Daily Diary

No. 33 Service Flying Training School,
Carberry, Manitoba

September 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 1534

CARBERRY.
1 September 1941

STRENGTH – PERSONNEL.

	Officers	Other Ranks	Civilians
RAF	76	994	–
Service Personnel other Than RAF
RCAF	–	65	–
RCASC	1	4	–
CDC	1	3	–
Civilians	–	–	7
Trainees
RAF & RCAF	–	246	–

STRENGTH – AIRCRAFT.

	Serviceable	Unserviceable
Ansons	38	34

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CARBERRY
1 September 1941
(continued)

• “Labour Day” was not observed by the cessation of work, although the two Cricket Matches by the Station, in Winnipeg against the City and Kentish Teams, had a holiday aspect. The “saving up” of the normal fortnightly forty-eight hours’ pass was the method by which the selected twenty-two players contrived to indulge in such festivity. The Station was not in a position that justified holidays. No. 22 Course would certainly be ready for its Passing-Out – but No. 24 was no less than 1069 hours behind schedule, while No. 26 was also 250 hours in arrears. One difficulty lay in the time occupied in starting up old and testy engines. Another lay in the fact that eighteen aircraft were idle owing to lack of cylinder replacements. Another was that major inspections of aircraft were retarded owing to the necessity of keeping available personnel at work on aircraft nearing serviceability. In fact, the situation was not a happy one. An added, but unavoidable, irritation was caused by a severe thunderstorm at night, with a deluge of almost incredible ferocity.

2 September 1941

• This storm returned with redoubled malevolence, and seriously interrupted flying for the ensuing two days by the great rains and blustering conditions accompanying it. This fantastic rainfall was an unfairly severe test of all the pains-taking actions to provide the Camp with well-surfaced roads and deep ditches. Actually, the Camp survived the test highly satisfactorily. But for these far-sighted precautions the Station would have been a morass.
  While the storm raged, an interesting event took place in the Guard Room as a result of which five kittens were offered for the service of the Unit by the Station cat. In response to the urgent applications of various sections, a just distribution was made.

3 September 1941

• Despite the continuous downpour – tropical in character – an Airmen’s Dance took place as arranged. It appeared highly unlikely that any dancing partners would brave the weather. But the lure of the Station Dance Band, the comfort now achieved by the Recreation Hall’s appointments, and the closeness of friendships acquired during nine months, combined with the enthusiasm of Canadian girls for dancing, rendered such pessimism unfounded. It was feared, also, that very soon an embargo might be put on such affairs owing

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CARBERRY
3 September 1941
(continued)

• … to the cases of Infantile Paralysis and Sleeping Sickness that were causing such great perturbation to the Medical Authorities.

4 September 1941

• On this day, at a meeting of the P.S.I. Committee. It was revealed that the Fund was in a most unsatisfactory state owing to the extraordinary fall in profits from the Canteens. Indeed, for one month, an actual deficit was shown. Headquarters of the Y.M.C.A. were invited to examine a position with which, of course, they were already acquainted. Meanwhile, the return to the Airmen of a proportion of the profits from their purchases – in the way of Sports gear and various other conveniences – became almost impossible owing to lack of funds, although these purchases had remained approximately normal in number and value during the
  last two months.

5 September 1941

• Fourteen Pupil-Pilots were posted to the Station from North Battleford to make up the numbers of No. 26 Course. This was to be expected; but at the same time it was slightly embarrassing, as only about forty of the fifty-two Pupil-Pilots of this Course had been able to fly solos on any given day. Strong gusts of wind resulted in three very minor mishaps to taxying Ansons involving slight and easily repaired damage to wing-tips.
  At this time there were four Courses on the Station – the last arrived, No. 28, having to mark time until the conclusion of No. 22, due on the 13th of this month. “Marking time” entailed certain odd-jobs and light fatigues in the Hangars, and – much more to the Pupil’s advantage – many welcome Physical Training Classes and organized games. From the point of view of fitness, the early arrival of Courses was a good thing; because it enabled the P.T. Instructors to banish the effects of long and inactive travel, and to prepare the Pupils physically for the ardeurs of their Course of Instruction.

6 September 1941

• A Cocktail Party thrown by the Officers effected some return of hospitality to a fairly large number of civilians from Carberry, Neepawa, Portage la Prairie, Brandon and Winnipeg. There was much pleasant comment on the altered appearance of the Mess Rooms – chiefly caused by the new brick fireplace, the newly furnished veranda, and some fresh coats of paint. Such efforts to secure creature comforts seemed the more justifiable since the Airmen’s Mess and Canteens had recently been improved in appearance, while the Sergeants had achieved a high measure of comfort from which they were able to dispense their characteristic, genial hospitality.

