Daily Diary

No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School,
Mossbank, Saskatchewan

June 1943

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 June 1943
  Tuesday:
  • Clear bright morning. C.A.V.U. all day.
  • Twenty-seven R.C.A.F. and one R.A.F. airmen were taken on strength on posting for Course 83 (Air Bombers). They reported as follows: seven from No. 2 I.T.S., Regina, ten from No. 4 I.T.S., Edmonton, six from No. 7 I.T.S., Saskatoon and four from No. 3 “M” Depot, Edmonton.
  • Forty-nine Australians reported in for Course 56 Wireless Air Gunners, from No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary.
  • Thirty-eight R.C.A.F airmen, Aircrew I.T.S. (Deferred) were posted to No. 7 Equipment Depot, Winnipeg. At 1500 hours, R70312, Sgt. Brennan, F.V. (Pilot) in Bolingbroke 9915 made a flapless landing and went off the end of the runway. No damage was done.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 2 June 1943
  Wednesday:
  • Local Ceiling 4,000 to 5,000 feet in morning. Fog moved in early and continued unfavorable all day.
  • Wing Commander Gray and party from No. 4 Training Command Hoadquart.rs stayed overnight at the Station and proceeded next day at 1340 hours for Lethbridge.
  • Maximum Available Flying Time – one hour 30 minutes.

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• 3 June 1943
  Thursday:
  • Dark heavy overcast with high wind all day. Exceptionally cold for Juno. Low coiling all day- 1,300 to 1,500 feet.
  • Squadron Leader A.I. Henderson reported in from No. 2 I.T.S., Regina.
  • Flight Lieutenant L’Ami arrived from No. 4 Training Command with Mr. Arnold Haig of the Associated Screen News to take pictures of the work of the Women’s Division at this Unit, Due to the dark skies, all outdoor shots were postponed till June 4th.
  • Maximum available flying time – 2 hours .
• 4 June 1943
  Friday:
  • Weather continued favorable all day. C.A.V.U.
  • Work was continued by the Associated 8creen News representative and many good pictures of the Airwomen at work were obtained.
  • Flight Lieutenant Light, the Protestant Padre published the first issue of the Padre’s D.R.O. This little paper will fill a need on the Station.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 5 June 1943
  Saturday:
  • Morning C.A.V.U. Overcast moved in high. Weather favorable all day.
  • Group Captain Kery in Oxford V3290 reported in from Swift Current at 1125 hours and left at 1340 hours. Thirty-nine members of Aircrew (deferred) reported in from No. 3 “M” Depot, Edmonton, Alberta.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 6 June 1943
  Sunday:
  • Morning C.A.V.U. Continued favorable all day.
  • Church Service was held at 1000 hours in the Legion Hut.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 7 June 1943
  Monday:
  • Morning – overcast, continuing dull till about 1700 hours when it brightened somewhat.
  • A concert party consisting of one N.C.O. and three Airmen gave a performance in the Recreation Hall before the regular showing of ‘the film.
  • Maximum available flying time – 11 hours.
• 8 June 1943
  Tuesday:
  • Morning was overcast with ceiling 300 to 400 feet but became much brighter in the afternoon. C.A.V.U.
  • Maximum available flying time – 13 hours.
• 9 June 1943
  Wednesday:
  • C.A.V.U. all day with some very slight haze
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.

