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Daily Diary
No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School,
Mossbank, Saskatchewan
February 1942
- 1 February 1942
- Strength of Station at End of Month
- Officers (RCAF)(RAF) 50
- Army Officers 3
- Airmen (Staff) 628
- Trainees 84
- Civilians 110
- Other ranks 10
- Number and Type of Aircraft on Strength
- Fairey Battles 60
- Norseman 1
- Harvard Nil
- Sunday:
- Mass was said by Father Branch (F/L J.R. Branch) at 0800 hours in the Recreation Hall. At the Protestant Service, held in the Recreation Hall at 2130 hours, the Padre (F/L H.C. Smith) spoke well on “A Revised Idea of the Church.” His popularity with all personnel continues to grow.
- The “Mossbank Special” train from Moose Jaw to Mossbank, supposed to leave Moose Jaw at 2200 hours, was held for the Saskatoon Bus till 2300 hours. Station Personnel returning from “48’s” and leave did not reach quarters till 0100 hours.
- Maximum available flying time – 8½ hours.
- Night Flying – Nil.
- 2 February 1942
- Monday:
- Complete wash-out of flying. A ceiling so low it seemed to rest on the hangars. The weather continues mild. On days such as these the pilots seize the opportunity to polish up on their wireless and to put in some extra Link Trainer.
- It has been decided that the special train leaving Moose Jaw Sunday nights at 2200 hours, in future will not be held for bus connections. It will be held for C.P.R. train No.3 from the East should it be late.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 3 February 1942
- Tuesday:
- This morning opened with heavy overcast sky, low ceiling. Flying washed out until noon. A.T.S. had a route march over the runways. Healthy exercise on good footing. Ceiling lifted at noon, closed down again in the evening.
- Maximum available flying time – 4 hours
- Night Flying – Nil
- 4 February 1942
- Wednesday:
- The day opened with clear skies after a light fall of snow during the night. Fine flying weather.
- The Assistant Principal Chaplain, from Ottawa, S/L W.K. Cochran, arrived on an inspection trip. He was accompanied by the Command Chaplain S/L W.B. Willan. Arriving by air shortly before noon, they left at approximately 1430 hours in our Norseman for Regina.
- Our Hockey Team played a game tonight at Gravelbourg against the Moose Jaw Canadians. Score 6-4 against us – – a last period win.
- Maximum available flying time – 10½ hours
- 5 February 1942
- Thursday:
- Again no flying today, very low ceiling.
- During the afternoon word leaked out of the promotion of F/L E.V.C. Hamilton to Squadron Leader. Many gathered to congratulate the popular O.C. of Ground Instruction School. A.T.S. had a route march this morning and organized sport in the afternoon. This of course is the regular routine when flying is washed out.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 6 February 1942
- Friday:
- F/L A.S. Turnbull (C2860) Command Security Officer, arrived by plane from Moose Jaw. Was quartered in F/L Church’s room – – F/L Church being absent on leave. He arrived by Harvard #60, Pilot F/O Lee, at 1630 hours. The plane departed at 1640 hours on its return trip to Moose Jaw – – visibility being poor and ceiling closing down.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 7 February 1942
- Saturday:
- F/L A.S. Turnbull (Command Security Officer) visited the new R.A.F. Station at Assiniboia by car, returning at approximately 1330 hours. He left by the 1515 train as all flying continues to be washed out due to extremely heavy overcast which closed down at noon.
- Maximum available flying time – 4 hours
- 8 February 1942
- Sunday:
- The sky continues to be heavily laden with snow. It seems as if we cannot hope for a resumption of flying until a real snow storm has cleared the air. Little or no wind.
- 8 February 1942 (continued)
- Our Protestant Padre, F/L H.C. Smith, has been invited to take morning service in Mossbank Church. Communion will be given. At Church Parade in the evening he spoke on “Hero Worship” and “Choosing the Right Kind of Hero.”
- All retired early being conscious of the fact that our watches had to be advanced one hour before going to bed. The reason; the Government has decreed “Daylight Saving Time” across the Dominion as a war measure.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 9 February 1942
- Monday:
- The Airmen’s Canteen has been forbidden to sell any foodstuffs, except milk, during Mess hours. It is normally closed anyhow the hours before lunch and dinner. This has been done in order that the airmen may not spoil their appetites for, what they agree, are the extremely good meals served them in the Mess.
- H.Q. Squadron have the Drill Hall from 1600 hours to 1700 hours Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for drill and organized sport.
