rcaf winnipeg base - oct 1943

8/7/2019 RCAF Winnipeg Base - Oct 1943

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OCTOBER, 1943TEN C EN TS TH E. CO py


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'AT OUR W . E . T . P . SCHOOLS

Pictured above are scenes of classes conducted at the Manitoba Technical Institute, Anna Gibson Schooland St. John's Technical School, under the extensive training program of the War Emergency Training Plan.These schools are attached to No. 3 Wireless School for pay and discipline.At the M.T.I.: (1) Forging; (2) Soldering; (3) Aero-Engine; (4) Air Frame fabrication; (5) Rigging; (6)

A.E.M. class; (7) Radio instruction. At the St. John's Technical School: (8) a claaa in wireless.,. At theAnna Gibson School: (9) a lecture on aircraft recognition.


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Published Monthly by Airmen of No. 3 Wireless School, R.C.A.F.,By permission of Wing Commander A. Walmsley, Commanding Officer.

Vol. 1, No.6. October, 1943.No.3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

EditorEDITORIAL STAFF

................. ... Cpl. Herman, 1. 1.W.O.l Gray, J. R. W.O.2 King, H. G.

Cp!. Dowie, A.Editorial Secretary AWI Rippell, M.D.Senior Advisory Editor FIL F. F. Gravelle

Photos by H. K. White.

SPEED THE V ICTORYOnce again the Dominion Govern-ment is turning to the people of Canadafor financial aid to helpfinish the war success-fully.

This time $1,200,000,000is being sought to buy thetools of war to keep ourmen supplied on all fight-ing fronts of the globe.

The Fifth Victory Loanoffers men in the service an opportun-ity to save for after the war and alsoenables the men in training to get intothe fight with their fighting dollars.Don't forget that this is now an of-fensive war. We are no longer takingit. We are dishing it out. We arenow on the road to victory. But theroad is a long one, and to speed the vic-

tory means more money-more moneythan ever before.Today your dollars can buy guns,ammunition and vital supplies for ourcomrades in arms. Tomorrow yourdollars will buy you many of the luxur-ies you have always wanted.By lending your money through Vic-tory Bonds you are also investing inyour own safety, while in the service.Remember, our W.A.G.'s get the bestof equipment and this costs money.

Remember, you are asked only tolend your money. You are not com-pelled to give it as in Nazi-occupiedEurope. You are still free to give ofyour own free will.Let's do all we can to keep our Can-ada free. Let's buy all the bonds wepossibly can NOW.When you are asked to buy FifthVictory Loan Bonds, get your name onthe dotted line for all you're worth.

Editorial 1About Radio Operators . ._..._. _ 2Our Disciplinarians _. . . _ 3The Boys firom "Down Under"At the Flying Squadron .Notes from the Signalling Section.Y.M.C.A. Newsy Notes _. . _ 5"Hen Gen".St. John's "Tech" Notes _. .. ._.____ 6Squadron News ._._._.__.__. .. . . 7 - 10Our S.W.O.Manitoba. "Tech" News ...._. ... .____ 11Sport Highlights .._.__. ._. . ..__._ 12 - 13Favourite Star Ballot .__._____ 16


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2 W.A.G. MAG.

Bomber Radio Operator Rates High in ImportanceLONDON-(R.C.A.F. News Service)-The

radio operator on an R.C.A.F. bomber is apretty important fellow. His task isn't spec-tacular, but when he's needed, he's neededbadly.

Picture a bomber over the Ruhr Valley witha wounded crew member aboard and with oneor two engines out of commission, perhapsbelching smoke. There's no moon out, andfreezing rain beats a constant tattoo on thefuselage.

Visibility is virtually zero, and the planeis forced to return home-must do so by theshortest possible route. We won't say thatthe navigator is "lost", but his idea of hislocation is too vague if the ship is to gethome without crossing enemy-occupied terri-tory where flak positions are heavy.

This is an emergency to be handled by thewireless operator, who sits at his own littletable in a compartment surrounded by radioreceivers, transmitters and other radio de-vices of a special nature. He is a man whocan find out what lies ahead-despite theclouds, despite the darkness. He can findhis exact location, or the course to follow toreach home. Or if the crew are ready toditch in the sea, it is he who gives Air-seaRescue Service his position.

Gets a FixSo the navigator calls up the Wireless

Operator and asks him to get a "fix". TheWAG contacts a control station in England,which in turn co-or-dinate with two other sta-tions, and in no time they are able to signalback the distressed plane's exact location.When the bomber gets closer to home theWAG can ask for a "QDM", which comes backto him in the form of a bearing and courseto fly in degrees.

Typical Wireless Operator-Air Gunner isSgt. Jack Williams of Box 4, Cumberland,RC. Jack, who is on an all-Canadian squad-ron, once got his trailing aerial shot awayby an unusually heavy concentration of flak.

"It came too close for comfort", was all hehad to say. He considers such experiencesto be just part of an "every-night" job car-ried out by Canadian airmen. Men like Jackdon't often have glowing accounts to tell in-terrogators grouped around a table. TheWAG usually sits there, quietly sipping amug of hot cocoa as he listens to the vividreports of the other alrcrew.

It's only when he has guided his bomberback to home base by bearings, or perhapsmanned a machine gun to blast away at at-tacking night fighters, that he enters intoconversation.

Invaluable WorkSgt.- WAG Milton Warren, of Geraldton,

Ont., making his 13th mission over enemyterritory recently, was able to assist intelli-gence officers to accurately chart the posi-tion of a particularly large fire on the targetmap. "I just happened to be looking out mywindow as my pilot banked to avoid a flakbarrage", said Warren, "and there, expandingoutwards like the ripple in a pool of water,was an explosion that would have done theold devil proud. It bloomed up like the holemade by a crayfish ... if you know what Imean."

