Every day, numerous residents of Calgary traverse McKnight Boulevard, a significant east-west route in the northern part of the city. However, many may be unaware that the street is named after William McKnight, a distinguished Canadian flying ace who served with the Royal Air Force during World War II. Born in Edmonton in 1918, McKnight grew up in Calgary’s Crescent Heights neighborhood. He enlisted in the British Royal Air Force under a short-service commission, joining a predominantly Canadian unit formed before the establishment of a Royal Canadian Air Force presence.
Local historian Shelly McElroy highlighted McKnight’s exceptional start in the conflict, emphasizing his elite status as a dedicated and high-profile pilot. McElroy, who is currently working on a book about McKnight, discovered his story incidentally while discussing Calgary Stampeder football players who had wartime service. McKnight’s nephew reached out to McElroy, providing previously unknown documents and photographs, sparking her research journey.
McKnight, recognized as Canada’s highest scoring ace of the Battle of Britain by the Royal Canadian Air Force, achieved the remarkable feat of downing 17 German planes during his career. To attain the status of a flying ace during World War II, pilots had to shoot down at least five enemy aircraft. McKnight’s notable accomplishments included shooting down 10 planes over Dunkirk and securing six victories in just four days. His most memorable feat was on August 30, 1940, during the Battle of Britain when he achieved a “hat-trick” by downing three aircraft in a single day.
McKnight’s exceptional flying skills earned admiration from his commanding officer, the renowned pilot Douglas Bader. Despite his disappearance during a mission over the English Channel on January 12, 1941, McKnight’s legacy as a fearless and skilled pilot endures. His story has been immortalized through McKnight Boulevard, a road named in his honor following encouragement from Bader to Calgary leaders. Shelly McElroy will present a detailed account of McKnight’s life at the Central Public Library on November 18.
