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Daily Diary
No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School,
Mossbank, Saskatchewan
August 1942
- 1 August 1942
- Strength of Station at End of Month
- Officers (RCAF) (RAF) (WD……….. 53
- Army Officers……………………………. 3
- Airmen Staff……………………………….. 646
- Airwomen Staff………………………….. 103
- Trainees…………………………………….. 181
- Civilians……………………………………. 85
- Other Ranks………………………………. 9
- Number and Type of Aircraft on Strength
- Fairey Battles……………… 59
- Norseman…………………… 2
- Harvard………………………. 1
- Lysanders……………………. 10
- Ansons……………………….. 12
- Bolingbrokes……………….. 12
- Saturday:
- Month gets off to a good start for weather, to-day is cool but clear and unlimited visibility.
- Maximum available flying time – 10 hours.
- 2 August 1942
- Sunday:
- Another perfect day and a maximum training effort being pushed along.
- Our Pilot strength numbers very few Officers and something over 40 Airman Pilots, the larger number of whom have had as yet limited experience in this kind of work. Afraid our aircraft accident rate a little high last month and a special effort to get it down to zero will be made this month. Out of the seven accidents in July, two were attributable to errors on part of Pilots and the balance to engine failures of one kind or another.
- Maximum available flying time – 9 hrs. 20 min.
- 3 August 1942
- Monday:
- Fine weather, perfect visibility, no wind and quite warm. Settled into the sort of summer weather expected in this part of the country.
- Overseas postings in to-day for 10 Pilots – four Officers, six Sergeants. Tremendous jubilation among those who had begun to think their flying was restricted to B. & G. work for duration.
- Two courses delayed by bad flying weather graduated this morning. Course #35 comprising 27 W.A.G.’s and #46 of 26 A.O.’s. Presentation of Wings made by S/L J.B. Badgley.
- Maximum available flying time – 18 hrs.15 min.
- 4 August 1942
- Tuesday:
- Heavy thunderstorm this morning with heavy precipitation. Cleared at 1000 hours and exercises commenced at that time.
- The electrical storm affected the power line from Moose Jaw seriously and power was off for 4 hours and 15 min. until 1140 hours. No serious results.
- The work of completing the fillets on runways and widening one end of the Tarmac is proceeding very slowly. The contractor does not possess the equipment to handle the job in the first place and he is also handicapped by difficulty in getting labor.
- Maximum available flying time – 12 hrs. 45 min.
- 5 August 1942
- Wednesday:
- Perfect, weather and full advantage taken of it.
- With the increased training programme and intense day and night flying, the personnel establishment is beginning to show one or two weak spots. One of the worst sections is the Airmen’s Mess. In the first place Civilian Cooks are quite impossible to procure and we are five under-established there, and secondly we find that the W.D. are unable to stand the amount of work around the hot stoves and the hours that we have been accustomed to with the men. It will be necessary to ask immediately for an increase in the number of W.D. allowed, apart from that we are in all 14 short of establishment. Other sections, too, find that a day and night programme can’t be carried on indefinitely, no matter how willing personnel may be.
- Maximum available flying time – 21 hrs.15 min.
- 6 August 1942
- Thursday:
- Good weather but a smoke haze developed in evening to wash-out night flying.
- Very successful Boxing card run off in the Drill Hall last night, most of the bouts were between members of 135 (F) Squadron and #2 B & G School. Have to admit #135 almost made a clean sweep of the card. However, there’ll be another day.
- F/L E.J. Follows and F/L D.M. Richards in from #4 Training Command with a staff of accountant personnel on Equipment Accounting check.
- Maximum available flying time – 11 hours.
- 7 August 1942
- Friday:
- Good flying day although some ground haze interfering with target.
- Group Captain Flinn, accompanied by F/L Gill and Mr. Yorath, arrived at 1400 hours, a short “check” visit and left at 1645 hours for High River.
- Battle aircraft #1622, Pilot WO2 Fowler, H.W. forced down soon after take-off three miles south of aerodrome. The aircraft was on test flight and had as passengers three A.E.M.’s – AC1 Jones, J.W. suffered a broken leg and AC1 Hofforth, B.M. cuts above right eye. No other injuries. The aircraft damage to propeller, radiator.
- Maximum available flying time – 11 hours 30 min.
- 8 August 1942
- Saturday:
- We are apparently into another session of smoke haze, it slows down to-day’s exercises and makes the night exercises impossible.
- Maximum available flying time – 8 hours 30 min.
- 9 August 1942
- Sunday:
- Visibility remains poor and activities restricted.