Matt Cruickshank, 29, formerly of 424 PittStreet, Cornwall, Ont., garage mechanic, isanother. You see WAGS come from all walksof life and all ages. Some of them formerlyhad "ham" stations before the war. Othersknew nothing about electrical devices and hadto learn "from the ground floor up". Theil'job is never done. New technical radio aidsare continually being developed and theymust master their use and operation. Codesand methods of procedure also change, andthe wireless operator absorbs their use. Heis constantly "going to school", so to speak.By actual count, he's required to do morethings in an aircraft than any other manaboard. He's the key man.

Seldom in NewsYou don't read much about wireless air-

gunners in mission reports unless they hap-pen to be stories about bombers that havebeen lost in bad weather . . . or have beensaved from the seas by signals sent out on aportable radio from a rubber dinghy. Thenthe attention focusses on the boy behind thekey. He is the only man in the aircraft whocan guide the ship back. The pilot can't doit . : . he has no course to fly. The naviga-tor can't do it ... bad weather makes it im-possible for him to take an astroshot or tochart a course without radio bearings. It's -the WAG's show. He's the man the rest ofthe crew look to, to get them home. . He'sthe unsung hero of the mission. It's just anevery-day job to him.


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OCTOBER, 1943. 3

Ou r D iscip linariansHaving downed two plates of ice cream

and a bowl of pickles last night in a fineeffort to achieve my secret ambition-a dreamof Betty Grable in technicolor-I was annoy-ed to receive instead, a quiet pastoral scenefrom a western picture. One of the moredaring interludes showed a sheep dog dartingamong his charges, keeping them together,directing their course and barking at the heelsof the stragglers. F'eeling that he was beingwatched, the dog-apparently the chief ac-tor in the picture - stopped suddenly andturning around, gave me a long, soul-search-ing look. To my amazement I discoveredthat his were the uncompromising featuresof my disciplinarian corporal at Manning De-pot. You can be sure, dear reader, that Iwas mighty glad to see him again (but don'tbet on it).

Certainly I am not suggesting that my for-mer playmate had gone to the dogs or thathis mother was of the canine species, but

By Joerather that at his work I had apparently al-ways likened him, subconsciously, to the hard-working, patient, wholly admirable, sheepdog,-respected by everybody but the sheep.

Having personally (and that's as neal' asyou get to my identity, chum) broken awaysomewhat from the fold (sheep language) Ican look somewhat dispassionately at discip-linarians (not easy, I admit) and find themfor the greater part very good chaps. Delv-ing deep into my notes on this form of life Icome up with the following theory, quote: "Agood disciplinarian is a fine fellow but a finefellow is not necessaraly a good disciplinar-ian", unquote. You have five seconds to un-ravel that one.

There are approximately twenty disciplin-arians on this station and if they were laidend to end and could be counted on to staythere, this article would not be wr-itten anony-mously.

(Continued on page 14)

Front Row (left to right): Sgt. Stsee, E.; F/Sgt. V lassie, E.; W.O.2 Bland, T.;, F/Sgt. Morrison, H.;Sgt. Jowett, G.; Cpl. Jones, A.Second Row (left to right): Cpl. Ludwig, R.; Cpl. Bereskin, J.; Cpl. Cramb, R.; Cpl. Lattimer, V.; Cp1.Mills, V.; Cpl. Bray, A. Absent: W.O.1 Gray, J. R., S.W.O.; Sgt. Ellstone, M.


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4 W.A.G. MAG.

Cpl. L. H. Wilkinson.Another entry of Aussies has built up the

strength of the new 77 Squadron. Good luckto them in their efforts to gain WAG wings.The road is hard but as many of them havebeen doing a job of werk in our AIF andHome Forces they have already proven thatthey can "take it" and "dish it out".

They have brought along some of the latesthome news of mates in the services, manyof these having joined the ranks of deadheroes in the New Guinea ranges. By theway, the war seems to be brightening up alittle up that way, and our enemies have beenpushed weI! away from our front door.

We still have to regain all of Dutch NewGuinea and Rabou!' The latter will be atough proposition as it means a sea hop of afew hundred miles from the mainland withTrurk Island not very far north.

Back home the voting majority seem to begreatly in favor of keeping the Labor partyin power while the New Zealand elections re-sulted in a close win for the Labor party,thus starting their third term of office.

The regular monthly issues of the Austra-lian Comforts Fund parcels are greatly ap-preciated by our boys and seem to come at atime when they are most needed.

Our down under news service is regularand touches on most events of interest. Wordthat a beer wagon had upset in a Sydneystreet is the type of touching little episodesthat makes us homesick and glad that thedays of television are not far off. One'simagination runs amok as he envrsionscrowds of people gathered kneeling in silentprayer or "something". Apparently the bee:'shortage is still acute. What a terrible thingwar is. However, we seem to do weI! inWinnipeg. We picked out a few extractsfrom letters to home.

Winnipeg is one of the finest cities we havevisited to date. Ithas so much of everythingincluding four seasons in one day. The sum-mer spring and fall remind, us of home. ButWinnipeg, we are told, averages ten girls toevery man, so who wants to think of home.We have noticed that very few Aussies orNewsies are about the station on week-ends,so most of them have a home to go to, thanksa lot to the hospitality of Winnipegers.

The next event of interest to all 'down-unders' will be the Melbourne Cup. This ison the first Tuesday in November. Alreadythe boys are talking of the best horses. Itisthe one race in Australia when everyone hasa bet or a ticket in a sweep. Quite often itis won by a Newsie horse. As we tell theNewsies: we grow men in Australia, nothorses. We hope to be able to get the accept-ance before it is run.

At the Flying SquadronBy W.O.2 N. Joseph

Personnel of the Flying Squadron is chang-ing fast with many of the boys going intoaircrew. We'll fix 'em and fly 'em too! Sgt.(WOG) D. V. Woods and Sgt. (WM) C. R.Taylor are both taking to the air and FlyingOfficer R. A. Fiddes, former O.C. Air Opera-tions, is going after the double wings of apilot. Then FlO Fiddes hopes to go back andstart in again where he left off after opera-tions in England, Malta and North Africa.

