Daily Diary

No. 33 Service Flying Training School,
Carberry, Manitoba

April 1943

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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• 1st April 1943 – 0001 – PERSONNEL STRENGTH AND AIRCRAFT.

  A. PERSONNEL.

	Officers	Other Ranks	Civilians
RAF	85	848	–
RCAF	4	77	–
RNZAF	3	–	–
CDC	1	2	–
RCASC	1	3	–
CPC	–	3
Civilians	2	–	68
Trainees
RAF	–	214	–
RCAF	–	2	–

B. AIRCRAFT.

		Number
Anson II		107
	Serviceable	51
	Unserviceable	50
	Unavailable	6

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CARBERRY.

• April 1st 1943 – A graduation ceremony and parade for No. 70 Course was held this afternoon. Flying badges were presented by Col. R.L. MITCHELL
  (Officer Commanding A.15 C.I.T.C., Camp Shilo, Manitoba). S/L. H.M. ROBERTSON, DFC, was the Officer i/c Parade, and F/L. A.B. WALTON was the parade Adjutant. This course had an intake of 63
  pupils, of whom 46 graduated, and 17 were discontinued. Of the graduates, 13 were commissioned from this Unit. The disposition of the graduates was as follows:- To Moncton (31 P.D.) – 22: To Arnprior – 6: To Vulcan – 8: To Charlottetown – 10.
• April 2nd – Improved weather during the past week has enabled courses to gain on flying time previously lost during last month’s blizzard, in spite of the fact that burst tires and faulty brakes were the chief causes of unserviceability during the week. An average serviceability of 54.8% of the Unit’s aircraft was maintained.
• April 3rd – Sixty new pupils arrived on the Station today, and together with one transfer from Course No. 76 now comprise Course No. 78. Fifty-nine pupils came from No. 35 EFTS, NEEPAWA, and one Officer, F/O H.G.H. BEESLEY (128983) came from No. 34 EFTS, ASSINIBOIA.
  The weather was slightly cloudy today.
• April 4th – 0900 – P/O. L.C. MORRIS (51014) T (e) reported on appointment to commissioned rank from No. 39 SFTS, SWIFT CURRENT, Sask.
  – 1900 – In addition to the usual Sunday Services, the Rt. Reverend the Lord Bishop of BRANDON held a confirmation service in St. Agnes’ Church, Carberry. A few other ranks – previously prepared by the Station Padre, S/Ldr. the Rev. L. OWEN WILLIAMS, – took part in this service.
• April 5th – W/C. J.A. SIFT0N (C.4239) Med. and S/L. A. FARMER (C.14763) Med. arrived by air from No. 2 T.C. on temporary duty, and returned later in the day. Course No. 78 officially commenced training today.
  Good weather continues.
• April 6th F/L. G.W. ROWE (C.3654) W. & B. (who was previously the W&B Officer on this Unit) arrived today on temporary duty from No. 2 TC, and returned on 8th April.
  The Commanding Officer, G/C. T.B. BRUCE, MC, proceeded on temporary duty to No. 2 T.C. for a Commanding Officers’ Conference. He returned on 9th April.
• April 7th – To enable those engaged on night work to see current films, cinema matinees have now been started. They are to be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, except on those days when the Recreation Hall will be required for more important functions. The first matinee was held yesterday – but since the Station is not yet fully aware of the matinee performances, it is not expected that there will be very large attendances for a few weeks.
  – 2000 – The Adastral Club, the organisation of Officers and other ranks living out in Carberry, held a dance in the Recreation Hall, which was very well attended. A number of lady partners were brought over from Brandon.

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Carberry.

