Daily Diary

No. 33 Service Flying Training School,
Carberry, Manitoba

June 1941

This Transcription of the Operational Record Book of No. 33 Service Flying Training School that was Located at Carberry, Manitoba, 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 1497

CARBERRY.
1 June 1941

STRENGTH: Personnel.

	Officers	Other Ranks	Civilians
RAF	80	972	–
Service Personnel other Than RAF
RCAF	16	96	–
RCASC	1	4	–
CDC	1	1	–
Civilians	–	–	7
Trainees
RAF & RCAF	–	134	–

STRENGTH: Aircraft.

	Serviceable	Unserviceable
Ansons	42	22
Tiger Moths	2	–

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CARBERRY.
1 June 1941
(continued)

• At the opening of the sixth month of its life, the Station was firmly established and in full running order save only for a shortage of Ansons. No fundamental changes now appeared to be likely, although there was no vestige of any slackening in making minor amendments and in introducing refinements. At the same time a number of postings and attachments introduced a beneficial liveliness – and this factor, combined with the early prospect of leave and the surprising behaviour of the Canadian climate, avoided the danger of monotony.

2 June 1941

• Fifty-nine Pupil Pilots, representing the fourth Course (numbered ’20’) arrived from England. This Course was nine short of the usual number of sixty-eight – but this was not unfortunate in view of the fact that the fifteen R.C.A.F. Officers from the United States who had recently arrived occupied a fair share of the time of the Instructors.

3 June 1941

• A notice demanding the return of Harvard Technical Publications served as a reminder that, as originally intended, training was now exclusively on Ansons. It was in one of these aeroplanes that two Pupil Pilots of No. 13 Course made a forced landing in Carman owing to a defect in the fuel system: but it would not be unfair to say that Maintenance Wing had its work cut out to maintain the serviceability of aircraft many of which were by way of being veterans. The defect was soon repaired, however, and the Aeroplane flown back to Camp.

4 June 1941

• A Repeat Performance in the Recreation Hall by the Station Concert Party – …

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CARBERRY.
4 June 1941
(continued)

• … styled ‘The Rip-Chords’ – was highly successful, and the party was ready to accept the numerous engagements offered by Manitoba towns and cities. The Station Orchestra was now, by contrast, and old-established Society which had been, and continued to be, in great demand. It was also experienced in Radio broadcasting. Its contacts with youthful Canada had the happiest results, and the Station benefited also from the flow of hospitality now released from various towns which had earlier been beleaguered by Winter. The ‘Rip-Chords’ engagements for this month included performances at Plumas, Brandon, Winnipeg (two nights at the Walker Theatre), and Neepawa.

5 June 1941

• The absence of any weather that bore resemblance to Summer undoubtedly aided the scores of shrubs and trees and plants that now ornamented the Camp. But its other effects were dismaying. It was not so grave in the fact that the Summer Sports arrangements remained shivering on the brink, as in the delay sustained in the Flying Training programme. Amongst the efforts made to overcome these difficulties was a complete reorganisation of this system. The method of pooling aircraft and issuing them to the Flights on what was popularly termed the ‘garage principle’ – thereby entailing a minor loss of inter-Flight rivalry in servicing – …

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CARBERRY.
5 June 1941
(continued)

• … was already in progress. And now, far reaching changes were made in the Flying Instructors time-tables, so that by working in shifts from dawn to dusk and from dusk to dawn a practically uninterrupted attack on the Training might be carried out.

6 June 1941

• Unperturbed by the English type of weather, the Rugby and Association Football Matches and Practices proceeded strongly: and the Station’s twin representative – Teams in ‘Soccer’ still retained (except when drawn against each other) an undefeated record in the Brandon Military League. The organisation of such sports had been vastly eased by the generosity of Carberry, whose prominent citizens (aware of the unsuitable state of that area of Landing Ground available for games) turned over their Fair Ground to the Station free of charge. On this day the new sports ground might well have been situated in the English countryside, for at one time fifty-two airmen were engaged in Soccer and Rugger in normal kit specially made by Eatons of Winnipeg, while six others were ranging the immediate vicinity on and off horse-back.

7 June 1941

• In complete indifference to the film presented on this date (“Only Angels Have Wings”) a large number of airman were busy on applications to become Pilots or members of Air Crews. These applications came from all quarters – Accounts, Hangars, Work-shops, Kitchens, Gardeners – and in each case and every case the motive was constant: the wish to exchange the comforts of Canada for closer contact with the enemy. In many cases the number of flying hours accumulated by the airmen was surprising.

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CARBERRY.
8 June 1941

• On this Sabbath, Services were held in the new Station Chapel, a part of a building which several Officers had eagerly coveted but which the Chaplain secured by peaceful penetration. In the evening there was held the Sunday Evening Social – consisting of a light lecture, lantern-projection of recent Camp photographs, community singing, a short educational film, a resume of the week’s news, and a devotional close. It was well attended, and bid fair to become a very pleasant weekly occasion.

