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Daily Diary
No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School,
Mossbank, Saskatchewan
May 1941
- 1 May 1941
- Strength of Station at Commencement of Month
- Offices – 67
- Airmen – 853
- O.R.s – 7
- Civilians – 106
- A Boxing Tournament was held in the Drill Hall at this Station this evening between 32 S.F.T.S. (R.A.F.) Moose Jaw and our School. There were five bouts and we won four of them. The tournament was well attended. The Station Orchestra provided music between bouts and during the intermission. There were also, an exhibition bout and a novelty event, both of which were very entertaining. Included among the visitors were Group Captain C.E.H. James, Commanding Officer of No. 32 S.F.T.S., Squadron Leaders V. Maevelett and J.F. Houchim of the same Station, Lieutenant Colonel W.J. Haney, the Officer Commanding of King’s Own Rifle Corps, Moose Jaw, together with a group of Officers from that regiment, and six Officers from No. 4 Training Command, Regina, who flew here in Lockheed 7648, piloted by Flying Officer A.P. Rhodes. There were also a number of visitors
- 1 May 1941 (continued)
- … present from Assiniboia, A good evening was had by all.
- Available flying time lost – one half day.
- 2 May 1941
- 0710 hrs. Lockheed 7648 with Flying Officer A.D. Rhodes as pilot, and Flight Lieutenant W. Thornber, Flight Lieutenant F. Grant. Flying Officer J.W. Lancaster. Flying Officer W.S. Taylor and Sergeant McMorris J.K. as passengers, who came here to attend the Boxing Tournament and had spent the night on the Station, flew back to Regina.
- Available flying time lost – Nil.
- 3 May 1941
- 1030 hrs. Cessna 7710, Pilot, Flying Officer Lewis with three passengers arrived from Prince Albert.
- 1100 hrs. The above aircraft returned to Prince Albert.
- 1032 hrs. Tiger Moth 4127, Pilot Flying Officer G.K. Howell, passenger, Flying Officer W.H. Corkhill arrived from Regina.
- 1115 hrs. Returned as above minus the passenger.
- 1450 hrs. Tiger Moth 4127, Pilot Flying Officer C.H. Reeves arrived from Regina.
- 1615 hrs. The above mentioned aircraft returned with Flying Officer W.H. Corkhill as passenger.
- 1723 hrs. Lockheed 7648 with Flying Officer A.D. Rhodes as pilot and Flying Officer G.K. Howell as passenger arrived from Regina.
- 1815 hrs. The above aircraft returned with same pilot and passenger.
- Flying washed out at 1440 hours due to melting tar on runways and tarmac (especially in front of hangars and No. 1 runway being thrown upward from tires onto airscrews.
- 3 May 1941 (continued)
- Contractors sanded north half of No. 1 runway. Maintenance trucks sanded taxi strip at south end of Tarmac.
- Available flying time lost – one ½ day
- 4 May 1941
- 1000 hrs. Battle P2302, Pilot, Flying Officer C.J. Harris, passenger, Flying Officer C.F. Lawson.
- 1003 hrs. Battle K9431, Pilot, Flying Officer K. King.
- 1007 hrs. Battle L5081, Pilot, Flying Officer W.V. Decker. These planes came here from Edmonton and have been taken on strength at this Station. They have been re-numbered, 1900, 1901 and 1902 respectively.
- 1718 hrs. Harvard 2750 piloted by Flying Officer C.C. Lee, passenger, Flying Officer H.H. Hessenflow arrived from Moose Jaw.
- 1745 hrs. The above aircraft returned to Moose Jaw minus the passenger.
- Available flying time lost – one half day.
- 5 May 1941
- A detachment of the Canadian Postal Corps has at last been established at this Station. The Post Office is to be known as Mossbank, M.P.O. 1203. Sergeant O’Shaugnessy J.M. (C9728) is in charge. The establishment of this Post Office will facilitate the handling
- 5 May 1941 (continued)
- … of mail. The incoming mail will be distributed approximately two hours earlier and outgoing mail dispatched about two hours later. Mail may also be registered and postal money orders purchased at the Station. Heretofore there have been no facilities for the safe dispatch of money.
