July 25 at 1 p.m., the 405 Squadron Association will host a presentation of Second World War-era medals in front of the Lancaster aircraft at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum, marking the 80th anniversary of the crash of the Halifax Pathfinder bomber HR864 LQ-M for Mother.
The aircraft was affectionately named M for Mother by its aircrew, in the hopes it would care for them – just as their mothers had. The medals belonged to M for Mother’s Pilot Flight Officer Marcel (Mickey) Tomczak and Navigator Flight Officer Alexander McCracken, and started their long journey to Greenwood in a small brown suitcase, originally owned by the McCracken family.
Frank Moore, a Canadian military history enthusiast, purchased the suitcase and its contents in 2013, beginning a seven-year project that uncovered the story of the men who perished in the crash of M for Mother. In addition to McCracken’s medals, the case contained letters between his mother, Catherine, and the mothers of his crewmates. So moved was Moore by the correspondence of the grieving women, he eventually found descendants for five of the airmen, one of which was Mike Tomczak.
In 2016, Moore visited the town of Ten Boer in the Netherlands, the site of the bomber’s long ago crash and where the airmen are buried. Arriving with seven other Canadians, he presented the town with a print of a painting of the bomber on its last flight, thanking the community for having cared for the fallen soldiers since the war. Moore planned on travelling back to Ten Boer, with Mike Tomczak and the descendant of tail gunner Pilot Officer Michael Smyth, May 4, 2020, to donate the suitcase artefacts, but the pandemic forced the group to cancel.
During the last couple of years, Moore discussed the future of the McCracken medals with Mike Tomczak: both wanted to ensure the artefacts would have a home where they would be appreciated and cared for, where they would survive the passing of time and become a part of history. After long and careful consideration, both men felt the best place for the medals would be back home, under the stewardship of the modern-day 405 Squadron, 405 (Long Range Patrol) Squadron, at 14 Wing Greenwood.
McCracken’s medals have been expertly mounted and framed alongside his crewmate, Tomczak’s military decorations, for the July 25 ceremony at the Greenwood museum. Moore and Mike Tomczak will present the frames to 405 Squadron, and the items will be lovingly displayed so today’s 405 Squadron members can find strength and inspiration in the memory of predecessors.
