As a member of the Medicine Hat and District Genealogical Society, I volunteered to be Chairman of the Family History Research Group (Queries). From time to time, we receive outside requests for assistance in finding a lost relative or other information regarding a friend or family member, who may have had at one time a connection to Medicine Hat and the surrounding area. 

A recent request caused me to examine in greater detail an important part of Medicine Hat history for which many are unaware or which for some, is only a distant memory. The role of #34 SFTS in WWII cannot be underestimated and for the many pilot graduates their contribution to the war effort should not be forgotten. It also had an enormous impact on the community.

This is also the story of a pilot graduate of #34 SFTS, who like many others tragically gave his life for love of country. Hopefully this brief historical vignette about an important part of the history of Medicine Hat, will encourage others to explore this important part of our history and which remind us about all of the young men who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defence of freedom. READ ON

Lest We Forget!