- S/L H.E. Stewart, in temporary command of the Station, left to-day to attend a conference of senior Officers being held at Medicine Hat.
- Visitors to-day were Mr. W. de Mara, Administrator of Rentals, Ottawa, and Mr. E. Gold, Saskatchewan Rentals Supervisor, arriving at 1700 hours by air. While a return of no specific complaints on rents was turned in by this Unit, the rents in the village of Mossbank are undoubtedly too high. The visitors made a two hour visit in the village and reported that in almost every case the rent is too high for the class of accommodation provided and a review of the whole situation is being undertaken with a view to early corrective action. The visit of Mr. de Mara is appreciated and will do much to satisfy personnel that their interests are being looked after. The visitors are leaving early Monday morning.
- Maximum available flying time – 9 hours 15 min.
- 10 August 1942
- Monday:
- Still slight smoke haze but good day’s exercises carried out.
- Wing Commander K. Gray, #4 Training Command arrived at 1630 hours to-day for discussions re training with 135 (F) Squadron and this Unit.
- A Hurricane aircraft of 135 (F) Squadron, pilot Sgt. Battleson, force landed to-day 40 miles northwest of Moose Jaw. Pilot got lost on account of haze and ran out of gas. Wheels up landing.
- Battle aircraft #1701, pilot P/O J.H. Moreton, crash landed to-day on Aerodrome, one wheel down, trouble with undercarriage emergency retracting gear. No one hurt in either case.
- Maximum available flying time – 17 hours 05 min.
- 11 August 1942
- Tuesday:
- Fine weather, although smoke haze continues.
- Strange co-incidence, or was it? The same pilot, P/O J.H. Moreton, that landed a Battle aircraft #1701 on drome yesterday with one wheel down, had exactly the same trouble to-day with Battle Aircraft #2045.
- Wing Commander K. Gray left at 1400 hours for Calgary.
- Maximum available flying time –
- 12 August 1942
- Wednesday:
- Fairly good weather although storm turned up at 1130 a.m. and continued till 1430 hours.
- Maximum available flying time – 10 hours 35 min.
- 13 August 1942
- Thursday:
- Good flying, visibility fair. Night flying washed out when dirty weather rolled up at 1800 hours with showers rest of night.
- Battle aircraft #1778, Pilot F/O D.G. Sutherland, forced down by engine failure shortly after take off 3 miles south of Aerodrome. No person hurt and no further damage then the usual propeller and radiator.
- Nine members of the W.D., part of the staff in the Airmen’s Mess, “walked out” this morning in protest against conditions in the Mess. Participants duly impressed with the seriousness of the act by their O.C. It is found W.D. are definitely unable to do the same amount of work as a man in a large Mess like this one. The large quantities of foodstuffs used mean heavy handling and the long hours over the ranges require a pretty strong constitution. In this case, of course, the trouble was aggravated by extra hours required by shortage of staff. Group Captain Hampton at #4 Training Command was contacted and he promised to send the Command Messing Officer down to investigate.
- Maximum available flying time – 11.hours 30 min.
- 14 August 1942
- Friday:
- Group Captain Higgins returned from leave to-day. Returning from leave to Mossbank is a “change of scenery” and one has to walk warily to avoid breaking into the returnees “mood” lest you get one on the chin. However, the Group Captain appears in the best of spirits in spite of one or two problems he expects to get landed in his lap.
- The Command Messing Officer reported to-day and immediately got into the difficulty at the Airmen’s Mess. She left at 1830 hours and will report to Command that the underlying cause of the trouble at the Mess is shortage of help. This has been going on for some time and with a lack of proper organization by the Senior N.C.O. had necessitated much longer hours than advisable which in the excessive heat and with the heavy handling had got the W.D. to the point where they felt they must do something about it. Certainly proper recognition of their earlier complaints had not been given and so it is felt that some justification was in their part. Immediate steps have already been taken to rectify. The girls are back at work after suitable disciplinary action has been taken by their O.C., S/O B.E. Rooke.
- Maximum available flying time – 11 hours 50 min.
- 15 August 1942
- Saturday:
- Smoke haze very bad again to-day, after a few days’ let up. Flying restricted.
- S/L H.E. Stewart returned to-day from Medicine Hat, Alberta, where he attended the meeting of Commanding and other Senior Officers Convention. He will submit a full report of the meeting to Group Captain F.C. Higgins.
- Maximum available flying time – 10 hours 15 min.
- 16 August 1942
- Sunday:
- Good flying day barring smoke conditions. Variable winds N.W. to S.W.
