Daily Diary

No. 33 Service Flying Training School,
Carberry, Manitoba

January 1944

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.

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CARBERRY, Man
1944

• 1st Jan – New Year’s Day was a normal working day. Holy Communion was celebrated at 0700 hours.
  P/O. C. COLLIER (GD), No. 162643, reported on commissioning.
• 2nd JAN – Aircraft serviceability 70.3%. The padre reported excellent attendances at the voluntary Church Services.
  A large number of enthusiasts took advantage of the good condition of the outdoor skating rink.
• 3rd JAN – Adverse weather resulted in no flying.
  P/O. R.F. LAWFORD (G.D.), No. 153550, reported on posting ex No. 1 I.F.S.
  A recorded session of popular jazz tunes was given in the Airmen’s Lounge.
  An ice-hockey practice was held in the indoor rink at Carberry.
• 4th JAN – Weather conditions improved, the maximum number of flying hours being fit for flying.
  The Badminton Club met in the Drill Hall.
• 5th JAN – The maximum number of flying hours were again fit for flying. 48 O.R’s (ground personnel) reported on posting from Nos. 35, 38 and 41 S.F.T.S’s.
  A concert of recorded classical music was given in the G.I.S. Block.
  The Station Bridge League met in the Airmen’s Lounge.
• 6th JAN – An exhibition snooker match was played in the Airmen’s Lounge.
  The latest edition of the “RIPCHORDS” Concert Party is now under production, rehearsals being held nightly.
• 7th JAN – The Station Badminton Club met in the Drill Hall; additional members reported, and the Club is proving an excellent form of physical recreation.
  P/O. A.F. HEDGES (GD), No. 160547, reported on posting from No. 1 G.R.S.
• 8th JAN – An-ice-hockey practice was held on one of the Station’s out-door ice rinks. The other three rinks were well patronised by members of the Station.

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CARBERRY, Man
1944

• 9th JAN – Aircraft serviceability was 42.6%.
  The Station was visited by the YMCA Concert party from Winnipeg, the Recreation Hall was filled to capacity, and the standard of entertainment was high.
  Members of the party were entertained in the Officers’ Mess after the show.
• 10th JAN – A recorded session of popular jazz music was held in the Airmen’s Lounge.
  The male voice choir held a rehearsal in the Station Chapel.
  The Station Bowling League played their weekly games.
• 11th JAN – A category “D” accident occurred today. Anson a/c JS.106, piloted by a pupil, taxied down the runway but, due to faulty brakes, failed to pull up on reaching the hangar. The aircraft collided with boiler house.
  F/L. E.R.J. BLEZARD (GD), 89841, proceeded on posting to No. 36 O.T.U.
• 12th JAN – The maximum number of hours were fit for flying.
  Five u/t pilots for inclusion in Course No. 100 reported from No. 34 EFTS, and five reported for the same purpose from No. 33 EFTS.
  P/O S.C. ADE (GD), No. 153689; P/O. A.E. RIDDLE (GD), No. 153690, reported from No. 1 F.I.S. on posting to this Unit.
  The Station Music Club gave a concert of classical music in the G.I.S. Block.
• 13th JAN – Fifty u/t pilots, for inclusion in Course No. 100, reported from No. 26 SFTS.
  An exhibition snooker match was played in the Airmen’s Lounge between corporals and airmen.
• 14th JAN – F/L. E. FISHER (GD), No. 47311 proceeded to No. 31 P.D. for repatriation to the United Kingdom.
  A fairly heavy snowfall reduced the hours fit for flying to 12 out of 24.
  The Station Badminton Club met in the Drill Hall.
• 15th JAN – W/C. D. KINNEAR (GD), No. 70367, reported on posting from No. 41 SFTS.
  F/O. D. POWELL (GD) No. 55085, proceeded on posting to No. 36 SFTS.
  The maximum number of hours were fit for flying.
  A lightening snooker tournament was held in the Airmen’s Lounge; this innovation proved most successful.
  The Station ice rinks were well patronised by an increasing number of enthusiasts.
• 16th JAN – Aircraft serviceability 61.4%. P/O. L.W. FIELD (GD), No. 156294, P/O. W.M. CLARKE (GD), No. 133098, F/O. M.J. CREIGHTON (GD), No. 55047, P/O. P.E. NOLAN (GD), No. 153510, P/O. G.E. SAMSON (GD), No. 153507, and F/O. C.J. DAY (GD) No. 152325 reported on posting from No. 38 SFTS.

