Historical medals donated to 405 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force
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In 2013, Frank Moore purchased a small suitcase full of letters, medals and military documents.
Over the next four years, he and researcher friends analyzed the contents and came up with a chronological narrative. The story was that of a World War II Canadian aircrew whose plane was shot down over the Netherlands on July 25, 1943. Six crew members would lose their lives, while the lone survivor would spend the rest of the war in a prison camp.
In 2016, Frank and friends visited the graves of the crew in Ten Boer, in the northeast of the Netherlands. Here, Frank posthumously awarded the navigator of the plane, Alexander McCracken, with his medals. Medals, that McCracken never saw but whose family they were given, which they saved, and which were found in the suitcase.
By 2020, with research and presentations completed, Frank decided to donate the medals and the suitcase full of primary documents to the town of Ten Boer. Unfortunately, but fortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic halted and changed his plans. It came about that Frank asked me to write the story about the crew of HR 864 LQ-M, its crash and the journey of research and historical and educational connections that were intertwined throughout. In 2021, we self-published the book Six Graves in the Village: A True Story of WWII Canadian Service and Remembrance. (Available through www.volumesdirect.com).
The book was well received by our historical community as well as the extended family members of the crew. For the first time the details of individuals, the mission and their sacrifices were fully presented. As well, the town of Ten Boer was reminded of the forgotten memory of the survivor Alex Sochowski.
Recently in July, Frank and friends made another trip with the medals. Frank decided to donate the medals to the 405 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the same squadron of our crew. In 1943, the 405 Pathfinder Squadron was a night flying, target bombing outfit. They dropped target indicator flares for the operational bombing. Today, the Pathfinders are a long-range patrol squadron involved in surveillance, reconnaissance, and search and rescue, with combat capabilities.
It was fitting that the donation of medals, a piece of artwork, and the pilot’s logbook were presented to the 405 on the 80th anniversary of the downing of HR 864 LQ-M. The ceremony took place at Canadian Forces Base Greenwood, in Nova Scotia. With the current base leadership and active 405 personnel, the artifacts were donated and received with the understanding of their history to the squadron, Canadian history and combat service. The ceremony brought closure to Frank and those who had been part of this historical journey. But there was one more surprise in store.
At the end of the ceremony, Frank was invited to the podium by Lieutenant Colonel Terry Wong. Lt. Col. Wong had been part of the 2016 Ten Boer ceremony, acting as a representative from the current RCAF. He was now presenting Frank with a medal of his own. Frank was awarded the Governor General’s Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.
The citation read: “For 17 years, Frank Moore worked to ensure veterans of the First and Second World Wars were recognized both locally and internationally. He initiated a project which saw the names of servicemen killed in battle placed on a local cenotaph and oversaw a project which commemorated the lives of a fallen aircrew who were shot down over the Netherlands in 1943.”
By no means is this the end. Though a book was written, artifacts donated, and an award granted, Frank’s pursuits for remembrance and education will continue. Congratulations Frank! It has been a pleasure working with you and being part of this journey. Everyone associated with this project has been energized by your leadership and commitment. And, while we were out east together, we were all asked, “what’s next?”… and we are wondering the same thing.
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