Daily Diary

No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School,
Mossbank, Saskatchewan

April 1941

This Transcription of the Operational Record Book of No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School that was Located at Mossbank, Saskatchewan, Canada was created by the volunteers at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Brandon, Manitoba. You can visit their website by clicking this heading.

IMAGE 1104

• 1 April 1941
  • The mud condition has greatly improved and roads are becoming passable for M.T. It is hoped that grading and hard surfacing will be commenced shortly. G.D.’s were detailed to pick up the debris accumulated about the buildings during the construction period and delayed through snow and ground conditions. A new rug, blue with the R.C.A.F. wings woven in is a handsome addition to the furnishings of the Officers Mess, receiving many comments of appreciation. 32 Air Observers arriving 31-3-41 spent the day reporting to the Medical Officer and Dental Officer, drawing Stores and reporting to the School.
  • Dr. Bryan of Port Arthur is a visitor to the Station.
  • Strength of Station at beginning of Month –
    • Officers – 56
    • Airmen – 729
    • O.R. – 13
    • Civilians – 119
  • Maximum available flying time – 7 hours.
• 2 April 1941
  • A central warehouse is now in operation on the Station. All surplus stock being transfered from the Airmens Canteen on the 1-4-41. The Officers Mess held a special meeting to elect a new secretary to replace Flt. Lt. A.B.C. Weatherwax, who is leaving to go to A.N.S. Rivers. Man. Flt. Lt. Friesen was elected to the Office.

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• 2 April 1941 (continued)
  • A Ration Board was reconstituted whose duties are to ensure the quality & satisfactory handling of rations. Flt. Lt. M.D. Williams (C4081) and Flt. Lt. H.H. Booth (C2016) were appointed to constitute the board.
  • Finding of the Court Martial of R72197 A/Cpl. Barton D.B. was published in D.R.O. by which trial he was awarded 14 days detention.
  • F/O J.A. Peterson posted to this Station as an Administrative, officer, arrives.
  • 1000 hrs. Arrived from Regina D.H. Dragon Fly No. 7625 Piloted by F/O W.V. Decker. Passengers were Hon. S/L W.B. Willam, F/O J.A. Peterson.
  • 1440 hrs. Departed for Regina Pilot F/O W.V. Decker, Passengers Hon. S/L W.B. Willam.
  • Hon. S/L W.B. Willam visited the Station Padre, Hon. F/L W. McClean.
  • 1700 hrs. Arrived from Regina Waco YFK-CF-BJP, piloted by Mr. W. Irvine, Passengers were Mr. F. Young.
  • F/O O.W. Durdin, P/O C. Bishop and P/O T.E.D. Boys, posted to this station from the administration course at Trenton for instruction prior to reposting to another Bombing and Gunnery School, continue to undergo practical instruction in Administration Duties.
  • Maximum available flying time – 8 hours
• 3 April 1941
  • The Correspondence Courses provided by the Canadian Legion War Services Inc., are proving increasingly popular, at this date 113 courses are being taken.
  • 1120 hrs. Arrived from Moose Jaw, Harvard No. 16 piloted by F/O J.S. Booth.
  • 1150 hrs. Departed for Moose Jaw, same pilot and aircraft as mentioned above.
  • 1730 hrs. Arrived from Regina Dragon Fly No. 7625, F/O J.E. Bisson, passengers, Cpl. A.R. Belby and Mr. Hawkins.

IMAGE 1106

• 3 April 1941 (continued)
  • Departure for Swift Current, Waco No. YFK-CF-BJP, Pilot Mr. W. Irvine and Mr. Young of the Dept. of Transport who visited the Station in connection with facilities in this area.
  • Maximum available Flying Time – 4 hours.
• 4 April 1941
  • Arrangements have been made with the C.P.R. to continue the special weekend train service to Moose Jaw and return up the week end of April 27/41. 10 General Duties arrive from No. 2 Manning Depot, Brandon, Manitoba.
  • 1010 hrs. Departed for Regina, Battle 1605 Pilot F/O L.K. Kundrath, passengers F/L H.H. Booth, F/O H. Hemminger, Flt/Sgt. O’brien E.E., Sgt Pilot A. Jarred.
  • 1610 hrs. Arrived from Regina, same aircraft and pilot, and passengers.
  • 1720 hrs. Departed for Regina, Battle 1690 Pilot W/C W.A. Jones, passengers F/O B.M. Laubach, Sgt. Pilot Cox R.F.
  • 1815 hrs. Arrived from Regina, Battle 1690 piloted by Sgt. Pilot Cox R.F. passenger AC1 R61385 Townsend F.L.

