CAHS Prince Edward Island Chapter Newsletter

CAHS Prince Edward Island "Carl F. Burke, MBE" Chapter

PRESIDENT’S REMARKS
The President welcomed everyone to the December meeting and introduced Mr. Dave Loggie who spoke on the need to refurbish the three mounted aircraft near the Slemon Park gate. He advised that financial support might be available through Government agencies and that a formal application should be put forward if the Chapter was interested. Mike Everett agreed to look into the matter and would report back. Roy read an obituary received for F/O Dave Roger, DFC, of Sault Ste Marie, Ont. who died Sep.1, 2004. He was a Rear Gunner on a Lancaster aircraft that conducted operations known as the Dam Buster Raids which destroyed three dams in the Eastern Germany during WWII. Following up on the Mount Pleasant Restoration Plan, Roy reported that Barb Broome was successful in locating a BOLINGBROOKE aircraft in Alberta and would appreciate a letter in support of her effort in relocating the aircraft to Mount Pleasant. He than introduced Scotty Campbell, a Chapter member, who gave an most interesting account of his experiences conducting aerial mapping with the RCAF and later with Spartan Systems, including the mapping of Northern Canada.

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE (RAF) AND THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE CHARLOTTETOWN AIRPORT. (Serial three; continued.)
RAF Station Charlottetown’s second year, 1942, began with a visit to the Lieutenant Governor’s residence on New Year’s Day by the Commanding Officer, Group Captain Burke. This was followed by a visit to the Station by the Minister of Defence, Colonel Ralston, on Jan.10. The problem of winter weather continued, forcing training flights to be cancelled and others to recover at nearby Air Stations. On Jan. 11, snow forced two night flight aircraft to land at Summerside, one at Moncton and one at Richibucto NB, the latter being badly damaged.

A major air accident occurred on Monday, Jan. 12, at about 1530 hours when two Anson aircraft, 5358 and 1722, of “A” Flight collided and crashed between Tea Hill and Southport (now Stratford) on the property of Mr. H. J. Kennedy. The two aircraft had just returned from major overhaul and were being test flown. It was reported that the pilots appeared to be doing a series of roll manoeuvres when the two aircraft collided ripping a wing from one of them. It appeared that the second aircraft’s pilot attempted to get his aircraft under the crippled aircraft to support it back to the Station but both crashed. All personnel were killed including a young civilian. The two aircraft were flying between 3,000 and 5,000 feet when the accident occurred. The crashed sites were within 400 yards of one another, in neither case did fire break out. The bodies were conveyed to the MacLean’s Funeral Home, Charlottetown. A Military Funeral was held at the Station on Thursday Jan. 15. Buried at the Sherwood Cemetery are LAC E.L.J Beaumont, Flying Officer G.D. Calderhead, AC1 K. Ellis, Flight Lieutenant B.J. Rofe and LAC G. W. Taylor. Buried at the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Charlottetown, is AC1. J.F. Agar. Phillip Compton, a 16 year old employee in the Reconnaissance School’s YMCA canteen who had been granted a greatly sought after familiarization flight, was also killed. Following a funeral service at the MacLean’s Funeral Home he was buried in the Peoples Cemetery, Charlottetown.

Weather continued to be the major problem for air training. Snow, fog and freezing rain were the main obstacles for pilots trying to maintain the flight schedules. In spire of this, courses continued to cycle through the school at demanding rates. At the end of the first year of operations in Feb 1942, the RAF Station was manned by 2055 personnel operating 94 Anson aircraft and achieving approximately 2400 hours of air training per month. On Feb. 16, reconnaissance courses No. 26 (GR) Pilots, No. 5A (GR Observers) and No.35 ANS (Navigators) all completed training and were posted to duties elsewhere. Also on that date, a number of Station personnel joined with the Lieutenant Governor to inaugurate a campaign to sell Victory Loan Bonds.

On Feb. 23, a warning order was received to prepare to dispatch 15 armed aircraft for anti submarine tasks. This was followed two days later by an order to modify aircraft to carry two 250 pound bombs and a rear gun. The month ended with blizzard conditions and indeed the month of February was the most disappointing as it had a high percentage of weather unfit for flying. This had placed a depressing strain on flying personnel as they were constantly on stand-by to take advantage of any breaks in the weather.

On Mar. 14, Inspector General Air Vice Marshal Croil (RAF) inspected parade personnel who were formed up in a wing of four squadrons with flights comprised of personnel in accordance with Station function. The Air Vice Marshal took the General Salute as the wing marched passed in column-of-route.

In spite of poor weather conditions, the first three months of 1942 were the most intensive flying training period for the RAF having achieved over 5200 flying hour per month with 94 Anson aircraft. By April, the flying conditions were beginning to improve and flying training proceeded at a pace. Reconnaissance’s Courses No. 32 (GR) Pilots, No. 7A (GR) Observers and ANS 32 No. 38 & 39 Navigators graduated and were posted out. There was more than the usual number of visitors in April which included: Group Captain Banting and Squadron Leader Brandon to discuss the expansion of No. 31 General Reconnaissance School and the movement of No. 32 Air Navigation School to Summerside; Squadron Leader MacArthur visited to assess the layout for a Blind Approach Installation for the main runway; and, Colonel Johnson and Squadron Leader Parker came to discuss Station Defence in the event of an enemy landing. It was determined that P.E.I. had 100 trained men at the Beech Grove Inn, 70 Veteran Guard at Borden, 40 Naval Ratings at Charlottetown and approximately1000 Civilian Home Guard scattered throughout the Island.

