The Photograph That Held a Secret
For years, Iain Mackie had glanced at the photograph of his mother, May Mackie, displayed on her dresser in her Qualicum, British Columbia nursing home. It depicted a vibrant 19-year-old Scottish woman with dark curls, her dress adorned with a pair of distinctive silver wings. May would later immigrate to Canada, settling in what is now Mississauga, Ontario, with her husband and family. It was a picture he saw hundreds of times, but the significance of those wings never registered.
It was only after May's death on May 29, 2024, at the age of 99, that Iain truly noticed the pilot's wings. His father had served in the British Army, not the Air Force. Puzzled, he turned to his older sister, Dianne, for answers. Her revelation was stunning: "Oh, those belonged to her first fiancé, Hubert Smith. He was killed after the war."
A Wartime Romance and a Lasting Promise
Iain discovered a part of his mother's life she had rarely discussed. In 1944, a reluctant May attended a dance with her best friend. Among the servicemen was a young pilot, Hubert (Hugh) Smith. Spotting May in her green coat, Hugh reportedly told a friend, "See that girl? I'm going to marry her."
Although May initially brushed him off after a dance, she soon regretted it. Days later, as she gazed from her office window, she saw Hugh looking up at her from the street below. She flew down the stairs, and their romance began. They became engaged, but tragedy struck. Hubert Smith was killed in a plane crash in Australia on March 7, 1946, and his body was never recovered. May kept his silver wings for the next 80 years, a silent testament to her first love.
The Quest for Closure and a Final Resting Place
Driven by this newfound family history, the Mackie family embarked on a mission. Their goal was to find Hugh Smith's living relatives and return the wings. This quest for closure spanned countries and decades, finally culminating in a heartfelt reunion. The silver wings, a poignant symbol of a life cut short and a love that endured, were returned to the Smith family.
In a fitting tribute to a lost aviator, the wings now have a permanent home for the public to honour. They are on display at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario. This remarkable journey, sparked by a second look at an old photograph, ensures that the memory of Pilot Hubert Smith and his connection to a Canadian family is preserved for generations.
