No. 5 Bombing & Gunnery School Dafoe, Saskatchewan: July 23, 1941

Lesley (Dalrymple) O'Neil Photo Collection

Boom Town: By Emily M. Gould

Girls accustomed to concerts and corsages, have suddenly found themselves forming a unique colony on the wayside bluff that rises from the Saskatchewan prairies.

Living in trailers, old grainaries and garages that once belonged to farmers in the district, the girls have become the principal citizens of a community affectionately known as “Boom Town.”

Girls from all over Canada are huddled in one-room shacks learning to bake bread, to churn up some butter by shaking cream in a jar, and to grow vegetables in two-by-four gardens among the underbrush.

They are the young wives, and many of them brides, of airmen stationed at No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School near Dafoe, Saskatchewan.

The place grew up as if by magic in among the trees, across from the main gate of the training school. There was no town planning committee or parks board, but somehow, a main street thrust itself into shape, and today boasts three poster-decked shops, two restaurants, one drugstore and a filling station. Flashlights flicker at night in Boom Town like giant fireflies.

The girls refer to one winding path as "Park Avenue," for here reside two officers' wives. They also point with pride to their one "apartment block" a low cottage that accommodates two airmen's wives and their babies.

September 29, 1941 Station Diary: Increased activity in the construction of cottages and small buildings in the area directly east of the airport, commonly referred to as "Boom Town" is noted.

Janet MacDonald Collection

They went by train to Dafoe SK where Harold was stationed during the war. Harold had rented a home but it was very cold and required two stoves to heat it. In May 1942 they built their first home. It was 8' by 12' and had a chicken coop style roof. The kitchen area was at one end and the living room/ bedroom at the other end. The bedroom was a sofa bed. Later in 1942 they added a 5' by 8' section. There was no electricity or running water. The insulation in the walls consisted of old papers. There was no insulation in the ceiling. The home cost $50 and the addition $25 including the fence. Irene cooked on a pot bellied stove in the winter which also provided their heat. The pot bellied stove was a gift from Harold's parents. Harold made the table and cupboards. Irene sewed the curtains. They purchased 2 kitchen chairs ($1.98 each), rocking chair ($2.98), radio ($19.00), and the hide a bed/sofa. In the summer she used a Coleman gas stove. Water had to be hauled. Harold was transferred to Calgary in Aug 1943 and they sold their home complete with furnishings for $125.

Staff Pilots

James Thomas Pettus, William Thomas Kirk, Thomas Harvey Ray, John Phillip Newlands, Jerome Carl Casper, Wayne Clevenger, Clifford W. Millspaugh, Jack Martin Berg, Clarence Earl Hill, Norman Atlee Trapp, William Barbee Glasscock, Frank Edwin Rader, David H. Hurlbut, Grant Cook, Edsel Olin Clark, Phillip James Reidy, Vincent Norbert Florack, William Henry Wilson, George Frederick Gelston, William Gunn, George Elliott Milliken, Daniel Fore Trout, Charles Vernon Shreve; James Forest 'Lou' Luma: John Ambrose Kelly; (R70764) J.F.E. Monette

Misc. Course Trainees

John Hudson Stuart, Jack Walter Sword, Warren William Tucker, Ernest Stanley Reed, Harold Schrupp, +Willard Kennedy Rosenberry, +John Ross, +Douglas Cecil Rundle, Michael Salamon - armorer, Lester Claude Sorenson; +(R/147167 - C/89022) Antonio (George) Roski - 420 Sqn.; +(R/156578) Lloyd Stuart Franklin - AEM (FE) 1659 CU; +(R93025) Ralph Ernest Gormam - 75 Sqn.; (R93428) Norman Charles Hands; (R96465) Harold Morse Gade; (R106902) Montague Gilchrist; +(R121930) Wilbur Moats Lee - 162 (BR) WAG Co. 34 June 22 - July 20, 42, Donalda, Alta.

June 9 - July 21, 1941

Wing Commander Roger Amedee Del'Haye, officer commanding No. 5 B&GS presented wings and addressed the graduates.

"Yours is a heavy responsibility and the whole Empire, yes, the whole democratic world looks to you to do your part, like brave men, in banishing this vile virus called Hitlerism from the face of the earth. You are now admitted into the Empire's Royal Air Force, a fraternity with very lofty ambitions and ideals."