• April 8th 1943 – 1500 – F/L.D. WHITTAKER (W&B ENG) left on temporary duty for No. 2 T.C. and returned at 2359 hrs. on 10th April.
  – 1830 – P/O. V.T. LLOYD (ex 1337131) GD reported on posting from No. 2 F.I.S., VULCAN.
• April 9th – 1445 – The brakes of Anson aircraft 8637 went unserviceable after being tested by the Instructor when carrying out dual instruction. Owing to severe cross-winds, the pilot – 1385083 Sgt. GREENWOOD, A., was unable to check swing on landing, and the aircraft hit a stationary aircraft. The brake linings were later found to be impregnated with oil. Damage to the aircraft was of category C.7. Both instructor and pupil were uninjured.
  – 1440 – No.1339995 LAC. Sims, G.N., a pupil pilot, was carrying out power and glide approaches and landings when both engines failed, necessitating a landing. The pilot undershot, went through two fences and a ditch. He was uninjured, but damage to Anson JS 217 was category B. It was found that the engine failure was due to insufficient re-fuelling, and that the pupil had failed to check form L.14. His log book was endorsed for gross carelessness, and he was reprimanded by the Commanding Officer and grounded for four weeks.
  P/O. K.R. DWERRYHOUSE (ex 1334060) GD, reported on posting from No. 2 F.I.S., VULCAN. Flying has generally been good this week, and the courses have pulled up. There have been many instances of burst tyres due to landings on runways with slight cross winds. 52.7% of aircraft were available for flying training.
• April 10th – F/L. J.A. BROOKS (77796) T (e) left on posting to No. 31 P.D., Moncton.
  An NCO and 15 men arrived on temporary duty from No. 2 C. & M.U., WINNIPEG, to carry out hangar truss repairs.
• April 11th – Normal flying training.
• April 12th – Various officers arrived for D.C.M. duties today and returned to their units on 14th April. They were, S/L. W.B. SCARTH (C.2417) Admin and S/L. E.H. CRAWFORD (C.5251) from No. 2 T.C.: F/L. R.S. SCOLEFIELD (43563) Tech. from No. 38 S.F.T.S., ESTEVAN: and S/L. E.K. PRICE (75858) GD from No. 41 SFTS., WEYBURN.
• April 13th – Boxers from this Unit competed in the inter-services championships at Fort Garry, WINNIPEG, today, and gained second place. This is considered an excellent result in view of the ability of their army opponents to undergo more intensive training.

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Carberry.

• April 13th Continued – Thirteen other ranks arrived from No. 31 P.D., MONCTON, being replacements for tour-expired airmen.
• April 14th – 2030 – An airmen’s dance was held in the Recreation Hall. There was a good attendance, and lady partners came from Carberry, Brandon, and No. 12 S.F.T.S., Brandon.
  S/L. F.R. SHARP (C.858) and S/L. M.T. MAW (70457) GD arrived by air on temporary duty from No. 2 F.I.S., VULCAN, and continued later in the day by air to No. 17 S.F.T.S.
• April 15th – Material has now arrived on the Station for re-surfacing the existing tennis courts, it was revealed by the Sports Officer, F/O. F.J.L. MORGAN, at the Commanding Officer’s Conference today. It is also intended to construct two more courts in the Drill Shed.
  – 1300 – F/L. A.B. WALTON (86182) proceeded to No. 1 C.N.S., RIVERS, on temporary duty (D.C.M.), and returned on 16th April.
  – 1600 – F/O. F.J.L. MORGAN (115653) A&SD – PTI proceeded on temporary duty to No. l C.T.S., RCAF, TRENTON, by rail for a refresher course.
• April 16th – Good weather conditions throughout the week have enabled all courses to gain time. Considerable unserviceability is still experienced as a result of poor brakes and burst tyres. 56.3% of aircraft were available for flying training.
• April 17th – Flying times continue to mount up satisfactorily. For the week ending today the Advanced Training Squadron flew 1631 hours, and the Initial Training Squadron 1124 hours.
  F/L. J.CD. TAYLOR (C.8035) W.& B. arrived from No. 2 T.C. on temporary duty and returned later in the day.
• April 18th – Normal Church Parades and training programme.
  S/L. E.J. STANLEY (83311) A&SD left for BRANDON to attend an R.A.F. case at Brandon Police Court, and returned on 19th April.
• April 19th – Self-improvement classes start this week for all Officers and airmen Interested. Tuition is being provided by the Education Officer in type-writing, elementary French, advanced French, shorthand, general mathematics and English language study.
  1830 and 2100 – E.N.S.A. Theatre Company presented two performances of their revue “A. for Aces”, which contained sketches by Noel Coward. They gave excellent entertainment to packed houses. The cast were afterwards entertained in the Officers’ Mess.
  – 2347 – P/O. D. McLELLAN (ex 1552374) GD departed on posting to No. 32 O.T.U., PATRICIA BAY, B.C., and F/L. J.H.C. LEWIS (42716) GD left by road on posting to No. 31 G.R.S., CHARLOTTETOWN.
• April 20th – A Corporals’ Club dance – the first for several months – was held in the Club rooms tonight. Partners from Brandon and Carberry attended. Only fully-paid members were allowed to buy tickets.
  Rehearsals for Rip-Chords Concert (Seventh edition) commenced tonight.

