Michael was born in July 1924 in West Ham, Essex to Jack and Russian born Debora née Zisslin and he had a younger brother Peter. Michael’s grandfather originated from Lithuania and the family surname was originally Kalmovitz. His father Jack worked as a radio and electrical manufacturer and in 1939 the family lived at 60 Forest Drive West, Leytonstone. After their home was destroyed by enemy bombing and they moved to Edgware. Michael enjoyed boxing and was a motorcycle enthusiast and after leaving school he began training at de Havilland as an engineering apprentice. When he was seventeen he enlisted in October 1941.

Michael was the flight engineer on Lancaster LL718 which departed from RAF Linton-on-Ouse on a night operation to bomb Stuttgart. The aircraft was lost without trace. All the crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Pilot, Alexander Colborne Colville, RCAF, J/21864

A/G, Dennis Vivian Davies, 1652786

W/Op, A/G, Arthur Coles Kitchener Hodson, RCAF, J/86273

Nav, William Van Fossen Reid, RCAF, J/24232

A/B, Moody Albert Siddons, J/27697

A/G, Francis Ernest Albert Smith 1801964