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• 10 June 1943
  Thursday:
  • There was a high overcast in the morning followed by heavy rain during the afternoon.
  • At. 1205 hours R115789 F/S Reitle, C.L. in Bolingbroke 9894 taxied into the wing of Bolingbroke 9899 damaging the wings of both aircraft.
  • The new Coffee Bar was opened for business at 1800 hours. A record crowd called during the evening for soft drinks, sandwiches, hamburgers or ice cream.
  • Maximum available flying time – 19 hours, 5 minutes.
• 11 June 1943
  Friday:
  • Cloudy with low ceiling.
  • Twenty-two Air Bombers, Course 78 were posted to No, 7 A.O.S., at Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. Of this number fourteen were members of the R.A.A.F., seven were R.A.F., and one was R.C.A.F. The continued wet weather has given the new frees and shrubs a chance to get firmly rooted.
  • Maximum available flying time – 14 hours, 10 minutes.
• 12 June 1943
  Saturday;
  • A graduating party and dance was held by the members of Course 54, Wireless Air Gunners. A supper was served in the Airmen’s mess. The evening proved to be very successful and was thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 13 June 1943
  Sunday:
  • Very dark with steady rain at noon when flying was washed out.
  • Forty-one members of Course 54, Wireless Air Gunners graduated at a Wings Parade held in the Drill Hall due to the unsettled weather. Squadron Leader B.M. Labuach (S.A.O.) presented the Wings. The Band was in attendance and added greatly to the occasion.
  • All members of the class but one belonged to the R.A.A.F. Twenty-five were posted to No. 5 “M” Depot, Lachine, Quebec for reposting to No. 111 O.T.U., Nassau. Four others were posted to No. 31 O.T.U., Debert, N.S., and one went to No. 34 O.T.U., Pennfield Ridge, N.B. Ten R.A.A.F. and one R.C.A.F. were posted to No. 32 O.T.U., Patricia Bay, B.C.
  • At 1025 hours Anson 7429 with R150991 Sgt. Sanderson, N.R. advised trouble. Ground preparations were completed and a satisfactory landing was made. The pilot reported that the battery was dead and he was uncertain of the wheels being locked.

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• 13 June 1943 (continued)
  Sunday
  • A farewell dinner was held in the Officers Mess at 1800 hours to honor flight Lieutenant Weaver, Flight Lieutenant C.R. Welfley and Flight Lieutenant Prendergast, all of whom were leaving the Unit on posting.
  • Maximum available flying time – 5 Hours.
• 14 June 1943
  Monday:
  • Low ceiling and rain all day#
  • Twenty members of the R.A.F. reported in for Course 84 (Air Bombers) and one R.C.A.F. Officer. Eleven were from No. 2 I.T.S., Regina, ten from No. 4’I.T.S., Edmonton and six from No. 7 I.T.S., Saskatoon.
  • Thirty-eight members, Wireless Air Gunners reported in for Course 57. Twenty-seven of these were from No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Man., and nine from No. 4 Wireless School, Guelph, Ontario. In this group were eight N.Z.A.F., twenty-eight R.C.A.F. and two R.A.A.F.
  • Maximum available flying time – nil hours.
• 15 June 1943
  Tuesday:
  • C.A.V.U. all day.
  • Second issue of the renewed “Contact” – the Station Paper was put on sale. This number was greatly improved.
  • Flight Lieutenant W.J. Lancaster (C2781) took over the duties of Station Adjutant from Flight Lieutenant C.R. Welfley (C6082) who has gone to No. 15 S.F.T.S, Claresholm, Alberta.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 16 June 1943
  Wednesday;
  • Good flying weather. C.A.V.U. all day.
  • Flight Officer Clark (V30105) Equipment Messing, reported in from Assiniboia.
  • One Sgt. and twenty-six LAC’s reported in on 16th June, 1943 for Air Bombers Course 85. Six were from No. 7 I.T.S., Saskatoon, ten from No. 4 I.T.S., Edmonton and eleven from No. 2 I.T.S., Regina. All were members of the R.C.A.F.
  • The first Swimming Gala to be held in the pool was carried out at 1930 hours. There was keen competition and good entertainment was provided by the varied events.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 17 June 1943
  Thursday:
  • C.A.V.U. all day.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.

