RCAF Station Pearce

General Information

Story from facebook 26 Feb 2013 – Posted by Peter Whitfield in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada Facebook Group

LAC Ray Wise was stationed at No. 10 Repair Depot at Calgary. On 5 Sept. 45, “Tiger Force” was disbanded, as the two Atomic bombs ended WW II with Japan. On that same date, RCAF orders posted four mechanics from Calgary to the closed base at Pearce, Alberta. Your photo under Lancaster “L for Lanky” shows the four members – L to R Cpl. Edge [In charge] LAC Wyers, LAC Ray Wise and LAC Cook. These four lived in a rented house in Fort Macled and drove to work at Pearce each day in a closed panel 1/2 ton RCAF truck. Pearce had been closed for over a year and had no staff on site. They carried all thier tools each day and opened the base. On 8 Sept. the first of 83 veteran Lancaster bombers began to arrive. In a few days, the attached photo from Ray Wise shows Pearce, around mid-Sept. 1945. after the first Alberta snow storm. [This may show up in your collection]?

Each day, the four mechanics would start the four merlins on the 83 Lancs and let them warm up. Ferry pilots would arrive and fly the Lancs to other RCAF Stations in Alberta for long-term storage. After six months only twelve or so Lancs. remained and they were placed into long-term storage at Pearce. I have all these recorded in order with nose art, but it is with Don Smith. Many of the nose art images in the Wise collection show one or two of the original mechanics in the cockpit, and it is possible these were all taken by Lloyd Kilby?

Site Plan – July 1941

Site Plan – 27 April 1943

Location – Google Map

Daily Diary – Links – No 2 Flying Instructor School

The School was moved to Pearce from Vulcan, early May 1943. To access the Daily Diary index for the period prior to the school moving to Pearce, please refer to the Vulcan page.

Fatalities

This list was compiled from the entries in the Daily diaries of No 36 Elementary Flying Training School, No 3 Air Observer School, and No 2 Flying Instructor School and other sources.  The list likely does not include all fatalities of personnel who died while stationed at RCAF Station Pearce, and likely includes some errors. Currently this list contains 8 personnel.

Aircraft List

Courts Martial

The following personnel were recommended for courts martial and a file was created on the Charged Offence, not all Offences were tried. This list is not complete but I will be working my way through the reels in the upcoming months.

• Pilot Officer Arthur Ferguson Roberts (RAF-55214)
  • Charged with Flying Offences
  • Trail Date – 21 September 1943
  • The file is 164 pages
  • Member was found guilty of 1 charge and sentenced to dismissal from his majesties Air Force. The sentence was later reduced to a severe reprimand.

For More information – External Links

• Wikipedia
• MilitaryBruce.com – Canadian Military History by Bruce Forsyth
• Bomber Command Museum of Canada
• Facility Disposal File:
  • https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_c5879/4164?r=0&s=2

Other Sources: