By paNOW

Veteran reflects as she takes to sky in WWII era bomber

Aug 19, 2017 | 9:43 AM

It was 1944 when a young Theresa Brassard went to the Prince Albert Armouries to enlist in the army.

At just 18 years old, Brassard worked multiple jobs that barely paid her way when she decided to do something else with her life.

“There has to be a better way for me [to make a] living,”  she thought at the time.

Brassard, now 90, was a passenger on one of only 34 WWII era B-25 Bombers left in the world Friday. The iconic aircraft is in Prince Albert as part of the Legends of Victory Flying Tour. It was built in 1944, the same year Brassard enlisted.

But military service was not a career she originally wished to pursue.

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Brassard spent her high school years taking correspondence classes to become a Registered Nurse, but only months before graduating high school, one of her substitute teachers burned her textbooks and homework after they had an argument. As the school board refused to replace her textbooks, she decided to drop out.

“I wanted to be an RN so bad,” she said.

Despite the outcome, Brassard nevertheless learned an important lesson.

“Nobody is ever going to step on this girl again,” she said, adding it was thanks to her attitude she was promoted to a leadership position at a men’s training camp in Calgary.

The veteran was trained as an ambulance driver in the war. As her involvement did not require her to fly, Friday’s ride was a first. 

“I was so excited,” she said. So excited, that when she went home, she had a celebratory drink.

Brassard believed it was important for current and future generations to educate themselves on the Second World War so history does not repeat.

“If you can get into a good reading book that tells you about the war and about what happened over in Germany and all over those old countries, it would make you wish that you’d never have to go through that,” she said. “The second world war wasn’t an easy war…. No, it was terrible.”

Shirley Sukkel, who works as the on-site coordinator with the tour, said the plane “flies beautifully” and will continue to do so for some time.

“She’s a true war bird, which a lot of them aren’t, a lot of them did not see action,” she said.

According to Sukkel, the rare Bomber fought 15 combat missions in Yugoslavia and Korsyka, bombing railway bridges.

Sukkel was first introduced to the Bomber named “Maid in the Shade” three years ago when it touched down in Victoria. She booked a flight and wore her father’s WWII helmet and scarf. Ever since she has helped with the tour. 

“Every time I’m in there, I have a little bit of my dad with me,” she said.

The bomber is touring across North American to educate the public on the significance of WWII. It will be in Prince Albert for the rest of the weekend.

rebbeca.marroquin@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @becamarroquin