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• 18 June 1943
  Friday:
  • C,A.V.U. all day.
  • C1782, Squadron Leader J.A. Gordon and C2815 Flight Lieutenant A.L. Pogue reported in by air from No. 5 B and Q School, Dafoe.
  • At 1645 hours Mr. Noble at Crestwynd phoned in to report that Lysander 2341 with R137327 Sgt. Laney, J.B. (Pilot) had made a forced landing on the Miller farm East of Johnson Lake. The aircraft was out of fuel. No damage was done.
  • R64144 WO2 Ruppel, K.G. (Pilot) in Bolingbroke 9899 made a single engine landing in Regina at 1445 hours without mishap.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 19 June 1943
  Saturday:
  • Morning C.A.V.U., continued all day.
  • At 1602 hours R141175 Sgt. Bryden R.H. (Pilot) in Anson FP996 made a crash landing off the south end of No. 1 runway on attempting to land on the runway. The pilot reported an engine failure after the take off on number 4. No injuries were reported and damage was slight.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 20 June 1943
  Sunday:
  • Good flying weather. C.A.V.U. all day.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 21 June 1943
  Monday:
  • Morning C.A.V.U. Continued all day.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 22 June 1943
  Tuesday;
  • Stormy morning, sharp electric flash broke a wire attached to M. T. Section. A high wind blew all day but weather improved during the afternoon.
  • Maximum available flying time – 18 hours.
• 23 June 1943
  Wednesday;
  • Cold wind. C.A.V.U.
  • V30006 Flight Officer Evans reported in from Regina. She inspected the W.D.’s quarters and canteen. At 1300 hours Anson 8240 with NZ421802 P/O C.F; Wilkinson while taxiing on the tarmac ran on to the lawn of No. 2 Hangar. The tip of one propeller was bent. The pilot reported ineffective brakes. There was a heavy crosswind prevailing at the time.
  • Maximum available flying time – 14 hours.

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• 24 June 1943
• Thursday:
  • Morning C.A.V.U. Continued all day.
  • At 1035 hours Bolingbroke 10066 with Pilot R85442 WO2 Lucas, A.A. appeared to ground loop off runway. He reported defective undercarriage. There was some damage to the undercarriage and the Starboard wing.
  • At 1320 hours Anson 8228 with R123501 Sgt. Cutler. E.M. after landing blew a tire while taxiing.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours,
• 25 June 1943
  Friday:
  • During the morning a front moved in from the East.
  • Maximum available flying time – 23 hours.
• 26 June 1943
  Saturday:
  • There were scattered thunder showers during the morning. Heavy cumulus clouds.
  • Twenty-one members of the R.A.A.F. from No. 3 “M” Depot, Edmonton and six R.C.A.F from No. 2 I.T.S., Regina reported in for Air Bombers Course 86.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 27 June 1943
  Sunday:
  • Ceiling 3000 feet.
  • Twenty members of Deferred Aircrew were posted to No. 2 I.T.S., Regina and four Air Gunners Standard to No. 2 P.A.E.D. at Edmonton.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 28 June 1943
  Monday:
  • Morning C.A.V.U. continuing all day with a light wind.
  • At 1355 J20268 F/O J.J.R.C. Monaghan in Bolingbroke 10109 used entire runway in taking off and appeared to use 200 feet of grass at the end of runway before becoming airborne. Wheels were off ground but not out of grass. There was a tense moment before he cleared the house immediately in front of him.
  • Forty-two R.A.A.F. reported in from No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary for Wireless Air Gunner Course 58.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 29 June 1943
  Tuesday:
  • Morning C.A.V.U. Continued all day.
  • C2682 S/L Anderson T.C., Engineer from No. 4 Training Command Headquarters paid a visit to this Station.
  • Maximum available flying time – 24 hours.
• 30 June 1943
  Wednesday:
  • Rain at night.
  • A court of inquiry assembled at 1400 hours to investigate and report on the death of GB1394594 Sgt. Hill, S.W.G. It was composed of – President – (C4171) W/C C.F. Burt from No. 2 I.T.8., Regina. Members – (84053) F/L A.S. Samuel, No. 32 S.F.T.S., Moose Jaw. C9962) F/L W.A. McMillan, No. 4.T.C., Calgary.

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• 30 June 1943 (continued)
  Wednesday:
  • Maximum available flying time – 16 hours.

Water Consumption for Month of June, 1943	1,131,100 gallons
Average Daily Consumption	37,703½ gallons

Total Flying Hours for Month of June	3,050 hours and 25 minutes.
Number of days Aerodrome unserviceable –	Nil

• (D.S. Blaine) Group Captain,
  Commanding Officer,
  No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School,
  MOSSBANK, Saskatchewan.