Snippets From A Squadron’s Diary

“12-2-42
The total flying time for today was thirty-four hours and five minutes which is the highest daily total to be complied by the Squadron to date. The pilots are really happy now that they are getting a lot of flying and enthusiastic about operational training.  As a result, their work is improving daily.  Stern attacks and breakaways are now being practiced and it is funny to hear the pilots relate their reactions after this maneuver, which is a very violent procedure. Sgt. Edwards of the armament section is kept busy by loading and reloading the guns so that everyone can get some air-firing.  Our basketball team played it’s first contest tonight and kept a huge throng (three in number) on the edge of their seats by a scintillating display of team work and skill.  However, as they had little training, they came out on the short end of the score. “

“13-2-42

Today, Friday the 13th, the day of ill-omen and bad luck, came to a safe conclusion for us after twenty-one hours and twenty minutes of vigorous flying and I mean vigorous.   These breakaways after a stern attack are good practice, but the pilots feel that there must be an easier way to kill yourself.  The radio equipment could be in better working order these days; everyone is now equipped with handsets and microphones but quite a few planes cannot be used for R/T formation because of some defect in radio.  Our gasoline truck held up operations in the morning by running out of gas- again; then the long procedure had to be followed before any gas could be obtained- limiting flying to only one flight during the morning.  The officers and men were honoured guests at a pay parade during the morning. “

“14-2-42

There was no flying today because of rain and poor visibility.  The mechanics took advantage of the lull to start giving P60 inspections to those planes due to have them.  As yesterday was pay day our sergeants pilots were anxious to get into town to spread good- cheer and joy among the natives, so when in became apparent that no flying could be done they were allowed to leave.  Spies report that many a rose was bought by our Romeos.  Sgt. Edwards of the armament section finally obtained some help; six armorers reporting today from A.A.S., Mountainview, Ont.   At the same time one armorer was S.O.S. posted to A.A.S., Mountainveiw.  One for six is a good exchange.”

“18-4-42

P/O Orr continues his good work as an instructor pilot and today checked out Sgt. McLeod, Maxmem, Clarke and Christy for solo in the Harvard.  The only pilot who got away solo on the Kittyhawk was P/O Stiles and he thrilled the spectators when he made a very unoriginal attempt to land with the wheels up: however he reacted quickly to the persuasive power of a Red Verys signal and went around again to make a successful landing.  P/O Whiteside, Gooding and Sgt. Crowley carried out air to ground firing in the morning.  The C.O. led a formation of five new pilots to have a look at their formation flying.  Twenty-nine hours and fifty-five minutes flying.”

Side Note- a day later they lost one of their airmen, Sgt. D. Stapleton,  in a training accident when he crashed into deep water on the range.  This marked the second fatal accident (the first one being Sgt. Pierce who’s plane went into a spin and crashed on 27-12-41) the squad has had since their formation over six months prior.

The Squadron’s Kittyhawks just after arriving at Pat Bay in January, 1942.   The one on the left, AK905 is now privately owned and is still airworthy!  Photo credit- Bill’s incredible website on the 111(F) Squadron.

“26-4-42

More fighter attacks and some low-flying was done today and P/O Lynch practiced an hours instrument flying.  Sgt. Lennon acting as safety pilot.  Sgt. Lennon later took up Orchard of the anti-aircraft battery, for a ride in the Harvard.  P/O Whiteside became the first member of the squadron to do battle in the air.  His opponent was a duck and “Whitey” finally rammed it with the airscrew spinner damaging some and splattering the wind screen with gore.  He returned and landed safely none the worse for his encounter. Twenty one hours, thirty minutes flying carried out today.”

“27-4-42

Today’s routine flying consisted of air to air and air to ground firing and a flight of six pilots under training: total flying time for the day being thirty-one hours, twenty minutes.  The latter exercise was carried out between 1730 and 1900 hours.  P/O  Whiteside, Gooding, Paynter and Sgt. Crowley will soon be fully trained for operational work so they are getting the most flying. WAC (Western Air Command) reported an unidentified aircraft over Esquimalt in the late afternoon and the ensuing scramble of two machines was very satisfactory.  The unidentified aircraft was a Kittyhawk piloted by Sgt. Stusiak of this squadron.  The Link Trainer program was fully extended this afternoon.”

“1-5-42
This will be a memorable day in the Squadron’s history, as nearly everything happened today.  In the early morning Sgt. Schwalm did some damage to the tail assembly of A.L.110, running into the aircraft with the “Jeep”. After a routine air to ground firing exercise,Sgt. Maxmem low on petrol, landed at Bellingham, refueled and on landing at our base, the undercarriage of his aircraft A.L.218, collapsed and came to rest on it’s belly in the center of No. 1 runway with wrecked undercarriage and aircrew.  As a result of this accident, Pilot Officer Eskil and Sgt. Stusiak were unable to land here and forced to set down at Sea Island.  They returned and landed here in the afternoon when the runway had been cleared. Air to ground firing was carried out by Pilot Officer English and Sgt. Maxmen. Newspapermen from Victoria paid us a visit and took numerous pictures late in the afternoon.  Air Commander Stevenson, on a surprise visit, was very pleased with a four plane scramble accomplished in two minutes, thirty-one seconds. One new pilot, R.T. Walker, reported here from Ottawa today. Only nine hours, thirty-five hours of flying was done during the day. “

After this four month span of, at times, playful and somewhat story like entries, the diary seemed to revert back to a nuts and bolts, factual and dry kind of writing style for several more months, definitely noting a shift in diarists.   It picks up again once the Squadron establishes itself on Umnak but I’ll save that for a later date. Writing can be a tremendous outlet, and in times of war, it was just another way one of the guys could bring some form of humaneness to what they were preparing to do and in many cases already doing. A way to cope and separate themselves from the reality of the brutal nature of the job they all signed up for.  A job they took ultimately for the benefit of us and our country.   So I say, write away diarist. Write away…