable courage and devotion to duty and I strongly recommend him for the Non-Immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Saruk was killed less than two weeks after these words were written.
       A Glossary of abbreviations to help understand the terms used is available.
Images
  Photo
   Please click here if you have another photograph or document to add.
Additional information
  Links to other web pages Please contact us if you know of a web link about this casualty.
  Pages on our Blog Please click here if you would like to create a Blog page for this casualty.
Memorial information
  Saskatchewan rural municipality for commemoration 402 - Fish Creek
  Cemetery or memorial location Reichswald Forest war cemetery, Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany    

Please click here to view the cemetery/memorial information on Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  Honour roll location(s) ------
  Geo-memorial Saruk Lake, Saskatchewan     
  Geo-memorial location 59.8333°N / 102.9833°W
  Geo-memorial NTS map reference 64M15
  Geo-memorial details West of Misaw Lake.
Personal information
  Date of birth 19180604
  Place of birth Alvena    
  Date of enlistment 19420504
  Place of enlistment Regina    
  Residence on enlistment Alvena    
  Occupation farmer
Copyright Information
  The information above is Copyright © Saskatchewan War Memorial Project; all rights reserved. Permission is granted to use this information for personal use and for use in a school classroom environment only. For all other uses, please submit a request through the Contact Form.