No.2 AIR NAVIGATION SCHOOL
July 21, 1941-May 30, 1942
Daily Diary - Summary of Events
Transcribed by G. Christian Larsen

April 1942

DATE (d/m/y)	SUMMARY OF EVENTS
1-4-42	Snowing quite heavily - no flying possible - snow stopped at 1300 hrs. and sun shining at 1530 hrs. Too much overcast to carry out night flying.
2-4-42	Bright but still some overcast. The Inspector General expected to arrive today if weather clears enough for flying. Signal received that the Inspector General and Party would arrive by air at 1035 hrs. Weather clearing rapidly. Inspector General and Party arrived on the station at 1105 hrs. and made a complete inspection of station. Night flying was washed out due to overcast. The I.G. and Party left by car (M.T.) at 1800 hrs. for St. John, N.B.
3-4-42	0945 Inspector General and Party returned to this station and departed for Ottawa by Air. Weather satisfactory - morning, afternoon and night flying programme carried out. 1330 Church Service held in Recreation Hall.
4-4-42	Both day and night flying carried out successfully. Usual station parades and routine.
5-4-42	Weather dull with overcast - Day and night flying washed out. Easter Church Service held on station with great turnout.
6-4-42	Morning flight washed out, weather dull with overcast. Late afternoon flight carried out but night exercise washed out. The Regional Control Course is completed and are awaiting posting.
7-4-42	Morning and night flying washed out owing to dull weather but flying in afternoon held to search for Missing Anson from Chatham. A dance was held in the Sgts. Mess and was well attended.
8-4-42	No morning or afternoon navigation exercises carried out as weather was very dull. Three night trips were carried out successfully. As yet no trace of Anson lost from Chatham. Officers on Regional Control Course S.O.S. on posting. No posting advice received for airmen on this course.
9-4-42	Morning and afternoon flights carried out, also two night trips. All A/C returned to base successfully.
10-4-42	Flying for morning, afternoon and night washed out to poor visibility. Usual station routine for the day.
11-4-42	Flying for day and night trips washed out - dull weather most of the day with a heavy snowstorm late in afternoon. Course 36 posted and awaiting clearance.
12-4-42	Flying for day and night washed out owing to heavy snowfall. Usual station routine for the day.
13-4-42	Course 36 S.O.S. on posting, granted embarkation leave. All flying exercises for day and night completed successfully.
14-4-42	Course 38 taken on strength. Flying for morning, afternoon and night was carried out.
15-4-42	Flying for both day and night washed out - weather dull all day. Usual station routine.
16-4-42	Morning, afternoon, and night exercises completed and all A/C returned to base. Usual station routine.
17-4-42	All exercises for day and night trips completed, weather ideal for flying. Normal station routine for day.
18-4-42	All exercises for day and night trips carried out successfully. S/L D.R. Dodds from Air Force Headquarters visited station.
19-4-42	No flying for day due to overcast, night flying also washed out. Church service was held in Recreation Hall.
20-4-42	Morning and night flights washed out but some flying in afternoon. Mr. Campbell from Halifax arrived on station for inspection of water situation.
21-4-42	Weather for day very satisfactory and flying for both day and night carried out. Flying Patrol searching for enemy submarine most of day and evening. Normal rountine carried out for the day.
22-4-42	Day and night flying carried out successfully. W/C A.A.G. Corbett, P.M.O., Eastern Air Command, Air Commodore R.W. Ryan, A.F.H.Q., Director of Medical Services arrived by air from Eastern Air Command to inspect station hospital departing this station at 1600 hrs.
23-4-42	Flying for both day and night trips carried out. Six Harvard aircraft from No.9 S.F.T.S., Summerside visited station on flying exercises, and were flying low over station. As a result a Court of Inquiry convened to investigate the affair.
24-4-42	Morning, afternoon and night exercises carried out and completed. Majority of Sgt. Observers of Course No.37 S.O.S. on posting.
25-4-42	Remainder of Course 37 posted. Flying was successfully carried out for both day and night.
26-4-42	Air Observers, Crse.39 taken on strength this station. Navigation exercises carried out for both day and night.
27-4-42	Morning, afternoon and night trips successfully carried out. Officers of Short Navigation Crse.16 taken on strength.
28-4-42	Usual station routine for day. All flying programme for day and night exercises carried out.
29-4-42	No.15 Short Navigation Course, S.O.S. on posting. Flying for day and night washed out due to poor visibility. New Medical Officer taken on strength from Toronto, F/O R.H. Hamilton (C10540) Captain D.T. Wilson, Dental Officer reported on temporary duty from Dartmouth replacing Capt. Veitch who is on a month sick leave.
33-4-42 W/C F.R. Miller C/O No.2 ANS	Flying for day and night trips completed. S/L  R.S. Sweetlove, RAF., A.F.H.Q. and F/L E.H.C. Parker visited station by Motor Transport on security services, apparently to discuss plan under way to convery No.2 A.N.S. into an O.T.U. No official word received on this as yet. Number of aircraft and type in charge at this date: 41 Ansons/ 14 unserviceable Total number of hours flown during month: N/A STRENGTH OF UNIT 1-4-42 to 30-4-42 Officers 92 90 Airmen 725 860 Trainees 261 352 Personnel other then R.C.A.F. 3 N/A Civilians 33 N/A

No.2 Air Navigation School (ANS), Daily Diary
Return to Pennfield Ridge Air Station Page
Return to Pennfield Parish Home Page