* * *Due to iII health, Flight Lieutenant Morton,our adjutant, has retired from the IR.C.A.F.Our best wishes go with him! Taking overthe adjutant's job is F/L Hearn, formerlyO.C. of 65' Squadron. A welcome is also ex-tended to F/L J. G. Mathieson, new O.C. AirOps, who came to the Flying Squadron afteractive service with B. R. Squadrons on theEast Coast.

* '* From the femme's corner comes the goodnews that LAW Mitchell has been promoted'to a corporal, and the bad news that AW.lDavis is leaving us for No.1 Training Com-mand in Toronto. *' * *The S_t.. Charles Hotel: was the scene of afestive dinner dance on Friday, October 8th.

Almost' every' member of the Flying Squad-ron was present and a good time was had byall.

* * The 'advent of winter brings on the bowlingseason and this year we have ten teams inour league, all raring to go.


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OCTOBEIR, 1943. 5

Notes From the' Signalling SectionBy Sgt. Mac Taylor

which we have become accustomed and whichwe have endured.

Everyone was happy to see Cpl. "Tommy"Bedwell back on the job again. We do notknow if his stay is for long but we certainlyhope so.

The Cpl. you see going around with a wor-ried look is not worrying about the usualthings like money, bills, etc. The first oneis alwa:\,'s tough on the proud father, they say.

Everything being said that is printable,may we take this opportunity of again re-minding the trainees that morse isn't sotough if you dig in the right direction. Re-member you can write all day, hut it won'tdo you any good if you're not concentrating.In other words, "'Tain't what you do, it's theway that you do it."

The old Comm. Section "aint what it usedto be"-we are now known as the SignallingSection. This has been in effect for quite awhile now, but there are probably still thosewho are not aware of the change. However,don't let it fool you. We might not have thename, but we stillhave the game. Ap-ply to the nearesttrainee for informa-tion on this matter.

We are all pleasedto see FIt. Lt. R. E.Mooney take overthe job of "SignalSection Boss". Manyof us remember himfrom the earlier dayswhen No. 3 was yeta pup, and some ofus before that. Whilewe know he has un-dertaken one of the FILl. R. E. Mooneytoughest jobs in the Air Force, we are surehe will fit in fine, and are doubly sure thatwe are all behind him. Welcome to the Sec-tion, Sir.

A great many changes have taken placewithin the last month and while we weremuddled up for a while things are beginningto straighten out. Foremost among thesechanges was the loss of two of our instruc-tors and pals, namely Sgt. Tarzan Walkerand Sgt. Happy Fierce, who re-mustered toaircrew, Most of us in the section haveworked and fought with these two for along time and needless to say the loss is felt.Especially in the games room do we miss theWalker 5th Overture and the Fierce Stomp.But we know our misfortune is their goodluck so all the section wishes them the bestpossibile and may all their dreams come true.

Probably by the time you read this we willhave lost more of our old gang to aircrewduties. Sgts. Gauvreau, Gair, Esselman andKuster have been cutting out aeroplanes anddoing stall turns for the past month. Theyare expected in Edmonton about the 15th ofOctober. So, in case they are gone beforethe next issue our well-wishes are again ex-tended and there is no need of mentioninghow we will miss them and their habits to

~I I E W S Y ~ I IO T E S

Now that fall and winter are rollingaround, Lorne Gleason, our "Y" Supervisor, isgiving a call to all boys who are hunting forrecreation, whether it be private parties, thetheatre, rifle shooting or hobby work. Theentertainment groups around Winnipeg puton some great shows for the Services downat the Orpheum Theatre and if you droparound to see Lorrie, he will see that you getsome tickets.

How about giving the girls a break, fellas;your "Y" man has plenty of invitations forparties on Saturday nights. No sense wan-dering around town when you can go to agood private party. Mr. Gleason 'can also fixyou with a week-end off the station, or areal Sunday dinner.

Here we have almost forgotten the biggestevent of the month. Yes, you're right, it'sthe Airmen's Dance in the Drill Hall on Oc-tober 16. Be there, boys! It sounds good!

Lorne Gleason also wants to remind theflight seniors that now is the time to get theirteams entered in the rifle shooting competi-tion for the coming months.


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6

IIH en G 1/enBy AWI M. Gordon

Four new sets of hooks are shining in theW.D. barracks now. Congratulations are dueto Mitchell, O'Malley, Cronkite and Wilson.The WOGS are really showing what they aremade of and we are proud of them. But ap-parently the life of an NCO isn't as easy asall that. One of them was taking parade forthe first time the other morning. Everythingwent well until; she reached the S's, S-S-S-S-teele she called, and the echo came backagain, C-C-C-C-C-orporal.

* * *We were awfully interested in being askedto Government House to an inter-service tealast Saturday. We met lots of army gals, andother W.D.'s and THE Wren. She was theonly one in Winnipeg at the time and at leastcould boast that no one else had on the samedress. We wandered round and admired thebeautiful furnishings and licked our fingersafter we had demolished all we possibly couldof that lucious gooey cake.

* * *We are so glad to welcome Sgt. Ward andPat Hall back to No. 3 and are very sorryto see Davis off to Toronto. Good luck in theEast, Marge. No. 1 Training Command isluckier than it knows.

We hear that the boys in the radio roomgot a free concert the other day. AnnieLaurie was being featured in a solo perform-ance. Versatile people, these WOGS.

And who is the WD who has been display-ing such a sudden interest in hockey? Couldit be a purely athletic viewpoint?

Sergeant Caldwell. has been seen out witha pretty handsome PIO lately, congratula-tions, Sarge, I guess all he needed was thatred headed influence. .,,'* **The W.D. canteen is holding an open houseevery Tuesday night. This is a special in-vitation to all you boys to come in and havesome fun. We'd love to see you, so let's makeit a date for next week. Come over anytimeafter nine o'clock. But if you stay aftertwelve you'll have to help roll back the rug.

