Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of Jacob and Julia Holub, from Didsbury, Alberta.
Digital gallery of Pilot Officer Michael Holub
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Michael Holub
Pilot Officer Holub was reported missing on the night of September 14, 1942 when the Wellington aircraft carrying him and his crew was lost near the Frisian Islands. None survived; several bodies were recovered and buried in a local cemetery. Michael's body was not recovered, though he is commemorated on the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial. There are indications his aircraft was either on a "gardening" operation (dropping sea mines, an operation often used to prepare crews for regular bomber operations) or as part of a diversionary force for a large raid on Germany. At the time of his death, he was serving with the RAF's No. 21 Operational Training Unit (OTU), which can be thought of as "finishing school" for aircrew headed for operations. By no means has Michael been forgotten by his family.
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Michael Holub
From the Calgary Herald. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Michael Holub
From the Calgary Herald. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Michael Holub
From the Calgary Herald. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Michael Holub
Pilot Officer Michael Holub is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Michael Holub
Pilot Officer Michael Holub is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer Michael Holub
Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Image gallery
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Pilot Officer Holub was reported missing on the night of September 14, 1942 when the Wellington aircraft carrying him and his crew was lost near the Frisian Islands. None survived; several bodies were recovered and buried in a local cemetery. Michael's body was not recovered, though he is commemorated on the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial. There are indications his aircraft was either on a "gardening" operation (dropping sea mines, an operation often used to prepare crews for regular bomber operations) or as part of a diversionary force for a large raid on Germany. At the time of his death, he was serving with the RAF's No. 21 Operational Training Unit (OTU), which can be thought of as "finishing school" for aircrew headed for operations. By no means has Michael been forgotten by his family.
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From the Calgary Herald. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
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From the Calgary Herald. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
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From the Calgary Herald. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
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Pilot Officer Michael Holub is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
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Pilot Officer Michael Holub is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
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Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 82 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Surrey, United Kingdom
During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave. Of these, 20,450 are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial, which is situated at Englefield Green, near Egham, 32 kilometers by road west of London.
The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:
IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE
In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott."
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
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