IMAGE 1107

• 4 April 1941 (continued)
  • 0930 hrs. Departed for Regina, Dragon Fly No. 7625, piloted by F/O J.E. Bisson, Passenger Cpl. Belby A.R.
  • Mr. H. Hawkins of the Ferranti Electric sets up the X-ray examination for the Hospital. This will enable us to complete X-Ray examinations for any personnel discharged from the services instead of sending them to other centers.
  • Maximum available flying time – 4 hours.
• 5 April 1941
  • Steam tables and beverage urns have been received, awaiting now their being connected which will allow the serving of the foods hot and more conveniently and will satisfy a long needed essential piece of equipment for the satisfactory serving of meals.
  • A Station Library Committee has been appointed with the Padre Hon. Fil. Lt. W. McClean acting as President. No time has been lost by this committee as on this day also, books have been secured and are available for loan to the Station personnel. A wide selection is included in the initial accessions. Notices have been posted up asking that magazines which have been read be kept and handed in for the I.O.D.E., who undertake distribution free of cost.
  • Water used on the Station for week ending to day, Water pumped from wells 72,500 gallons, water hauled 287,500 gallons and water used, 353,250 gallons.
  • Maximum available flying time – 5 hours.

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• 6 April 1941
  • Group Captain A.J. Ashton leaves the Station on temporary duty, departing by Government Motor Transport to Moose Jaw, thence to No. 3 S.F.T.S. Calgary and other Stations.
  • 1435 hrs. Arrived from Regina, Lockheed 10-B (Communications Flight) Pilot F/O A.D. Rhodes, passengers Captain J.J. Schacter, Captain M. Nacht, Flt/Sgt. D.C. Williams, Sgt. R.O. Bower and LAC Barron P.C.
  • 1545 hrs. Departed for Regina as above.
  • 1915 hrs. A Station Drum Head Protestant Service was held in the recreation building, in charge of the Station Padre W. McClean. The singing of hymns was a bit weak owing to absence of a Pianist, the Padre changed his original selection to hymns which were better known, this improved the volume of the singing Praise.
  • W/C W.A. Jones is acting Commanding Officer of the Station in the absence of Group Captain A.J. Ashton who is off the Station on temporary duty.
  • Despite the mud conditions on the Station, reported from time to time, at no time however, had this in the least interfered with or interrupted flying schedules, also during the winter the runways were kept clear and as a consequence there was no loss of flying time.
  • Maximum available flying time – 3 hours.

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• 7 April 1941
  • A drill course for Officers has been resumed, parading each morning, excepting Saturdays and Sundays in the drill hall at 0815 hrs. Flt. Lt. G.O. Godson is the Officer in charge of the course.
  • Accommodation for Officers is creating a perplexing problem. This has been severely aggravated through the posting of supernumary officers to this establishment and the promotions of O.R. to commissions.
  • 1100 hrs. Departed for Regina, Battle No. 1765, piloted by F/O C.F. Lawson, passenger F/O A. Jarred
  • 1330 hrs. Returning aircraft as above with F/O C.F. Lawson as pilot.
  • 1600 hrs. Departed for Moose Jaw, Battle 1616, piloted by F/O Prendergast.
  • 1750 hrs. Returned as above aircraft and pilot.
  • Maximum available flying time – 4 hours.
• 8 April 1941
  • An all time high record for flying since the station was opened was achieved today with 153 hours of flying being done.
  • Flow of water from the station wells is improving a little these wells being very shallow, the ground frost affects them & with the frost coming out there is an increase in available supply from these wells.
  • Duty run of G.M.T. to Moose Jaw and Regina which has not been operating for over a week owing to road conditions is again resumed but with the load limited to 4000 lbs.
  • Fairey Battle No. 1702 forced landing on airdrome, caused by engine throwing a connecting rod in the air thus causing the engine to seize. Pilot and two passengers unhurt.