W.A.G. MAG.

S t . J o h n s " T e c h " N o t e sThe third entry of AG's has now begun its

strenuous studies at St. John's Tech. NightSchool ... sad, at the first glance, but whoever complained about being able to sleep inevery morning. Comprising a half dozenNCO's and about a hundred "Clinks", wefairly ooze with the spirit of one happyfamily.

After our first week here, we really "lovede place" and could gladly shake the hand ofMr. DAPS for having posted us here.

It was, however, with a great deal of fearand trepidation 'that we presented ourselvesthe other morning for our Harvard Test -so many of our men are re-musters and ittakes more than a week to get Johnny Muscleand Jane Heart into the proper conditions for'so much' of this '.up, down, business'. We allmade it, though just barely. Corporal Rogerssaid "Next time, I'll try going to bed thenight before the test". LAC Pryce (short buttough) quote-If those benches were a halfinch higher, I would have had to use stilts.It's the first time that I played the part ofa cocktail shaker-unquote, and then slunk,leadenly away. (What could he have meant?)

More anonymous questions:Why didn't I go to school instead of being

ignorant like "Pa" ? "Why don't they keepthe women away from the school so that "Vic-tor Mature" MacDonald could get to classeson time"? "Why does the weather have to beso grand-evenings"? All right! All right!

We've had a pennant designed for ourschool and almost everyone has shown a de-sire to obtain one-we're right proud of it.That's all for now,. dear readers, but you'll behearing from Corporal Bereskin's clan regu-larly in future WAG Mag. issues.


9/20

OCTOBEIR, 1943. 7

Squadron69By LAC S. E. McBride.

This is the "fighting 69th" reporting. Bythe time the magazine goes to press oursquadron will be one month closer to the dayof g-raduation. We have managed to get toOutstations and Crew Labs and are doingnicely. When we first went out there wethought for sure that we would all end upwith shattered nerves, but after the firstweek we found that our nerves were still in-tact. It could be that the W.D. personnelout there have a very soothing effect on ournerves.

With only one squadron to graduate beforeour great day, we are naturally very excited.All of us are looking forward to graduationand it can't come soon enough for us.

* * *"I have decided - I have spoken"; thesewords are now famous and will go down inthe annals of the squadron's history. Theyare the favorite saying of our new and popu-lar N.C.O.-Corporal Mills.

* *Wedding bells are in the air for a certain

party in 7A. He was seen downtown on Sat-urday shopping for a narrow gold band. Wehope he found a nice one.

*A few of the inmates have taken up the

habit of smoking cigars, much to the pro-tests of the other boys.

>I < *"Shorty" Calned is constantly being kidded

about his size. It's getting so that people onthe street comment on his height. On our lastparade, one onlooker remarked-"Look at thelittle one in the middle". "Shorty" still hasn'tgot over that. Never mind, kid, rememberthat good things always come in small pack-ages.

* *LAC Cozry and LAC Meloche have return-ed after spending a few days at Deer Lodge.They had their tonsils out. For a few daysafter their return they were at a loss forwords. Because of their sore throats theirconversations were somewhat limited.

News 71By LAC S. E. T. Gannaway.Our squadron is back from its week of leave

now and the poor unfortunates who stayedbehind are all showing a quiet grin, a hag-gard face and puffy eyes. From reports Ihave heard the boys who went to the Statesslept all day and played all night. One hadsaid to me that he had not seen daylight oncein the States and doesn't know what the placelooks like after nine days there. He onlysaw it in the dark. There are weird talestold now all over the hut of happenings seem-ingly incredible.

Not all went to the States. Quite a fewof the boys made a smouldering track forhome while a small band of Anzacs went toKenora.

The flights have now been changed aroundwith the results each man is finding new"cobbers" and getting to really know moremen.

We have now with us Cpl. Berry (discip.)in Sgt. Grant's place, resulting in much dis-turbing yelling very early in the morning.Friend Malyon gets peeved at being awaken-ed before breakfast and Logan doesn't likeit much either. Cpl. Berry tells him he willgrow into a fine big man if he rises early, sosoon we will have to be good to beat Loganfrom our beds.

Our sports personality this week is Cpl.(Baldy) Bradley. He started wrestling in1940 and made a good show all through for3 years until he joined the R.,C.A.F. In thatspace of time he won 3 junior championshipsin Ontario with a weight of 160 lbs, We haveno doubt that if Baldy had continued withthis he would have made big things. Still,he says wars must be fought and there isplenty of time after the whole thing is over.Good luck, Post-war Brad.

An airman overseas wired his wife askingfor a divorce. His wife wired back saying,"We have been happily married for ten years,but if you want a divorce you may have it.Is it another woman?"

"Of course it is," came the reply.His wife wired back: "What has she got

that I haven't got?""Nothing," answered the airman, "but she's

got it HERE!!"


10/20

8 , W.A.G. MAG.

Among Next Graduates

First Row (left to right):: Langill, O. C.; McNair, M. C.; Dishar t, Do; Dauplaise, M.; Mussellum, E.;McCrae, J. a., Scharf, W. J.j Fuller, D. Co; Ferguson, J. H.; Cpl. Graves, J.Second Row (left to right): Garty, C. D.; Budd, A. J.; Cavanaugh, B. T.; Bruce, B. S.; Gillette, L.;Court, L. G.; Adams, J. R.; FlO A. E. Hockly, O.C. Squadron; Walker, H. J. T.; Jewell, C. v.. Leitch,R. 0.; Sawchyn, E.; Rh'uebo t tcm, P.; Chatfield, H. R.; Pinkham, J. M.Third Row (left to right): Parker, J. R.j Levee-Idg e; Riddle, I. S.; Agnew, T. M.; Buckland, H. Eo; Green,Co; Cowan, L.; Sts-eb!e, R. P.; Prosofsky, J.; Kirby, C. J.j Ceddszem, V. Co; Armstrong, Do; Bowdrey, A.Fourth Row (left to right): Garland, M. G.; Hill, E. J.; Thomas, C. A.j Morris, J.; Kenny, S.; Sharp, D. A.;

Routiy, W.; Murray, R. A.; Sandercott, H.; Walker, A. J.; Brown, C. Eo; McCarthy, P.; Magill, J. H.;Hoare, H.

