Daily Diary

No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School,
Mossbank, Saskatchewan

December 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.

IMAGE 1319

• 1 December 1942
  Tuesday:
  • At 0800 hours wind speed was twenty-five miles per hour, increasing in intensity as the day advanced. Hazy throughout most of the day, closing in at night. Low level bombing however was carried out.
  • Maximum available flying time – 22 hrs. 55 min.
• 2 December 1942
  Wednesday:
  • Very little wind. Ground fog.
  • Over at the Legion Hut the game of Bingo was enjoyed by many of the airwomen and airmen. Cedar chests and boxes of chocolates were the prizes given.
  • The Mossbank Curling Club have invited rinks from this Unit to use their ice and participate in League games. It is expected that eight teams will enter from here.
  • Anson tow-bar dropped across toes of Corporal Lewis, E.E. R62386 while disconnecting aircraft from tractor causing fracture of left great toe.
  • Maximum available flying time – 3 hours.
• 3 December 1942
  Thursday:
  • Very little flying during the day. Poor visibility, snow flurries.
  • Maximum available flying time – 6 hours.
• 4 December 1942
  Friday:
  • Stormy, dull and cloudy.
  • Maximum available flying time – Nil.

IMAGE 1320

• 5 December 1942
  Saturday:
  • Good flying weather. This is very welcome as we are somewhat behind in our training program and need fine, clear days in order to come up to schedule.
  • Twenty-nine Wireless Operator Air Gunners, Course No. 44 reported for training.
  • Word was received today that Wing Commander. J.D. Blane, C198, was appointed Commanding Officer of this Unit.
  • Maximum available flying time – 9 hrs. 5 min.
• 6 December 1942
  Sunday:
  • Dull and cloudy up to nearly 1100 hours when flying began. Poor visibility for night flying.
  • Maximum available flying time – 6 hrs. 30 min.
• 7 December 1942
  Monday:
  • Low ceiling.
  • Thirty-seven Trainees graduated from Course No. 42B – Wireless Operator Air Gunners – Ten of these posted to No. 31 O.T.U., Debert, N.S., ten to No. 2 A.O.S., Edmonton, Alta., four to Western Air Command, Victoria, B.C., six to No. 4 A.O.S., London, Ontario., three to Eastern Air Command, Halifax, N.S. Four held here pending posting instructions, one retained here and transferred to Course No. 44 – W.O.A.G. and one posted to No. 3 B. & G. School, Macdonald, Manitoba.
  • Twenty-seven Air Bombers reported for Course No. 69.
  • Maximum available flying time – 1 hour.
• 8 December 1942
  Tuesday:
  • Ground fog. Training is being greatly delayed on account of very poor weather the past two weeks.
  • The Mossbank Hockey team made an inauspicious start in the opening game of the Saskatchewan Hockey League at Moose Jaw, losing by 18 to 1 to 120th Army Training Centre. The team was definitely outclassed. Postings of hockey players to this Unit were expected but as nothing materialized in this connection we could do nothing more than present a good Intermediate Team to a highly experienced and well coached team of senior calibre plus a few Ex-N.H.L. Stars.
  • Maximum available flying time – Nil.
• 9 December 1942
  Wednesday:
  • Squadron Leader McDougall (Accts.) was here from No. 4 T.C. for purpose of conducting handing over of Accounts Control to Squadron Leader Penman from Flight Lieutenant Beck.
  • Very heavy fog which cleared away partially in mid afternoon allowing limited flying exercises during the afternoon and evening.
  • The Commanding Officer after reviewing the hockey situation decided that this Station would be unable to field a team of professional calibre and the entry was consequently withdrawn from the League. It is expected the team will engage Intermediate Teams in Southern Saskatchewan and play hometown games in the town of Mossbank.
  • Maximum available flying time – 4 hrs. 20 min.

