It can be a surprising how little we know about our own local history.
Sure, we know many of the basic facts, such as when the community was incorporated, or how old the arena is, or how many names are on the cenotaph.
But you typically won’t see a course on the history of the community in local schools. And so sometimes things slip through the cracks or are sadly forgotten.
An unfortunate example of this is the plane crash that occurred on Sept. 15, 1946, south of Estevan that killed 20 Royal Canadian Air Force pilots and a groundscrewman. For whatever reason, there are far too many people in Estevan who have no knowledge of this occurring.
Perhaps it’s because none of the people killed in the crash were from the Estevan area, and therefore don’t have the links to the community today. Or maybe it’s because the site where the crash occurred – the old airport south of the city – was levelled for coal mining operations decades ago.
Or maybe it’s because Estevan has been a transient community at times over the years, and there is a significant portion of the community who came here after they graduated school, and therefore didn’t hear about our local history when growing up.
Regardless, it’s sad that so many people don’t know what happened.
A look back through the archived pages of the Estevan Mercury shows how much this community came together after the plane crash of 1946. Thousands of people lined the streets of the Estevan for the funeral processional as it made its way through the community.
When you consider the population of Estevan was under 5,000 people at the time, the response reflects the sorrow the people of this city felt for the plane crash.
Those who would remember the crash and the procession would likely be in their late 70s by now.
But thanks to the efforts of a few people in the community, the names and accomplishments of the victims of the 1946 plane crash are moving back into the public eye. A few of the people who were involved with the Estevan Soldiers’ Tree monument have been involved with the Forever in the Clouds monument, which pays tribute to those who died in the crash.
Chainsaw sculptor Darren Jones, who carved the Soldiers’ Tree, also took care of the work on this latest monument, carving the faces of the airmen and other images associated with their service.
While it’s unfortunate that this monument does not have a permanent home like the Soldiers Tree, the upshot is that it has been mobile, going to a few different locations, including the Saskatchewan Air Show in Moose Jaw two months ago. That exposure allowed thousands of people who hadn’t heard of the plane crash previously to learn about this sad chapter in our nation’s history, but also the bravery and service of those who died.
A ceremony is going to be held at the current Estevan Regional Airport on Sept. 15 to mark this anniversary. It will be a chance for people to gather and say thanks, and to recognize how much we owe to the men and women of the Canadian Forces.
Hopefully it will be a learning opportunity for some of those in attendance.
It’s important for us to know our own history. After all, how can we know about the community we have today if we don’t know how we got here, and the moments and events that shaped our history?