IMAGE 1110

• 8 April 1941 (continued)
  • 0720 hrs. Arrived from Regina, Lockheed 7648, piloted by Flying Officer A.D. Rhodes, passenger, F/Sgt. 9718, Wyckoff, G.B.
  • 0730 hrs. Departed for Regina, Pilot, Flying Officer A.D. Rhodes.
  • 1045 hrs. Arrived from 32 S.F.T.S. Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Harvard No. 2787, piloted by Squadron Leader R. Bengay.
  • 1615 hrs. Departed for Moose Jaw, same pilot and aircraft as above.
  • 1505 hrs. Arrived from Regina, Dragon Fly No. 7625 piloted by Flying Officer A.D. Rhodes, passengers Flt. Lt. M.D. Williams, Flt. Lt. N.H. Ormonde and LAC Gautheir.
  • 1610 hrs. Returned to Regina, Dragon Fly No. 7625, piloted by Flying Officer A.D. Rhodes, passenger LAC Gauthier.
  • Maximum available flying time – 12 hours.
• 9 April 1941
  • The Canadian Legion Hut have a library of 1017 books and have put into use over 50,000 magazines since opening last September. Over 1000 sheets of writing paper and envelopes are used daily and about $35.00 worth of stamps are sold daily. Use of the Hut study

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• 9 April 1941 (continued)
  • rooms is made for both trade test studies as well as the correspondence courses study. There is also available on the station a musical library of over 250 orchestrations, 3000 popular numbers, 1000 standard numbers, 200 sketches and 12 complete plays, unfortunately the absence of a stage does not allow of the use of these entertainment scores to their full use.
  • 1050 hrs. Departure for Regina Battle 1690, Pilot Flying Officer C.L. Werley, passengers Flying Officer O.W. Durdin.
  • Maximum flying time available – Nil.
• 10 April 1941
  • Fifty Wireless Air Gunners & Air Gunners Standard course No. 7 training delayed on account of weather so held over one week, graduating April 17th.
  • Battle 1764, Pilot Flying Officer A. Jarred, passengers LAC M.F. Sikal and AC2 R.M. Pirt forced landed and undershot field. Cause was engine trouble, no one injured but aircraft was extensively damaged.
  • Battle 1776, Pilot Flying Officer N. Robinson, passengers, students, R62185 LAC Kellough and R61025 LAC McKinnon D.R., blew right tire when taking off and on landing nose dipped into ground damaging airscrew.
  • Battle 1766, Pilot, Sergeant Pierce, in turning onto taxi strip brakes failed and aircraft went into the mud, tipped on its nose damaging airscrew.
  • Maximum available flying time – 10 hours.

IMAGE 1112

• 11 April 1941
  • Father Branch (Roman Catholic) visited the station holding audience in the Canadian Legion Auxiliary Hut.
  • This is Good Friday and an Air Force Holiday, but this Station decided to carry on as usual to make up for some of the time lost by reason of bad weather. However early in the morning it started to rain and continued throughout the day making flying impossible. Nevertheless the day was not wasted but utilized for lectures and other indoor instructions. Wet weather presents a real problem at this Station owing to the nature of the soil which is of the stickiest type of clay, and without proper roads it is difficult to get about from place to place to say nothing of the extra work necessary to keep buildings and one’s person clean. All weather roads are urgently needed.
  • Maximum available flying time – Nil.
• 12 April 1941
  • Rain continued throughout Friday night and Saturday until approximately 1500 hours.
  • Flying was washed out, the roads impassible.
  • A board of Officers to take over the heating contracts for Hangars, Drill Hall, G.I.S. Building, Watch Office, Officers Quarters, Turret Instruction Building and Spotlight Trainer. Those constituting the Board are as follows:

