LEST WE FORGET 177 FRANCISCONE, Antonio “Tony” WWII Antonio was born in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1922, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Franciscone. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in October 1940. He trained at St. Thomas, Winnipeg, Regina and Mossbank before going overseas in October 1942 where he was attached to a Royal Air Force squadron. Tony served with the 100 Squadron in England completing a tour of night bombing sorties operating with conspicuous ability over heavily defended targets in Western and Northern Germany. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal on January 10, 1944. He went on to be an instructor and achieved the rank of F/O. He was also awarded the 1935-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, War Medal 1935-1945 and the RCAF Reserve Badge. Tony passed away in the United States of America in 1995. FREDERICK, Merle WWII Merle was born in Findlater, Saskatchewan in 1917. He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940, training at Yorkton, SK, and was posted overseas as a bomber pilot. On Friday, March 13, 1945, Merle and his crew were shot down on an attack over Dresden, Germany. He was the sole survivor of 405th RCAF Pathfinder Squadron’s Lancaster PB 183. Four of his crew were buried in Dumbach, Germany. Merle was taken prisoner with a broken arm and leg and hospitalized but poorly cared for. The Americans liberated them on April 4, 1945. He was hospitalized in England on June 17, 1945, then sent back to Canada on July 12. He received the 1939-1945 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, and the War Medal 1939-1945. Merle passed away in 1999. FRASER, Hugh Dewar WWII Hugh was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on January 23, 1922. He joined the SLI reserve in 1938 and started learning the bagpipes. He joined the Army in February 1942 and trained in Vernon, BC, and went overseas in 1943 to join the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders in England. He served in France, Belgium Holland and Germany, before his discharge in January 1946. Upon returning home in November 1945, he joined the Saskatoon Police Force in April 1946, rising to Deputy Chief. Hugh passed away on December 2, 2000.
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