Name: Hector Earl McRae Rank: Flying Officer Service No: J/20195 Service: Royal Canadian Air Force 428 "Ghost" Squadron. Date of Birth: May 27, 1920 Place of Birth: Huxley, Alberta Date of Enlistment: July 10, 1941 Place of Enlistment: Calgary, Alberta Age at Enlistment: 21 Height: 6 feet; ½ inch Weight: 150 Lbs Complexion: Medium Eyes: Blue Hair: Brown Address at Enlistment: Huxley, Alberta Employment: Farm Labourer Marital Status: Single Religion: United Church of Canada Next of Kin: Gordon McRae (Father) Huxley, Alberta Date of Death: September 22, 1943 Age at Death: 23 Memorial: Runnymede Memorial Memorial Reference: Panel 174 Listed on the Runnymede Memorial, Commemorated on Page 193 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 20 Hector Earl McRae was the son of Gordon and Gertrude Sarah May (Marshall) McRae, of Huxley, Alberta, Canada. He was a brother of George Henry, and James Marshall McRae. Although his first name was Hector, he was always called Earl. His brother, James (Jim) McRae, a Yarmouth resident, also served with the RCAF during WWII. Born in Huxley, Alberta, Earl completed twenty-one subjects at Huxley High School #1575 in 1937. Following his schooling he worked on the family farm between 1937 and 1941. He played hockey, softball and curled, all moderately. He applied to the RCAF on July 8, 1941 indicating he wished to enlist as a pilot. Earl completed Initial Training at Regina, Saskatchewan between February 15 and April 8, 1943; Elementary Training with No. 19 Elementary Flying Training School (19 EFTS) at RCAF Station Virden, Manitoba between April 26, 1942 and July 3, 1942; and Service Flying Training at Brandon, Manitoba between July 6, 1942 and October 23, 1943. He was awarded his Pilot’s Flying Badge on October 23, 1942. He was considered a capable and hard worker, keen, respectful, quiet with an unassuming personality with a fine determination and sense of responsibility; very conscientious in his work and was popular with the men. He embarked for the United Kingdom on December 12, 1942 and was taken on strength with No.20 (P) Advanced Flying Unit (AFU) on March 26, 1943 where he was considered to be a pilot of above average ability, keen and reliable and a sound Captain. He took a keen interest in his crew and maintained good discipline throughout his course; with No. 24 Operational Training Unit (OTU) on May 18, 1943 where he was recommended for four engine bombers; 1664 Conversion Unit on July 24, 1943; and 428 Squadron on August 17, 1943. On the night of September 22/23, 69 Halifax Bombers from 419, 427, 428, and 429 Squadrons plus 6 Lancasters from 426 Squadron RAF Middleton St George were joined by 14 Wellingtons from 432 Squadron on an attack at Hanover, Germany. According to reports, the visibility was good. Flying Officer McRae and the crew of six, flying a Halifax V LK-635 coded NA-H, failed to return from this operation. All were lost without a trace. Initially listed as presumed dead, an official receipt of a Certificate of Presumption of Death was issued on November 4, 1944.