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CARBERRY
1944

• 17th JAN – The weekly concert of recorded jazz tunes was held in the Airmen’s Lounge.
  The first of a new series of Confirmation Classes was inaugurated by the Station Chaplain.
• 18th JAN – 63815 F/L. P.C. MARJORAM (GD) proceeded on posting to No. 1 G.R.S.
  The Badminton Club met in the Drill Hall.
  The Inter-Hut Basketball League continued their tournament.
• 19th JAN – F/L. L. FRIDJOHN (Med) reported on posting from No. 34 EFTS, as relief for S/L. K.D.F. MORLE, the Station Medical Officer.
  The Station Music Club gave a concert of recorded classical music in the G.I.S. Block.
  An Airmen’s Dance was held in the Recreation Hall, hostesses from Carberry and Brandon attended, as did Group Captain and Mrs. J.S.T. FALL. A most enjoyable evening was had by the large number of personnel present, who danced to music provided by the Station Dance Band.
• 20th JAN – Adverse weather restricted the hours fit for flying to 9 out of 24.
  The Station Floor hockey and Basketball Leagues held their weekly inter-hut play-offs.
• 21st JAN – Improved weather conditions resulted in the maximum number of hours being fit for
  flying.
  A G.C.M. was held on the Station today for the purpose of trying No. GB.509551 Warrant Officer MERRISON, G.L.
  The Station Badminton Club met in the Drill Hall.
• 22nd JAN – A lightening snooker tournament was held in the Airmen’s Lounge between Officers and airmen, the latter being the winners.
• 23rd JAN – Aircraft serviceability was 70.64%.
  The maximum number of hours were fit for flying.
• 24th JAN – A recorded session of popular jazz tunes was held in the Airmen’s Lounge.
  The Station Bowling and Basketball teams held their weekly competitions.
  The Male Voice Choir met in the Station Chapel.
  Many airmen took advantage of the free skating provided by the Station at the Carberry Indoor
  Rink.
• 25th JAN – A category “D” accident occurred today, involving Anson a/c 8647. The instructor applied harsh brake in checking swing after landing by pupil, with the result that the aircraft tipped on its

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CARBERRY, Man.
1944

• 25th JAN (CONT) – nose. No injuries were sustained by personnel.
  F/L. T.P. ISAAC (A&SD), No. 73245, reported on posting from No. 41 S.F.T.S.
  The Station Badminton Club met in the Drill Hall.
• 26th JAN – The maximum number of hours were fit for flying.
  S/L. Ellis GREEN (A&SD), No. 84042, reported on posting from No. 41 S.F.T.S.
  Personnel of R.1., PETREL, held a Dance which proved to be a most enjoyable function.
  The Music Club held a concert of recorded classical music in the G.I.S. Block.
• 27th JAN – Adverse weather restricted the hours fit for flying to 12 out of 24.
  Lt. J. DUNCAN – RCASC – reported on posting from M.D. 10.
  An exhibition snooker match was played in the Airmen’s Lounge – Sergeants’ v. Airmen.
• 28th JAN – Adverse weather again restricted the hours fit for flying.
  F/L. G.S. MOSS (GD), No. 120966, proceeded on posting to No. 31 A.N.S.
  The Station Badminton Club met in the Drill Hall.
• 29th JAN – The Station open-air skating rinks were well patronised, and instructors were provided on the learners’ rink for beginners.
  A lightening snooker tournament was held in the Airmen’s Lounge.
• 30th JAN – Aircraft serviceability was 95%.
  Good attendances were reported at the voluntary Church Services.
• 31st JAN – F/O. G.R. BERRY (A&SD), No. 139130, reported on posting from No. 38 S.F.T.S.
  The Station ice-hockey team played at Camp Shilo, and, despite a spirited performance by the Carberry team, Shilo won, 14 to 6.
  A recorded session of popular jazz tunes was held in the Airmen’s Lounge.
  The Station Magazine “GEN” was again on sale today.
• 31st JAN – Total flying hours for the month of January, 1944:- 6,347,35 hours.
  STRENGTH AIRCRAFT

		Number
Anson II		118
	– Servicable	89
	– Unservicable	23
	– Not Available	6

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CARBERRY, Man.

• 31st Jan./44
  (b) PERSONNEL .

	Officers	Other Ranks	Civilians
RAF	113	840	–
RCAF	6	60	–
RNZAF	–	–	–
RAAF	–	–	–
RCADC (CDC)	1	2	–
RCASC	1	2	–
CPC	–	3
Civilians	2	–	63
Trainees
RAF	5	257	–
RCAF	–	3	–
RNZAF	–	3	–
RAAF	–	10	–

• (J.S.T. Fall) G/C.,
  O.C., No. 33 S.F.T.S.