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CARBERRY
7 September 1941

• The Station Chaplain being on Leave with the serene feeling that his new Chapel was looking more and more devotional, and that his absence would not deprive his flock of all the consolations of religion, the combined morning-service of the Station was taken for the first time by Flight Lieutenant, the Reverend A.A. Boone of Carberry.
  In the late afternoon the Station Commander left for Air Force Headquarters at Ottawa by air. He was flown in a Harvard, with another Harvard as escort.

8 September 1941

• The Unit was now beset by a mild epidemic of colds, catarrhal in character, and similar to the type common in the United Kingdom. Very few cases were sufficiently serious to demand a spell “off-duty”, but a vast amount of cough mixture was consumed. The Station Hospital was very busy indeed with its immunization of personnel against Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria.

9 September 1941

• The ban was now lifted from the Brandon Cinemas and Dance Halls; and after this interruption (due to the prevalence of certain diseases) the Unit’s personnel were again free to enjoy a comparatively inexpensive evening away from Camp. The majority had by this time exhausted their year’s ration of Leave, and their finances were convalescent.

10 September 1941

• Arrangements were being made to level the large expanse of Station ground not in use as landing field – the intention being to prepare a Sports ground on the Camp itself for the next Spring. A great deal of use was being made of the present Ground belonging to the Carberry Agricultural Society. On this day, for instance, fifty-two Airmen were engaged in Rugger and Soccer Matches, and sundry golfers were also practicing for their coming Matches. This “Fair Ground”, unreservedly put at the Station’s disposal for games, had served its purpose excellently when the necessary pitches, goal-posts, matting-wicket, and golf-course had been prepared: and it was not intended to abandon it entirely during the next season.
  A most desirable duty fell to the lot of three Flying Instructors who were called upon to fly three Ansons to the West Coast of the Dominion. Their route, after putting in at Winnipeg, took in Regina, Lethbridge, Kimberley, Penticton, Vancouver, and Patricia Bay.

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CARBERRY
10 September 1941
(continued)

• The flight over the Rockies was greatly enjoyed.

11 September 1941

• Among very many other matters discussed at the Station Commander’s Conference were – the possibility of opening a retail shop on the Camp for various articles (especially of clothing) not handled by the Canteens; the housing of Fire and Crash Tenders, the storage of fire-fighting equipment) the repair of the rollers for snow-compaction; and the possibility of installing electrically operated landing lights. These items – not excluding the first – showed that considerations of winter were occupying the minds of these present. In Part 11 of Daily Routine Orders there was much pleasant reading about the results of examinations.

12 September 1941

• The “Wings Parade” of No. 22 Course was held during the afternoon when the presentation was made by Wing Commander Scott, Commanding No. 2 Manning Depot, Brandon. Wing Commander T.C. Dickens, Commanding the Station in the absence Group Captain H.E. Walker, M.C., D.F.C., referred to the good relations of nine months’ standing between the Royal Air Force at Carberry and the Royal Canadian Air Force at Brandon. He also devoted some minutes to an appreciation of the work done by the Instructors, whose personal preference was to do what they were teaching others to do, and to the value of Maintenance Work. A Pupil Pilot, on his first solo by night, misjudged his approach for landing and struck the boundary fence, damaging the starboard mainplane of his Anson – (C4)

13 September 1941

• The sixty-one Graduate-Pilots of No. 22 Course left the Station, one bound for Port Albert, ten for No. 31 G.R.S. Charlottetown, and fifty for No. 1 “Y” Depot, Halifax – and the way was now clear to begin the training of the sixty-eight Pupil Pilots of No. 28 Course and two pupil pilots whose training on No. 26 Course had been delayed. No. 24 Course was now 968 hours behind schedule, due to their arrival two weeks late and their meeting with a period adverse weather. No. 25 Course, despite the belated arrival of fifteen pupils to make up its number, were merely 415 hours behind schedule with every chance (given fair weather) of making up for lost time. The serviceability situation had shown a slight improvement of late. The keen rivalry between the station’s Soccer Team and the Canadian “Weston” Team of Winnipeg now culminated in a series of three special matches to be fought for the possession of a cup and to be played in Winnipeg for the advantage of the Spitfire Fund. The first match was played on this Saturday. The capacity of Airmen to carry with them an infectious enthusiasm for Soccer was being fully demonstrated: and a rough idea of the popularity of this contest may be deduced from the fact that over two thousand people paid to see the game, and His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor, H.K. McWilliams, K.C., kicked off. The Royal

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CARBERRY
13 September 1941
(continued)

• The Royal Canadian Air Force Band was in attendance.

