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Daily Diary

No. 33 Service Flying Training School,
Carberry, Manitoba




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.


Carberry.

  • 1.3.42. STRENGTH: Personnel.
 OfficersOther RanksCivilians
RAF83926
Service Personnel other Than RAF
RCAF787
CDC12
RCASC14
Civilians10
Trainees
RAF160
  • STRENGTH: Aircraft.
 ServiceableUnservicable
Ansons6024

Carberry.

  • 1.3.42. In the early hours of the morning No. 644744 A.C.I. Townsend, K.M. – the Airman whose accident with an airscrew was reported on the last day of February – succumbed to his injuries.
    Forty-six Pupil-Pilots arrived from Moncton and six from Bowden, to form Course No. 50. Their early impression of the social side of the Station was rendered pleasant by the fact that a number of tickets had been reserved for them for the second ‘Select Concert’ in a Recreation Hall arranged on the beer-garden plan. Flight Lieutenant E.A. Allen was posted to No. 39 S.F.T.S. Swift Current.
  • 2.3.42. A Selection Board set out on a two-day’s, examination of the applications of over one hundred and fifty Airmen to remuster as Aircrew, and a spirit of enthusiasm pervaded the Camp. Many of the Airmen had been hard at work during the winter months to ensure that they could offer a satisfactory standard of mathematics. At this time there were also daily classes in Signals, and Fitter duties.
  • 3.3.42. The funeral of A.C.1. Townsend, K.M. took place in Brandon and followed closely on the lines of previous from the Unit. A gun-carriage was supplied by No. 4 Artillery Training Centre Fort Brandon: Airmen of No. 2 Manning Depot, Brandon, provided an Attending Party and, after a Service in the Pre-Cathedral, the committal was made in Brandon Cemetery in that portion allotted to No. 33 S.F.T.S.
  • 4.3.42. Eighteen Standard Guards arrived from No. 1 Depot, Toronto, Ontario, and Flight Lieutenant C.S. Kent departed on posting to No. 33 E.F.T.S., Caron, Saskatchewan.
    In the evening the Station Concert Party (now quite famous in Manitoba as ‘The Rip Chords’) gave a repeat performance of their Third Edition. Not the least enjoyable item of their show was a farcical pantomime made redolent of the atmosphere of some Home pantomimes by the issue of oranges. Many Canadians of maturer years were strongly reminded of happy childhood’s treats many years ago in the ‘Old Country’.
    Squadron Leader W.J. Walker, who had been examining candidates for remustering over some days in connection with the Central Trade Test Board, now concluded his duties and left the Unit..
  • 5.3.42. Unwillingly contemplating the loss of its Chief Instructor, the Station nevertheless,
    cordially welcomed his successor, Wing Commander B.K. Pierey who arrived on posting from No.32 E.F.T.S., Bowden, Alberta. He found four Courses in operation in improved weather conditions. Courses 34 and 48 had lately reduced considerably their number of hours behind schedule, and Course 36 was one hundred and

Carberry.