An air search for a missing Anson 6631 from Station Chatham, NB, was conducted during April 7-9. Continuous search coverage by ten aircraft during daylight hours was conducted in a 20 mile wide line from Cape Tormentine to Chatham, without success.

On May 10, the first of many submarine sightings in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and approaches was reported. Since these waters were the main training area, the RAF Anson crews were given the dual task of conducting training and Anti Submarine Patrols. On May 12, following the sinking of the first vessel in the Gulf, Eastern Air Command, Halifax, ordered maximum protection of surface vessels during daylight hours. Further, there was an increasing effort to position the air training to the areas embracing the Canso Strait area and the Eastern Gulf. Submarines were reported in the northern part of the Gulf on May 16; and consequently, orders were given to move convoy routes to the south in order to provide increased air coverage.

On May 25, General Reconnaissance School courses were increased to nine and the Navigation School courses were reduced to eight with 20 students on each course. An air raid practice, including the scattering of aircraft and the defensive positioning of personnel, was carried out as part of the Station’s self defence posture. This exercise resulted in important lessons being learned. Regrettably, a day later, a motor vehicle accident resulted in the death of Bruce Constable, a civilian, employed at the Station.

The continuous convoy movements through the Gulf provided excellent student training in Operational Support of surface ships for both staff and students. On May 28, a Naval Cutter accident in the Charlottetown Harbour resulted in a call for Station support. Station medical staff responded by providing medical assistance and transportation of the injured to hospital. Able Seaman Stewart was a fatality in this accident. Also this day, a student reported sighting a submarine northeast of East Point P.E.I. but an exhausted search revealed nothing.

On June 6, Anson 9577 piloted by Pilot Officer D.G. Cowie crashed landed due to engine failure east of Charlottetown without injury but the aircraft was a write-off. Throughout the summer during daylight hours over 100 aircraft sorties each day were tasked to conduct combined training and Anti Submarine patrols over convoy routes in the Gulf. On June 17, a submarine was spotted and two aircraft were dispatched to the target location at 47 degrees and 12 minutes north latitude and 62 degrees and 12 minutes west longitude. An hour later, a periscope “feather” was sighted about one mile from the first submarine sighting. No further contact was made with the submarine. Two large convoys were given close air support until they vacated the hostile area. At the end of June, 1942, there were 11 General Reconnaissance courses, 6 Air Navigation courses and 2 staff pilot training courses for a total of 424 students in residence. In total, there were 3569 personnel and 88 Anson aircraft flying 5186 hours in the month of June. W/C E.L.F. Meynell and five other officers left for Station Summerside on Jul. 7 to commence a General Reconnaissance School No #1 there. S/L Warcup replaced W/C Meynell at No # 31 GNS. The following day P/O Lister and crew crashed in Anson 9654 near the Charlottown Exhibition Grounds badly damaging the aircraft and one crew member receiving a broken arm. On Jul. 9, Lac R.H. Wong drowned when on leave while swimming at Murray River and was buried four days later with full RAF Military Honours at the Sherwood Cemetery.

Air Vice Marshal R. Leckie, Air Member for training, visited the Station on Jul 21. During this time an average of 70 sorties were being flown during daylight hours in the Gulf. On Jul. 28, fishermen reported seeing a submarine 20 miles north of St. Peters and a short time later two patrol aircraft confirmed a submarine astern of a convoy nearby. No further mention is made of these submarine sightings. On Jul 31, two graduating Staff Pilot courses were posted to the new No 1 GNS at Station Summerside. On this date, the RAF Station Charlottetown manpower reached the maximum level that it would attain with a total of 3893 personnel.

On Aug. 1, P/O Pearson reported seeing a submarine in position 4645N 6232W, a short distance south of a passing convoy. A follow up search of the area made no further contact with the submarine. On Aug. 8, Anson aircraft 1611, flown by Sgt. G.W. Hankins, make an emergency landing in a field near Mount Stewart. Later in the day, P/O J.A. Shane, a staff pilot, was recovering the force landed Anson from the field when the aircraft swerved striking a young boy, James Garnham, who died instantly. The pilot was not to learn of the tragedy until he returned to Station. On the same day, Anson 3404 crashed on take-off killing three crew members and injuring a fourth. Dead were: Pilot, P/O D.G. Cowie; Navigator, Sgt. O Parker; W/T Ops, LAC G.W. McLean. Severely injured was a student, P/O J.A. Powell. On Aug. 10, funeral services were held at the Station for Sgt. Parker and LAC McLean, as well as, LAC C.J. Harris, also RAF, who was killed in an accident at Summerside on the same day. P/O Cowie was buried in Wnnipeg.

By this time, plans were being made for RAF personnel who were in the first echelon to open the Station in Jan. 1941 to be repatriated. On Aug. 15, one and one-half years after arriving, S/L D.C. Walker and 123 Non Commissioned Officers departed for the UK. On Aug 21, an aircraft in the Gulf reported that an enemy surfaced submarine was seen to dive quickly. Air patrols of this area were increased substantially and on Aug. 27 a submarine conning tower was sighted 40 miles east of the Magdalen Islands. Strike aircraft were dispatched but nothing further was found.

Air Navigator Course ANS #50 graduated on Aug. 28, 1942, and the following day the RAF Air Navigator School closed at Station Charlottetown. An Administrative Officer and Instructor would remain until Sep.14 to terminate the school. The Station continued the training of 14 pilot and 4 Observer General Reconnaissance courses, totalling 252 students. At the end of August 1942, the Station had 3660 personnel and 82 Anson aircraft including eight Ansons on loan to a new No 1 General Reconnaissance School at Station Summerside. Flying for the month of August was 5332 hours. The RAF Station was declining in personnel from the peak it established a month earlier. (To be continued in the next edition.)