Russell (Rusty) Mackie Bragg 1914 - 1969

Norman, Rusty & Raymond
Bragg ca 1915

Rusty was born the 3rd of 4 sons at Gleichen, Alberta on September 14, 1914.  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.  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.

Rusty with his favorite Model T
ca 1835

After training in Vancouver, Calgary (where he met Mom while he was having his tonsils out and she was his nurse) and St. Hubert Quebec #1 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 reconnect 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.

Rusty and Dorothy
Wedding Photo

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 walked 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, #1 Squadron 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.

Rusty - Overseas

Over the next 4 and a half years, Dad served with #1 Squadron being promoted from Corporal to Squadron Leader.  He earned several medals and was really proud to receive the Member of the British Empire.  He was part of the Dieppe raid and his job on D Day 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.

MBE Citation

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. 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.

Mom & Dad off to the Mess

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.

Dad and Little Rusty

He enjoyed many years at our various cabins at Bragg Creek.

Dad died suddenly  in January 1969 at the age of 54.