  • 5.3.42 (cont’d.) forty hours ahead. Course 50 had not begun flying until the second day of their training and had in consequence the appropriate handicap.
  • 6.3.42 The care of Service kit had now become urgent in view of the shortage of supplies. Every endeavour was made by notices, inspections and constant vigilance to ensure that everything was being done to prolong the life of kit far beyond the normal. The utterly malicious behaviour of the climate toward leather had to be specially guarded against, for boots and shoes would assume the most grotesque and irremediable shapes if not constantly watched.
  • 7.3.42 The Station received a visit from Wing Commander J.A. Kent and his address to the Pupil Pilots (and to other Airmen determined to hear him) was very greatly appreciated. In fact, he came as a breath of fresh air to many whose remoteness from the scene of action was becoming a burden of steadily increasing weight, – albeit supported without any subversive signs of fury in view of the relief now suggested by remustering stirrings.
    The Wing Commander’s visit, by a happy coincidence, fell on the day of an Officer’s Mess Dance; and he, together with one of the Station’s firmly established friends, Group Captain Bonham-Carter, stayed for the festivity common and seemly to such occasions.
  • 8.3.42 On this Sabbath the Station returned to the system of a combined and compulsory Church Service, held in the Recreation Hall.
    In the late afternoon, Wing Commander J. Cox, D.F.C. left the Camp on posting to No. 31 (Bombing and Gunnery School, Picton, Ontario, where it was unofficially understood that he would take up Group Captain’s duties. The Wing Commander had been Chief Instructor of the Unit for over a year – in fact, ever since Flying Training had been in progress. In addition to the onerous duties which he had shouldered, he had led the Station Cricket Team with great energy and characteristic enthusiasm.
  • 9.3.42 Tactfully (apparently) on the day after Wing Commander Cox’s departure, the new Chief Instructor produced a ‘record’ for a day’s Flying-hours on the Station.
    Fifteen more Standard Guards arrived on the Camp, this time from the Composite Training School, Trenton, Ontario – bringing the total to thirty-three. The Security Guard had consisted of Airmen fresh from their reception and recruit-training at No. 2 Manning Depot, Brandon, and remaining on the Station until summoned to an I.T.S. This entailed much coming and going and a great deal of training in Guard Duties and Ceremonial Drill. It was surmised that the new Standard Guards – consisting as they did of G.D. Airmen, might become a more stable Guard Unit.
    In the evening the Officers met Course No. 34 in the finals of an Inter-Hut Basketball Tournament that for many winter nights extending over more than two months had provided enjoyable exercise. But the chief sporting event was in Brandon where the Station Boxing team took on ‘all-comers’ for the second time during the season and re-affirmed their pluck and prowess to the delight of a very large and friendly Canadian audience. The Unit’s Senior Accounts Officer acted as Referee.

Carberry.

  • 9.3.42 (cont’d) It was learned during the course of the day two past pupils (Course 13) Sergeant-Pilot E.W. Penn and Pilot Officer K. Wyatt, were prisoners of war.
  • 10.3.42 With various departments of the Station clearly out to establish records, the Station Commander’s Conference quietly established its own record for the shortest meeting. Partly due, no doubt, to the absence of the Commanding Officer, it was also the result of the fact that the Unit was running on well-oiled wheels and the Sections showed no anxiety to bait each other. The success of the ‘Eight-Flight’ system was mentioned, and reference was made to the various new constructions on the Station. The Fire Station was completed and in full use. The Post Office was
    on the verge of completion: the foundations of the two new Hangars were well under way, and a Hostess House (or Hostel for visiting ladies) was beginning to look attractive.
    At night, the ‘Rip Chords’ responding to a very pressing invitation from No. 4 Artillery Training Centre, Brandon, scored another success and were most generously and hospitably received.
  • 11.3.42 The necessity for economy in the use of electricity was again urged. Earlier in its life the Station had tended to lose its British caution in this respect owing to the comparatively lavish use
    of lighting and heating units by Canadians, due to the relative cheapness and to the many insistent posters calling upon the Public to use electricity liberally as it belonged to them.
    Otherwise the Station continued to be apparently unaffected by most Canadian mannerisms. After an earlier lapse, it even eschewed gum. Its community life on the Prairie, its excellent supply of English journals, and its ability to receive through the C.B.C. Networks such broadcasts as the B.B.C news, and Analysis, the Front Line Family, the B.B.C. News-reel, Britain a Speaks, World Affairs, Over to You and Hello Children, largely accounted for this. There was also an innate obstinacy about altering habits which most plainly showed itself in the resistance to accept Canadian dishes, and the severe indictments (during libations) of Canadian beer.
  • 12.3.42 Unconnected with the last paragraph, all Sections were now making a return of the number of R.A.F. buttons required to replace the R.C.A.F. issue in use during a period of shortage.
    The issue of uniform of a cloth similar to that worn by the R.C.A.F. was very popular. Their wearing qualities were unproven, but in texture and out they were pleasing.
    The library added another one hundred and twenty books to its shelves, and statistics showed that there was an excellent demand for good reading.

Carberry.

