Daily Diary

No. 33 Service Flying Training School,
Carberry, Manitoba

September 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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CARBERRY
1943

• 1st SEPT – Air Vice-Marshal E.W. STEADMAN, O.B.E., and Staff Officers from No. 2 Training Command visited here today. The Air Vice-Marshal gave a most enlightening lecture to all General List officers on the Station, dealing mainly with the secret organisation necessary for the operation of aircraft. The Station was also honoured by a visit of Air Vice-Marshal L.D.D. McKEAN, C.B., O.B.E., Liaison Officer-in-Chief, United Kingdom Air Liaison Mission. A.V.M. McKEAN, Group Captain T.B. BRUCE, M.C., and party were guests at the Airmen’s Dance, and during the course of the evening the A.V.M. very kindly presented the Station Soccer League Cup to the winning team, Hut 13.
• 2nd SEPT – Today, Air Vice-Marshal L.D.D. McKEAN inspected the Station, before leaving for No. 2 Training Command, WINNIPEG, at 1500 hours.
• 3rd SEPT – Great interest was shown today in a cricket match – No. 33 SFTS .v. No. 1 CNS, RIVERS. The opposing teams were very evenly matched and, after an exciting struggle, the home team won by one wicket.
• 4th SEPT – During the past week, although the weather continued cold, flying training was not interrupted.
• 5th SEPT – Sunday, 5th September, was declared a National Day of Prayer, and Church Services were held accordingly. Two films of an instructional nature were shown this morning in the Recreation Hall.
• 6th SEPT – Cricket, which has been in the forefront of all Station sports recently, today had a boost when an exciting game was played between No. 33 SFTS and No. 38 SFTS, ESTEVAN. The Carberry team, which has recently been winning all games, at last met their match in the Estevan boys, and were beaten by sixty runs.
• 7th SEPT – Great excitement prevailed when Wing Commander G.F. GIBSON, V.C., D.S.O.and Bar, D.F.C. and Bar, the hero of the Moehne and Ebber Dam raids on Germany in May of this year, arrived on the Unit. In spite of the very inclement weather during the period of his stay, every man on the Station turned out to hear an address given by the Wing Commander in the Drill Hall, portraying many aspects of Bomber Command’s activities over enemy territory. The address was voted by all to be one of the best and most interesting talks heard on this Station for a long time. The Wing Commander also gave vivid descriptions of some of his own personal experiences.

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CARBERRY
1943

• 8th SEPT – A slight accident occurred during night-flying operations, when a pupil in taxying struck a stationary unlit aircraft parked on the
  tarmac.
  F/Lt. D.C. HAY arrived on posting from No. 32 O.T.U., PATRICIA BAY, to take over duties of Permanent Duty Pilot.
  Slight damage was caused when an aircraft forced landed after starboard engine failure.
• 9th SEPT – Two sporting events are worthy of note in today’s activities. The Station Rugby XV journeyed to Stevenson’s Field, WINNIPEG, where they met a team from No. 5 A.O.S. After a thrilling game, our boys were beaten by 11 points to 5. At home, Maintenance Wing, who have always shone in the realm of sports won the Sports Day Soccer Knock-out Competition.
  A pupil made a wheels-up landing on the runway owing to failure of his under-carriage mechanism.
  S/Ldr. the Reverend D.A. FOSTER arrived today on posting to take over the duties of Station Padre; he comes to Carberry from No. 31 SFTS., KINGSTON.
• 10th SEPT – The “Rip Chords” Theatre Orchestra presented a most enjoyable programme during the evening at the Airmen’s Canteen.
  Cpl. Warlow (979372) V.L., u/t Pilot, of No. 86 Course, had a miraculous escape from injury when his aircraft crashed after the failure of his starboard engine, and burst into flames on impact. The aircraft was a total loss.
  F/L. R. BAKER arrived from No. 39 SFTS on posting for flying duties.
• 11th SEPT – Great satisfaction was felt on the Station when the Soccer team beat the “Scottish of WINNIPEG by three goals to one in the Manitoba Championship Semi-Final at Osborne Stadium, WINNIPEG.
• 12th SEPT – The Combined Commanding Officer’s and Church Parade was held on the Unit today, when the new Station Chaplain, S/Ldr. the Rev. D.A. FOSTER, officiated.
• 13th SEPT – Great activity was evident on the Station, when personnel were practising for the various events preparatory to Station Sports Day, which is to be held on the 15th September.
• 14th SEPT – A most sporting course was laid out for the cross-country race in connection with
  1943 the Station Sports Day, covering a distance of approximately four miles. Extraordinary interest was shown in this event, and all Sections were strongly represented. Although keenly contested, Maintenance Squadron again upheld their prestige by winning with a comfortable margin.

