LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Victor STARKOFF DFC
Service No: 414432
Born: Irkutz, Russia, 31 January 1911
Enlisted in the RAAF: 14 September 1941 (at Brisbane QLD)
Unit: No. 578 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Burn
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 25 January 1946
Died: Aircraft Accident: (No. 578 Squadron Halifax aircraft LK974), Berkshire, 18 July 1944, Aged 33 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alexis and Marie Starkoff, of East Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Memorial, RAF Cemetery North Hinksey, Berkshire
Remembered: Panel 258, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFC Citation (for service with No. 578 Squadron): Flying Officer Starkoff as pilot/captain of aircraft, has completed numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty.
At 0520 hours on 18 July 1944 Halifax LK974 took off from Burn to bomb Caen, France. On the outward leg of the operation an accident occurred when at 8,000 feet the starboard engine caught fire and the aircraft crashed at Bisham, Berkshire. The tail gunner abandoned the aircraft on instructions from the Captain. The remainder of the crew crashed with the aircraft which was blown to pieces by the bombs exploding.
The crew members of LK974 were:
Flight Sergeant John Edward Claque (1588531) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Pilot Officer Jan Frederick Fink (176585) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Pilot Officer Lloyde Hinson Hopper (J/86734) (RCAF) (Wireless Operator)
Flight Sergeant Ivor Morgan (1337960) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Gerald Thomas Nicholson (1523535) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant H C Sloan (R/194792) (RCAF) (Rear Gunner) Baled out, safe
Flying Officer Victor Starkoff DFC (414432) (Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/38/613