About Squadron 67By LAC J. R. Adams.

As twenty-eight weeks of "Toil and Blood-shed, Sweat and Tears" near their conclusion,Squadron 67 presents this, our manuscript,the last which will ever grace the pages ofthis noble volume.

The finishing post is in sight and everyman is bracing himself with that last finaleffort to master the intricacies and problemswhich always lie in the path of a potentialWAG and his success.

Squadron 67 was born in the chilly air ofan April afternoon, when. those white gates,which we all know so well, closed, imprisoningbetween. the ramparts of No. 3 WirelessSchool, a band of hopeful trainees. Little didthey realize what confronted them-if thatwhite gate had borne the inscription "Aban-don hope all ye who enter here", maybe thosemen might not have been so eager to passthrough them.

The original 67th, the only squadron of itskind at that time on the station, was compos-ed solely of Canadian personnel-a draft ofmen who had been drawn from all parts ofthe country. Since the time of its birth the67th Squadron has seen many happy days and

some which have been dismal, and a few ofits members have been forced to relinquishtheir places in the squadron. However, toatone for this, we welcomed a group of die-hard New Zealanders and Australians fromthe sixty-third and sixty-fifth entries.

Under the strong and capable hand of ahardened veteran whose forbearance andguiding influence has become a passwordthroughout the squadron, we have prospered,and those melodious vocal rhapsodies - thevoices of those children of his brain- theflight commanders, can often be heard echo-ing his efficient words of command even untothe very tone of his voice. Corporal Jonesis one of the Old Brigade from World War Iand has also seen action on the Atlantic coastduring this present war, and although hehates beer and hard liquor, he is master of acomplete understanding of men and theirlittle idiosincrosies, and all members of Squad-ron 67 would like to express their apprecia-tion of the keen interest Corporal Jones hastaken in their well-being throughout the longweeks of this course.



11/20

OCTOBE'RI, 1943. 9

Squadron 77Main activity of this Squadron over the pastfew weeks-apart from the minor troubles ofmorse, radio and procedure-has been centredin sport.

After a series of false starts and misfiressome sort of order crept forth from the chaos.The league game proved favorite among therugger players who had two scratch gameswith Squadron 75. The Union Match endedin a three-all split decision. "Happy" Harmancrossing for a sweet try.

The league game was a scoreless draw andfinished in darkness; no one knowing whowas who or why. Pick of the three-quartersare Harman and Jack Henry, who is at homeanywhere in the back line. Among the for-wards Bede Donlon and Don Turner playedhard football in both games.

The Australian Rules team had only onegame, Squadron 75 proving too fast iIJ. alldepartments. Playing at Assiniboine Park

we took a licking to the tune of 9 - 9 (63) to1-7 (73). Allan Barrett, full forward, kickedthe squadron's lone goal. It is to be hopeda return match can be arranged as the boysfeel the next time will see a horse of anothercolor finish a length or two in front.

Allan Barrett, incidentally, is suffering froman idea and would like to hear from any 77genius who can sing, groan or make a noise(preferably musical) on any instrument.

Funniest turn of the month was FredLonge's 22nd birthday. Ably supported byboozin - sorry, bosom - pal "Skeeter" Har-greaves, Fred 'put on a show in 9A Hutworthy of the palmy days of old Australiantivoli shows.

The boys extend sympathy to LAC Jamie-son, who has been ill and has been transferredto another squadron, 'and to "Paddles" Wight-man, who has had a long stretch of rheuma-tic fever and who has not yet returned tothe fold.

to SoonGet Sparks

PART OF SQUADRON 67First Row (left to right): McKinnon, J. L.; ,McPhail, 1. D.; Buchanan, G. Do; Holmes, H.; Knuff, E. H.;Harrison. G.; Normandeau, P. E.; Scott, J. W.; McLean, H. J. A.; Handford, E. Q.; McLean, K. A.Second Row (left to r,~ght): Buch.anan, R. Ho; Haywood, Do; Pinkerton, B.; Thompson, S. D.; Wilkins, J.;Lilley, W.; Bard, U. J.; Wils9n, W. To; Lambert, E. W.; Berry, R.; Shillington, J.; Anderson, D. C.'Third Row (left to right): Perrin, A.; Miron, R.; Brown, L.; Olson, A. D.; Taillifer, W.; McDonald, J. M.;Copeland, R_ W.; Davis, C.; Martino, R. J.; Looten, H. J.; McAmmond, K. D.; Hendry, G.; Hay, R. W.Fourth Row (left to right): Clausen, F. A.; Gibson, C. V.; Obrien, W. B.; Fletcher, L. F.; Cooke, W.;Cpr. Hutton, E.; Strange, D. Bo; Kostynuik, H. D.; Jamieson, H.j Jamieson, J.; Hinchcliffe, J. T.; CpLBerry, H. A_ Absent: Cpl. Jones, A., Squadron Disciplinarian.


12/20

10 W.A.G. MAG.

73

We laughed on that sorry, sorry day justabout two months ago, when, on arrival,everyone started pounding our ears about theevils of morse, radio, procedure, etc. Yes, welaughed just like little Audrey of old. Nowwe are carrying on the great crusade, consid-ering it our sacred duty to warn all new-comers of their dismal future - they alsolaugh.