  • 12.3.42 (cont’d) There was much annoyance when a Pupil-Pilot taxied into the fairly new Control Hut (which had been made by Station personnel, gaily painted, and known popularly as the Ice Cream Kiosk) smashing it, and causing some moments of uncertainty to its three occupants. No person suffered serious injury, but the Anson’s starboard wing was wrecked.
    More cheerful news was that another day’s flying ‘record’ had been put up on the previous day.
  • 13.3.42 A determined thaw was now in progress, but, generally speaking, the Camp roads stood up to the conditions excellently. As a precaution, however, It was decided to curtail traffic – an additional reason for refusing taxi-cabs permission to enter the Camp. The subject of motor-cars was occupying many minds at this time owing to the new regulations restricting petrel allowances, but the news of the amended petrol-rations at Home forbade grumbling.
    Two Ansons, piloted by Pupils, collided while taxying on the tarmac and damage requiring twenty-one days for repair was caused to the nose of one and the wing of the other.
    The outstanding event of the day was the announcement that, with a total of 6470 flying hours during February, the Unit headed all Stations in No. 2 Training Command. “Keep it up:” was the happy and authoritative message accompanying the announcement.
  • 14.3.42 Flying Training was certainly proceeding apace, despite the fact that no less than forty-two aircraft were now unserviceable owing to lack of piston and cylinder replacements.. Courses 34,48 sad 50 were rapidly coming up to schedule, and Course 36 was two-hundred and eighty hours ahead. A melancholy note during this week, however, was sounded by six pupil pilots two of whom were posted as a result of examination failure and four of whom ceased training at their own request and were posted to Trenton.
    During the evening the Station sought solace ina Haydn and Beethoven.
  • 15.3.42 Sunday Morning Service held in the Recreation Hall depended for its music again upon a harmonium, which, boosted by concealed microphones attempted to impersonate a Cathedral Organ. The general atmosphere was further improved by ‘voluntaries’ at beginning and end of the Service rendered on the Cinema circuit by gramophone recordings of the genuine article. The illusion was so complete that the offertory, in keeping, soared to a sum of $12.50
    The same hall reverted at eight to its normal character, when a full ‘House’ greeted another excellent Concert Party from Winnipeg.
  • 16.3.42 There was considerable fear in the Unit that the approaching Soccer Season might be prejudiced by a shortage of bladders, and several fertile brains were engaged on a search for erzsats solutions to the problem. In the meanwhile, personnel were happily engaged in swimming, figure-skating, ice-hockey, table tennis, indoor cricket practice and badminton activities.

  • 16.3.42. (cont’d) In the evening the ‘Rip Chords’ fulfilled an engagement to perform their
    popular show at No. 2 Manning Depot, Brandon, Manitoba.
  • 17.3.42 Recreation also loomed large at the Commanding Officer’s Conference when progress was reported in the natter of Libraries and the Squash Court under construction.
  • 18.3.42. The new Royal Air Force Station at Neepawa, a mere forty odd miles distant, had now sprung into life, entailing neighbourly visits devised to benefit the young with the experience of the old. In certain cases, such as the Unit’s Senior Equipment Officer’s and Pay Accounts Officer’s, the visits were sufficiently lengthy to be termed temporary attachments. The town of Neepawa had always been a favorite with the Unit – but those halcyon days new seemed to be ended in certain respects. However, the Unit greeted the newcomers of the Royal Air Force with enthusiasm, and looked forward to many encounters with men having similar tastes in sports.
  • 19.3.42 Time had now gone a long way towards solving such problems as had naturally arisen from the presence of a Royal Air Force School – no longer a Royal Air Force ‘Special’ School – in a Dominion possessing a flourishing Air Force of its own, with regulations and methods and forms of a distinctive character. Many of these characteristics had of necessity been earned since the Training Command comprised a large majority of R.C.A.F. Units. But notices frequently appeared in Daily Routine 0rders setting out regulations applicable to R.A.F. Units alone. On this day. for instance, appeared a digest of Air Force General Order No. 51, extending Dependent’s Allowance for the dependant children of Airmen below the rank of Warrant Officer Class I.
    Personnel had to keep a watchful eye on many aspects of their position. They had, as an example, to exert vigilance on such financial considerations as their present Income Tax and its effect of lowering the standard of spending as compared with that of Canadian friends of similar rank. They had frequently to remind themselves, moreover, of provision for the future in the event of their return Home to lower rates of pay and (it was gravely feared) an Income Tax assessment based on their necessarily increased rates of pay while in Canada. However, the attractiveness of investing in Canadian Victory Bonds was resisted by many who feared that the impossibility, while in Canada, of realising any of their Home assets might conceivably be reproduced with Canadian
    assets on return to Britain.
    It was very noticeable, at this time, how – despite living in a land of comparative plenty – British personnel had developed an economical ‘awareness’ which increasingly limited the use of such