14 September 1941

• The Station had retained a happy memory of the splendid Concert Party which had visited it from the Beacon Theatre, Winnipeg, earlier in the year. Mr. Marder, the professional organizer of the Station Cinema had co-operated with Mr. Pacey, Manager of the Theatre in this generous and costly undertaking. On this Sunday, these two gentlemen repeated their effort and brought a number of professional artists a hundred odd miles on their day of leisure. They were rewarded by a magnificent audience of over eight hundred people (the Recreation Hall being packed to its utmost capacity), and by a jolly reception in the Sergeants’ Mess. It was an excellent and most refreshing evening.

15 September 1941

• The Station was now being commanded again by Wing Commander Dickens during the absence on Leave of the Group Captain. Although no official notice of Posting had yet appeared, there was a persistent rumour that, after half a year’s strenuous and successful effort to secure and to maintain an efficiently working Camp, the Group Captain was soon to relinquish his Command.
  This was Pay Day, however, and no day for solemn thoughts about what, after all, was merely rumour, moreover the weather was serene, and the much talked of “Indian Summer” seemed likely to materialize.

16 September 1941

• The Small Bore Rifle Club had now established itself as a highly popular affair, and entered on its second phase as an institution with a paying membership. A site for Skeet-Shooting had also been selected. The outlook for duck and deer in the approaching season was one of gloomy misgiving.

17 September 1941

• At this time, also, there were three Plays in process of rehearsal, and the “Rip Chords” (the Station Concert Party) were busy with its new programme. The Dance Band continued to be in great demand – but on this evening it stayed home to play as usual for yet another Airmen’s Dance.

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CARBERRY
18 September 1941

• Course No. 24 was now about 806 hours behind schedule, and its members were due to graduate on the 7th October. It was found necessary to ask for nine days’ extension. No. 26 and No. 28 Courses were behind schedule – but not seriously so. No. 30 Course now arrived on the Station, and were due to begin training on the 7th October. Meanwhile a special programme of Physical Training, organized games, and various useful duties was devised for it.

19 September 1941

• This was a red-letter day by reason of a visit by Air Marshal A.G.R. Garrod, C.B., O.B.E., M.C., D.F.C., accompanied by Group Captain Banting, Air Commodore Leckie, Group Captain Lord Douglas Hamilton, and Flying Officer W.R. Hamilton – together with Air Commodore Shearer (who piloted a Lockheed) and Group Captain Bonham-Carter. The visitors were unable to arrive for lunch, as had been hoped; but they spent a large part of the afternoon on the Camp and saw the Unit engaged in its normal work, without the self-consciousness involved by a more formal inspection. All Sections were visited and the Air Marshal spoke to many of the personnel on duty. After their tour of the Station, and without delaying for a cup of tea, the Visitors took off, intent on their next call.

20 September 1941

• Two representative Teams left by motor-coach to play Soccer and Cricket Matches in Winnipeg. A torrential downpour put both games out of the question – but the football match was nevertheless played, in fantastic conditions, before a soaked crowd, on a ground that resembled the Essex flats on the ebb-tide. The friendly crowd loudly cheered the unavailing efforts of the Station Team to win. The Teams returned early next day after an easy pursuit of the City’s pleasures.

21 September 1941

• The return of this deplorable weather put the personnel in a receptive state of mind for hearing lectures from the Senior Medical Officer on the dangers of uncontrolled indulgence in the more furtive glamours of Winnipeg. That no less than nineteen cases of venereal disease (including one of syphilis) had been reported in the course of nine months tended to give the Unit a character of general lechery that was not the case. It would seem to be more just to record that those immorally care-free intimacies were attended by much greater risks than the personnel had realized could be reasonably likely. The Senior Medical Officer’s remarks corrected that impression.
  Rugby Football practices were in full swing, and plans for indoor Sports were accelerated. Tea Dances, Whist Drives, and various other social diversions were included.

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CARBERRY
22 September 1941

• The R.C.A.F. personnel on Security Guard had remained unchanged for an unusually long period. On this day, however, thirty-two A.C.l’s and one Sergeant departed to the composite Training School, Trenton; and twenty-eight A.C.2’s arrived from that School. At the Station Commander’s weekly Conference, the inability to issue kit to these R.C.A.F. attachments was reported, together with the shortage of greatcoats that affected those R.A.F. Airmen who desired an exchange. The clothing situation, was a matter of grave concern. The Equipment Section had its own, more personal, troubles of the lack of lighting and, heating in its new quarters – but these troubles, it was realised, would soon be over. A Pupil Pilot, taxying in a manner that called for inquiry, hit the mainplane of a stationary aircraft, damaging its wing-tip (D.4), and damaging also the aggressor – Anson’s nose (D.6).

23 September 1941

• Great interest was taken in an announcement that permission could now be granted to service personnel to visit the United States of America whether in uniform or in civilian clothes – subject of course to compliance with various Immigration and Foreign Exchange laws. The propinquity of the Camp to the Border carried with it a natural urge to set foot on a country so eloquent in British interests. Indeed many Officers and Airmen had their eyes on Savings Accounts and Chicago.
  A Pupil Pilot – through a misjudgment of his Anson’s braking power – collided head-on with a stationary aircraft. Damage, reparable on the Station, was done to both noses.