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Carberry

• April 20th – This Unit is expected to raise $5,000 for the Fourth Canadian War Continued Loan, it was stated at the Commanding Officer’s Conference this morning. While it is possible to reach this sum, it has been found necessary to refer to Command the fact that the holding of assets abroad by British subjects is forbidden, and airmen buying bonds in Canada would seemingly be compelled to sell them on their return to the U.K.
  – 0925 – A pupil pilot. No. 1357625 LAC. SOUTHGATE, F., coming in to land after solo practice noticed that the undercarriage tell-tales showed wheels only half down. He tried again to lower the undercarriage completely, but without success. He warned the duty pilot and made a wheels-up landing. Examination later showed that a discharged accumulator had caused incorrect readings. Damage to Anson aircraft 8497 was category C.5. The pupil’s log book was endorsed ‘inexperience’.
• April 21st – A barrack-block garden competition is being organised to encourage airmen to cultivate their plots. It is proposed to offer $50 in cash prizes for the best efforts during the summer. Seeds, garden tools, and advice on lay-out problems are all available to the airmen.
  The old fire alarm system is now out of service pending the change-over to the new annunciator system. The installation of the new apparatus is almost complete, but work is at present held up for lack of materials. Due warning has been given to the Station, through DROs, outlining, the system to be adopted to give an alarm of fire, should one occur before the annunciator system is complete.
  S/L. A.R. POVEY (78712), former Chief Ground Instructor of this Unit, left today by private motor car for No. 5 M.D. Base Pay Office, Lachine, P.Q., on posting.
  P/O. W.G. JOHNSON (ex 1386208) GD arrived on posting from No. 31. A.N.S.
• April 22nd – 1330 – F/L. E. CANTRELL (81549) Accts., left by air on temporary duty for ESTEVAN, and returned later in the day.
• April 23rd – F/L. D. WHITTAKER (C.10548) W&B ENG. left by air on temporary duty to No. 12 S.F.T.S., BRANDON, and returned at 1800 hours, by rail, the same day.
  F/L. H.M. PEZZANI (78037) A&SD arrived on posting from No. 32 E.F.T.S., to be Station Administrative Officer.
  Good flying progress has been maintained during the past week and, if the weather holds, Nos 74, 76 and 78 Courses should be well above the line in the next few days. Aircraft serviceability for the week has been 59%.
• April 24th – Dust storm throughout the day were the worst experienced on this Unit during the last two years. Flying was stopped.

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Carberry.