- The Air Officer Commanding, Air Commodore G.C. Howsam, M.C., arrived by air this afternoon accompanied by his personal Asst. F/L O’Brien to look into the matter of the difficulty in the Airmen’s Mess. The matter having been more or less rectified, he indicated certain measures that were to be taken to prevent like situations.
- Maximum available flying time – 12 hours.
- 17 August 1942
- Monday:
- Excellent flying day, the smoke having cleared almost entirely away.
- Preparing now for the visit of the party from Ottawa headed by Air Vice-Marshal J.A. Sully, A.F.C. This visit should prove very much worthwhile since an opportunity is given both sides of getting a better understanding of each other’s difficulties or problems. The opportunity of discussing personnel matters and welfare with Air Vice-Marshal Sully should be of benefit certainly.
- Maximum available flying time – 21 hours 20 min.
- 18 August 1942
- Tuesday:
- Good day, good visibility, but air turned very bumpy in afternoon and unsuitable for bombing exercises.
- Wing Commander I.B. Newbigging, with Squadron Leader C.A. Cook and Squadron Leader B.S. Miller, all from #4 Training Command, arrived by Air from Calgary and left by Air at 1800 hours for Regina. During their visit they were in discussions with various Departments on service matters. S/L Miller has promised to come back Sunday and help in the Church Parade.
- Maximum available flying time – 19 hours 15 min.
- 19 August 1942
- Wednesday:
- Good flying day. Cloudy in afternoon.
- P/O G.A. Holland arrived from #8 B. & G. on attachment for a week or two for conversion training of our Pilots on Bolingbroke aircraft.
- Maximum available flying time – 12 hours 30 min.
- 20 August 1942
- Thursday:
- Cloudy and cool but fair day’s exercises carried out.
- F/O R.C. McKnight of the Works & Buildings Department, Air Force Headquarters, arrived by Air at 1550 hours and departed by Air for Moose Jaw at 1800 hours. The matter of Roads and Runways was fully covered. He was urged to take up with the Department of Transport at Regina the question of getting quicker action into the construction job of Fillets on the Runways and widening the ends of the Tarmac, the work has been dragging on unsatisfactorily for weeks. He promised to take the matter up in Regina.
- Maximum available flying time – 13 hours 20 min.
- 21 August 1942
- Friday:
- Cloudy with rain and wind.
- Disappointment at the last minute advice that the Ottawa party (Air Vice-Marshal J.A. Sully) will not be able to visit this Unit. A great deal of time and detail had gone into preparation of material for discussion. This; however, can and will be made use of by remote control. We are rather getting used to these official visits passing us up and perhaps we’ll get over the “disappointment”.
- Bolingbroke aircraft #7-7 (Dual) on Pilots check out test crash landed on Aerodrome and caught fire. No person hurt but aircraft a write-off. Cause obscure in meantime. Pilots P/O G.A. Holland and F/O J.R. Calderwood,
- Maximum available flying time – 4 hours 30 min.
- 22 August 1942
- Saturday:
- Cloudy, rain in morning, visibility very poor all day.
- S/L B. Miller, Command Protestant Chaplain, arrived this afternoon as promised and will take part in Church Parade to-morrow.
- The Officers Drill Course which has been a source of “anxiety” for several weeks is almost completed. Any who have had difficulty in passing tests have had a chance by the extra classes to make the grade.
- Maximum available flying time – 2 hours.
- 23 August 1942
- Sunday:
- Good day, no clouds but visibility hindered by hangover of smoke haze.
- An internal War Finance Committee is in process of formation under the chairmanship of F/L F.P. Blackmore. The Committee comprises 4 Officers and 3 Senior N.C.O.’s representing the various Squadrons.
- Maximum available flying time – 9 hours 30 min.
- 24 August 1942
- Monday:
- Clear good flying weather day and night.
- A serious accident occurred to one of our boys this afternoon when a large private gasoline truck he was hitchhiking a ride in tipped over on the road near Rouleau, Saskatchewan, pinning him beneath and later catching fire. The Airman, LAC McFadden, H.W., was seriously burned before he was extricated and has only an even chance for his life. He was proceeding home to Weyburn, Saskatchewan on special Harvest Leave.
- Maximum available flying time – 19 hours 10 min.
- 25 August 1942
- Tuesday:
- Excellent flying weather, visibility unlimited.
- Visitors to-day were Air Commodore R.W. Ryan, D.M.S., accompanied by S/L B.R. Easton, #4 Training Command and F/L G.A. Friesen.