Now we are to be seen shuffling around,bearing the burden of knowledge and trailinga morse key-a mute testimony of the hor-rible effects of morse and more morse. How-ever, we will not bother you with any moreof our troubles. Now for a few notes fromthe boys:TO WHOM IT MAY CONGERlN:-

No, Hut 8 is not a convalescent home justbecause Jack Grice is writhing in agony witha sprained knee, Jack Bennis has his righthand in a bandage, Manson is hobbling abouton crutches. Don't get the wrong impression.This is still Hut 8, No.3 Wireless, bearingthe scars of war.

What would Squadron 75 be without Per-spex Pete filing away at that bit of "FUgitivefrom a windscreen" or "Red" Orr being afew minutes (just a few minutes) late forparade or Domonique having a chronic case ofduty watch. A very serious ailment by theway.

And here's the news from Cflight. Weare keen, ever so keen, the right type andall that. What with the boys in Anzac House(the digger to you) and hospital, our num-bers are small, but our prestige is great.News from the Morse front: According toMrs. Milling we are certain to graduate -that's according to Mrs. Milling.

At P.T. our promising young bucks shine,

By LAC SimmsAfter weeks of deep study, not too diffi-

cult exams, and long painful days of waitingfor "yes" or "no"!! the time has come for73 to depart for a nine day "~est" free frommorse, radio and instructors. The occasion?Mid-term leave, of course.

The boys rush back to favorite haunts inthe "east", "west" and some south to makethe best of a short holiday in which so manywill do so much. .

To those who stay, they, too, will havequiet and rest. It has been said that ourvery popular Cp!. Bray was on the verge, sohe probably will be glad of the break.

Due to exams, things have been reasonablyquiet in the hut the past few days. Of course,life would be incomplete without a smallamount of what "D" flight calls "fun"-Sosome nights, life was complete.

Squadron average has remained above thegood point to date, even with the loss ofPercy (letter drill) Whitebread our favorite,for that very necessary extra two or threewpm over each test. Percy is on a hardearned fortnighter. Nevertheless, more powerto the hard work of those sergeants and cor-porals who helped pull us through.

Even in these trying days our squadrondoes not lack romance, for who should be be-trothed, but the very well known and popular"Pancho" Forbes. 'Tis said that the happyevent takes places within the next nine days.Best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Forbes and maythey live happily ever after.

By the time this WAJG Mag is published,our leave will have come and gone. We willhave come back, with a much brighter out-look on life and a kind thought for our in-structors, for now the next big" day ap-proaches rapidly and with the help of Sgt.Squirrel, Cpl. Reid and God, we'll make it!

led by our ever-popular Corporal King"Kong" Pooley. We are certain to be "sup-ermen"-or else!!!

Our leading temperance advocates-LAC'sClothier, Webster, Steel, Skelbon and Maguire



13/20

OCTOBEIRI, 1943. 11

Our S.W.O.,This issue, being dedicated to the 'Discips',pardon I, the gentlemen of P.T.I. and Drill,

it is only fitting that space be allotted to thelife and loves of the 'Head Man'. We refer,of course, to our mighty atom, (as in up-and-at-'em) Warrant Officer J. R. (Get-your-blankety-blank - hands - out - of-your - pockets)

Gray.Our Heeero was

born in the autumnof 1916, just whenthings were lookingpretty black all overthe world in the lastshow. Although noappreciable improve-ment was noted inHamilton, Ont., as awhole, there wasgreat rejoicing in theGray household onOct. 16th of thatW.O.1 J. R. GRAY

year, for 10, there had been born a son."Dolly" grew quickly enough into adoles-

cence, but suddenly stopped stretching. Indefence, he says, quote, "Why get any taller.I'd only have farther to fall on party nights."

He attended the West Hamilton and Princeof Wales schools and the Hamilton Tech,graduating in due course. "Due course"meaning "OK, son, find yourself a job".Which he did, first with the firm Bradstreetsuntil they merged into the firm of Dunn andBradstreets, whereupon there wasn't roomfor the three gentlemen, and guess who waslet out? Well, it wasn't Mr. D. or Mr. B.!!He held the T, Eaton Go. together for awhile, which probably caused the retirementof the President, and subsequently returnedhome to Guelph, Ont., where the sportingworld took his fancy. (O.H.A. Junior Hockeyfinalist, Ed. Note.)

In June, 1936, he went on a tour of theStates, enjoying self-inflicted poverty to seehow the other half lived; took part in theGeneral Motor riots in Flint, Mich., in Sept.,1936, but left rather suddenly. The scabworkers thought he was a picket and thepickets thought he was a scab, worker!!

Returning to Guelph and Toronto, he be-came travelling clerk for a broker. Duringhis travels he happened to see the R.C.A.F.Trenton hockey team playoff with Pt. Col-borne for the finals, and became so enthused

i(Continued on page 15)

M a n i t o b a " T e c h " N e w sHello, everybody. Here we are with some

news and views from the good old ManitobaTechnical Institute, as compiled by our discip-linarian, Sgt. Jowett. Here is what he hasto say:

October 1st saw another bunch of fellowsgraduate from our school. Aero Engine andAir Frame Mechanics, Wireless Operatorsand Wireless Mechhanics. Quite a number ofthese boys were posted to their home townand were pretty happy about it all. Weheard a gang whooping it up at the railwaydepot on Saturday night, and 10 and beholdit was no one else but the above mentionedgraduates. We wish them happy landings.

* * *A large number of new students arrived atthis school over the week-end, from all partsof Canada, and to those fellows we extend ahearty welcome to Manitoba Technical Insti-tute and may all their efforts be successful.

May I also at this time offer an hebalfof Mr. William Webb and his staff a verycordial, although belated, welcome to WingCommander A. Walmsley, the new Command-ing Officer of No. 3 Wireless School, ourparent unit. Sir, the staff and students wishyou the very best in your new command.

* * *Flight Sgt. Simpson was seen leaving theschool the other night with a rifle and caseand when asked by Sgt. Jowett if he wished aride home, he replied, "No thanks, I am goingto my mother-in-law's."

