North Battleford in North Battleford No. 437, Saskatchewan — The Prairie Region (North America)

H.D. McPhail Park

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 15, 2022

1. H.D. McPhail Park Marker

Inscription. The City of North Battleford is pleased
to honour the many citizens who have
served our country in the armed
conflicts throughout our history.
Their supreme sacrifice, dedication and
courage will always live on.

Typical of this service,
dedication and courage is

H.D. McPhail, D.F.C.

”Howdy” McPhail was a bomber pilot in
World War II, flew many missions,
demonstrated courage in action;
was shot down, and taken
as a prisoner of war.

Erected by City of North Battleford.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Parks & Recreational Areas • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II.

Location. 52° 46.601′ N, 108° 17.955′ W. Marker is in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, in North Battleford No. 437. Memorial is on 100 Street (Saskatchewan Route 4) just north of 13 Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located beside the sidewalk, near the southeast corner of H.D. McPhail Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1301 100 Street, North Battleford SK S9A 0V9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. North Battleford Public Library (approx. 0.4 kilometers

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away); North West Rebellion / L'insurrection du Nord-Ouest (approx. 4.3 kilometers away); Fort Battleford (approx. 5.5 kilometers away); Land Registry Office (approx. 7 kilometers away); Battleford Land Registry Building (approx. 7 kilometers away); Seat of the Territorial Government 1878-1883 (approx. 7.2 kilometers away); Government House, Battleford (approx. 7.2 kilometers away); Government House Battleford (approx. 7.2 kilometers away).

Also see . . .
1. Howdy McPhail Aerial Photographs.

Hugh Duncan (“Howdy”) McPhail was born near Bankend, Saskatchewan on March 14th, 1915. From 1938 to 1942 he studied at the University of Saskatchewan, earning a BSc in agricultural economics while also playing Agro intramural hockey and Huskies football. Very soon after completing his studies he enlisted in the air force and began extensive training at flying schools in Prince Albert, Dauphin (Manitoba) and finally on Prince Edward Island, before finally heading to England. Serving through to the culmination of the war, he became an accomplished pilot and flew 28 missions. He was honoured with the Distinguished
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 15, 2022

2. H.D. McPhail Park Marker
(looking west • H.D. McPhail Park in background)
Flying Cross for "his unselfish, splendid record, and high degree of courage...a source of inspiration not only to his own crew but to all crews in the squadron". In 1952, having returned to Saskatchewan after the war, Howdy established McPhail Airways (later, McPhail Air Services Ltd.) in North Battleford. Besides spraying crops and giving flying lessons, he also began taking aerial photographs of farms and towns throughout the West, and as far as BC, Ontario and the United States. His pictures, which are incredibly clear and precise, are all the more laudable for the fact that he both piloted the plane and snapped the photographs.

(Submitted on August 19, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Hugh (Howdy) McPhail: On the wings of an eagle.

On Howdy's first mission to Germany, his Lancaster was disabled by German fighters. His plane on fire, Howdy ordered his crew to extinguish the flames. With great courage and nerves of steel, Howdy continued to fly the crippled bomber to neutral Sweden where he ordered his crew to abandon the plane. Howdy was the last to parachute to safety. He and his crew were briefly interned before being sent back to the U.K. Had he and his crew bailed out over Denmark, they would have spent the rest of the war in a prisoner-of-war camp. After
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returning to the U.K., Howdy completed a tour of duty (30 missions). For his bravery and success as a bomber pilot, Howdy was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war, the City of North Battleford also expressed its gratitude to Howdy by naming a park at the corner of 14th Avenue and 100th Street the "H.D. McPhail Park."

(Submitted on August 19, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 77 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 18, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.