9 June 1941

• During night flying at Petrel, one Anson was taxied into another by a Pupil Pilot, and both aeroplanes were damaged – one to such an extent that it could not be repaired at Unit. The Officers’ Cricket Team, led by the Chief Flying Instructor, again attempted without success to defeat the team of the Manitoba Cricket Association. The match was played at Winnipeg, and was a refreshing break in Camp routine.

10 June 1941

• Cricket on the Home Ground, although attempted, was as yet unsatisfactory owing to the state of the ground, and it became clear that a properly constructed matting –wicket would he necessary. Rugby and Association Football were in a strong position. Softball, played mainly by Canadians on the Station, was flourishing. The Badminton Court in the Drill …

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CARBERRY.
10 June 1941
(continued)

• … Hall was in fair demand, and, in the same building, which already contained Boxing arena, there was now an excellent tennis court, frequently in use. The Camp was now awaiting the construction of hard-courts in the open, but the hope for the greatly desired Swimming Pool was gradually waning owing to the cost entailed.

11 June 1941

• It would be safe to record that, at this stage, no Airman was without Canadian civilian friends; and Daily Routine Orders increasingly bore witness to the ripening of some friendships into marriage. As travel became less formidable, the early poor impression of Canada (geographically) tended to diminish, and all ranks discovered that, apart from mosquitos, there were beauty spots which could be enjoyed as an alternative to the urban attractions of Brandon and Winnipeg.

12 June 1941

• To facilitate such holidays the Station Administrative Officer, accompanied by the Sports Officer, visited Clear Lake to prepare the way for a Station Holiday Camp. Every assistance was given by the Authorities there and a convenient site was chosen. Mr. Hall, of Carter, Hall, Contractors, Winnipeg, who constructed the Station, promised a marquee type of tent capable of holding approximately fifteen double-deck beds, but it was found necessary to purchase mosquito-proof tents.

13 June 1941

• This day was of special importance by reason of a visit from the High Commissioner of Canada, the Right Honourable Malcolm MacDonald, escorted by Air Commodore A.B. Shearer, Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Training Command. Alighting from a twin-engined Beachcraft, the …

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CARBERRY.
13 June 1941
(continued)

• … High Commissioner and Air Commodore were met by the Station Commander, and inspected the various Sections of the Camp.

14 June 1941

• The Commanding Officer expressed, in Daily Routine Orders, his appreciation of the Airmen’s very successful efforts in horticulture round their Barrack Blocks and round their places of work. This deeply-rooted instinct for gardening had shown itself also in requests for allotments, and in the appearance of Window boxes. All these efforts were heartily encouraged.

15 June 1941

• Sunday Evening was enlivened by probably the best Concert Party yet to have visited the Camp. Over forty professional artistes, by permission of the Beacon Theatre, Winnipeg, Managed by Mr. Tom Pacey, and Directed by Mr. Bill Moore, travelled from Winnipeg, refreshed themselves in the Sergeants’ Mess, toured the Station under escort, presented an excellent performance, and eventually retired in the lightest spirits. The entire expenses were borne by Mr. Harder, the organiser of the Station Cinema.

16 June 1941

• Invitation to invest in the Canadian Victory Loan met with no response from Officers and Airmen; and the passage of the Torch fired the imagination merely in a sympathetic …

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CARBERRY.
16 June 1941
(continued)

• … way. The inability to tap the resources in Britain, and the consideration that service pay was taxed at the comparatively high British rate, had the effect of causing the majority of all ranks to feel that until the Home Government decreed otherwise, sacrifices were presumably adequate. Moreover, on the return to Britain, they feared that perhaps they might meet similar difficulties with any Canadian investments.
  The Station Chaplain, in response to enquiries, announced a course of Confirmation Classes.

17 June 1941

• Since the posting of Squadron Leader W.A. Beck (14066) the Senior Medical Officer had been Flight Lieutenant A.L. Knipe. Squadron Leader W.H. Gossip now arrived to take charge of the Station Hospital. Two of his first major reactions were against the evil propinquity of the open sewage cesspool, and against the ravages wrought by the innumerable and venomous mosquitos, to which no counter attack had been made. The approach of thunderstorms was evidenced by the experience of one of the United States R.C.A.F. Officers who, caught between two electrical disturbances, attempted a landing in a rough field eight miles south of Sidney and without personal injury – overturned his Anson. During the night a fierce storm smote the district, so violent that the fact that all buildings stood the strain unscathed was a tribute to its constructors. At the emergency landing ground at Petrel, a flying instructor landing in the first sudden fury, was compelled to keep his engines running to maintain his ground; and one Anson dragged its moorings for one hundred and fifty yards. So strong was the …

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CARBERRY.
17 June 1941
(continued)

• … wind that it righted the overturned Anson, which was damaged beyond Station repair.

18 June 1941

• A number of Airmen had displayed some initiative in providing themselves with various sports apart from organised games – and one popular pursuit was gopher hunting. This was carried out with diverse weapons; but the citizens of Carberry good humouredly suggested that when air guns and miniature rifles were in use, the Airmen might well hunt further afield.