STOP PRESS NEWSAs we go to press it is learned that

our Protestant Padre, FIt. Lt. G. E.Phillips has been posted to No. 8 Re-pair Depot.

For nearly two years Padre Phillipshas been spiritual leader at No.3 Wire-less School, and his interest in all sta-tion activities has been a source of en-coirragement for all.

Our loss is No.8 Repair Depot's gain.


14/20

12 W.A.G. MAG.

COMMANDO COURSE

In an effort to improve the physical fitnessof airmen on this station the P.T. section isconstructing a "Commando Course", whichshould be completed shortly.

The obstacles were carefully selected so asto develop the" trainees' keenness, courage,strength, alertness and all round physical en-durance.

Included in this course will be thirteen ob-stacles. Three 2lh foot hurdles will introducethe participants to the course, and a postdodge will familiarize them with it.

A long rib-run, consisting of bags laid lat-erally across a box will follow, with a ladder-clim ten feet high, being next.

_ < \ . bear trap, similar to an enclosure eightfeet high and twelve feet square is next andsome difficulty should be encountered in over-coming this obstacle.

Following this, a wall climb fifteen feetin height, precedes a straddle run fourteenfeet long. This obstacle consists of twoboards or logs facing each other diagonallywith space of one foot in between and mustbe negotiated on the run.

A maze or dodge will follow. This consistsof separate, semi-enclosed cubicles throughwhich the participants must find their wayon the run.

A rope swing over a mud and water pitshould be the cause of much after-hour work-ing and laundering.

Following in sequence are an old tire sus-pended above the ground and a hand-over-hand ladder climb over a water pit.

A record will be kept of the fastest time,and each month a "Station Comando" will beselected with full recognition tendered him.

All told, the "Commando Course" shouldprove to be a boom in the work of developingkeen, alert and physically fit airmen and soenable them to perform their task much moreefficiently and with greater ease,

S port H ighlights atRUGGER

The station Rugger league continues withSquadron 69 winning over 75 in two succes-sive games by the scores of 22-8 and 16-8.The 75th entry is getting stronger all thetime and should be the team to watch.

Squadron 77 made its initial appearance bylosing to the league leading Sqdn. 71. The71st squadron is only one game ahead of 69and a thrilling game should result when theymeet next week. .

The station saw its first Australian Rulefootball game when Squadron 77 met Squad-ron 75 at Assiniboine Park. 75 emerged vic-torious by a score of 63-19.

Squadron 65 graduated and with them wentmany fine football players and athletes, suchas LAC Breed, LAG Girvan and LAC Heperi.Their fine sportsmen were a credit to theirteam and we wish them the best of luck al-ways.

SOFTBALLThe Flying Squadron, now Inter-Squadron

Softball Champions, took the Mid-West Air-craft Softball team into camp in a gameplayed on No. 3 Softball Diamond, Tuesday,September 28th.

The fifth inning opened up with the FlyingSquadron on the short end of the score, buttheir fighting spirit was too much for theMid-West crew. Harry Muncaster clouted ahome run with two men on bases and soturned the tables on Mid-West. The FlyingSquadron collected four more runs to close thefifth inning with a leading score of 8 to 3.

Mid-West showed a great threat in thesixth inning when they chalked up four moreruns and played smart ball.

The Flying Squadron soon increased thelead in the seventh inning when they woundup the game with more runs to make a finalscore of 10 to 7.


15/20

OCTOBE!R. 1943. 13

No. 3 W ireless School _ . 'Sport Personality of theMonthCpJ. "Wally" Stanowski needs no introduc-

tion to Canadian hockey fans, but we areproud to present him to airmen from faraway places and those who are not followersof the sports pages.

Wally's claim to fame-and it is well stak-ed, - is his greatsuccess in amateurand professional hoc-key. Being a West-ern boy, (Winnipegis his home town) ,he practically grewup on hockey skatesbut first reached thelimelight as a de-fenceman for the St.Boniface Seals whenthey won the Dom-mion Championshipin 1938.

The profesionalscouts were in the Cpl. w. Stanowskihouse for those final games and it didn't takethem long to wave contracts before the eyesof our 19 year old defence star.

Wally accepted the offer of the TorontoMaple Leafs to enter pro hockey. For thefollowing season he went to Syracuse, theLeafs farm team, to get a little extra train-ing for 'big-time hockey.

Moving up to the Toronto team, Stan owskistarted on a forward line with Langelle andMann. (By the way, Pete Langelle is nowstationed at No.3, too.) Shifted back to hisregular defence position, our corporal beganto star. His youth, personality and greatskating made him a real crowd-pleaser ; andhe had a prominent part in bringing thechampionship Stanley Cup to the Leafs in1942. As evidence of his playing, Wally madethe professional all-star team in 'his secondyear, amongst big-time company and nearlycopped the "best-rookie" award in his firstyear.

With a great future ahead of him in thesports arena, Wally left to fly with theR.C.A.F., but due to color blindness, he isnow keeping the boys fit as a P.T.1.

WalIy is an old married man of onemonth's time, married, he says, to "the sweet-est litle girl in the world". Of course, he mether following a hockey game.

Quizzed as to his activities off the ice, Cpl.Stanowski claims that he keeps in shape try-ing to catch up to his Squadron for a roll-callcheck-up.

CRICKETThe cricket season came to a very success-

ful end on Saturday, Sept. 23, with our Wire-less "A" finishing on top of the league. Thefinal standing is as follows: 1st, Wireless"A"; 2nd, St. Georges; 3rd, Juniors; 4th,Wireless "B"; 5th, Wireless "C"; 6th, Wire-less "D".

The schedule ended the same way as itstarted with a great deal of enthusiasmamongst the players. The schedule also pro-duced many a fine player and top scorerssuch as Foster, Gilliam, Watkins, Evans,James, Allen, Dunden, Gillespie and manymore.

