Thomas Anthony Branagan DFC was born on March 30th, 1918, in Burbank, Scotland and his home at the beginning of WW 2 was in Windsor, Ontario. Branagan enlisted in the RCAF on July 23, 1941 and received air crew instruction at various training schools in Canada. He graduated from training schools in Canada on March 28, 1942 and arrived in the U.K. in April 1942 and took further training there.

Branagan was posted to 403 Squadron on March 2nd 1943. As a Spitfire pilot, Flight Lieutenant Branagan engaged in death defying combat with enemy aircraft and in the course of these operations destroyed three enemy aircraft in the air, destroyed one on the ground in addition to several enemy locomotives and ground installations.

In August 1944, he was shot down by enemy flak and broke his arm when he crash-landed. He was imprisoned in Prisoner of War camp, Stalag Luft III. On May 8, one day after the end of WW2, he was safe back in the UK and was repatriated to Canada later that month.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) effective August 21, 1944. His citation referred to his courage and skill in destroying enemy aircraft and locomotives and his effectiveness in training new personnel in his unit.