… received an advance of fifty dollars, and the airmen twenty-five dollars. It was not possible at this stage to change English currency. Two special trains of the Canadian National Railway provided a high degree of comfort and excellent meals for all personnel, and the journey from Halifax to Winnipeg occupied three days. Along the route hospitality was shown by Canadian Red Cross organisations who distributed gifts of apples and cigarettes to all ranks.

8 December 1940

Winnipeg was reached at 07.30 hours on 8.12.40. There was a stop of about one hour’s duration, and this was occupied by a very cheerful reception organised by the No. 112 Ladies Auxiliary Squadrons and the War Time Pilots and Observers association. The Echelon was welcomed by Air Commodore A.B. Shearer and numerous Staff Officers of No. 2 Training Command – in which Command the Unit will operate whilst located in Canada. At noon of the same day the Echelon de-trained at Carberry, a small town of about nine hundred population, recently increased by a number of workmen engaged on the Camp two miles away. The town lies on the prairie, is served by both Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway, and the No. 1. Highway from Winnipeg runs through it.

IMAGE 1429

8 December 1940
(continued)

The nearest town of any pretensions is Brandon, distant roughly thirty miles. The Camp itself proved to be built of wood, the huts resembling the temporary structures often to be found in English Camps. It was at once clear that very special fire-precautions were necessary. The general plan was not dissimilar to that of many British Stations, but unfortunately the work was not completed. This being due to the fact that the first Echelon arrived to an amended earlier schedule. The heating system, although sufficiently advanced to protect the airmen, and (in the sick quarters) the Officers, had not yet penetrated to the hangars, the Drill Hall, the Officers’ Quarters, and sundry other buildings. The water supply was drawn from temporary sources, which entailed temporary lavatory accommodation. However, as far as the Constructors and the Works and Buildings were concerned, it was very clear that every effort to press forward the completion of the work was being energetically made. The aerodrome surface consisted of compacted snow and a perfect surface was available. Three runways in tri-angular form being available for bad weather landing. Contact strip lighting was in the process of installation. Five completed hangars, less heating, were available together with excellent lecture room accommodation in a separate building.
Adequate motor transport was available on arrival.
The Camp had been prepared for occupation by No. 108 Maintenance Party under the Command of Squadron Leader T.R. Wheatley.

IMAGE 1430

#33 SFTS,
Carberry, Manitoba.
9 December 1940

On this day, Wing Commander T.C. Dickens assumed command of the Station vice Squadron Leader T.R. Wheatley.

10 December 1940

The Camp having been examined, and the immediate personal comfort of the airmen ensured, the succeeding days were diverted to the very numerous details of organisation required in such circumstances. What may be termed ‘essential Services’ were quickly officered, and no time was lost in building up on the fundamentals already attended to by No. 108 Party who had constituted a pioneer Unit to prepare the way for the 1st Echelon. Winter clothing was issued, medical and dental inspections held, identity cards were completed, a temporary canteen stocked, laundry arrangements made, and many offices, stores etc. equipped and put into commission.

11 December 1940

Meanwhile, on this day, and as there was no immediate possibility of Flying Training, fourteen Officers on the authority of No.2 Training Command – left the Station for attachment to the R.CA.F. Station at MacLeod to assist with Flying Instruction.

14 December 1940 – 15 December 1940

Amongst sundry movements of personnel that took place during this month, on these two days four Officers and forty-one other ranks of No.108 Party ceased to be attached and …

IMAGE 1431

Carberry, Man.
14 December 1940 – 15 December 1940
(continued)

… proceeded to duties elsewhere. Three days later another Officer and forty other Ranks of No.108 Party ceased to be attached to No.33 S.F.T.S. and departed for Medicine Hat, and in the course of three further days (23.12.40) eighteen R.C.A.F. aircrew were posted to Brandon.

16 December 1940

The recreational facilities provided for the not fully occupied airmen had been attended to from the outset. Mc MacFarland, the resident representative of the Y.M.C.A., had proved the value of the Institution by supplying stamps, free notepaper and envelopes, indoor table games, and much sports equipment. On this day a Station Ice Rink was opened, the first of many cinematograph performances given, and a library installed.

