The son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Burke of Erieau, ON.

It was reported that Jack returned to Hamilton, ON. after Christmas 1942. CDN 29/12/42

In 1943, Jack was still at RCAF-Toronto as an AC2 when he was given a two week leave. He departed on September 4th to begin his Wireless course at No. 4 Wireless School at Guelph, ON WN 26/08/43.

Jack served with the 428 (Ghost) Squadron of 6 Group (Bombers) RCAF. Jack was serving on the same Lancaster bomber as Flt. Sgt. Benny Rakus of Blenheim (Mk.10 KB763, squadron code NA-S) (CDN 5/12/44). The two had been friends since their school days. At the time of the encounter with the ME163 jet (as noted in F/O Hal Walkers’ Flight Log Book during the night of 4/5 Nov. 1944), it was clear that Benny had been shot down.

They both had been serving overseas for two years. At the time Jack was just 20 years old. 

Jack was reported to have returned to Canada from overseas along with Stewart Crawford and Cpl. A. E. Atkinson in the BNT 6/06/45.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

CDN (5-12-1944), M. J. MacNeil email (18/07/16), KCFA, BDHS

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