  • 19.3.42 (cont’d) luxuries as ‘beer’ and ‘bacey’.
    An error in handling his port engine when attempting to take-off, caused a Pupil Pilot to overshoot a runway and run into heavy mud, where his Anson tipped up on to its nose causing damage requiring seven days to repair.
    One of the nursing Sisters was posted to No. 41 S.F.T.S., R.A.F. Weyburn.
  • 20.3.42. The growing response to the urgency of economy was now required in more detailed matters, and the necessity of preserving the life of rubber boots received attention.
    Squadron Leader M.W. Moore arrived on the Station, posted from No. 33 E.F.T.S, , Caron, Saskatchewan, to take over the duties of Wing Commander T.C. Dickens (Officer Commanding Maintenance Wing) whose departure from the Station was now imminent.
  • 21.3.42 Few signs of the former Camp feeling of secure rusticity remote from the War now remained, and regulations concerned with the safety of the Station had been steadily increasing, especially as touching the possession of firearms and cameras, the prevention of sabotage and the entrance into the Camp of Civilians.
  • 22.3.42 An unusual posting occurred when Acting Flight Lieutenant J.H. White was permitted to resign his Commission in the General Duties (Flying) Branch of the R.A.F.V.R.; was struck off the strength of the Royal Air Force and departed to Dorval, Montreal, to report there .to the British Overseas Airways Corporation.
    The assurance by Canadians that, hitherto, the March weather had been too good to be true, failed to deter the sports staff from inspecting the Cricket, Rugger and Soccer pitches and summoning General Meetings of each of these games to form committees.
  • 23.3.42 The Station continued to be very active in various recreational ways, and notices in D.R.O’s showed that this was the case by references to swimming, table tennis, basketball, boxing an Airman’s Dance and the forthcoming Station Dance. The Station cinema had now increased its number of performances (previously on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays) by giving shows on the first two Sundays of each month. In accordance with the Provincial Regulations no entrance fee could be exacted, but a voluntary collection was liberally supported.
  • 24.3.42 The weather outlook had now become uncertain and there were interruptions to the flying. The Courses, however, with the exception of No. 48, had a good supply of hours in hand so far as the schedule was concerned.
  • 25.3.42 The Canadian weather-prophets proved to be correct after all. The fine conditions which had helped all four Courses to be ahead of schedule now finally broke down. Driving snow and a blustering wind reminded the veteran personnel of the Unit of the earlier stages of the 1941 blizzard.

  • 25.3.42 (cont’d) One of the Flying Instructors was forced by severe icing conditions to land nine south of Treherne. Visibility being zero he had to chance his luck, and landed his Anson amongst some shrubs. He was unhurt, but the aircraft was badly damaged and was sent for repairs to No. 8 Repair Depot.
    Another Flying Instructor (a Warrant Officer) was also caught in the rising storm, but succeeded in finding the Camp and making an excellent landing on the last gallon-or so of fuel.
    No. 34 Course was lucky enough to have completed it’s training just in time – and, in hearty mood, decided to throw two parties. The first, hold on this evening, was devoted to the ground staff, and was a happy sequence to the address given by Wing Commander (now Group Captain) J. Cox, D.F.C at his last ‘Wings Parade’ before leaving the Unit. On the same evening there was a very successful Airmans’ Dance, made specially noteworthy by the attendance of a large number of local maidens disdainfully undaunted by the growing ferocity of the weather.
    On this day, also, Squadron Leader M.W. Moore officially took ever the duties of Wing Commander T.C. Dickens (ef. 20.3.42)
  • 26.3.42 Flying was now entirely out of the question, and conditions were so evil that the Rip-Chords Concert Party needed all their sang-froid on their precarious journey by road into Winnipeg. The road was closed to traffic one hour after they had won through. There was much, however, to occupy the Camp. In the afternoon there was the Ceremonial Parade for the presentation of Flying Badges to Course No. 34 – nineteen of whom were promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer and forty to the rank of Sergeant-Pilot. On this occasion the Commanding Officer bestowed the honour of presenting tho emblems upon Wing Commander T.C. Dickens, who, fifteen months previously, had commanded the First Echelon and carried out the initial spade-work of the newly-formed Unit. His last day on a complete and smoothly running Station was further marked by a special Guest-Night in the Officers’ Mess, and a farewell party by Course No. 34. The Wing Commander was very busy at this period as his wife had recently celebrated his birthday by bearing him a son.
  • 27.3.42 The Station was now in the throes of a blizzard of such malevolence that all the resources of personnel were flung into a battle to maintain some semblance of order. A great effort to keep the road to Petrel open was made – but without success. A stand was instantly made to preserve the road communication with Carberry – and, for a time, even this failed. Meanwhile, a battle was waged against the heaping snow that threatened to isolate all the Camp buildings.