- It has been a sad Station today, and a sadder Officer’s Mess. We have learned that our Commanding Officer, Group Captain A.J. Ashton has been posted as Senior Staff Officer to Western Air Command. He has been C.O. of the Station since its opening. The glumness of the Mess was a silent testimony to the high regard in which he is held.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 10 February 1942
- Tuesday:
- An event of unusual interest occurred today. Twenty-four Moth planes, intended for the new R.A.F. E.F.T.S. School at Assiniboia, sat down at approximately 1600 hours. They arrived in four flights of six in very smart order. F/L Price (R.A.F) was in charge. There were five Officer Pilots. The balance Sergeants. P.O. W. Evans has been left on the Station as the responsible officer while the planes are stored here. This may be for two months as the runways at Assiniboia are not yet in usable shape. The pilots arrived from England only five weeks ago.
- Maximum available flying time – 6 hours.
- 11 February 1942
- Wednesday:
- The sky has closed down tight again – – no flying. The alternative for A.T.S. was route march in the morning and drill in the afternoon.
- A concert party from Radio Station CHAB Moose Jaw, played to a full and enthusiastic house tonight. The concert was held in the Recreation Hall. A novelty was a skit – – a take-off on our Station Fire Brigade.
- Maximum available flying time – 3 1/6 hours.
- 12 February 1942
- Thursday:
- The Commanding Officer’s team in the local Bonspiel played at 2200 hours tonight. A number of the officers went in to Mossbank to lend their moral support, which was generously given. Despite this the team lost. The score is better not recorded.
- Weather: Snow and low ceiling.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 13 February 1942
- Friday
- Flying still totally washed out. This weather has continued for nearly two weeks now.
- As the graduating class of Standard Air Gunners were not able to get in their minimum number of air exercises, they are being held over for five days in the hope the weather will clear up. It has bean necessary to let the Observers graduating class go on to their next school even though they also have not had their minimum number of exercises. They go to No. 1 Air Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba.
- Maximum available flying time – NIL
- 14 February 1942
- Saturday:
- As we had six hours flying weather today, we were able to get the minimum hours of exercise in for the Air Gunners that was held over.
- Moth No. 4199 arrived at 1454 hours from Regina. Pilot was LAC Huttinge. He departed at 1545 hours.
- Anson No. 6581 touched here. Its destination was Weyburn. The pilot F/Sgt. Grundy. It left within a few minutes of arrival at 1350 hours.
- Maximum available flying time – 6 hours.
- 15 February 1942
- Sunday:
- Flying during the early part of the day. This was washed out during the afternoon when snow and a high wind, that later turned into a blizzard, developed. It rather looks as if it would continue all night and block the roads.
- The Church Parade had a gusty march from the Drill Hall to the Recreation Hall for the service. .
- Maximum available flying time – 3½ hours.
- 16 February 1942
- Monday:
- A wild wind of blizzard proportions continued to blow all day – – very low temperature, a combination nearly impossible to face. Roads nearly impassable with drifts.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 17 February 1942
- Tuesday:
- The delayed class of Air Gunners, held over to complete their minimum of air exercises, left today for “Y” Depot, Halifax.
- Night flying resumed. Was shut down early owing to combination of low temperature and weak batteries (old) that did not like it and therefore would not hold their charges. Result: failure of flying lights etc. Very dark night, no horizon.
- Eighteen more Moths sat down this afternoon. These also are for the new R.A.F. Station at Assiniboia. Three of them left later for Moose Jaw. The balance will be stored with the first lot until Assiniboia is ready to receive them. The R.A.F. officer in charge was again F/L Price.
- Maximum available flying time – 7 hrs. 40 min.
- 18 February 1942
- Wednesday:
- There are an increasing number of “cold” casualties among the officers. The hospital now has several as guests and one or two others are still on duty but feeling miserable and nursing noses, tender from too much blowing.
- The day dawned with clear skies and a decreasing wind. Intensive resumption of flying. Five planes working the line at one time–five minute intervals. Schedule working like clockwork.
- Maximum available flying time – 9½ hours.
- 19 February 1942
- Thursday:
- Low ceiling most of the day. Cleared up somewhat in afternoon. Flying resumed at approximately 1500 hours.
- Maximum available flying time – 4 hrs. 25 min.
- 20 February 1942
- Friday:
- Misty day, no flying,
- Subscriptions to Victory Loan on the Station reached $1,150.00 today.
- A draw for a $50.00 bond resulted in Group Captain Ashton winning the bond. (Subscription $1.00).
