Eighty years after Squadron Leader Christopher (Kit) Bushell died while leading fighter planes into battle near France, some of his personnel items have been turned over to a museum in Saskatchewan.
Bushell was born on Sept. 23, 1914, to Godfrey Maurice and Sybil Fields Bushell of Qu’Appelle. Six years later, the family moved to Fort Qu’Appelle, where Bushell attended school before moving to Regina to attend university at Campion College. After graduation, he worked as a night porter in the Fort Hotel before enrolling at Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont.
The Saskatchewan native obtained his commercial pilot’s licence in 1936 and later joined the staff of Simpson’s department store in Toronto. He also served with the 110th Squadron for two years and, in 1939, obtained his wings at Trenton Air Base. He was later given a commission with No. 2 Army Co-operation Squadron in Ottawa.
Following the outbreak of the Second World War on Sept. 1, 1939, Bushell was posted to the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Coastal Command at Saint John, N.B. In February 1940, he proceeded overseas to serve with the 110th Army Co-operation Squadron. He served with the unit until he was transferred to the 412th Fighter Squadron in July 1941 as second in command.
On Nov. 2, 1941, Bushell was given command of 412th Fighter Squadron, and on Nov. 8, he led an offensive operation code-named Circus 110. The goal of the mission was to bomb German positions in occupied France.
However, while flying his Supermarine Spitfire, Bushell was shot down and killed over the North Sea. The mission was likely a failure because of the 100 Spitfire planes that flew into enemy territory, only 15 returned.
Bushell, 27, was buried at Runnymede Memorial Cemetery in Surrey, United Kingdom.
The former Fort Qu’Appelle resident might have been forgotten to the mists of time and history books if it wasn’t for the fact a park near Moose Jaw was named in his honour.
Seven years after the Second World War concluded, the military made major renovations to 15 Wing Air Base after reactivating the site in 1952 as a training station. In addition, a small community was organized across the highway from the base to house air force personnel and their families.
On Sept. 19, 1954, Bushell’s mother Sybil cut a ribbon at the main entrance to the community, officially naming it Bushell Park in memory of her son. A plaque stands in the middle of the community explaining the history behind the name.
In mid-October of this year, Bushell’s nephew brought a box to the Fort Qu’Appelle Museum containing several of the airmen’s items, which his sister Nancy had held before she died earlier this year.
Some items included a posthumous bar for his medal, an engraved sterling silver cigarette case, photographs, books, a memorial plaque, Bushell’s high school class picture, a reproduction of the page in the Memorial Chapel in the Peace Tower in Ottawa where his name is inscribed, and other souvenirs.
“Personally, I thought it was rather touching that we received these things on the 80th anniversary — almost to the day — of his being made squadron leader,” said Alan Hustak, chairman of the museum’s display committee. “And because he certainly was a hometown hero, there will be a small display in his memory in a corner of the museum, which already recognizes those from the Fort who have sacrificed their lives in two World Wars.
“The fact we received these things 80 years to the week he died is perhaps pure serendipity.”
With files from the Fort Times/Grasslands News