• 24th April Continued – S/L. E.A.F., REEVE (73364) A&SD reported on posting from No. 31 O.T.U. to be Chief Ground Instructor.
• 25th April This being Easter Sunday, special services were held both on the Station and in Carberry.
  Sweeping and dusting was necessary over every square inch in every building in the Camp today, as a result of yesterday’s avalanche of dust. Life with the RAF in the Libyan desert was brought forcibly to mind.
  S/L. E.J. STANLEY (83311) Station Administrative Officer handed over to his successor and left by rail on posting to No. 33 A.N.S., Hamilton.
  The Ukrainian Concert Party from Winnipeg, under the direction of Miss Adams, visited the Station and were given and enthusiastic reception. These young people played and sang with rare fervour, and took heart to excel themselves when almost every item was encored. Their performance was considerably different from the usual run of concert parties; there, were some 25 pieces in their orchestra, and their standard of playing was very high.
  F/O. PARKINSON (100151) A&SD arrived on posting from No. 31 R.D.F., CLINTON.
  F/O. D.E. SAMUEL (111364) A&SD arrived on posting from No. 31 P.D., MONCTON.
• 26th April – F/L. H.S. HURRELL (78898) A&SD left on posting to No. 31 P.D., MONCTON.
  P/O. M.D.W. LOTHIAN (ex 1392311) GD left on posting to No. 31 A.N.S., PORT ALBERT. Eleven other ranks – members of the original draft which formed this Unit – left, for No. 31 P.D., MONCTON, today.
  A close and exacting scrutiny of pupils having recently been made, it was no surprise to find that eleven were in process of being discontinued this week – all for unsatisfactory progress in training.
• 27th April – A Court of Inquiry met today to enquire into and report upon the loss of two parachutes, one parachute harness and eighteen travelling bags.
• 28th April – An Airmen’s Dance was held in the Recreation Hall. Partners came from Brandon and Carberry.
  The Fourth Victory Loan drive is now under way here. So far $1200 worth of bonds have been sold.
• 29th April – A graduation ceremony and presentation of wings to pupils of No. 72 Course was held in the Drill Hall this afternoon. G/C. A.J. ASHTON, RCAF., No. 2 TC, presented the Flying Badges. F/L. R.J. MANSFIELD was Officer i/c Parade, and F/L. A.B. WALTON was the parade Adjutant. The intake of this Course was 60, plus three transferred, of whom 16 were wastages and 47 graduated, 13 being commissioned. The disposition of graduates was 20 to MONCTON, 6 to PEARCE, 2 to ARNPRIOR, 4 to TRENTON, 9 to CHARLOTTETOWN and 6 to PORT ARTHUR. The graduates had an average of 140 hours, 30 mins, per pupil.
  – 1600 – S/L. G. VIVIAN left by air for No. 38 SFTS on temporary duty (DCM), and returned at 1830 hours the following day.

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Carberry.

• 29th April Continued – The new fire alarm indicator system began functioning today. There are 13 alarm boxes installed on the Station. A practice alarm was sounded at 1700 hours.
• 30th April./43 – This being pay-day. the Station magazine “GEN” was on sale. During the week, Course No. 74 were on ground exams, for three days, and have fallen slightly behind. 65.8% of all aircraft available for flying training.
  The weather was unfit for flying for two half-days and two nights during the past week.
  Pupils this month made a record total of: 10,310 hours, 55 mins. flying hours for the month of April.

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Carberry.

• 30 April 1943 – 2359 – STRENGTH – PERSONNEL AND AIRCRAFT.

A. PERSONNEL.

	Officers	Other Ranks	Civilians
RAF	85	909	–
RCAF	5	67	–
RNZAF	3	–	–
CDC	1	2	–
RCASC	1	3	–
CPC	–	3
Civilians	2	–	68
Trainees
RAF	1	202	–
RCAF	–	1	–

B. AIRCRAFT.

		Number
Anson II		110
	– Servicable	75
	– Unservicable	30
	– Not Available	5

• (T.B. BRUCE) Group Captain,
  Commanding No. 33 S.F.T.S.,
  R.A.F., CARBERRY, Manitoba.