IMAGE 1321

• 10 December 1942
  Thursday:
  • Cold with heavy fog again and everything covered with hoar frost. Wind in the south west.
  • A very successful Bingo game was held in the Legion Hut last night, with approximately one hundred participating in this popular form of entertainment. The Hut was as usual, jammed to the doors.
  • On Sunday last, almost one hundred airmen and airwomen were unable to gain admittance to see the regular Sunday evening movie. In view of the fact that no other similar activity is available here it is hoped that early action will be taken on our request for enlargement of the Hut.
  • Maximum available flying time – 3 hrs. 30 min.
• 11 December 1942
  Friday:
  • Cloudy and dull throughout the day. Small snow flakes fell during most of the day. It looks very much now as if it would be a “White Christmas”.
  • Twenty-five graduated from Course 65 Air Bombers and were posted to No. 7 A.O.S., Portage la Prairie. Five were transferred to Course 66, one to Course 67 and one to Course 68 and 3 to K.T.S. Trenton.
  • Maximum available flying time – Nil.
• 12 December 1942
  Saturday:
  • Today was a repetition of the previous day.
  • A fire broke out in Barrack Block No. 11. Quick action was taken in sounding the alarm. Firemen and members of the Fire Picquet responded promptly. The alarm sounded at 2247 hours, all-clear at 2320 hours. There being a possibility of a weakness in the construction in the inner wall and for other reasons a Court of Inquiry assembled to investigate the fire, namely; F/L J.E. Willson as President and F/L B.M. Laubach as Member.
  • Maximum available flying time – 2 hours.
• 13 December 1942
  Sunday:
  • Cloudy and dull in the early part of the day. The sun shone brightly from 1100 hours on. We got on the tail end of a Chinook. The snow disappeared from the roofs of buildings and it became quite mild.
  • Maximum available flying time – 11 hrs. 10 min.

IMAGE 1322

• 14 December 1942
  Monday:
  • Another dull and cloudy day. North-West wind.
  • A fatal accident occurred at 1115 hours, five miles west of Lumsden, Saskatchewan, when six airman of this Unit were killed instantly when aircraft No. 9984 Bolingbroke UK IV T (Port Engine MK V4816 Starboard Engine MK V4824) crashed into side of hill. The deceased; Pilot, R64239 WO2 North, Everard Barrington, R115747 L4C Habkirk, Robert Edwin, Electrician, R138493 AC1 Pratt, Henry Vernon, Armament Section, R114616 LAC Lightle, Howard Austin, A.E.M., R115711 LAC Shults, Russel Herman, A.E.M., R143117 LAC Campbell, John, A.F.M. They were carrying out a routine airframe and engine test flight. The aircraft was a total loss with the exception of the tires and wheels and some electrical switches.
  • Maximum available flying time – 9 hrs. 25 min.
• 15 December 1942
  Tuesday:
  • Clearing somewhat, although a high wind prevailed during the evening. Considerably more flying than usual.
  • Maximum available flying time – 17 hrs. 35 min.
• 16 December 1942
  Wednesday:
  • Fair weather. Flying exercises were carried out throughout the whole of the day.
  • The Trans-Canada Airways phoned from Regina at 1924 hours requesting permission to land here due to a high wind and poor visibility. The T.C.A. Pilot could not find our landing field and the aircraft went straight through to Swift Current.
  • Maximum available flying time – 9 hours.
• 17 December 1942
  Thursday:
  • Snow flurries. Ceiling at 800 feet. Northerly wind with wind speed at twenty miles per hour.
  • Maximum available flying time – 3 hours.
• 18 December 1942
  Friday:
  • Good flying in morning with weather closing in during the early afternoon.
  • Fun and frolic was apparent at the Recreation Hall when the children of the personnel of this School gathered for their party at 1600 hours. The Hall was suitably decorated with evergreens, streamers, large bells and two brightly decorated Christmas trees stood guard on each side of the stage. About 200 children attended. Games were played and refreshments served. In addition the Canadian Legion Services showed two movie reels. Santa Claus made his appearance in the person of F/O H.D. Churchill.
  • Maximum available flying time – 5 hrs. 55 min.
• 19 December 1942
  Saturday:
  • Snow flurries throughout the day. Flying night schedules were finished.
  • Maximum available flying time – 20 hrs. 15 min.

