Volume 6 - Legion BC/Yukon Command Website

British ColumBia / Yukon CommandKwasnica, SteveSteve was born in Palo, Saskatchewan in November 1923. He enlisted in the RCAF inMarch 1943, took basic training in Toronto, ON and was posted to #1 Wireless Schoolin Montreal, Mount Hope, ON and Yarmouth, NS. After his marriage in 1946, Stevemoved to Rutland, BC and rejoined the RCAF in 1949. After basic training in Aylmer,ON and trades training as operator mechanic in the MSE trade at Camp Borden, ON,he was posted to Edmonton, AB, Marville, France, North Bay, ON and Camp Bordenagain as an instructor in the MSE trade. Promoted to Warrant Officer, Steve transferredto Chilliwack, BC to supervise heavy equipment training before retiring in 1974 andmaking his home in Oliver, BC. He received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal,the 1939-1945 War Medal, the NATO Medal, and the Long Service Medal and Clasp.Steve has been a member of Legion Branch #97 in Oliver, BC for thirty-six years,served as President for two years and Zone Chairman for two years. He has also beena member of the 890 Wing RCAF Association for seventeen years.Lane, W. D. (Bill)Bill was born in Edmonton in 1925. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian AirForce in 1942 when he was 17. After qualifying as a pilot, he served withBomber Command in England flying Vickers Wellingtons in operationaltraining. He then flew Halifax, Lancaster, and Stirling bombers in “HeavingConversion”. In May 1944, Bill was posted to RCAF No. 426 (Thunderbird)Squadron where he flew operational sorties in Halifax Mk lll and Mk Vlls.His next posting took him to No.415 (Swordfish) Squadron where he flew24 sorties in Halifax Mkllls. Bill was only nineteen when he firstcommanded an aircraft and flew his 27 th sortie on his twentieth birthday.Bill lives in Nanaimo, BC.Lang, Frederick JohnFrederick was born on June 21, 1898 in London, England. He enlisted withthe 158 th Battalion of the Duke of Connaught’s Own Rifles and served inFrance with the 54 th Battalion. He was wounded at Vimy Ridge on April 9,1917. Frederick’s brothers, Henry George Lang and Thomas James Lang,also served in France during World War One. All three were wounded;Frederick John and Thomas were wounded on the same day at Vimy Ridge,April 9, 1917 and Henry George was gassed at Passchendaele. Frederickdied in October 1960 in Powell River, BC.www.legionbcyukon.ca161