- 0850 hrs. Avro Anson 6092 piloted by Flight Lieutenant A.S. Merrilees, passengers Wing Commander W.A. Jones, AC.l Maffro K.R. and AC.l Buhque A.S. arrived from Regina.
- 1107 hrs. Said aircraft and personnel returned except Wing Commander W.A. Jones.
- 1533 hrs. Avro Anson, pilot LAC Webb G. arrived from Saskatoon and stayed over.
- Available flying time lost – full day.
- 6 May 1941
- Squadron Leader C.A. Davidson and Mr. Smaill. District Airways Engineer, from No. 4 Training Command. Regina, visited the Station on 4-5-41 for the purpose of inspecting runways and ascertaining the remedy for the difficulty which developed last Saturday (3-5-41) when bleeding tar caused flying to be washed out on that day at 1440 hours.
- 7 May 1941
- Flying was washed out yesterday and again today due to inclement weather. It started to rain heavy yesterday morning and continued throughout the day. Today, there has been a mixture of rain and snow, besides a strong wind from the north west which at times have almost reached gale proportions has been blowing. From all accounts the district has had much more dull, cloudy and wet weather this spring than usual.
- 7 May 1941 (continued)
- We are still without hard surfaced roads and with the great amount of moisture that has fallen since last Friday, we are literally mired. It is hoped that as soon as it dries up, the contractors will get busy and build proper roads for us.
- Available Flying time lost – full day
- 8 May 1941
- 1205 hrs. Dragon Fly 7624, Pilot, Flight Lieutenant R.D. Byers, Passengers, Flying Officer C. Reeves and Flying Officer D. Reece, arrived from Regina.
- 1220 hrs. The above aircraft returned to Regina minus Flying Officer D. Reece.
- 1445 hrs. Dragon Fly 7624, Pilot Flying Officer C. Reeves arrived from Regina and returned at 1545 hours with Flying Officer D. Reece as passenger.
- 1455 hrs. Avro Anson 6236, Pilot LAC Webb G. which has been storm bound here since Monday, returned to Saskatoon.
- The contractors have now finished sanding No.1 Runway.
- Available flying time lost – full day
- 9 May 1941
- Five Officers from this Station, namely, Squadron Leader W.N. Penman, Flight Lieutenant H.H. Booth, Flight Lieutenant R. Freisen, and Flying Officer J.A. Peterson and Flying Officer J.H. Drewry, attended two Court Martials at 32 S.F.T.S., Moose Jaw, yesterday and today. Flight Lieutenant H.H. Booth as a member of the Court and the other Officers for Instructional purposes. Flight Lieutenant H.H. Booth travelled by rail, the rest by air.
- 1215 hrs. Dragon Fly 7624, piloted by Flying Officer C.H. Reeves with Squadron Leader G.F. Falkenberg, Flight Lieutenant G.F. Stewart and Flying Officer L.A. Kane arrived from Regina.
- 1630 hrs. Above mentioned aircraft with same personnel aboard excepting Flying Officer L.A. Kane proceeded to Moose Jaw.
- The contractors are now sanding No. 2 Runway with a view of stopping the tar from bleeding when hot weather comes again.
- Available flying time lost – None
- 10 May 1941
- Summer Dress may be worn on and after the “19th day of May until the end of the month. After that date it will become compulsory to wear such dress.
- Available flying time lost – None
- 11 May 1941
- At approximately 1125 hours Battle 1732 piloted by R59124 Sergeant Cox R.S., with passengers 404477 LAC McCue R.L. and 404409 LAC McGuiness R.J., forced landed about 1 and a half miles northwest of Expanse (approximately five miles north of the Station)
- No injury to personnel. Damage to aircraft, airscrew, right wing tip, right wheel and
- 11 May 1941 (continued)
- … landing gear.
- 1400 hrs. Battle 1777 piloted by Flying Officer R.T.H. Lindsay blew a tire when landing, causing the aircraft to go up on its nose and damaging the airscrew.
- Available Flying time lost – none.
