first to be promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer

There is another story to be told… about Chinese Canadian men & women serving the Canadian Military during World War Two.

Gan Chang was born in Vancouver, B.C. August 1912 and attended the University of British Columbia where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1934 and a degree in Agriculture in 1938.

He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 and took his training in Edmonton, Lethbridge, Trenton [Ont.] and Maitland [N.S.].

He obtained his rank of Flying Officer.

After the war, he enrolled at the U. of Alberta Dental School and graduated in 1949.

Chang was married to Helen Lore, the cousin of Bill Lore, who helped to liberate Hong Kong in 1945. They had two sons, Dwight and Blythe.

We are grateful that, with the help of Mr. Shail Mahanti, Mr. Jim Carter & Mr. Gilbert Tan, we were able to obtain these personal war time materials & photos from Mr. Gan Chang.