One of Flin Flon’s true heroes was Phil Foster, a pilot who was killed over Norway in World War II.
Foster was so anxious to join the war effort in 1939 that he paid for flying lessons out of his own pocket.
He had “Flin Flon Floozy” painted on the fuselage of his fighter jet.
In his will Foster, a Rotarian, bequeathed a large sum of money to the Flin Flon Rotary. He directed the funds be spent to upgrade Jubilee Park, also known as Rotary Park.
Foster’s girlfriend was a schoolteacher by the name of Ruth Betts.
Foster isn’t Flin Flon’s only connection to the Canadian Air Force.
Joe McCormack, uncle of CFAR news director Joe McCormack, was in training to fly for the Air Force when he was killed in an accident. His was the first of many Flin Flon funerals during World War II.
McCormack’s funeral was the biggest the community had ever experienced. The funeral procession was two kilometres long. People who remember the event say the whole town attended.
McCormack was just 20 years old. His funeral was conducted by Bishop Martin Lejeunesse with full military honours, including a flag-draped casket.
Joe’s twin brother John was killed later in the war.
Dan McCormack, older brother to the two fallen heroes named his sons after them.