- 12 May 1941
- Air Observers Course 15 completed their course of training here and departed yesterday on posting to No. 1 A.N.S. Rivers, Manitoba. 35 trainees started on the course on March 31 and 34 graduated. There was one failure. Wing Commander W.A. Jones in the absence of the Commanding Officer, presented the graduates with their badges at a brief ceremony held on Sunday evening.
- 1200 hrs. Cesna 7697 with Flying Officer A.E. Arlington as pilot and 400406 LAC Bosworth J.H. 402035 LAC Dibble T.J., 400410 LAC Crittenden P., 402405 LAC Sandilands J.W. and 402219 LAC Blessing W.G., as passengers arrived from Saskatoon.
- Available flying time lost – none
- 13 May 1941
- 1155 hrs. Norseman 2461, with Air Commodore A.T. Cowley the Air Officer Commanding, No. 4 Training Command, as pilot, and Air Vice Marshall Goble, of the R.A.A.F. Australian Liaison Officer in Canada for the B.C.A.T.P. Wing Commander P. Hampton S.P.S.O. at No. 4 Training Command, Regina, and Squadron Leader C.A. Davidson also at No. 4 Training Command, as passengers arrived from Regina. These distinguished visitors were met at the field by the Commanding Officer of the Station Group Captain A.J. Ashton and Wing Commander W.A. Jones. The visitors had lunch at the Officers’ Mess after which Air Vice Marshall Goble addressed the Australian trainees.
- 1422 hrs. The said aircraft with the same pilot and passengers returned to Regina.
- 1835 hrs. Vultee 14252 (privately owned) with Mr. E. Newman as pilot and Mr. A. Bishopric, as passenger, arrived from Regina and stayed the night.
- Available flying time lost – none
- 14 May 1941
- Flying washed out due to cloudy and wet weather.
- 1500 hrs. Vultee 14252 with Mr. E. Newman as pilot returned to Regina, Mr. A. Bishopric having gone by motor car to his home at Bishopric.
- Arrangements have been made for a bus service to operate between the Station and Moose Jaw on the following schedule: Leave Station at 1800 hours daily for Moose Jaw. Arrive at Moose Jaw at approximately 2030 hours. Leave Moose Jaw 2220 hours and arrive at Station approximately 2359 hours. (All times mentioned are daylight saving time)
- Available flying time lost – full day.
- 15 May 1941
- 37 Air Observers, R.A.A.F. arrived from No. 2 Air Observer School, Edmonton, on 12-5-41 to begin a six weeks course of training at this School. This class is numbered course 18.
- Statement of water pumped, hauled and consumed for the first 15 days of the month
- Pumped – 243,150 Gals. Hauled – 492,400 Gals. Consumed – 724,300
- The amount pumped is up over the first 15 days of April and the amount hauled and consumed is down which is a satisfactory situation.
- 1115 hrs. 4303 T. Moth, Sergeant R67611 W.M. Roberts as pilot, R63523 LAC Durand A.C. as passengers arrived from Moose Jaw.
- 1202 hrs. The above aircraft returned with the same personnel aboard.
- Available Flying Time Lost – None
- 16 May 1941
- 1052 hrs. 4144 Tiger Moth with R67781 Sergeant Lindsay A.W. as pilot and R57842 AC2 Kenealy C.E. as passenger arrived from Moose Jaw.
- 1145 hrs. The above aircraft returned to Moose Jaw with the same personnel
- A rugger game was played at Moose Jaw on May 14th between this Station and 32 S.F.T.S. which was won by our opponents. About 80 from this Station saw the match.
- Available Flying Time Lost – None
- 17 May 1941
- Flying Officer T. Jenkins, Command Fire Prevention Officer arrived from No. 4 Training Command, Regina, at 1530 hours on 16-5-41 to carry out a fire prevention inspection on this Station. He expects to remain here til 20-5-41.
- Available Flying Time Lost – None
- 18 May 1941
- The first Station Church Parade was held today at 1100 hours in the Drill Hall. It was intended to hold the service on the parade ground but on account of a very high wind blowing at the time. It was found necessary to hold the same in the Drill Hall. The Station Commanding Officer Group Captain A.J. Ashton was in command. Wing Commander W.A. Jones read the lesson and Flight Lieutenant W. McClean, the Station Chaplain conducted the service.
