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Daily Diary
No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School,
Mossbank, Saskatchewan
April 1942
- 1 April 1942
- Strength of Station at End of Month
- Officers (RCAF)(RAF)…… 51
- Army Officers……………….. 3
- Airmen (Staff)……………….. 823
- Trainees………………………… 131
- Civilians………………………… 112
- Other ranks…………………….. 11
- Number and Type of Aircraft on Strength
- Fairey Battles…………….. 60
- Norseman………………….. 1
- Harvard…………………… 1
- Wednesday: Squadron Leader W.J. Bundy (C264) left yesterday by P.M.C. for his new Station at No. 8 B. & G. School, Lethbridge. He took with him the good wishes of the Station personnel.
- Captain R.H.A. Henderson of the C.D.C. also left for Calgary on posting.
- Captain N.F. Gropper arrived to take Captain Henderson’s place.
- Maximum available flying time – 15 hrs. 25 min.
- 2 April 1942
- Thursday:
- Flying during the day but washed out at 1815 hours due to overcast.
- Maximum available flying time – 10 hrs. 15 min.
- 3 April 1942
- Friday:
- This is Good Friday and a nice day.
- A Drumhead Service was held on the parade ground at 1430 hours with Flt.Lt. H.C. Smith the Station Protestant padre officiating at the protestant service assisted by Wing Commander F.C. Higgins. Flt.Lt. Branch took the R.C. Service. It was all very impressing. The Station Band was in attendance and a public address system was set up. In forming up for the Service, Headquarters Squadron executed a squadron wheel and ended up with No. 3 flight leading. No one knows now it was done.
- Norseman 2492 went to Moose Jaw at 1007 hours with WO.2 Fowler pilot and returned 1145 hours.
- Battle 1055 with Wing Commander Penman went to Moose Jaw at 1000 hours and returned 1050 hours.
- Maximum available flying time – 4 hrs. 30 min.
- 4 April 1942
- Saturday:
- Fairey Battle aircraft #1779 was force landed near Mitchellton by F/O A.H. Parrish due to engine failure. No injury to pilot or students and minor damage to the aircraft.
- Battle #1658 P/O Gray pilot departed 1205 hours for Yorkton with Corporals Webb & Garman and LAC Manlyk as passengers and returned at 1731 hours.
- This was a nice flying day.
- Maximum available flying time – 10 hours.
- 5 April 1942
- Sunday:
- Good flying day.
- Norseman #2461 ferried R.A.F. personnel from Assiniboia. R.A.F. #34 E.F.T.S. are using our field for training purposes due to the fact their aerodrome is unserviceable.
- Maximum available flying time – 8 hrs. 45 min.
- 6 April 1942
- Monday:
- No flying today.
- Great furore around the Station over an article in “Fortune” magazine which refers to this Station in the following terms. “Out at Mossbank, in Saskatchewan, a station so drearily remote from human society that it serves as a place of banishment for the unruly”. Everyone looked at his neighbor and asked “What did you do to be sent here?”
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 7 April 1942
- Tuesday: Good flying today and the exercises were being run off without a hitch.
- Norseman #2492 left for Moose Jaw with P/O Hemminger as pilot and returned at 2020 hours.
- 12 exercises were completed.
- We can expect more drill and P.T. from now on following the arrival on the Station of P/O E.H.R. Arn (C9992) a Drill and P.T. Officer.
- Maximum available flying time – 14 hrs. 35 min
- 8 April 1942
- Wednesday: Day exercises were run off in favourable weather but at night an overcast prevented bombing.
- Wing Commander Penman took Norseman #2492 to Regina at 0955 hours.
- Harvard AJ723 with F/O Marrows arrived from Moose Jaw at 1105 hours and departed at 1230 hours for Moose Jaw.
- Flt.Lt. D.G. Ness from Command arrived by air from Caron to act on a board of officers to take over the new O.R. barracks.
- Maximum available flying time – 9 hrs. 45 min.
- 9 April 1942
- Thursday:
- Excellent flying day.
- F/O R.O. Lindsay left in Norseman for Medicine Hat at 1515 hours.
- Board of Officers took over the New O.R. Barracks. Flt.Lt. D.G. Ness who was on the board also discussed with Flt.Lt. Willson the accommodation for Women’s Division personnel.
- Flying Officer E.G.L. Weaver received word of his promotion to Flight Lieutenant.
- Maximum available flying time – 15 hrs. 20 min.
- 10 April 1942
- Friday:
- A larger turnout of visitors than usual was present today at Wings Parade on account of the fine weather. The parade was held in the open with the Station Band in attendance. Twenty-three Wireless Air Gunners and 22 Air Observers graduated. Wing Commander Penman presented the wings.
- Maximum available flying time – 9 hours.