- Moth #1200 F/L Price and Moth #1117 F/L Nicholl departed for #34 E.F.T.S. Congress.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 21 February 1942
- Saturday:
- Very misty, no flying, became quite cold in the afternoon and snow fell lightly.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 22 February 1942
- Sunday:
- Miserable day. Snowing and drifting. Roads blocked and had to be plowed out.
- Special precautions were taken to prevent fire and to assure that Fire Fighting equipment would operate efficiently.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 23 February 1942
- Monday:
- No flying again today. Have not had a full days flying since January 28th.
- Snowed all day lightly, wind abated in late afternoon.
- F/O Mackin won the $50.00 Victory bond on the draw. Mossbank reached 200% of their quota in Victory Loan Drive.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 24 February 1942
- Tuesday:
- To the delight of all ranks the weather cleared up and flying was resumed. It was interrupted for an hour when a fog bank moved in for a short time.
- P/O J.McLellan from Command and Mr. Crossley a civilian arrived from Assiniboia on official business (water supply). They came by car and had no difficulty as a plow had been through. F/L Byng-Hall arrived to lecture to students. He has had wide operational experience and the lectures should be of immense interest to the students.
- F/O J.W. Taylor, Drill Test Officer here. About 44 N.C.O’s. and airmen to take tests. 156 exercises carried out today and, so far as the O.C., F/L Badgley could ascertain, this was a record.
- Maximum available flying time – 10 hours.
- 25 February 1942
- Wednesday:
- Good flying today. Clear and not too cold.
- We had a flying visit from Group Captain D.D’A.A. Greig, D.F.C., A.F.C., acting A.O.C. No. 1 T.C., who was enroute to No. 34 E.F.T.S. at Assiniboia by air.
- F/L Crotty, T.G. (C3620) arrived by air 1000 hours and departed for Moose Jaw by air at 1530 hours. He was here in connection with problems re appointment of aircrew to commissions. Cessna 8189 brought G/C Greig accompanied by F/L McMann, W/C Newbigging and W/C Davidson from Calgary, and on 6645 Sgt/Pilot Rigby arrived 1755. Harvard 2565 brought F/L Crotty, P/O Wardley was the pilot. 11 Moths left for Assiniboia.
- Maximum available flying time – 10 hours.
- 26 February 1942
- Thursday:
- Excellent flying weather.
- 24 Moths left this Station for Assiniboia and one for Caron today. Moth #5955 had come from Caron with Sgt’s. Pryde and Rose earlier in the day (1410 hours) and left 1525 hours.
- Battle #2060 F/O Hale Pilot and P/O Miller passenger, arrived from Lethbridge.
- Maximum available flying time – 16 hours.
- 27 February 1942
- Friday:
- A nasty fire occurred today in Barrack Block No. 11 at approximately 1430 hours. A Court of Inquiry will be held to determine the cause. The Firefighters extinguished the blaze in quick order. The fire started near the heating equipment. Cessna 8030 F/O F.R. McGugan arrived from Yorkton at 1330 hours.
- Vultee 14252 J.R. Crow Pilot and passengers Mr. & Mrs. Bishopric and Mrs. Crow arrived from Regina 1530 hours.
- Cessna 8030 departed for Yorkton at 1415 hours with passengers Hill, Whittaker, Reeves, Lundy and Kraeling.
- Maximum available flying time – 9 hours.
- 28 February 1942
- Saturday:
- Good flying weather.
- Wings parade for course No. 35 Air Observers (21 in number)…
- 28 February 1942 (continued)
- … who proceeded today to No. 1 A.N.S. at Rivers, Manitoba. S/L Penman presented the badges to the graduates.
- Vultee N,C. 14252 J.R. Crow pilot, departed for Calgary at 1145 hours via Moose Jaw with passengers Group Captain A.J. Ashton, Mrs. J.R.Crow, Mr. & Mrs. A1. Bishopric.
- Water Consumption for month of February, 1942 – 691,200 gallons. Average Daily Consumption 28,257 1/7 gallons.
- Maximum available flying time – 9 hours.
- Strength of Station at End of Month
- Officers (RCAF)(RAF)………49
- Army Officers………………….. 3
- Airmen (Staff)………………..712
- Trainees…………………………140
- Civilians…………………………111
- Other ranks……………………….11
- Number and Type of Aircraft on Strength
- Fairey Battles……………..60
- Norseman……………………..1
- Harvard………………………..1
- Total Flying Hours for month of February – 984 hours
- Number of days Aerodrome unserviceable Nil
- COMMANDING OFFICER, No. 2 BOMBING AND
GUNNERY SCHOOL, R.C.A.F., MOSSBANK, SASK.