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• 12 April 1941 (continued)
  • … President, Wing Commander W.A. Jones, Flt.Lt. J.T.M. Beddall, Flt. Lt. M.D. Williams of No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School, and Flying Officer G.F. Jenkins of No. 4 Training Command.
  • Maximum available flying time – Nil.
• 13 April 1941
  • Easter Sunday a Protestant Church Parade was held in the Recreation Building at 1915 hours in charge of the Station Padre, Honourary Flt. Lt. W. McClean. Mass for the Roman Catholic personnel was held by Father Branch at 0645 hours.
  • 0730 hrs. Departure for Regina Battle 1711, Pilot Flying Officer R.G. Galbraith, passenger Lt. H.C. Rustard of the R.N.N.A.F.
  • 0900 hrs. Return from Regina, Battle 1711, pilot Flying Officer R.G. Galbraith.
  • Maximum available flying time – 7 hours.
• 14 April 1941
  • 32 R.C.A.F. and one R.A.A.F. Air Observers completed their course of training here today, and were posted to No. 1 A.N.S. at Rivers. Prior to leaving a brief graduating ceremony was held at which the Commanding Officer presented them with their Air Observer Badges. It was the unanimous opinion of the instructional staff that this was the brightest class of pupils turned out at the School so far.
  • Maximum available flying time.- 12 hours.
• 15 April 1941
  • Today the Station went on Daylight Saving time which is one hour ahead of Standard time.
  • 43 Air Observer Students of the R.A.A.F. arrived today to commence a six weeks course of training. Another Dental Officer, in the person of Lt. R.H.A. Henderson was posted here

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• 15 April 1941 (continued)
  • … today from No. 4 Training Command. So now we have two dental Officers and all those requiring dental treatment can be looked after. Flt. Lt. E. Hamilton arrived from Trenton on posting.
  • Mr. L.B. Thomson, the Superintendent of the Dominion Experimental Station at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, and Mr. J.B. Campbell also connected with the Experimental Station visited here today with a view of leveling off and seeding the grounds to grass as soon a conditions permit. This is sorely needed.
  • Maximum available flying time – 12 hours.
• 16 April 1941
  • Wing Commander W.A. Jones left the Station yesterday for a brief visit to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba.
  • 0945 Hrs. Dragon Fly 7624, Pilot Squadron Leader T.A. Verner, passengers Squadron Leader S.G. Cowan, Flt. Lt. J.F. Grant and W.O.1 H.S. Diller arrived from No. 4 Training Command Headquarters, Regina.
  • 1245 Hrs. Battle 1658 Sgt. R. Cox, Pilot, Flying Officer S.A. Cheesman and Flt. Lt. N.H. Ormand, passengers arrived from Regina, Saskatchewan.

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• 16 April 1941 (continued)
  • 1005 hrs. Dragon Fly 7625, Pilot Flt. Lt. R.D. Byers, passenger Mr. J.M. McLean arrived here from Regina.
  • 1315 hrs. Dragon Fly 7625, Pilot, R.D. Byers, departed for Moose Jaw.
  • 1335 hrs. Dragon Fly 7624, Pilot, Squadron J.A. Verner, Passengers, Squadron Leader S.G. Cowan, Flt. Lt. J.F. Grant and Flt. Lt. N.H. Ormand, also departed for Moose Jaw. W.O. 1 H.S. Diller is remaining at the station for a couple of weeks on temporary duty.
  • Maximum available flying time – 12 hours.
  • Comparative Statement of water pumped, hauled and consumed as between the periods

	1 to 15 March 1941 (inclusive) (15 days)	1 to 15 April 1941 (inclusive) (15 days)
Pumped	199,300	198,300
Hauled	415,700	567,00
Consumed	585,450	799,200
Increased Consumption		213,750
Average Daily Consumption	39,030	53,280
Increased Daily Consumption		14,250