IMAGE 1323

• 20 December 1942
  Sunday:
  • North-westerly wind. Ceiling 6,000 feet with good visibility. Slight icing conditions.
  • Maximum available flying time – 23 hrs. 30 min.
• 21 December 1942
  Monday:
  • Bright clear day and becoming much milder. Good flying weather.
  • Thirty-five graduated from Course 43B Wireless Operator Air Gunners. Fifteen were posted to No. 1 “Y” Depot, Halifax, three to 34 O.T.U., Pennfield Ridge, N.B., ten to Eastern Air Command, Halifax and seven to Western Air Command, Victoria, B.C. One airman was transferred to Course 44 for Medical reasons and another failing academically was transferred to Course 45.
  • Maximum available flying time – 9 hrs. 15 min.
• 22 December 1942
  Tuesday:
  • The weatherman repeated his previous days performance. The sun shone brightly and remarks very frequently heard on the Station grounds, “here’s hoping this weather continues until at least past the Christmas Season.” A further endeavor was made to catch up to the flying schedule.
  • Maximum available flying time – 9 hours.
• 23 December 1942
  Wednesday:
  • Ceiling unlimited morning and afternoon. Good visibility.
  • Maximum available flying time – 23 hrs. 35 min.
• 24 December 1942
  Thursday:
  • Poor flying weather with high wind and light snow fall during morning.
  • Maximum available flying time – 2 hrs. 35 min.
• 25 December 1942
  Friday:
  • Dull and Cloudy.
  • The “Comrades in Arms” program in addition to featuring a short talk by Air Marshall Breadner and a short program from No. 3 S.F.T.S., R.C.A.F., Calgary; the public generally heard how No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School were enjoying Christmas. Everyone here did their part nobly and helped very much to complete a well rounded out program.
  • Officers and Senior N.C.O.s served the balance of the personnel on the Station at 1230 hours at the Airmen’s Mess. “Praise the Lord and pass …

IMAGE 1324

• 25 December 1942 (continued)
  Friday:
  • … the Cranberries”, was the song sung by those being served. The meal consisted of; soup – cream of tomato, asparagus tips, turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, plum pudding, nuts, candies and oranges and beverages.
  • Maximum available flying time – Nil.
• 26 December 1942
  Saturday:
  • Clear and bright with very little wind.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 27 December 1942
  Sunday:
  • Wind in North-West during daytime at speed of 20 M.P.H. veering to south to south-easterly during night and becoming gusty.
  • Maximum available flying time – 9 hrs. 15 min.
• 28 December 1942
  Monday:
  • Turning milder. Ground fog during daytime. Forty-six reported (Course No. 45 Wireless Operator Air Gunners) from No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg.
  • Maximum available flying time – 6 hrs. 15 min.
• 29 December 1942
  Tuesday:
  • Dull cloudy day. North-East wind. Snow storm during afternoon.
  • Maximum available flying time – 30 min.
• 30 December 1942
  Wednesday:
  • Again a dull cloudy day with very little flying. High wind from a north-easterly direction.
  • Maximum available flying time – 2 hrs. 15 min.
• 31 December 1942
  Thursday:
  • Wind in a north-easterly direction. Cloudy with a light fall of snow. Committees were busy decorating the Officers and Sergeants Messes and the R.C.A.F. (W.D.) Canteen in the morning for the dances and good fun that got underway this evening and were due to continue well beyond midnight.
  • Maximum available flying time – 30 min.

IMAGE 1325

• 31 December 1942 (continued)
  Thursday:

Water Consumption for Month of December, 1942	980,800 gallons
Average Daily Consumption	31,638.71 gallons

Total Flying Hours for Month of December	1,261 hrs. 50 mins
Number of days Aerodrome unserviceable –	Nil

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