Daily Diary

No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School,
Mossbank, Saskatchewan

November 1942

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.

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• 1 November 1942
  Sunday:
  • Dull and cloudy throughout the whole of the day.
  • Aircraft Anson No. 8240 piloted by WO2 Sexsmith with Sgt. Lane, passenger arrived from Regina at 1400 hrs. and departed at 1656 hrs.
  • Maximum available flying time – 10 hrs. 30 min.
• 2 November 1942
  Monday:
  • Bright and clear today.
  • Discussion took place at the Sports Committee meeting today regarding entering the Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League. It was decided to discuss with the Moose Jaw Officials tomorrow the probability of this Unit taking over the Moose Jaw franchise.
  • S/O Rooke, O.C., R.C.A.F. (W.D.) departed from our midst today on posting to No. 3 R.D. Vancouver, B.C. Her cheerfullness, tact and diplomacy which she displayed contributed greatly to her successful leadership at this Unit and she will be missed by one and all.
  • Maximum available flying time – 15 hrs. 55 min.

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• 3 November 1942
  Tuesday:
  • Another cloudy dull day, wind varying from 10 to 15 miles per hour.
  • F/L Blackmore, energetic Chief Accountant Officer at this Unit leaves us today on posting to Tor Bay, Newfoundland.
  • Aircraft Anson with WO2 Gardiner as pilot and four passengers arrived from Regina at 1415 hours departing at 1650 hours.
  • Maximum available flying time – 16 hrs.
• 4 November 1942
  Wednesday:
  • Turning much colder with the wind from the North. Snow fell in the afternoon. Ceiling at 1030 hrs. – 1,000 feet with poor visibility.
  • Maximum available flying time – 2 hrs. 20 min.
• 5 November 1942
  Thursday:
  • Ideal flying weather. However, other parts of the West were not as fortunate.
  • Two aircraft (Bolingbrokes) took off for Lethbridge at 1545 hours but were required to turn back because of bad weather.
  • Maximum available flying time – 18 hrs.
• November 1942
  Friday:
  • Good flying weather during the day. However at other times ceiling was low.
  • Twenty-one graduated today from Course 63 – Air Bombers. Three ceased training and posted to K.T.S., Trenton. Of the twenty-one graduates twelve were posted to No. 3 A.O.S., Regina and the balance to No. 2 A.O.S., Edmonton.
  • Maximum available flying time – 9 hrs.
• 7 November 1942
  Saturday:
  • Good flying weather continued during the day. Also good night flying.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hrs.
• 8 November 1942
  Sunday:
  • Dull and cloudy throughout the whole of the day with a light fall of snow in the afternoon. Shortly after night flying ceased day flying began, however shortly after the noon hours visibility dropped to zero.

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• 8 November 1942 (continued)
  Sunday:
  • Special services were held by F/L J.E. Branch, Roman Catholic Padre and F/L H.C. Smith, Protestant Padre this day being considered as armistice Sunday on this Station.
  • Thirty-nine pupils reported for Course No. 44 – Wireless Operators Air Gunners, thirty-eight of these from No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alta., and one from No. 1 Wireless School, Montreal, Que.
  • Maximum available flying time – 12 hrs. 30 min.
• 9 November 1942
  Monday:
  • An accident occured fifteen miles south of Mossbank aerodrome on Lake of the Rivers at 1620 hours. Aircraft D Westland Lysander Mk IIIA 2342. Pilot R100596 Sergeant Reilly E.H., R130904 LAC Brody, V.A., Drogue operator. Pilot refused permission to land for about eight minutes pending laying of flare path. Flew some miles till fuel ran out. Force landing in the ice-covered-swamp. No injuries. Port and starboard wings are sprung and two propeller blades bent. Wheel farings torn considerably. The fixed fin is torn away from the fuselage. The engine at this date appears to be unserviceable.
  • This Unit with a quota of $10,000.00 in the Third Victory Loan drive went considerably over the top, the amount subscribed being $27,900.00
  • Twenty-eight Air Bombers Course No. 67 reported for training today.
  • Seventeen trainees graduated Course No. 42 – W.O.A.G. Four being posted to No. 31 O.T.U. Debert, N.S. and the balance to No. 1 “Y” Depot, Halifax, N.S. No failures in this group.
  • Maximum available flying time – 23 hrs. 40 min.

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• 10 November 1942
  Tuesday:
  • Cloudy and dull the early part of the day. The sun came out at 1100 hours and from this time on the day was very bright.
  • An accident occurred at 1745 hours on aerodrome. Pilot was GB1284023 P/O S.R. Vivian. Aircraft 9917 Bolingbroke Mk IVt. After taking off the pilot tried to get the wheels in the “up” position and found that the wheels had only retracted about three quarters of the way. He then selected the wheels “down” position and found that the undercarriage would not lock. Various ways were then tried to lock and raise the undercarriage with no success. Belly landing resulted. Airscrews damaged and airscrew shaft out of alignment on both engines. Fuselage buckled. Underside of fuselage badly damaged. Both undercarriage jacks broken.
  • Maximum available flying time – 13 hrs.
• 11 November 1942
  Wednesday:
  • Fine bright clear day. Becoming milder.
  • Maximum available flying time – 18 hrs. 15 min.
• 12 November 1942
  Thursday:
  • Good flying weather continues. Ceiling scattered to unlimited.
  • Word came through from the A.O.C., Air Commodore G.R. Howsam, MC, that subject to fulfilling certain conditions (which have since been attended to) that this Station could enter a team in the Senior Saskatchewan Hockey League along with Yorkton, Saskatoon, Flin Flon and Regina. Enthusiasm reigns supreme and airmen here are taking systematic training for what lies ahead.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hrs.
• 13 November 1942
  Friday:
  • Continuing clear and bright. Quite mild.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hrs.
• 14 November 1942
  Saturday:
  • Bad weather closing in. Strong surface wind.
  • The regular semi-monthly dance for airmen and airwomen for the rank of Corporal and below was well attended. The Station orchestra provided popular music and good fun prevailed throughout the entire evening.
  • Maximum available flying time – 2 hrs.

