Skip to content
Daily Diary
No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School,
Mossbank, Saskatchewan
November 1941
- 1 November 1941
- Strength of Station at Commencement of Month Number
- Officers (RCAF)(RAF) 48
- Army Officers 3
- Airmen 724
- Trainees 115
- Civilians 100
- & Type of Aircraft on Strength .
- Fairey Battle 58
- Norseman 2
- Saturday. We have at last received a Dual Battle aircraft. Its number is 1974. It came from Paulson. Squadron Leader W.M. Penman flew it from there to Regina, and Flight Lieutenant W.J. Bundy from Regina to here.
- Night flying started on October 30th.
- 1315 hrs. Tiger No. 5017 piloted by Flight Lieutenant Piercy with Squadron Leader Wangar-Slade as passenger stayed with us only 45 minutes (from 1315 hrs. to 1400 hrs.) en route to Swift Current.
- Water consumption for the month of October averaged 27,280 gallons a day.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 5 hours.
- 2 November 1941
- Brigadier-General Alexander Ross was a visitor today.
- During the past month we have trained twelve civilians as Air Bombers. They have returned to No. 2 A.O.S. Edmonton and No. 3 A.O.S. Regina, where they will pass on the knowledge gained here to the pupils at these Schools.
- 1100 hrs. Church Parade at 1100 hours in the Drill Hall, our own Padre Hon. Flight Lieutenant W. McClean taking the Service.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 10 hours.
- 3 November 1941
- Maximum Available Flying Time – NIL
- 4 November 1941
- More snow fell all night but it was not so cold.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – NIL
- 5 November 1941
- Wednesday. The ski-boat was out today. The weather turned considerably warmer.
- Flying Officer L.G. Galbraith and Flying Officer C.D. Browning stayed overnight. They were ferrying Battles No. 4037 and No. 3964 to their home station – Lethbridge.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – NIL
- 6 November 1941
- Thursday. Still warmer today and the snow is nearly gone.
- Wing Commander J.D. Nelson from Airforce Headquarters, Ottawa, and Wing Commander K. Gray from No. 4 Training Command, both on an Armament General, arrived this morning. They will stay over night and possibly longer.
- Squadron Leader E.B. Howard, Command Chaplain (R.C) visited Flight Lieutenant J.E. Branch and stayed over night.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 10 hours.
- 7 November 1941
- Friday. Snow practically all gone today and greatcoats have been discarded.
- The Commanding Officer’s weekly inspection gave birth to the joke of the year when he discovered a very dead mouse trapped in a cupboard in a building that carries a one hundred per cent reputation for cleanliness- to wit- the Station Hospital!
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 10 hours.
- 8 November 1941
- 0900 hrs. Saturday. At 0900 hours, the Commanding Officer took off in the Norseman for Lethbridge to attend the official opening of No. 8 Bombing & Gunnery School there. He was accompanied by Flying Officer N. Robinson, Flight Lieutenant F. Blackmore and Flying Officer P. Malloy.
- Wings Parade at 1000 hours today at which Course No. 18 consisting of 32 W.O.A.G.’s and Course No. 28 consisting of 40 Air Observers were presented with Wings.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 10 hours.
- 9 November 1941
- Sunday. The usual Church Parade was held in the Drill Hall, Hon. Flight Lieutenant W. McClean officiating. Squadron Leader W.M. Penman took the salute for the March Past.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 7 hours.
- 10 November 1941
- Monday. Fifty Potential Pilots left today for No. 2 Initial Training School, Regina, to commence their training.
- Colonel R.J. Manion, formerly leader of the Conservative Party in the Federal House but now of the Auxiliary War Services section of M.D. 12, together with Captain Beasley (also Auxiliary War Services M.D. 12) paid us a brief visit this afternoon.
- 1505 hrs. The Commanding Officer and his party returned from their enjoyable trip to
- Lethbridge at 1505 hours.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 10 hours.
- 11 November 1941
- Tuesday. A beautiful spring day with a powerful sun shining.
- Our Non-Public Funds Section ws visited this morning by Flight Lieutenant G.A. MacDougall and Flying Officer J.J. Carson from No. 4 Training Command Non-Public Funds Depot. They went so far as to say we had the best system in the Command. They flew in in a formation of three Harvards.
- 11 November 1941 (continued)
- A detail of about 40 airmen under Flying Officer Robert Rennie attended the Mossbank Armistice Day Celebration together with all the Veteran civilians of the Station. A two minute silence was observed at the Station at 1100 hours.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 10 hours.