- S/L G.C. McDougall of #4 Training Command Accounting Department arrived on inspection.
- W/C C.A. Davidson, #4 Training Command, also came in to discuss Works & Buildings matters with the Commanding Officer and F/L Willson. Opportunity was taken at this visit to go into several items of construction and alteration.
- Maximum available flying time – 12 hours 15 min.
- 26 August 1942
- Wednesday:
- Day started clear but developed into unsettled at noon and thunderstorm later.
- A/S/O Helen G. Irwin arrived to-day, an addition to the Staff as Dietitian. The arrival of A/S/O Irwin will be appreciated in view of previous difficulties in the Airmen’s Mess. Reports have it that Miss Irwin is well qualified for the work and a general improvement all round is looked for.
- We have now reached the time for Play-offs in the Southern Saskatchewan Baseball League. This Unit’s team went to Moose Jaw this afternoon for the third game of best out of 5. Our team lost leaving the series 2 wins for opponents to one.
- Maximum available flying time – 10 hours 15 min.
- 27 August 1942
- Thursday:
- Good flying day but flying washed out at 1800 hours by a rain and electrical storm of very heavy proportions, in fact a number of storms with hail in some cases and which continued until nearly midnight. No damage from flooding.
- With increased activities and extra supplies for 135 (F) Squadron, the Equipment Section is under immediate necessity of increased accommodation. Until such time as more authorized space is available the Section will make use of the old small Canteen.
- Maximum available flying time – 5 hours.
- 28 August 1942
- Friday:
- Cloudy weather, intermittent showers.
- Course #36A comprising 18 W.O.A.G.’s and Course #37 of 41 A.G.’s graduated to-day. S/L H.E. Stewart presented the Wings.
- Two Administrative Officers graduating from the last Administrative Course arrived to-day, P/O L.S. Moyer and P/O J.W. Mayo.
- Under extreme pressure it has been necessary to grant a limited number of Harvest Leaves. The total number granted here has been held to thirty and the length of period to 21 days including any Annual Leave.
- Maximum available flying time – 6 hours 45 mins.
- 29 August 1942
- Saturday:
- Good flying day, weather clear and unlimited visibility.
- Air Bombers Course #58 of 13 members graduated to-day. S/L H.E. Stewart made the presentation of Wings.
- Two Ball Teams went to Moose Jaw to-day, one hard ball and one soft ball. Both teams won their games. The hard ball series in semi-finals now stands at 2 wins each necessitating a fifth game at this Station early next week.
- Maximum available flying time – 12 hours 50 min.
- 30 August 1942
- Sunday:
- Good day until 1400 hours when it started closing in.
- Preparations have been made for the installation of a Milk Bar on each side of the Airmen’s Mess, two large dispensing refrigerators arrived to-day and are now being put into running order. It is understood that the Milk Bar has been very successful in other Station Messes and personnel here are looking forward with pleasure to the opportunity of being able to procure milk and ice cream as they desire it.
- Maximum available flying time – 11 hours 15 mins.
- 31 August 1942
- Monday:
- Very cloudy, low clouds and rain.
- August was another quite unsatisfactory month. The weather has been generally unsettled and when it was good, smoke from northern forest fires interfered with training exercises. August in Saskatchewan is normally presumed to be a hot dry month with nil rainfall. Certainly it was anything but this year.
- Aircraft accident rate unfortunately was again high, due in a measure to introduction of Anson and Bolingbroke aircraft as away from the Battle. This matter is being closely…
- August 1942 (continued)
- Monday:
- …watched and constant surveillance to cut it down.
- Maximum available flying time – 2 hours 55 mins.
- Water Consumption for Month of August, 1942 – 1,194,200 gallons. Average Daily Consumption – 38,535 gallons.
- Strength of Station at End of Month
- Officers (RCAF) (RAF) (WD……….. 50
- Army Officers……………………………. 3
- Airmen Staff………………………………. 607
- Airwomen Staff…………………………. 114
- Trainees…………………………………… 145
- Civilians…………………………………… 78
- Other Ranks…………………………….. 10
- Number and Type of Aircraft on Strength
- Fairey Battles………………. 58
- Norseman…………………… 2
- Harvard………………………. 1
- Lysanders……………………. 10
- Ansons………………………… 16
- Bolingbrokes……………….. 16
- Total Flying Hours for Month of August – 2,103 hrs. 55 mins.
- Number of days Aerodrome unserviceable NIL
- COMMANDING OFFICER, No. 2 BOMBING AND
GUNNERY SCHOOL, R.C.A.F., MOSSBANK, SASK.
