Stanley Teskey was born on December 15, 1925, the son of Charles Joseph Teskey (born in Sarnia) and Mary Elizabeth (nee Peers, born in Wallaceburg) Teskey, of 334 North Russell Street, Sarnia. Stanley had two brothers: Douglas Charles (born 1922) and Gordon Wilfred (born 1932). Gordon was born at Sarnia General Hospital on March 8, 1932, but unfortunately, he was a stillborn birth. The family was residing at 274 Bright Street, Sarnia at the time.

His brother Douglas graduated in June of 1943 from the No. 1 Service Flying Training School at Camp Borden. Douglas would marry Frances Mary (nee Warwick) in July of 1943 and arrive overseas later that same month. Douglas would be posted to an R.A.F. bombing squadron, where he participated in raids on Leipzig, Ludwigshaven, Anheim, Cologne, Essen and other Nazi industrial centres. Of these, he thought the “toughest” target was Leipzig, where the gunners of the plane he piloted shot down one German fighter and damaged another. It was a tribute to his ability to “stickhandle” with a heavy bomber that neither the plane nor any member of its crew was hit while Douglas was at the controls. While overseas, Douglas was twice promoted, from pilot officer to flying officer, and again to the rank of flight lieutenant. At the time of Stanley’s death in April of 1945, Douglas was a Flight Lieutenant, serving in England. In May of 1945, Douglas, a veteran of 30 bombing raids over Germany, would return home to Sarnia on leave to be with his parents and his wife Frances.

Stanley Teskey was a member of the Sarnia Air Cadets prior to enlisting in 1943. Single at the time, Stanley enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He would graduate as a Sergeant Air-gunner at the No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School at Mont Joli, Quebec on June 1, 1944. He would become a member of RCAF #426 Thunderbird Squadron “On Wings of Fire”, attaining the rank of Pilot Officer-Air Gunner. One month after graduating, in July of 1944, Stanley Teskey would go overseas. In mid-December of 1944, the Canadian (Sarnia) Observer reported that Stanley Teskey was celebrating his 19th birthday in England, while his brother Douglas had celebrated his second wartime birthday overseas on November 4th. It also reported that the brothers had recently spent three leaves together in England.

On April 25, 1945 Stanley Teskey was part of a crew aboard Halifax aircraft NP820 that was involved in a mid-air collision. Pilot Officer-Air Gunner Stanley Teskey would lose his life when the Halifax aircraft was over the sea and in a mid-air collision with a #408 Squadron aircraft. They were about one hour from their target of Wangerooge, Germany. Perishing with Pilot Officer Stanley Teskey in the Halifax were Pilot Officer’s J.C. Tuplin, D.R. Curzon, and E.W. Hicks; Flying Officer J.D.C. Ross (of Sarnia); Sgt. R. Roberts (RAF); and one other member of the crew. The collision was seen by F/L. Allan Ross D.F.C., D.F.M. of #408 Squadron. In late April of 1945, parents Charles and Mary Elizabeth Teskey in Sarnia would receive a telegram from Ottawa informing them that their son, Flight Sergeant Stanley James Teskey, has been reported missing on air operations overseas on April 25. Approximately two weeks after Stanley Teskey’s death, VE Day was declared, ending the war in Europe. Stanley Teskey would later be officially listed as, Previously reported missing after air operations, now for official purposes, presumed dead, overseas (Germany). Nineteen year-old Stanley Teskey has no known grave. He is memorialized on the Runnymede War Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom, Panel 281.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, M, N, 2C, 2D