- 12 November 1941
- Wednesday. The first of a series of weekly concerts was staged in the Recreation Room under the auspices of the Canadian Legion. Some 20 artists from Moose Jaw put on an excellent show which was loudly acclaimed by a full house. We look forward to next Wednesday, when the Legion promise us another concert with a brand new set of entertainers.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 10 hours.
- 13 November 1941
- Thursday. A very slight fall of snow was experienced last night but the sunshine today soon dispersed it.
- Flying Officer M.G. Macaulay, Command Eye-Specialist, arrived and proceeded to make prescriptions for all personnel needing glasses.
- Mr. H.E. Jenkins, Command Morse Code Examiner, examined a course of Australians and found them excellent.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 7 hours.
- 14 November 1941
- Friday. A dust storm raged north east south and west all day. Now the newcomers know why this is called the Dust Bowl.
- Pilot Officer C.H. Benell, Armourer Officer, reported for duty from Mountain View, Ont.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – NIL
- 15 November 1941
- Saturday. The friendly rivalry between the Sergeants Mess and the Corporals Mess was much in evidence tonight when the Corporals staged a dance in the Recreation Room. Nearly 100 guests arrived and even the Sergeants admitted they were “hand-picked”. The Commanding Officer was invited and expressed himself as delighted with the manner in which the Corporals had organized everything. The new method of handling meals at the Airmen’s Mess at definite times for specific personnel came into effect today and operated quite efficiently. The Station was visited by our old Friends, Flight Lieutenant W. Johnston and Flying Officer P. Hale from Lethbridge. They stayed over night.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 9 hours.
- 16 November 1941
- 1100 hrs. Sunday. A “skeleton” Church Parade was held in the Recreation Room at 1100 hours owing to the fact that the Drill Hall was painted for Badminton yesterday. Flight Lieutenant W. McClean officiated. A mild drizzle fell the whole day and the sun never once shone through.
- Maximum Available Flying Time: NIL
- 17 November 1941
- No. 7 of Vol. 1 of “Contact” was distributed today. Two copies are appended. (ED NOTE – not attached).
- No flying again today – quite cold and overcast. We are beginning to think of fur hats, and many greatcoats are already in use under the “optional” order of Oct. 28th, 1941. In spite of the extremely low ceiling, Flying Officer H. Prendergast flew a Harvard from Rivers, Manitoba, to Mossbank today arriving in first class shape.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – NIL
- 18 November 1941
- Tuesday. The Station wakened to see a fall of 6″ of snow and still snowing! Not cold however, but the snow continued falling all day. DRO’s ordered Winter Dress from now on!
- Maximum Available Flying Time – NIL
- 19 November 1941
- Wednesday. Owing to the extremely bad snow conditions the Legion Concert Party for tonight was cancelled. A successful Boxing Tournament was held in the Drill Hall tonight. Although the entry was small, competition was keen and a very good turnout of airmen were treated to some first class entertainment. LAC Marchand was presented by Group Captain A.J. Ashton with the cup for the best performance of the evening, and other trophies were presented to winners and runners-up. The Band was in attendance.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – NIL
- 20 November 1941
- Thursday. All sleeping out privileges were cancelled until the roads improve. Dozens of men have been unable to return to camp both yesterday and today.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – NIL
- 21 November 1941
- A near-blizzard raged all day and all operations outdoors were cancelled. Caterpillar tractors had to be employed to send and bring mail to and from Mossbank. As we can’t get our regular water supply, the water is turned on for fifteen minutes each hour – and no shower baths!
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 5 hours
- 22 November 1941
- Saturday. A bright, clear, but cold day and the wind has abated. We hope all transport problems will be solved today. Temperature 12 degrees below zero. Our mail was delivered at the normal time. Water from our own pipe-line came into use today, from the Ardill reservoir of 50,000 gallons, saving the day for everyone on the Station as the “trucked” water was giving out.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 9 hours.
- 23 November 1941
- 1915 hrs. Sunday. Church Parade today was held at 1915 hours in the Recreation Hall. No. 2 Duty Watch was paraded and there was a goodly number of volunteers also present. Hon. Flight Lieutenant W. McClean delivered the address. Flying was resumed as the wind stayed quiescent.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 9 hours.