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CARBERRY
1943

• 14th SEPT (Cont)- BRANDON District Services Athletic Association Soccer League was won today by CARBERRY “B” team, the runners-up being CARBERRY “A” team.
• 15th SEPT – Today the first Station Sports Day ever organised on this Unit since its inception was carried through with great success at Carberry Fair Ground. The programme included every type of sporting event, which were all keenly contested. The Station was divided into four Sections, Advanced Training Squadron, Maintenance Squadron, Initial Training Squadron and Station Headquarters. After a dynamic struggle, in which both competitors and spectators entered keenly into the spirit of the day, Advanced Training Squadron emerged the victors by beating Maintenance Wing by one point. A most successful day was rounded off by a grand Station Dance in the Drill Hall. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Sports Prizes by Mrs. T.B. BRUCE, wife of the Commanding Officer.
• 16th SEPT – Course No. 82 graduated today. There was an intake of sixty-four pupils, thirty of whom were discontinued (eighteen for unsatisfactory progress, two for disciplinary reasons, six for failure to pass ground examinations, two for medical reasons and two at their own request). The disposition of these was as follows:-
  To BRANDON:- 16. To TORONTO:- 6. To TRENTON:- 2.
  To ROCKCLIFFE: – 2. To Crse. 84 (On Unit):- 3. To Crse. 88 (On Unit) :- 1.
  The thirty-four gradates received their wings from Colonel R. MITCHELL, Officer Commanding A.15 Army Training Centre, CAMP SHILO; seven of them receiving commissions. The disposition of these graduates was:-
  To Course No. 89, No. 3 F.I.S., ARNPRIOR. 4.
  To Course No. 89, No. 2 F.I.S., PEARCE. 8.
  To Course No.111, No. 31 G.R.S., CHARLOTTETOWN. 14.
  To No. 31 P.D., MONCTON, N.B. 8.
• 17th SEPT – Great interest was shown in the British film “Forever and a Day”, which was presented on the Station today.

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CARBERRY
1943

• 17th SEPT (Cont) – S/Ldr. J.H.G. McARTHUR and F/L. G.A.W. WILLIAMS, from A.F.H.Q., arrived today to test the S.B.A. equipment recently installed at R.2, OBERON. All tests proved very successful, and the system was passed ready for operation when required.
• 18th SEPT – Living up to the high reputation earned by this Station during the football season, No. 33 SFTS soccer team won the first round of a series of three matches against WESTON UNITED at Osborne Stadium, WINNIPEG, in the final of the Manitoba Championship.
• 19th SEPT – A rousing reception was given to the “Raffians” Concert Party from No. 36 EFTS., NEEPAWA, when they gave a very creditable performance in the Recreation Hall at this Unit. One of the more outstanding items was a song dedicated to the Battle of Britain fighter pilots, and was entirely composed and presented by S/Ldr. A. J .A. LAING, OC., No. 35 EFTS. A most enjoyable evening was concluded when the Party were entertained in the Officers’ Mess.
• 20th SEPT – Course No. 90 commenced today, with an intake of sixty-five pupils.
• 21st SEPT – In an exciting game this evening, Hut 20 beat the Officers’ Mess by two goals to nil in the final of the Station Soccer Knock-out Cup.
  S/Ldr. the Reverend D.C.H. MICHELL, Station Chaplain, proceeded today on posting to No. 32 SFTS., MOOSEJAW.
• 22nd SEPT – Tonight Wing Commander and Mrs. M.W. MOORE, OC. Maintenance Wing, was presented with a three-piece silver tea-set from the personnel of Maintenance Wing, on the occasion of their Silver Wedding Anniversary.
  Pilot Officer F.G. COLLIER arrived on posting from No. 31 P.D., MONCTON, to take up the duties of Link Trainer Instructor.
• 23rd SEPT – One of the most exciting soccer games yet witnessed on the Camp was played tonight when Hut 13 met Hut 20 in the final of the Station Knock-out Cup. Hut 13 again proved their undeniable superiority by vanquishing their opponents by 5 goals to nil. After the game, the shield was presented to the winning team by Group Captain T.B. BRUCE, M.C., cups being presented individually to the players.
• 24th SEPT – The reappearance of the familiar blue uniform on the Camp today gave evidence of the official closing of the summer season.

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CARBERRY
1943

• 25th SEPT – Living up to the name it has so deservedly earned in the soccer world, the Station Soccer team today beat WESTON UNITED in the Final of the Manitoba Championship.
• 26th SEPT – A Combined Commanding Officer’s and Church Parade was held this morning.
• 27th SEPT – The Station Soccer team today met again their old rivals from SOURIS, and after a strenuous battle beat their opponents by three goals to one.
• 28th SEPT – Tonight many airmen and their friends were entertained by the Carberry War Services Club at a social and sing-song held in the town. Light refreshments were served during the Course of the evening, which was voted to have been a great success.
• 29th SEPT – Tonight the All-Station Concert Party, the “Rip-Chords”, gave their first performance of the season to a crowded house in the Recreation Hall. This is now the Eighth Edition to be produced by this Party, and it is agreed by one and all to be one of their best. From start to finish the turns showed great originality, and it was indeed first-class entertainment.
• 30th SEPT- Tonight the cricket season, which is drawing to a close, was marked by a match between the Officers and Hut 13 in the Semi-Final of the Station League. Hut 13, which has been outstanding in all sporting events on the Station, were victorious by 95 for three wickets, against the Officers’ 76 for six.
  No. 1196356 F/Sgt. MacGILCHRIST, R.D., Link Trainer Instructor, was appointed to commissioned rank and posted to No. 35 S.F.T.S., NORTH BATTLEFORD.
  The Station Magazine, “GEN”, was published today.

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CARBERRY
1943

30th SEPT – TOTAL FLYING HOURS FOR MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, 1943:- 8481.35 hours.

STRENGTH – PERSONNEL

	Officers	Other Ranks	Civilians
RAF	112	821	–
RCAF	7	71	–
RNZAF	3	1	–
RAAF	–	–	–
RCADC (CDC)	1	2	–
RCASC	1	2	–
CPC	–	3
Civilians	2	–	64
Trainees
RAF	14	208	–
RCAF	–	7	–
RNZAF	–	–	–
RAAF	–	2	–
(Trainees above include 26 – 1 Officer and 25 O.Rs. RAF – ex-82 Course. These have graduated and are awaiting posting, seven of whom have been appointed to commissioned rank).

‘B’ AIRCRAFT STRENGTH

		Number
Anson II		118
	– Servicable	72
	– Unserviceable	28
	– Not Available	18

• (T.B. Bruce) G/C.,
  OC., No. 33 SFTS.