This section wishes to thank all the playerswho participated in the league for their fullco-operation throughout the season. And wecertainly hope to see many of the cricketplayers active in the coming autumn sports.

WAR IS HELL"Well, men, there's our objective,"Our valiant sergeant said, . . ."The zero hour approaches;Our course is straight ahead."Our men stood grimly waitingTo meet their supreme test;They knew that in this battleEach one must give his best.At last the sergeant signalled;We charged and charged again,The dust of combat cloaked a massOf bloody, milling men.A few stormed the objective,The rest lay where they fell;That's how we catch a bus to town-Yes, brother, war is hell.


16/20


17/20

OCTOBER, 1943. 15

67(Continued from page 8)During the past few months there has been

some new and notorious faces amongst us,among whom can be seen the smiling coun-tenances of Thomas Agnew (Saskatchewan),and Les Court (Australia), both of these menbrought with them from Squadron 65 theirfine athletic accomplishments. Then, ofcourse, there is Matt Hunter, a man of variedaccomplishments and who can remember theday when Squadron 61 first saw this station,and we must not omit mention of that happylittle visage of cheribian innocence which re-calls to my mind one of the blonde Ruebottomtwins, his accomplishments - shall we omitthem?And so with hopeful hearts the sixty-seventh squadron looks forward to its gradu-ation.

OUR S.W.O.(Continued from page 5)with the boys in blue that he decided to joinup, providing they had a spare yard and ahalf of uniform left. They had, and he did.He says himself -that "as usual" I was aboutthe only R.C.A.F. rooter in the rink."

"Dolly" has been stationed in Trenton,Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, before the war,No.1 M.D., St. Thomas and No.3 W.S. sincethe war, arriving at this unit on January 31,1941. He was a member of the first FighterSquadron in Western Canada and has watch-ed this station grow from infancy to thegreat Unit it is today.

And last but not least, our hero is happilymarried to one of Toronto's fairest, lives inCharleswood, complete with wife and ashaggy mammal called Smokey!

OUR SERVICE POLICE STAFFFront Row (left to right): CpJ. Smith, R.C. A.; W.O.2 Hitchon, F. R. R.; Fit. Lt. R. D. Phillips, actingD.A.P.M.; F/Sgt. Hadden, J.; Cpl. Lines, F. A. .Back Row: Cpl. Jenner, A. J.; Cpl. Britton, H. C.; Cpl. Perry, C. Absent: Sgt. Vidito, D.; Sgt. McMahon,R. A.; Cpl. Reed, C. A.; Cpi. McArthur, L.; Cpl. William, C. B,


18/20

16 W.A.G. MAG.

Here is a ballot for choosing your favorite stars in radio and screen.Fill in the names of your like in the lines below and drop the ballot in theboxes located in the Airmen's Canteen, \V.D. Canteen, Sergeants' Messand Officers' Mess before October 31st.

-----------,---------------------------------------------------- . . . .-

BALLOTRADIO

Best Variety ProgramBest Musical Program _Best Comedy Program _Best Dramatic Program ------------------------------Best Comedienne -- ------Best Actor _Best Actress _Best Man Singer _Best Girl Singer . ------------------Best Announcer (Networks)Best Announcer (Winnipeg)Best Orchestra

SCREENBest Actor , ------Best Actress ------ -- -- -- -1 ' - -- -- - - - - - -- - -- -- -- -- - - -- - -- - -- -- -- - - - -- -- -- - -- -- -- - -- - -- -- -- - - -- -- -- -- - - -- -- - - - -- - -- -- -- --Best Comedian _Best Comedienne _Best Songstress - _Best Singer _Best Dancer _Best Comedy Picture :. __Best Dramatic Picture _Best Musical Pict ure ~ __Best Orchestra .... .__... ... ........:..._.


19/20

When the last long 'flight is over,And happy landings are past,When my altimeter tells meThat the crack-up comes at last,

I'll point her nose at the ceilingAnd I'll give my crate the gun,And I'll open her up and let her zoomTo the Airport of the Sun.

And I think that the God of flying menWill smile at me kind of slow,As I stow my crate in the hangarOn the field where flyers go.

And I'll look on his face as He greets meThe Almighty Flying Boss,Whose wingspread fills the heavens

From Oreon to the Cross.Then I'll look all around me in wonderAs their greetings fall on my ears.Those who passed unafraid to the twilight,In the mist of forgotten years.From the battle-shocked airways of Flanders

From the ocean's cold merciless breast,From the pole, or the glare of the south lands,Flyers' voices bidding me rest.

There'll be Hinchcliffe, Nungesser and Coli,And brave little Eva McKay

Who flew to the West in the sunshineOf a sleeping yesterday.There'll be Richthofen chatting with BarkerWith young Roosevelt and Ball standing by,And they'll welcome me home in the morning

To the Airport of the Sky.There'll be others who'll wave me a greeting,Maybe Alcock or Hawks, who's just gone.P'haps Amelia will say, "Hello Flyer"

As I stand in the glorious dawn.Kingsford-Smith, with McCudden and Andres,Will be laughing o'er days that are past,And they'll give me the wave "Happy Landing",When I come to the crack-up at last.

There'll be Amundsen, Post, and Will Rogers,There'll be hangars that will glitter like gold,There'll be hangars where grease never enters,There'll be motors that never grow cold.There'll be ships there for Ed. RickenbackerAnd for Bishop when day's work is done,And I'll join in the welcome we'll give themTo the Airport of the Sun.


20/20

With the enemy reeling back on all fronts now is the timeto plant the finishing punch . . with 5th Victory LoanBonds. Sign up NOW. Sign up for all you can carry.Sign up to bring the boys back home in triumph . soon. Every dollar, everybond, counts in this great forwardsurge of our fighting forces. And remember, Victory Bondsare Canada's finest investment.

BUY BO ND SI

The Garry Press Ltd ~821 McD~rlD.ot Avenue.

rcaf winnipeg base - oct 1943

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