Short Biography of Russell Mackie Bragg (1914 - 1970) Member of the British Empire
Squadron Leader - Royal Canadian Air Force
Battle of Britain
About 80 Canadian pilots flew in the Battle of Britain (August 1940), some of them in the all-Canadian R.A.F. 242 Squadron and the rest with various squadrons. Their numbers as non-British pilots were second only to the Poles (who were expatriates whose air force had already been destroyed by the Luftwaffe). Eleven Canadian pilots lost their lives in stemming the German onslaught.
On August 30, in a major engagement, 242 Squadron attacked a formation of over 100 Germans and shot down 12. None of the squadron's planes were lost.
Commemorative stamp - 1980
The men of No. 1 Squadron RCAF were the first Canadian fighter pilots to arrive in Britain as a unit. They crossed the North Atlantic in ships, with their own Canadian-built Hawker Hurricanes still in wooden crates.
No. 1 Sqn. arrived in England at the height of the Battle of Britain. Their operational training took place virtually between the air battles raging around their base at Croydon. The Squadron (later re-numbered to 401) was swiftly declared "operational" and became the first RCAF unit to engage the enemy when it intercepted German bombers over southern England on August 26th. It shot down three and damaged four, for the loss of one Hurricane.
By mid-October No. 1 Squadron had shot down 31 German planes, with another 43 "probables" or damaged, for a loss of 16 Hurricanes, and three pilots killed.
401 City of Westmount Squadron record:
Sorties: 12,087
Operational / Non-operations flying hours: 17,211 / 13,747
Victories: Aircraft:
195 destroyed, 35 probables, 106 damaged
Victories: Ground:
dropped 278 tons of bombs
Casualties: Operational:
61 pilots of whom 6 were killed, 28 presumed dead, 18 PoW, 9 evaded capture
Casualties: Non-Operational:
Canadian troop convoy TC.5 departed Halifax escorted by Canadian destroyer ASSINIBOINE and SAGUENAY at 0900 with British troopships DUCHESS OF ATHOLL (20,119grt), SAMARIA (19,597grt), DUCHESS OF BEDFORD (20,123grt) carrying 1173, 787, 1792 troops, respectively.
Troopship DUCHESS OF ATHOLL came from Montreal departing on the 8th and joined the other two liners at Halifax.
Troopship EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA (21,833grt) departed Halifax with the convoy and was detached on the third day to Iceland.
Canadian destroyers ASSINIBOINE and SAGUENAY were detached at 1800/12th. Battleship REVENGE was the ocean escort.
Convoy TC.5 safely arrived at Liverpool on the 20th escorted by destroyers WANDERER and WITCH and Canadian destroyers ST LAURENT, SKEENA, RESTIGOUCHE, FRASER.
On the 21st, battleship REVENGE arrived at Plymouth at 0645 and the Canadian destroyers arrived at Plymouth at 0640.
10 killed
Rusty was born the 3rd of 4 sons at Gleichen, Alberta. He grew up on the family farm, although during his early school years, the family also lived in Calgary during the school year. They lived on 18th Avenue SW between 8th and 9th Street. The boys attended King Edward Elementary School in Mount Royal. In later years they went to Wheatacres School in Rockyford. At that time, they rode horses to the one room school - about 6 miles each way. Rusty used to talk about a strawberry roan he rode which never learned to stand still while he got on and so he had to learn a flying mount.
After completing high school, Rusty went to Normal School at SAIT in Calgary and returned to Wheatacres School a year later as teacher. He was an excellent athlete, especially in track and baseball. In 1933 he was scouted by the major leagues in the States - Chicago, I believe but was needed at home because of the depression. He continued to teach for a couple of years and then returned to SAIT to take a locomotive engineering course. In 1937, he and his best friend Jack Elviss, decided to join the Air Force which had just opened a station in Calgary. Because his name began with a B, he was the first on the list to join up in Calgary.
After training in Vancouver, Calgary (where he met Mom when he was having his tonsils out and she was his nurse) and St. Hubert Quebec, 401 Squadron was transferred to Dartmouth to await transport overseas. After the flurry surrounding the declaration of war, things quieted down in Europe and so (in hope that a major conflict could still be avoided) the Squadron was held in Nova Scotia awaiting the developments over the ocean. For Dad it was a wonderful opportunity to re-connect with family in Nova Scotia and he formed a particular bond with his cousin Elmer Bragg from Collingwood. He also spent time with his mother's family, the Gambles - getting to know his Aunts Hattie and Ruth. As the delay continued, he and Mom decided to get married and so just like his mother had done, she got on the train - leaving her family and travelled across the country to marry. Dad had always belonged to the United Church (no doubt strongly supported by his mother) but Mom was Catholic and so on January 13, 1940 he was baptized, confirmed, received his first communion, went to confession for the first time and was married all at the same time. He used to joke that if he'd left the church and ran into a telephone pole - he would have gone straight to heaven. One of their wedding gifts was a lovely little book containing the poem "Evangeline" from Tweet and Elmer Bragg which I still have. Unfortunately, the honeymoon was interrupted by the war but not before Mom became pregnant with my brother, Dan. So Dad shipped off for England and Mom took the train back to Calgary to rejoin her family for the duration of the war.