24 September 1941

• The Classical Music Society held its third gramophone recital in the Recreation Hall, using for the first time a dual turn-table presented by Mr. Marder of the Station Cinema. This enabled it to play Tschaikowsky’s Concerto No. 1 in B Flat as an uninterrupted work. The remainder of the Concert was devoted to the works of Johann Strauss; and the stage lighting, combined with arrangements of flowers and drapings, was used to provide a focal point appropriate to each item’s odour and form.
  A happy event, of a character likely to hearten those Airmen who had stinted no…

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CARBERRY
24 September 1941
(continued)

• … effort to improve the appearance of the Station, occurred on this day when it was announced that the Commanding Officer so appreciated the gardens of two Barrack Blocks and Workshops that their occupants were granted the privilege of a twenty-four hour pass.
• Another cheerful thought was that Maintenance Wing could now boast of averaging between 78 per cent and 90 per cent serviceability – discounting, of course, those Ansons that were definitely hors de combat until cylinders could be found for them. This excellent attainment was rivalled by the fact that thirty thousand flying hours had been added since the last forced landing attributable to mechanical defect.

25 September 1941

• Two representatives of the Unit attended a Meeting convened by No. 12 S.F.T.S. to plan a Sports Association of the Camps in or near Brandon. This plan held out big promise for athletic rivalry in the approaching Winter.

26 September 1941

• No. 24 Course was now granted seven days’ extension and aimed at a Graduation Day on the 14th October. A daily average of 109.2 hours was required to achieve this. No. 30 Course was correspondingly affected so that, despite arriving early, it would be in beginning its Training. The fourteen Pupil Pilots who, coming from North Battleford, joined No. 26 Course on the fifth day of this month were a long way behind their schedule. It was estimated that a mechanical engine-starting device would increase flying time 15, per cent or more. Spare engines, or cylinders and pistons, were urgently needed, as nearly all the immediate reserve strength of aircraft were grounded for this reason. However, serviceability rose to its highest peak of over 90 per cent.

27 September 1941

• Teams of Cricketers and Rugger and Soccer players departed for Matches in Winnipeg, and an Officers’ Golf Team went off to play against Brandon. Personnel who remained to hold the fort saw Group Captain H.B. Walker, M.C., D.F.C., conducting Group Captain C.H. Brill round the Camp, and felt that the earlier rumour of a change of Station Commander had been founded on fact. During the course of the day it became “public Knowledge” – though nothing had been officially announced. Sunday postings off the Station increased the general interest in the Station’s future.

28 September 1941

• At the Sunday Evening Social it was the Meteorological Officer’s turn to deliver and address. His subject was “Light Phenomena”, and Science and Religion were ingeniously interwoven. It was now known that the Station Chaplain would soon be leaving his labours in the Unit for a new cure in Patricia Bay. Squadron Leader Harkness was also posted off the Station.

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CARBERRY
29 September 1941

• A draw was taking place for the privilege of broadcasting messages to the British Isles – arrangements having been made for three Airmen of the Unit to broadcast from “C.K.Y. Winnipeg” on two occasions monthly. At the same time it was learned that similar arrangements were being made at Home for the relatives of personnel to broadcast messages to Canada.

30 September 1941

• One outstanding event on this last day of the month paled all other Station matters into insignificance. The following notice appeared in D.R.O’s: –
  “Farewell Message of Group Captain H.E. Walker, M.C., D.F.C. On his last day as Station Commander of No. 33 Service Flying Training School, Group Captain H.E. Walker wishes to thank all Ranks on the strength of this Unit for their support during the nine months of effort that has been urgently required to bring a new Station into smooth running order. He feels that, with the co-operation he has received, this work has been successfully carried out, and the Station can go on building up its life in the knowledge that its foundations are strong. He knows that in handing over to Group Captain C.H. Brill he leaves the Unit in safe control and he wishes all personnel the very best of luck throughout their service careers, and especially a full enjoyment of such amenities as have already been provided on this Camp.”

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CARBERRY
30 September 1941
(continued)

STRENGTH: PERSONNEL

	Officers	Other Ranks	Civilians
RAF	78	986	–
Service Personnel other Than RAF
RCAF	–	63	–
RCASC	1	4	–
CDC	1	2	–
Civilians	–	–	7
Trainees
RAF & RCAF	–	266	–

STRENGTH: AIRCRAFT

	Serviceable	Unserviceable
Ansons	57	15

C.H. Brill
Group Captain, Commanding,
No. 33 S.F.T.S, R.A.F.
Carberry – Manitoba.