  • 27.3.42 (cont’d) The Rip Chords, however, were safe in Winnipeg and had occupied the ‘Walker Theatre’ where, in the evening, they played to a full house of approximately eighteen hundred enthusiastic people. The Lieutenant Governor was present with Air Commodore A.B. Shearer, A.D.C. and other guests included the Mayor of Winnipeg, Archbishop Harding, the Chief Constable and a very large number of distinguished Serving Officers and Presidents of Auxiliary Services.
    In the absence of the Station Commander, who was compelled to remain in Camp to fight the blizzard, the position of Host was carried out by Group Captain Bonham Carter, Royal Air Force.
    The fifty-nine graduates of No. 34 Course left the Station – fifty-three bound for No. 31 P.D.C. Moncton, four for No. 31 G.R.S. Charlottetown and two for No. 31 A.N.S. Port Albert.
  • 28.3.42 On the Camp the battle of the Blizzard was still tremendously active, with success at last beginning to reward the stout-hearted efforts of personnel. The incessant labours of snow-ploughs cleared the road to Carberry and kept open the Camp’s roads. But the landing-field, where in certain places there were snow-drifts rising to a height of sixteen feet, was another problem altogether and a quick decision had to be made on whether to drive runway-lanes of very dubious safety or to attempt the more far-sighted policy of general snow compaction. The latter alternative was chosen. A photograph showing the nature of the task confronting Works and Buildings, is appended.
    Meanwhile, the Rip Chords, though sympathetic with the fata of their fellows in distress, concentrated on a free matinee for all Services Personnel, followed by another evening performance to which many hundreds of people failed to gain admission. The Winnipeg Free Press had headed its report: “Smash Hit … R.A.F. Boys Score Success in Lively Rip Chord Revue,” while the Tribune had announced in large print: “Rip Chords Portray Spirit Behind the United Nations.”
  • 29.3.42 As indicated in His Majesty’s broadcast speech, there was on this Sunday a special call to Prayer; and, at the Combined service held in the Recreation Hall, no less than a hundred Airmen voluntarily attended the Service in addition to those whose official turn it was to form the congregation, In the evening there was the second Monthly Service for Airmen in St. Agnes Church, Carberry, followed by a Social Hour and Concert.
  • 30.3.42. Flying was still out of the question but snow-compaction continued ceaselessly. The presence of drifts and the quality of the snow, rendered this less of a success than the experts had expected, but side by side with this work went the clearing of three of the runways.
    Although all Camp roads were completely cleared, the greet mounds of snow heaped against the buildings provided an unwelcome sight to the Pupils of the New Course (No. 52) the majority of whom had now arrived. The road to Carberry was completely free and presented no obstacles to a party of officers who snatched a few minutes to see Wing Commander Dickens on to his train, bound for the East and his new duties.
  • 31.3.42. One cleared runway permitted a little cautious dual-instruction and strong sunshine from a cloudless sky defied pessimism although a deplorably muddy period seemed to be likely to ensue.

Carberry.

  • 31.3.42 STRENGTH: Personnel.
 OfficersOther RanksCivilians
RAF84921
Service Personnel other Than RAF
RCAF9106
CDC12
RCACS13
Civilians10
Trainees
RAF188
  • STRENGTH: Aircraft.
 ServiceableUnservicable
Ansons6325
  • (C.H. Brill)
    Group Captain, Commanding,
    No.33 SFTS, RAF, Carberry.

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