Co. 10 Air Gunners - all RCAF: George O. Buckman, Clarence Garfield Scott (DFM), John Craig, +(J/6359) Max Martin Osten, +(R/68426) Stanley Gregory - 40 Sqn., St. Thomas; +(R/78061) Stanley Jenson - 10 Sqn.; Aloysius LaMarsh, Wallaceburg; John Leonard McAninch, Guelph; Robert McCormich Russell and +(R/68423) Kenneth Gilbert McKee, Ingersoll; Ronald A. Thompson, Waterdown; Karl Alfred Decher (DFC); G.A. Smith; Dorrington (Dode) Clarke; W.J. Costello; +Wesley Alexander Pickering; +Orville Martin Killeen; Elton B. Skuce; Henry Gingras; +Max Martin Osten, Oxbow, SK

RAAF Observers: (402909) Ronald Neville Leek; (402907) William Ellis Gowing; +(402216) Norman Charles Beck, +(402836) Ralph Bond; +(404788) Eric John (Jack) Layh; (402968) Timbury Alan Mayo (POW); (402913) Henry 'Harry' Roland Train (POW), (400893) Ian Frank Tamagno (DFC & Bar); Joe Norman, +(404238) Christopher Lynton Edwards, (407260) John Graney Southwell DFM 37 Sqn., (407164) Allan James Brock, +(402251) Clive William Pryer Rice, (402426) Cecil William Weekes, +(402635) John Bernard Brady, +(402526) Walter Hugh Lynch,+(404325) John Edward Baartz, +(406272) Albert Ernest William Webb; +(400894) Ronald Frederick Waldon, Wal. Wren; (402913) Henry 'Harry' Roland Train (POW), Sal Green, Robertson and +(402216) Norman Charles Beck

RNZAF Observers: (NZ404077) Daniel John McGill - 37 Sqn. DAF (2 WS)

Air Gunner graduates were posted directly overseas, while air observer trainees from Australia were posted to air navigation school at Rivers, Manitoba.

June 9 - July 21, 1941 - Aussie Graduates

Course 21: July 6 - August 3, 1941

Class 11 Air Gunners; RCAF R.W. Lamont, Swift Current; D. Pearce, Parkman. SK; W.A. Cowie, Rosetown, SK; 1 RAAF held over from last class

Class 21 Air Observers RCAF B.F. Sutton, Vagina, SK; B.A. Trapp, Harris, SK

A.E. Blakey, E.E. Keyes, R.H. Blandford, Anthony Wilson Morris (DFM), +James Herbert Godbehere. +Angus William Stewart, +Russell Thomas Joshua Collett, +Edward Albert Owen, D.C. Legge, D.J. Hardy, E.F. Flannigan, B.M.A. Chene, L. Levis, Joseph Arthur Auguste Bruneau Angers, A.H. Kyle, L.A.J. Bonnet, Charles Emile Michel Emery, Daniel Gordon Poitevin (DFC); +(R74809) Richard St. Julien Gregory

Course 26 Observers: Sept. 1 - Oct. 12, 1941

Co. 16 WAG's: 27 RCAF

+(R92343 - J8832) John Patrick Custance; +(R74538 - J16386) Duncan Hugh Alexander Dewar - 106 Sqn. (Phair crew)

+(J8100) Donald Sutherland Bier - 407 Sqn., Woodstock; John Bennett, Windsor; +(R83153) James Harold Clancy - 407 Sqn., Windsor; John (Frank) Day and Robert C. Day, Preston; +(R82867) Herbert Carl Empey - 142 Sqn., Morewood; John A. Goad, Toronto; Donald R. Hunter, Toronto; +(J89408) Bruce Adam Ogilvie - 357 Sqn., Toronto; +(R83538) John Tait, Toronto; William A.L. Sutherland, Woodstock; +(R91255) Raymond Lloyd Wakelin - 12 Sqn., Coboconk

Co. 26 Air Observers: 36 graduates. 29 RCAF, 2 RAF, 5 RAAF

(J86630) Oliver Raymond Carlson, Ft. Frances; John W. Dewar, Brantford; (J17229) Herbert William Edward Hammond - DFC 109 Sqn., Toronto; (R69209) John A.T. Simpson - 102 Sqn., Swastika

Course 17: Sept. 29 - October 24, 1941

Wings Presentation Parade was held at 1530 hours.