- Relatives and friends of personnel visiting Station were somewhat more numerous today. Father Branch, Roman Catholic Priest, from Gravelbourg said Mass at the Recreation Hall at 0900 hours and will do so every Sunday hereafter till further notice.
- Available Flying Time Lost – None
- 19 May 1941
- Summer dress was made optional today, about 10% of the Station personnel availed themselves of the order. Extensive, work has now been done on California Trail and Group Captain’s Walk, the grading being almost complete. These roads have been rolled and are ready for the surfacing gravel and oil.
- 19 May 1941 (continued)
- Painting of the entrance and cloak room of officer’s mess is now complete; venetian blinds on windows have also been affixed to all the windows in the officer’s mess.
- Flying Officer R.F.E. Kempster, Trade Test Officer arrived today by air to conduct trade tests and will be on the Station all week.
- Flying Officer T. Jenkins, Eire Prevention Officer from No. 4 Training. Command, made his report today and found the Station compared very favourably with other stations inspected by him. Many valuable suggestions were made by him. Parts of our system here, particularly the card system used respecting fire extinguisher condition was commended. Particulars of this system were taken away by the officer to be suggested for use at other stations.
- The ground around the Administration Building has been loosened and black loam laid around the building to permit planting of flowers etc.
- Available flying time lost – none.
- 20 May 1941
- Dragon Fly 7624 piloted by Group Captain D.D’A. Greig from No. 4 Training Command, Regina with R5l286 LAC Buchan A.E. as passenger arrived from Regina.
- 20 May 1941
- 1335 hrs. The above mentioned aircraft with same pilot and passenger took off for Moose Jaw.
- The Station has now its own paper. It is called. “Contact”. The first issue appeared last week. It will be published monthly. The first number contained 12 pages and was well composed. The Commanding Officer, Group Captain A.J. Ashton contributed an apt and interesting article. Business establishments in the surrounding territory and at Moose Jaw who cater to the Air Force trade advertised extensively. It is printed at Gravelbourg by the Modern Printers.
- Available flying time lost – none.
- 21 May 1941
- 1730 hrs. Battle 1690 piloted by Flying Officer L.M. James, passenger R92026 AC.1 MacDonald A.C. forced landed 15 miles northwest of the aerodrome. The cause was engine failure. The pilot was not injured, the passenger only slightly.
- Available flying time lost – one half day.
- 22 May 1941
- A 35 Millimeter movie projector has been installed in the recreation Hall and a better type and more up-to-date pictures are being shown. This is all to the good as there is real need for better entertainment at this Station, being as it is that we are somewhat isolated.
- Available flying time lost – none.
- 23 May 1941
- Another Rugger Game was played at Moose Jaw between 32 S.F.T.S. and this Station. We were again defeated by a score of 6 – 0 in favour of 32 S.F.T.S.
- Available flying time lost – none.
- 24 May 1941
- This is Victoria Day, but it is not being observed as a holiday at this Station and work goes on as usual.
- Air Commodore A.T. Cowley, Air Officer Commanding No. 4 Training Command, Regina, together with Wing. Commander M.L. Heath (R.A.F.), who is here from England on a tour of Inspection of the Bombing & Gunnery Schools established in Canada under the Joint Air Training Plan, Squadron Leader K. Grey and Mr. Clayton Knight visited this Station today. Wing Commander M.L. Heath is remaining for a few days, the others returned by air at 1428 hours.
- Available Flying Time Lost – none.
- 25 May 1941
- A Station Church Parade was held today at 1100 hours in the Drill Hall. Wing Commander W.A. Jones, in the absence of the Station Commanding Officer, was in command. He also read the lesson. Flight Lieutenant W.M. McClean the chaplain, conducted the service.
- After the service, badges were presented to approximately 119 graduates who had completed their course of training at this School. The presentations were made ty Wing Commander M.L. Heath and Wing Commander W.A. Jones. 74 gradates were posted to the overseas pool at Halifax. Of this number 49 were Australians, 24 Canadian, and one R.A.F.