19 June 1941

• Summer kit was now in general wear, and the greater freedom was greatly appreciated. The wearing of ‘shorts’ was restricted to the Camp area.

20 June 1941

• The ‘in-and-out’ movement of R.C.A.F. attachments continued. For example, on this day thirty-four Airmen returned to No. 2 Manning Depot, and forty-five arrived on the Station. Personnel were intrigued to note that Flight Lieutenant W.W. Watson (predecessor as Adjutant to Flying Officer R.V. Dawson) had now been posted to Lincoln Flying School, Lakeland, Florida.

21 June 1941

• Four postings of Officers appeared in Orders – two to Medicine Hat, one to …

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CARBERRY.
21 June 1941
(continued)

• … Toronto, and one to Hamilton, Ontario.

22 June 1941

• For the third time the Station had the satisfaction of ocular evidence of the results of its efforts when No. 13 Course paraded to receive Flying Badges from Group Captain D.W.F. Bonham-Carter, Senior Air Staff Officer of No. 2 Training Command. The Station Commander, in his address prior to the presentation, called attention to the significant presence on parade, side by side with men of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, of representations also of Canada, South Africa, the United States and South America. A very large number of visitors witnessed the ceremony, and refreshments were served in the Recreation Hall and Officers’ Mess. Brilliant sunshine set the seal on a memorable afternoon; and visitors were surprised at the transformed appearance of the Camp by virtue of the grass, shrubs, flowers and trees – and by many other devices for producing order and comeliness.
  Late at night, and well into the next morning, the Station Commander, with other Senior Officers, was in conference with the visiting Air Officer.
  The Station was also visited by Squadron Leader the Reverend G.W.J. Gregson, Senior Anglican Chaplain with the R.A.F. in Canada. The Padre made a large number of contacts throughout the Camp, and expressed his high satisfaction with the spirit of the men and the general atmosphere of the Station. The impression made on the Unit by the Padre was equally felicitous.

23 June 1941

• Twenty-four of the new Sergeant Pilots left the Station for the R.A.F. Trainees …

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CARBERRY.
23 June 1941
(continued)

• … Pool, Toronto – and twenty-nine left for No. 1 ‘M’ Depot, Halifax.

24 June 1941

• The appetite now developed by mosquitos for all Ranks caused an order that, at sundown, trousers must be substituted for ‘shorts’. Haying been an easy prey in this direction, the Station was now taking swift precautions against the menace of ‘Athlete’s Foot’, a malady due to the excessive perspiration without sufficient ventilation.

25 June 1941

• On this day, forty-two airmen, returned to the Station from No. 8 Repair Depot. For some months Maintenance Wing had missed their services – but they brought back with them much valuable technical experience, and were in time for the increase in the number of aircraft now expected.

26 June 1941

• A gloomy note was struck by the announcement that all ranks were warned against any attempts to ‘pull strings’ by unauthorised communications to Air Ministry Officials, and that Officers were to attend to their Last Wills and Testaments. In addition, the normal evening cinematograph performance was cancelled – but this was due to redecoration ( on brighter lines) of the Recreation Hall. A more cheerful atmosphere resulted from the publication of numerous reclassifications to L.A.C.

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CARBERRY.
27 June 1941

• A representative of the ‘Washington Star’ was received by the Commanding Officer and conducted round the Camp by the Adjutant. The United States journalist expressed surprise and pleasure at what he found, and remained for some hours gathering impressions and from time to time remarking with enthusiasm on the virtue of the arrangements and atmosphere.

28 June 1941

• From England arrived a new Course of Pupil Pilots, sixty-eight in number.

29 June 1941

• This Sunday, by order of the Governor General of Canada, was observed as a day of National Dedication. This was carried out by the Station’s holding of it’s morning Parade Service in St. Agnes Church Carberry. The lesson was read by the Commanding Officer.
  In the afternoon, at approximately 15.30 hours, two R.C.A.F pupil pilots lost their lives in a crash five miles south east of Pleasant Point Railway Station. No. R76623 L.A.C. Edward Charles Helmer (Pilot) and No. R4032 L.A.C. Donald Hugh Ross (safety pilot) were engaged in local instrument flying, when, according to civilian witnesses, their Anson went into a steep dive, crashed into the ground and exploded on impact. The cause of this fatal accident was obscure.

30 June 1941

• STRENGTH: Personnel.

IMAGE 1509

CARBERRY.
30 June 1941
(continued)

STRENGTH: Personnel

	Officers	Other Ranks	Civilians
RAF	74	983	–
Service Personnel other Than RAF
RCAF	17	98	–
RCASC	1	2	–
CDC	1	4	–
Civilians	–	–	12
Trainees
RAF & RCAF	–	198	–

STRENGTH: AIRCRAFT.

	Serviceable	Unserviceable
Ansons	42	26

• H.E.Walker
  Group Captain, Commanding,
  No. 33 S.F.T.S., R.A.F.