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• 17 April 1941
  • Flt. Lt. W. Thornber who has been here on temporary duty since Tuesday last returned to No. 4 T.C. Regina today.
  • Air Gunners Course No. 7 Consisting of 82 Trainees commenced their course here on 17-3-41.
  • 80 of them graduated today. A brief graduation ceremony was held in the Drill Hall, at which the Commanding Officer of the station, Group Captain A.J. Ashton presented the class with their badges. 27 were R.C.A.F., 39 R.A.A.F. and 16 R.N.Z.A.F., wastages: one failure, one partial failure is write supplementary examination. The R.C.A.F. graduates proceeded on 10 days leave, afterwards they go to overseas Pool, Debert, N.S. The R.A.A.F. & R.N.Z.A.F. graduates proceeded direct to Debert.
  • Maximum available flying time – Nil.
• 18 April 1941
  • A Station Messing and Ration Board has this day been established, on which are represented the various messes on the station, the Medical Officer also being a member. The purpose is to co-ordinate the functioning of the various messes and to ensure the maintenance of the present high standard of messing.
  • 1500 hrs. Battle 1309 S.O.S. on transfer to No. 3 Bombing & Gunnery School, at MacDonald, Manitoba.
  • Flying Officer R.F. Wilson who has been posted to this School, flew this aircraft there.

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• 18 April 1941 (continued)
  • Amount of Flying Time Lost – Full Day.
• 19 April 1941
  • Aircraft Dragon Fly 7625 piloted by Squadron Leader J.L. Verner, of No, 4 Training Command, passengers Flt. Lt. F.R.G. McColl, D.S.O., M,C. & D.F.C. also of No. 4 Training Command, and Wing Commander H.G. Reid, C.M.G., C.B.E.,D.S.O. Chief Security Officer from Airforce Headquarters. Flt. Lt. F.R,G. McColl and Wing Commander Reid reviewed the Station security situation in conjunction with Flying Officer J.H. Drewry, the Officer in charge Security Guards. The party remained for lunch and departed for Regina at 1315 hours.
  • Amount of Flying Time Lost – None
• 20 April 1941
  • 1110 hrs. 7625 Dragon Fly, piloted by Squadron Leader J.A. Verner and with. Flying Officer R.O. Babbit and A.C.2 T.R.A. Robinson arrived from Regina and returned (with the exception of Robinson) at 1410 hours.
  • 1140 hrs. 1694 Battle with Flying Officer C.L. Werley as pilot and Flying Officer R. Headrick and LAC J. Gordon departed for Moose Jaw.
  • 1235 hrs. Aircraft and pilot and passenger as above returned.
  • 1130 hrs. 7664 Cesna, Pilot Flying Officer P.J. Grant and AC.1 W. Harryluk as passenger arrived from Saskatoon, and returned at 1750 hours.
  • 1640 hrs. 1690 Fairey Battle, Flying Officer C.L. Werley as Pilot and Cpl. Hill J.B. as passenger departed for Regina and returned 1750 hrs., with Wing Commander W.A. Jones, who has been away since last Tuesday visiting No. 3 Bombing & Gunnery School at McDonald and No. 1 A.N.S. at Rivers, Manitoba.
  • Amount of Flying Time Lost – Three Quarters of a day.

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• 21 April 1941
  • Dragon Fly 7625 piloted by Flying Officer J.E. Bisson and with Wing Commander J.R. Gordon of the R.A.A.F. and Flying Officer A. Buckle as passengers visited the Station for a few hours today.
  • Amount of Flying Time Lost – Three Quarters of a Day.
• 22 April 1941
  • A Board of Officers consisting of Wing Commander W. A. Jones Flt. Lt. J.I.M. Beddall and Flt. Lt. M.D. Williams of this Station and Flying Officer G.F. Jenkins of the No. 4 Training Command Headquarters assembled today at this Station for the purpose of taking (a) The heating contract for the Hangars and Drill Hall, (b) The Heating Contract for G.I.S. Building, Watch Offices, Officers’ Quarters, Tower Instruction Building and Spotlight Trainer.
  • The Board having found the said heating plants in order, did take over the said contracts.
  • Amount of Flying Time Lost – One Quarter of a Day.
• 23 April 1941
  • After a long stretch of wet and cloudy weather, it has now turned dry and a start is being made with the building of all weather road which is badly needed, and also on levelling and improving the Station Grounds. Mr. C. Suter a local farmer had the contract for