- 25 May 1941
- 45 Graduates were also posted from this School to No. 1 A.N.S. Rivers, Manitoba, for a course in celestial navigation. Of these 44 were R.A.A.F. and one R.C.A.F. This makes the largest number of Graduates to receive their badges at this School in one day.
- Available flying time lost – full day.
- 26 May 1941
- A new class of wireless Air Gunners came in on Saturday and Sunday last. 70 arrived on Saturday of which 68 were R.A.A.F. and 2 R.C.A.F., from No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary.
- Four Standard Air Gunners arrived on Sunday from No. 2 Manning Depot, Brandon. 42 Air Observers arrived from No. 3 Air Observer School, Regina, on 26-5-41 for a six weeks course of training at this School.
- 1150 hrs Dragon Fly 7624, Squadron Leader K. Grey as pilot. Flying Officer F.V. Gillispie, W.O.2 Teaffe J.B. and R59816 AC.l Jeffs, as passenger arrived from No. 4 Training Command, Regina.
- 1640 hrs The said aircraft returned to Regina with the same pilot and with Wing Commander M.L. Heath, Wing Commander W.A. Jones, and AC.l Jeffs as passengers. Flying Officer F. V. Gillespie & W.O. 2 Teaffe is remaining at the Station for a few days on temporary duty.
- Available flying time lost – one half day.
- 27 May 1941
- 1630. hrs Harvard 2721. pilot Flight Lieutenant W.T. Brooks, passenger LAC Smith D.P. arrived from Moose Jaw. The said Aircraft returned to Moose Jaw almost immediately after arriving.
- Available flying time lost – full day.
- 28 May 1941
- A Committee has been set up to edit and publish the Station Paper “Contact:, constituted as follows: Flying Officer J.L. McKeen (C2634), 10001A W.O.2 Carver A.E., 4303 Sgt. Skidmore F.R., R59727 Cpl. McCormick, J.R.
- Flying was washed out at 1630 hours due to a rain storm coming up. Wet weather has not the same terror for us that it used to as we now have gravel on most of our roads.
- Available flying time lost – Full Day.
- 29 May 1941
- 1508 hrs. Tiger Moth 4303 with Mr. J.E. Coker as pilot and A.C.2 Qually C.D. as passenger, arrived from Moose Jaw.
- 1620 hrs. The above aircraft returned with same personnel aboard.
- 1615 hrs. 4127 Tiger Moth, pilot Flying Officer W.V. Decker, arrived from Regina.
- 1750 hrs. Above aircraft returned with same pilot and Flying Officer D. Reece as passenger.
- Available flying time lost – one half day.
- 30 May 1941
- 1644 hrs. 4303 Tiger Moth, pilot Mr. J. Short, passenger 70044 LAC Evans M. arrived from Moose Jaw and returned with same personnel at 1750 hours. The weather has been extremely unfavorable for flying this week. Wet and cloudy weather has prevailed since last Saturday
- Available flying time lost – one half day.
- 31 May 1941
- Squadron Leader W.R. Pollock arrived from No. 1 Wireless School, Montreal by P.M.C. on posting to this Station. Squadron Leader W.R. Pollock was with 115 Fighting Squadron (Auxiliary). He was transferred from that Squadron to No. 112 Fighter Squadron and went overseas with them. In England he was transferred again to No. 1 Squadron and remained with that squadron until his return to Canada. No, 1 Fighter Squadron was commanded by Wing Commander Ernest McNabb D.F.C.
- Number of days Aerodrome was unserviceable during May – Two days.
- Total hours flown during the Month of May – 1879 hours and 30 minutes.
- Numbers and type of aircraft on strength – 52 Fairey Battles.
- Personnel on Strength:
- Officers – 62
- Airmen – 903
- O.R.s – 11
- Civilians – 115
- Available flying time lost – one half day.
- COMMANDING OFFICER, NO. 2 BOMBING AND
GUNNERY SCHOOL, R.C.A.F., MOSSBANK, SASK.