- 24 November 1941
- Monday. Above zero today; 37 degrees F. and everything quite normal in the way of transport We consider ourselves lucky in such an isolated Station that we suffer so little discomfort by reason of storms. Our own snow equipment is of the finest, and we receive close cooperation from the Saskatchewan Government in keeping the roads to Moose Jaw passable.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 9 hours
- 25 November 1941
- 1500 hrs. Tuesday. Air Commodore R. Ryan accompanied by Sqn. Ldr. A. Stone, Principal Medical Officer, and Flying Officer Friesen, Medical Administative Officer, arrived here at 1500 hrs. on a tour of inspection, departing by air at 1800 hours. A general discussion was held in which new policies were outlined and amendments to the present establishment for a 35 bed hospital. Following this the party made a tour of the hospital and then had tea in the Mess before leaving for Regina. Flt.Lt. G.A.P. Brichenden of the Auxiliary Services inspected the Station and was particularly pleased with the Legion activities and the Station Canteen.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 9 hours
- 26 November 1941
- Wednesday. Flt.Lt. A.C. McClaskey, Judge Advocate from Command, Flt. Lt. H.V. Brisbin, M.M. (C3089) and Flt.Lt. H.E. Cooper (C3185) both of #2 I.T.S. Regina, Sask. for the purpose of a District Court Martial which will try Flt. Sgt. E.E. O’Brien and Corporal T.M. Webster tomorrow. Flt. Lt. E.J. Follows and F/O P.E. Richards arrived to conduct an Audit of Equipment and its Accounting. They will be here a week or more. F/O A.M. Christie arrived and gave an interesting lecture this evening on “Navigation”. He flew here in an Anson #AW.899.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 9 hours
- 27 November 1941
- Thursday. Wing Commander W.E. Morrison flew in this morning to act as President of the D.C.M. convened for the trial of Flt.Sgt. E.E. O’Brien and Cpl. T.M. Webster.
- Basketball has taken quite a grip on officers and men alike. Inter-Station games are scheduled to start on December 1st, and even officers with graying hair are developing considerable speed in the workouts. Badminton also has its full quota of devotees, & the four courts in the Drill Hall are very popular as the elusive “bird” flies back and forth.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 9 hours
- 28 November 1941
- Friday. The D.C.M.’s of Flt. Sgt. E.E. O’Brien and Cpl. T.M. Webster terminated today. Flt. Sgt. E.E. O’Brien was found guilty, and Cpl. T.M. Webster pleaded guilty. The members of the Court went back to Moose Jaw by P.M.C.
- A very low ceiling prevented any flying today.
- Sqn. Ldr. G.W. Erichsen, Armament Officer from Headquarters is here in an effort to standardize all Armament procedure in the Command. He will stay with us for quite a few days.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – Nil
- 29 November 1941
- Saturday. Men are busily engaged in preparing the new rink for skating. Considerable interest is evinced on the Station as we boast several quite first class hockey men whose names are well known to all fans. For instance we have Flt.Lt. Bert McGillivray of Allan Cup and European fame. Also Ferdie Greaves who played with the Portland Buckaroos. The Legion Hut was the production room of a number of moving pictures; educational shorts, and shorts in the interests of the drive for the sale of War Savings Certificates were enjoyed by a good turn-out.
- Sergeant L.E. Francis was rudely disturbed in his quarters last night after his appointment as Pilot Officer. His belongings were loaded on a pie wagon and he was forcibly escorted to the Officers Mess where he was stripped of his “Hooks”, and Pilot Officer braid pinned on his tunic.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – Nil
- 30 November 1941
- 1945 hrs. Sunday. Church Parade was held at 1915 hours in the Recreation Hall. No. 6 Duty Watch paraded with a number of volunteers.
- The much publicized picture “Damaged Lives” was exhibited in the Recreation Hall tonight as a warning to all ranks against promiscuous forty-eights! The horrible example portrayed left a lasting impression on the younger airman.
- 6000 Special Christmas Cards were brought by plane from Regina today. This is a very individual card with a dramatic photograph of one of our own Battles in fleecy clouds as its central feature, and our own No.2 B&G crest on the face of the card. By reason of quantity production we are able to sell this card at quite a low price – – well within the reach of airmen with multiple lady friends.
- Maximum Available Flying Time – 9 hours
- 30 November 1941 (continued)
- Strength of Station at End of Month Number and Type of Aircraft on Strength
- Officers (RCAF) 54 Fairey Battles I 58
- Army Officers 3 Norseman IV 1
- Airmen 701 Harvard 1
- Trainees 125 Total Flying Hours for
- Civilians 107 November – 1296 Hours, 15 minutes
- Other Ranks 10 Number of days aerodrome unserviceable – 5 days
- COMMANDING OFFICER, NO. 2 BOMBING AND
GUNNERY SCHOOL, R.C.A.F., MOSSBANK, SASK.