IMAGE 1119

• 23 April 1941 (continued)
  • … building the roads and the Dominion Experimental Station at Swift Current are in charge of seeding and otherwise improving the grounds. Attempts are being made to secure shrubs and flowers to enhance the appearance of the surroundings.
  • Amount of Flying Time Lost – None.
• 24 April 1941
  • April 24/41 A new Station Sports Committee has recently been formed consisting of Squadron Leader W.M. Penman as president and Flt. Lt. W. McClean, Flying Officer S.A. Cheesman, Flying Officer J.R. Bryan, A.C.1 Foulis B.J. and Mr. Howard Large, as members. This committee has lost no time in getting into action and already an extensive programme is under way. Three tennis courts, hard and soft ball diamonds and a soccer field are under construction. Each Airmen’s hut will have a soft ball team, each hangar a hard ball team. The Officers will field both a hard and soft ball teams, other forms of sport are under consideration, so that an opportunity will be afforded everyone at this Station to engage in sport of one form or another. Sports besides being healthful and providing entertainment, are important factors in building up and maintaining morale and a better Esprit de corps, particularly this is true, at a Station such as this, situated on the bleak prairie and in a community which cannot provide adequate entertainment and sport facilities. The sports Committee, therefore, has an important place to fill in the lives of the men on the station, and that it is fully alive to the situation as is shown by the very excellent progress made so far.
  • Amount of Flying Time Lost – None.

IMAGE 1120

• 25 April 1941
  • Squadron Leader K. Gray, Armament Officer for No. 4 Training Command Headquarters, arrived from Regina by Air on 22-4-41, for an inspection visit and remained until the evening of 24-4-41.
  • Amount of Flying Time Lost – Nil.
• 26 April 1941
  • 1400 hrs. 67 Wireless Air Gunners reported from No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary. Three more are on 48 hour passes and should arrive by the expiration of the pass. 25 are Canadians the remainder Australians. They were escorted here by Flying Officer G.E.H. Brandon. 13 Air Gunners are to arrive from the No.2 Manning Depot, Brandon on Monday, which will bring Air Gunners Class No. 8 to a strength of 83.
  • Amount of Flying Time Lost – Nil.
• 27 April 1941
  • General Routine Operation.
  • Amount of Flying Time lost – One half Day.
• 28 April 1941
  • Wing Commander K. Russell the Commanding Officer of No. 2 Wireless School at Calgary, and Flying Officer Strugnell (R.A.F) from the same station, arrived by air in Norseman 2463 at 1140 hours today for a visit of the station.
  • Amount of Flying Time Lost – One Half Day
    

IMAGE 1121

• 29 April 1941
  • Wing Commander K. Russell and Flying Officer Strugnell, who arrived at the Station yesterday from Calgary, departed at 1125 hours by Air on Norseman 2463 for No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School at MacDonald, Manitoba.
  • Amount of flying Time Lost – Full Day.
• 30 April 1941
  • Water has been and is still a major problem at this Station therefore, if frequent references are made thereto in this diary, the reason can be readily understood. Most of our water supply has to be hauled from Ardill – – three miles away. Close track is kept of the amount of water pumped, hauled, and consumed each day, and a comparative statement is made up bi-monthly. The Statement at end shows consumption down, 110,700 Gallons over the first half of the month. The amount hauled is down 8950 Gallons and the amount pumped is up 16000 Gallons.
  • 810 Hrs. Harvard 2800 Pilot Flt. Lt. W.T. Brooth, Passenger Sgt. D.W. Billinger and Harvard 2734 Pilot Flying Officer P.M. Dobreebell, passenger, LAC A. Brough, arrived here, from Moose Jaw, and returned at 917 hours.
  • Number and type of Aircraft on charge at end of Month
    • 55 Fairey Battle.
  • Number of days during which aerodrome was unserviceable – Nil

IMAGE 1122

• 30 April 1941 (continued)
  • Total number of hours flown during the Month: 1598 hours, 45 minutes.
  • Strength of Station at end of month:
    • Officers – 67
    • Airmen – 853
    • O.R.s – 7
    • Civilians – 106
  • Amount of Flying Time Lost – One Half Day.
• COMMANDING OFFICER, NO. 2 BOMBING AND
• GUNNERY SCHOOL, R.C.A.F., MOSSBANK, SASK.