20 Facts About Dallas Schmidt

Dallas Schmidt later served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1975 to 1982 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party.

Dallas Wilbur Schmidt was born August 9,1922, to parents Herbert Julius Anton Schmidt, and Gertha Lenna Schmidt, the oldest of their three children, he had two younger sisters, Iona and Shirley.

Dallas Schmidt's maternal grandparents, Peter Nilsson and Johanna Nilsson had come to Canada from Sweden when his mother was a small child.

The family moved to Millet, Alberta, in 1931, when Herbert Dallas Schmidt became a buyer for the National Grain Company.

Dallas Schmidt completed his schooling in Millet in June 1940, and enlisted into the RCAF two weeks before his 18th birthday two months later.

Dallas Schmidt went into the construction business in 1950, but rejoined the RCAF in 1951.

Dallas Schmidt died in November 2007, and is buried in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.

Dallas Schmidt volunteered for service in the RCAF on January 8,1941, and was trained at Claresholm under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

Dallas Schmidt was quickly shipped overseas to see action in World War II.

Dallas Schmidt was credited with either 8.5 or 10.5 aerial victories, including two large Junkers troop-carrying planes, and with sinking two ships.

Dallas Schmidt was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on October 16,1942, and then the bar in December, for his daring and destructive sorties.

Dallas Schmidt flew a wide range of military aircraft used by Canada at the time.

Dallas Schmidt's aircraft was shot down by enemy fire on five separate occasions.

Dallas Schmidt was then transferred to Rhodesia then to Britain where he joined No 404 Squadron RCAF and attacked German shipping.

Dallas Schmidt came home on leave in August 1943 and was feted as Millet's air ace, before travelling on to visit his parents at Ma-Me-O Beach, Alberta.

Dallas Schmidt re-enlisted in the Air Force and served his second stint from 1951 to 1956.

Dallas Schmidt first ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1967 general election in the electoral district of Wetaskiwin.

Dallas Schmidt finished a close second to incumbent Albert Strohschein.

Dallas Schmidt ran again in the 1975 general election in the electoral district of Wetaskiwin-Leduc.

Dallas Schmidt was promoted to Minister of Agriculture on March 23,1979 and served in that position until he retired from politics at dissolution of the legislature in 1982.