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• 15 November 1942
  Sunday:
  • The weather started to close in near the noon hour today.
  • Maximum available flying time – 5 hours.
• 16 November 1942
  Monday:
  • High wind prevailed averaging fifty miles per hour. Light fall of snow occurred during the afternoon and evening.
  • This station now finds itself officially entered in the Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League. Regina having dropped out at the meeting of the League last Saturday leaves R.C.A.F. Teams from Yorkton, Saskatoon and Mossbank with a civilian team from Flin Flon, said team being engaged in an essential war industry.
  • Maximum available flying time – NIL hours
• 17 November 1942
  Tuesday:
  • Good flying weather.
  • The Regina army team has re-entered the Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League. This will tend to increase enthusiasm throughout the whole of the circuit.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 18 November 1942
  Wednesday:
  • Ceiling varying from 1,500 to 3,000 feet visibility unlimited.
  • Honorary Group Captain Lynburner, of the Fairchild Aircraft organization was here for a few hours today.
  • Maximum available flying time – 6 hrs. 15 min.
• 19 November 1942
  Thursday:
  • Fine bright clear day.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.

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• 20 November 1942
  Friday:
  • Ceiling and visibility unlimited. Flying day and night.
  • Twenty-one graduated from Course 64 – Air Bombers. Seven failed and were transferred to Course 65.
  • Maximum available flying time – 14 hours.
• 21 November 1942
  Saturday:
  • Another fine day with ceiling and visibility unlimited.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 22 November 1942
  Sunday:
  • Bright clear day. Continuing nice and mild.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 23 November 1942
  Monday:
  • Ideal flying weather continues.
  • A start was made to construct a swimming pool in the Drill Hall. When completed this will fill a long felt need on this Station.
  • Forty-five trainees graduated from Course No. 43 – W.O.A.G.s – one failure was posted to No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg. Two other failures were held here one being transferred to Course 44, the other to Course 45.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 24 November 1942
  Tuesday:
  • Low ceiling. No Flying.
  • Maximum available flying time – NIL hours.
• 25 November 1942
  Wednesday:
  • Cloudy and quite cold.
  • An accident occurred at 1725 hrs. on Main Aerodrome. Aircraft Bolingbroke Mk IVT 9916. Pilot was R90975 Sgt. Kasubeck, W.J. R157138 LAC Barske, P.J., GB1054156 LAC Griffiths, J.T. both Bombardiers, When attempting to land on return exercise, pilot was caught in sudden snow squall. Aircraft and pitot head iced. Landed on runway and overshot same. Ran into rough ground, undercarriage collapsed, bad weather responsible for pilot overshooting runway on landing. Undercarriage buckled. Portion of wings and spar were also buckled. Two propellers bent at tips. Engine damage not definitely ascertained at this date.
  • Maximum available flying time – 9 hrs. 25 min.

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• 26 November 1942
  Thursday:
  • Fine, bright clear day.
  • The Canadian High Commissioner to Australia namely Hon. T. C. Davis of Ottawa was a visitor for a few short hours today and was particularly interested in the instruction given to trainees. He was accompanied by W/C E.G. MacPherson, Commanding Officer of No. 2 I.T.S., Regina.
  • Maximum available flying time – 20 hrs.
• 27 November 1942
  Friday:
  • Ceiling unlimited for the larger part of the day.
  • Maximum available flying time – 22 hrs.
• 28 November 1942
  Saturday:
  • Low celling prevailed throughout the whole of the day.
  • All who attended the dance at the Recreation Hall (for Corporals and aircraftmen and airwomen) were well entertained. Station Orchestra was in attendance.
  • Maximum available flying. time – NIL hours.
• 29 November 1942
  Sunday:
  • This turned out to be a very fine day with the sun shining brightly.
  • Lieutenant Colonel V.E. McIntyre of Ottawa and Mr. L. Chase of Regina, both connected with the Canadian Legion War Services were guests of the Unit. The advisability and actual necessity of building an extension to the Legion Services Hut was thoroughly gone into and assurance of co-operation in every respect was given.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hrs.
• 30 November 1942
  Monday:
  • Strong North West wind blowing throughout the day. However flying was carried on until 1600 hours.
  • Maximum available flying time – 8 hrs.

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• 30 November 1942 (continued)
  Monday:
  

Water Consumption for Month of November, 1942	1,032,500 gallons
Average Daily Consumption	34,116 2/3 gallons

Total Flying Hours for Month of November	1,703 hrs. 45 min
Number of days Aerodrome unserviceable	Nil

• COMMANDING OFFICER, No. 2 BOMBING AND
  GUNNERY SCHOOL, R.C.A.F., MOSSBANK, SASK.