On the trip overseas, two of the convoy were torpedoed and sank - the one in front of Dad's ship and the one behind. They arrived in England just as the last survivors of Dunkirk were arriving back from France and the last RAF squadron returned to Britain. After some quick training in the North, 401 was transferred to Biggin Hill and was immediately in the heat of the Battle of Britain. Their first night, the aerodrome was bombed severely, but still the Canadians were able to get into the air and take part in the fight. Dad was the Squadron Engineering Officer and the "old" man at 26. For 41 days they worked day and night to keep the planes in the air and safe. He lost many good friends during this time but their efforts were a great contribution to the besting of the Luftwaffe. He once told me the story of being out on the tarmac working on a plane when a German fighter flew low over the field and began straifing the flight line. Dad said he hit the ground and watched the line of bullets heading straight for him. Just a few feet from his head, the German ran out of ammunition and veered off into the sky.
Over the next 4 and a half years, Dad served with 401 being promoted from Corporal to Squadron Leader. He earned several medals and was really proud to receive the Member of the British Empire (the highest honour given to a non-flying serviceman) from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham palace. He was part of the Dieppe raid and his job on DDay was to get a landing strip and repair depot set up in France within the first 4 days. With mortars and machine gun bullets flying over their heads in both directions they managed the feat in 2 1/2 days. A farm boy at heart, when they realized that the ground off Juno beach was sandy and unstable, he rounded up all the chicken wire he could, to serve as a base for the runway. Finally, in September of 1945 a British Army Jeep did him in. He was driving down a hilly French road on a motorcycle when the Brit came over a hill on the wrong side of the road (thinking he was still at home, I guess) and drove Dad off the road and into a brick and ivy hedge. He severely injured his neck and was finally sent home to recover.
BRAGG, S/L Russell Machie (C15132) - Member, Order of the British Empire - No.401 Squadron (AFRO gives unit as "Overseas (No.125 Wing Headquarters") - Award effective 1 January 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 809/44 dated 14 April 1944. Home in Calgary; enlisted there 28 May 1937. Award sent by registered mail from Government House, 1 April 1947. Aeronautical Engineering branch, no citation in Canadian sources. Public Records Office Air 2/8959 has recommendation which also ties him to No.401 Squadron.
This officer is the squadron engineer officer. During the Battle of Britain and during several bombings of Northolt, and later at Digby, he was always in the forefront directing others and setting an example for all. It has been due to his unrelenting efforts that his present unit was transferred from older to newer aircraft in record time. He has been responsible for the fine serviceability record of the unit and has rendered outstanding services throughout.
Following the war, Dad remained in the Air Force serving 23 years as Senior Technical Officer at Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and finally at Penhold, Alberta. He retired in 1962 at the time of the Armed Forces amalgamation - which he opposed.
Returning to Calgary, Dad taught school at St. Augustine, St. Angela and Sacred Heart Schools.
Always active in the community, Dad was involved in the Air Cadet League of Canada, the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede and the Bragg Creek Community Association.
His greatest joy was becoming a grandfather to Little Rusty.
He enjoyed many years at our various cabins at Bragg Creek.
Dad died suddenly after a bout of Hong Kong flu in January 1969 at the age of 54.
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Particulars of Service
Royal Canadian Air Force
2184, Squadron leader Russell Mackie Bragg
1 Enlisted at Calgary alberta, May 28, 1937 and posed to Camp Borden, Ont for trades training as an aero-engine mechanic.
2. Posted to No. 1 fighter Squadron, June 20, 1937, servicing various fighter aircraft.
3. Promoted Leading Aircraftsman, July 1, 1939, Corporal September 1, 1939 and Sergeant, June 1, 1940.
4. Embarded for overseas June 21, 1940
5. Commissioned (Pilot Officer) December 13, 1941 and promoted Flying Officer June 13, 1942.
6. Graduated as an Aeronautical Engineer fro No. 2 School of Technical Training at Cosford, England July 2, 1942.
7. Promoted flight Lieutenant and posted to No. 126 Wing Tactical Air force, July 9, 1943, assuming the duties of Officer Commanding Repairs and Chief Technical Officer.
8. Promoted Squadron Leader Octover 1, 1943.
9. Returned to canada where he resumes his duties as chief Technical Officer at Clairesholm and Calgary Alberta, November 23, 1944.
10. Resigned his commission on enlistment as an airman (Warrant Officer 1st Class) in the RCAF (Regular) October 1, 1946. Employed as NCO in charge of inspection, identification and repairs of a technical services unit at Toronto, Ont.
11. Commissioned (Pilot Officer) January 1, 1949 and Promoted Flying officer the same date.
12. Posted to Ottawa, Ont march 2, 1949. Assumes duties in Engineering Maintenance and Administration.
13. Appointed Officer in charge of a mobile equipment section at Calgary, Ab, Aug 18, 1950.
14. Promoted Flight Lieutenant and assumes the duties of Engineering Officer 442 and 443 (F) Auxiliary Support Squadron, Sea Island BC June 1, 1952.
15. appointed Station Aircraft Maintenance Officer, October 16, 1956 and Station Aeronautical Engineering Officer, June 11, 1956
16. Transferred to 412 Squadron, Uplands Ont. and appointed Squadron Technical Officer April 5, 1957.
17. Posted tp RCAF Station Penhold AB where he resumes his duties as Station Aeromautical Engineer Officer Aug 2, 1960.
18 Retired Feb 1, 1964
19. Service awards:
Member of the Order of the British Empire
France and Germany Star
Defence Medal
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp
War Medal 1939 - 45
Canadian Forces' Decoration with Clasp.