19 December 1940

On this day there arrived, by air, Air Vice Marshal L.D.D. McKeen and Group Captain C. Banting of Air Force Headquarters accompanied by Air Commodore A.B. Shearer Group Captain D.W.P. Bonham-Carter, and Squadron Leader A.J.S. Taunton of Headquarters No. 2 Training Command. The Air Vice-Marshal addressed the paraded Unit, met the Officers and advised them on various matters presenting difficulties and lunched in the Officers’ Mess.

20 December 1940

Fifty airmen (Maintenance Crews) were attached to R.C.A.F. Depot. Winnipeg to assist and learn the details of winterisation of aircraft. This detachment was on the suggestion and authority of A.O.C. No. 2 Training Command.

IMAGE 1432

#33 SFTS
21 December 1940

NIL.

22 December 1940

NIL.

23 December 1940

NIL.

24-27 December 1940

On Christmas Day practically all the airmen not on essential Station Duties were on to leave and enjoying the hospitality extended to them by the people of Winnipeg, Carberry and many other towns. This was the culminating point of the great wave of hospitality which had been gathering strength from the moment of the arrival of the First Echelon. Invitations which poured in from civilian organisations and individuals usually entailed not merely Christmas dinners but sleeping accommodation for the full period of leave. So great was the number of airmen visiting Winnipeg that a special train was chartered to convey over two-hundred of them on Christmas Eve and to return on 27.12.40.

26 December 1940

A Boxing Day dinner was provided at 17.30 hours for all airmen who had been unable to leave Camp on Christmas Day, as well as for such airmen as had returned early from leave. The Commanding Officer assisted by the many Officers who had remained in

IMAGE 1433

#33 SFTS
26 December 1940

(contd.) Camp vied with the Station Warrant Officer and the Senior N.C.O’s in the art of waiting on the airmen. It was a very cheerful occasion and concluded with the judging of the best decoration achieved by the barrack blocks of Christmas trees placed outside their quarters. Later, a concert party from Brandon entertained the Station in the Recreation Room, and were then entertained by the Officers in their mess. This opportunity of inviting some of the people who had been generous to the first Echelon was turned to very good account, and was a great success.

28 December 1940

Seventeen R.CA.F. aircrew were posted to No. I.N.S. Regina.

29 December 1940

NIL.

30 December 1940

A notice appeared in D.R.O’s to the effect that twenty-five pairs of skates and fifty Ice Hockey sticks were available for loan. It might well be noted at this point that the comfort of the airmen had been attended to in many ways since their arrival. The immediate issue of suitable clothing, the quick issues of pay, the provision in a few days of enjoyable forms of exercise, installation of a frequently operated cinema, the gifts of note paper, envelopes and periodicals, of library, indoor games, radios, pianofortes other musical instruments, and a number of other facilities, help the airmen to disregard the discomforts of a particularly inclement and unaccustomed state of weather. Their health remained, on the whole, excellent.

IMAGE 1434

#33 SFTS
31 December 1940

In view of the fact that neither aircraft or Pupils had yet arrived, the Commanding Officer found it possible to grant New Year’s passes to a large number of airmen, this the more readily on account of the excellent reports of the airmen’s behaviour during their Christmas freedom.
The activities of the Unit during December, 1940, were basically those of domestic organisation and for preparations for active flying training. No aircraft had been received, but numerous cases of technical stores had been delivered and unpacked with considerable difficulty due to the look of heat in the main buildings of the Station.
The strength of the Unit on 31.12.40 was:

	Officers	Senior N.C.O’s	Other ranks
On station	23	39	496
Detached to McLeod	14	–	–
Detached to Winnipeg	–	1	49
RCAF	1	3	24
RCASF	2	–	6

IMAGE 1435

CARBERRY, MAN.
1 January 1941

T.C. Dickens
Wing Commander, Commanding,
No. 33 S.F.T.S. Carberry,
MANITOBA.

November 1940 No 33 Service Flying Training School
Daily Diary Index January 1941

Daily Diary

No. 33 Service Flying Training School, Carberry, Manitoba

December 1940

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No. 33 Service Flying Training School,
Carberry, Manitoba