- 11 April 1942
- Saturday:
- Flight Sergeant Edward B. Sexsmith, R75187 was seriously injured and LAC G. Barnholden R102462 and LAC J.A. Kilpatrick R118065 were slightly injured when Fairey Battle #1900 piloted by Sexsmith caught fire and force landed on the Bombing range. Flight Sergeant Sexsmith’s injuries consisted chiefly of burns on the face and legs. LAC Barnholden conducted himself in a most admirable manner. Although the aircraft was aflame he climbed up and extricated the pilot who was being burned and then helped LAC Kilpatrick the other student whose parachute harness had stuck in the plane. The aircraft was gutted by fire.
- Maximum available flying time – 8 hrs. 15 min.
- 12 April 1942
- Sunday:
- The wind began to blow today and the air was heavy with dust. Apparently the Dust Bowl airport is going to live up to its name. The storm started in the morning and flying was washed out at 1045 hours.
- Maximum available flying time – 2 hrs. 25 min.
- 13 April 1942
- Monday
- The weather cleared somewhat and flying was resumed.
- Norseman 2492 F/O Lapniewski pilot left for Regina at 1335 hours, developed engine trouble on the return trip and landed at Moose Jaw at 1430 hours.
- Wing Commander Jones ND Padre Scott from Lethbridge arrived by air at 1000 hours.
- Flt.Lt. G.B. McGillivray left for Borden on posting.
- Maximum available flying time – 8 hrs. 10 min.
- 14 April 1942
- Tuesday
- We had a test fire alarm at 2240 hours today and the result was entirely satisfactory.
- Section Officer Evans of the Women’s Division arrived to look over the situation in preparation for arrival of Women’s Division Personnel. She was the guest of Wing Commander Higgins at the Officers Mess.
- Squadron Leader E.V.C. Hamilton is posted to Western Air Command. He has been O.C. of G.I.S. for some time past.
- Flight Lieutenant L.M. James flew Norseman #2492 in from Moose Jaw at 1625 hours.
- Maximum available flying time – 8 hrs. 15 min.
- 15 April 1942
- Wednesday:
- Flying was washed out at noon on account of a strange wind and dust.
- Flight Lieutenant Angus McClaskey, Judge Advocate General for No. 4 T.C. paid a short visit to this Station after attending a Court Martial at Assiniboia.
- Flt.Lt. G.E. Grindley, R.A.F. 175693 an Air Gunner with much overseas experience is here, lecturing to G.I.S. students. He is attached to No. 4 Training Command.
- Maximum available flying time – 4 hrs. 30 min.
- 16 April 1942
- Thursday:
- Group Captain Flynn S.A.S.O. from Command arrived with Wing Commander Dennison from Swift Current by air at 1553 hours. They were greeted by Wing Commander Higgins and after a short stay departed at 1758 hours for Moose Jaw. They were flying Crane 7889.
- Maximum available flying time – 14 hrs. 10 min.
- 17 April 1942
- Friday:
- Today the dust started to blow and flying was washed out. The fine dust sifts into everything and gets in your teeth. A miserable day.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 18 April 1942
- Saturday:
- Today was worse than yesterday. Shingles were ripped off the buildings. Some photographs were taken of this storm’s effect. Russian thistle is piled up deep around buildings and fences. They are a fire menace. Some very light showers occurred but all they did was plaster the dust on the windows and walls.
- In spite of this, Group Captain Flynn, Wing Commander Dennison and Squadron Leader Ansaler arrived from Moose Jaw at 1000 hours in Cessna Crane #7889 and Group Captain Flynn departed for Calgary at 1415 hours.
- Anson DG873 F/O Sutelege pilot arrived from Weyburn at 1040 hours and departed at 1330 hours with Wing Commander Dennison for Weyburn.
- Maximum available flying time – 1 hr. 15 min.
- 19 April 1942
- Sunday:
- A regular London Fog this morning. We have three types of weather in three days. Fog cleared away during the day and flying was commenced.
- Students from No. 34 E.F.T.S. at Assiniboia are still flying from our field.
- Maximum available flying time – 5 hrs. 30 min.
- 20 April 1942
- Monday:
- Cloudy in the morning and some fog. Flying commenced in the afternoon and continued into the night. The weather is becoming more settled.
- Tiger Moth #5997 Pilot Officer Pearson arrived from Caren at 1050 hours and departed at 1110 hours.
- Maximum available flying time – 10 hrs. 35 min,
- 21 April 1942
- Tuesday:
- Good flying again both day and night.
- Flt.Lt. Reese here from Command consulting on the matter of Women’s Division Quarters. Work has commenced on the Women Officers Quarters and for some days alterations for the other ranks.