Co. 17 Air Gunners; 19 RCAF

RCAF: D.W. Bowles, Leamington; F.M. Gainforth, Wooler; W.J. Hilton, Brantford; +(R/82745) John Arthur 'Art' McMahon - KIFA No. 3 (C) OTU, Renfrew; M.M. Patterson, Collingwood; A.G. Pond, London; S. Price, Brockville; D.F. Pulham, Komoka; +(R/82814) John Albert (Mark) Turner - 103 Sqn., Hurdman's Bridge; +(R/54463) Warren Henry Ridder - 419 Sqn.; +(R/92046) Edward Byron Egan - 44 Sqn., b. CA r. Vancouver

Co. 27 Air Observers: 39 graduates 37 RNZAF, 2 RCAF

37 RNZAF: (41545) Douglas Haig Palmer (MiD) - 57 Sqn., Wellington; Kenneth Charles Gilmour, +(NZ42344) Charles Keith Waldrom?, +(NZ41579) Noble Andrew Gardiner, +(NZ404908) James Allan Logan

December 5, 1941

Group Captain R.A. Delhaye , commanding officer, presented air gunners and observers badges to the graduating class.

Co. 20 Air Gunners: 21 WAG's and 7 Air Gunners all RCAF. Charles Fisher, +Curtis Albert Goring, +John Stanley Measor, +(J/9253) Russell McIntyre Monck, +John Frederick Tuck-

Co. 30 Air Observers (Oct. 27 - Dec. 5, 41) : 33 graduates. 27 RCAF (J/9771) Frank Cochrane, Brantford; +Douglas Graeme Harrison Johnson, +Hugh Roderick Neil McCormick, +(J/9770) John Irven MacKenzie, +James Alexander Ramsay, John Sandham; +(J/9763) Robert Alexander Urquhart - DFC 50/617 Sqns., Moose Jaw; +(J/9764) Roy Gordon Morrison - DFC 405 Sqn., Vancouver; H.C. Hoskins, Vancouver; Don Langille, Edmonton; Bill Jackson, Perth N.B. or N.Z.; +(J/9762 - R/86610) Arthur Bryan Morlidge - 419 Sqn., Lloydminster, Sask.

4 RNZAF: Russell Lanquet, Welllington; Ayle Canham, Hamilton

2 RAF

Ken Waters; Sgt. L. Oliver; Harold G. Slaughter; Gordon J. Stringer

Posted to

No. 1 ANS Rivers: Urquhart, Morlidge

Course 28 Air Gunner and Co. 39 Air Observers: March 29 - April 24, 1942

Wings Presentation was held in the Drill Hall in the evening. Group Captain Delhaye, DFC presented badges.

Co. 28 Air Gunners: 31 RCAF. +(J/11358 - R/98488) Charles Corbett Shadle and +(J11357) Allan Arthur Pierce - 356 Sqn., St. Stephen, N.B., received commissions. Sgt. Warne received the Air Gunner trophy. +(R/137111) Robert Earl Williams - 426 Sqn.

Co. 39 Air Observers: 22 RNZAF, 1 RCAF. (NZ412266) Sgt. George Gilbert Jackson-Potter top in class

+(J/78046) John Fellows - 75 Sqn., Toronto; +(R/106277) William Joseph Sullivan - 426 Sqn., Pt. Arthur; +(R98510) Lawrence Dennis Ryan - 428 Sqn., Roseland, Sask.

Course 29 WAG's and Co. 40 Air Observers: April 13 - May 8, 1942

Co. 40 Air Observers: 19 RCAF, 1 RNZAF, 1 RAF

C.M. Barron, Fonthill; George Bird - 38 Sqn., Toronto; +(R103151) Kenneth Willard Rosevear - 428 Sqn., Toronto; D.K. Stewart, Toronto

Co. 29 WAG's: 24 RCAF. +(J11600) Paul Plattson, Winnipeg and Frederick Reader, Kirkland Lake appointed commissions

K.M. Boyle, Toronto; (R125013) J.J. Greer, Cornwall; (J85476) Peter George Patrick Loubert, Smooth Rock Falls; J.V. Morrow, South Mountain; +(J18470) Russel Creth Sullivan - 500 Sqn., Callander

+(R/107016) Max Ernest Putnam - 424 Sqn.

No. 5 Bombing & Gunnery School Dafoe, Saskatchewan

Sunday, October 28, 2012

July 23, 1941

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