Flying Officer Moses Rabovsky

Flying Officer Moses Rabovsky

No. 429 Squadron, RCAF

Family Life:

Moses was born on November 29, 1917, in Owen Sound to Gertrude and Moses Rabovsky. He came from a large family having three sisters and three brothers.

Moses attended Ryerson Public School and Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute where he completed his junior matriculation qualification. Two of his favourite sports were tennis and badminton. Before the war, Moses worked for William Cadesky as a general labourer.

Service History:

Moses enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in June 1942, where he qualified as an air bomber. He arrived in the United Kingdom in September of 1943, where he completed further training before being attached to No. 429 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

FO. Rabovsky had an impressive military career: “He graduated air bomber at Crumlin in July of last year and shortly after his graduation received his commission as a Pilot Officer. Going overseas, he received a promotion to Flying Officer only a short time ago. It is known to his family here that he had been on several bombing missions over Germany and German occupied territory.”

FO. Rabovsky’s parents received a telegram on May 28, 1944, informing them their son had gone missing during a bombing operation “over the [European] continent.” The young Jewish airman from Owen Sound was the bomb-aimer aboard Halifax MN293 of No. 429 Squadron RCAF that was destined on an operation for Leopoldsburg, Belgium, for a “bombing attack.” It would be later confirmed for the Rabovsky family, that their son and brother had been killed in action.

Bomber Command was attacking strategic targets in preparation for D-Day which included the military camp at Leopoldsburg. Rabovsky, being Jewish, risked even more than his fellow airmen flying missions into Germany and occupied Europe. If he bailed and was captured, he would face the wrath of an anti-Semitic enemy. It was later determined FO. Rabovsky’s Halifax had crashed killing the entire crew. He was buried at Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium.

Decorations:

• 1939– 1945 Star

• Air Crew Europe Star

• Defence Medal

• Canadian Volunteer Service Medal

• War Medal 1939-1945