- Battle aircraft 1690 with F/O Mackin as pilot and LAC Baptiste nosed up on the grass when the starboard tire blew out on landing. No injury to personnel and very little to the aircraft.
- Maximum available flying time – 16 hours.
- 22 April 1942
- Wednesday:
- The question now arises as to when we can wear summer uniforms. This is a beautiful day and the blues are uncomfortably warm.
- Lieutenant Colonel R.H. McDougall, M.M. Command Dental Officer arrived on a visit .to the C.D.C. detachment here. He says that in Administration lectures, Mossbank is cited as being the ideal Dental Clinic. He says that when lecturers wish to make a point they commence “now at Mossbank—–.”
- Workmen are busy cleaning up the camp today. The Russian Thistle has been removed from where it piled up during the storm.
- Wing Commander Higgins has ordered a general clean up.
- Maximum available flying time – 9 hrs. 30 min.
- 23 April 1942
- Thursday:
- The rains came. The Dust Bowl is being turned into a mire. Because of low ceiling and heavy rain only two test flights were made.
- Battle #2062 F/O Varga pilot from Edmonton was one hour overdue at 1245. Learned later it had returned to Edmonton and took off again, arrived here 1335 hours.
- F/O Varga left for Swift Current in Moth 4321 at 1420. hours.
- Ceiling was only 300 feet at noon.
- Squadron Leader J.D. Brown, new Equipment Officer arrived to replace Flt.Lt. McKeen on posting to Montreal.
- Maximum available flying time – 3 hrs. 15 min.
- 24 April 1942
- Friday:
- Lovely flying day.
- Wings parade, 24 W.A.G’s. and 39 Air Observers graduated. Wing Commander Penman presented the wings.
- Harvard 2564 arrived from Moose Jaw 0955 hours.
- Began to cloud up late in the day.
- Maximum available flying time – 10 hrs. 25 min.
- 25 April 1942
- Saturday:
- Our Soccer Team played No. 34 E.F.T.S. at Congress and the game resulted in a win for No. 2 B. & G. by a score of 3 to 1.
- No flying today, rain. Grass growth around the Camp is coming along very well. Some of it had to be reseeded in spots where it has winter killed.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 26 April 1942
- Sunday:
- No flying, rain. Highway traffic disorganized. This weather brings gloom to the pilots and smiles to the farmers faces.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 27 April 1942
- Monday:
- Rain again and some snow. Roads are terrible. No flying. Our roads around the camp are standing up to the rainy weather. This is their first real test.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 28 April 1942
- Tuesday:
- Snow and rain, miserable weather. Word has come that the “Mossbank Special” train from Moose Jaw Sunday night will be continued at least another month.
- Maximum available flying time – Nil.
- 29 April 1942
- Wednesday:
- Flying again. Wing Commander Gray, Command Armament Officer with Flt.Lt. E.R. Bergel, Armament Officer and Flt.Lt. K.F. Leichnits, Signal Officer arrived from Command by air at 1700 hours 28-4-42 and departed today at 1630 hours after consultations on training with Wing Commander Higgins. Flt.Lt. W.H. Corkill, Technical
- Admin. Officer from Command arrived from Moose Jaw at 1000 hours.
- Maximum available flying time – 16 hrs. 45 min.
- 30 April 1942
- Thursday:
- Air Commodore G.R. Howsam, M.C. (C.33) Air Officer Commanding No. 4 Training Command and Group Captain P.R. Hampton (C1206) arrived in Crane 8187 from Yorkton at 1715 hours and were met by our Commanding Officer Wing Commander F.C. Higgins. After meeting the Officers in the Mess and having dinner, Air Commodore Howsam in company with Wing Commander Higgins and Wing Commander Penman made an informal tour of the Station. As result of our recent efforts, we think the A.O.C. found the station clean and neat. Our Station Strength for the Month was 1000.
- Water Consumption for Month of April, 1942 – 805,100 gallons. Average Daily Consumption 26,836.2 gallons.
- Maximum available flying time – 12 hrs. 35 min.
- 30 April 1942 (continued)
- Strength of Station at End of Month
- Officers (RCAF) (RAF)………………………. 53
- Army Officers……………………………………. 3
- Airmen (Staff)……………………………………. 704
- Trainees……………………………………………. 127
- Civilians…………………………………………… 102
- Other Ranks……………………………………… 11
- Number and Type of Aircraft on Strength
- Fairey Battles……………………. 59
- Norseman…………………………. 1
- Harvard…………………………….. 1
- Total Flying Hours for Month of April – 1,670.40
- Number of days Aerodrome unserviceable – NIL
- COMMANDING OFFICER, No. 2 BOMBING AND
GUNNERY SCHOOL, R.C.A.F., MOSSBANK, SASK.
