No. 2 Bombing & Gunnery School, Mossbank

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Tuesday, November 13, 2012

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Copyright - No part of this material (unless credited to another source - Crown Copyright, RCAF, IWM, AWM, Library and Archives Canada, London Gazette, etc.) may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author. Some excerpts on this site are from the book, Immigrants of War.

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I welcome any photos and information about No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mossbank.

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January 4, 1941

49 graduates posted to No. 1 ANS, Rivers

Staff Pilots

Thomas Earl Hemminger, Clovel Fay Lawson, Roland Odell Lindsay, Paul Morrow Hale, Charles Milton Haggest, Bernard Joseph Malloy, John Lewis Fields, Geoffrey Winslow Hess, Louis William Kundrath, Vernon Martin Kummell, Harold H. Hessenflow, D.A. Hall, (R59124) R.S. Cox, Kenneth Walter Tyler; R.J. DeBeaupre, E.C. Williams, K.F. Gray, A.H. Parrish, John Eugene M. Cosco, Hagest, Norman Robinson, J.R. Bryan, Theron Elwin Daniels, B.J. Malloy, Gerald Dean Miller, +James William Hermiston, F.J. Buck, J.A. English, F/L Ernest Orchard Winchester Hall; (R56907) Orr

C-12331 pg. 1218

Course Trainees

404477 Robert Leonard McCue - 108 Sqn. DAF; +404409 Ronald Joseph McGuinness

404581 Henry Ephraim William Godfrey; 404360 A.N. Giles

December 9, 1940

First class of Observers graduated.

(J/3501 - R52079) John McGuire Taylor - 218/37 Sqns. PoW

Posted in from No. 2 AOS

Posted to No. 1 ANS

December 20, 1940

Second air gunnery course to graduate. 21 graduates all posted overseas.

December 23, 1940

17 wireless operator air gunners graduated.

January 4, 1941

49 graduates posted to No. 1 ANS, Rivers

Course (3): December 23, 1940 - January 19, 1941

No. 3 Course, Entry No. 7 graduated.

39 Air Observers


✡(R56201) Joseph Alfred Jacobson - 106 Sqn., Westmount, Que.; +(R54768) Murray Mc Laren 'Mac' Keswick - 149 Sqn., Hartland, N.B.; (R61663) Leslie Charles 'Les' Jupp - PoW 78 Sqn.; (J4963) Clifford Daniel Robert 'Cliff' Chappell - PoW 37 Sqn., Windsor

January 20, 1941

No. 4 Course, entry No. 4A Gunner

29 graduates

+(R/54123 - J/15627) Mark Leslie Abramson, +(R60627) Robert Leonard Bradshaw - 35 Sqn., Edmonton; +(R69643 - J15038) Nicholas Frederick Durban - 7 Squadron

Course (4): January 6 - February 17, 1941

61 WAG's graduated

Ross Baxter Ingalls (J/4771) (DSO, DFC), William Cecil Langstaff (J/4772) (DFC & Bar), Lloyd George 'Hap' Geddes (J/4773) (POW), +Carleton Thompson Lane (J/4777) ?; +(R/68515 - J/4956) Alfred Ernest Webster - DFC 35 Sqn.; +(R/67521) Spencer (Sidney) Dawes - 214 Sqn., Southampton, Eng.

40 Air Observers graduated

Course 5: Jan. 20 - March 2, 1941

37 Observers graduated

George Thomas Pearson (J/4780) (DFC), +Philip Llewellyn Nash (J/4781), +William Maxwell Struthers (J/4784), Homer Ashmore Forbes (J/4786) (DFC); +(R58300) John Allen Jacques - 40 Sqn.; +(R56214) Donald Miller Hughes - 405 Sqn., Montreal

Course 6 Air Gunners: February 17 - March 17, 1941

73 WAG graduates

+(R61664) Harold Hugh Harrison

January 20 - March 11, 1941

+(R/58225) John Balfour Gray

February 16 - March 31, 1941

No. 6 Air Observers Class, entry No. 12

27 RAAF graduates

+(402272) Edward Harry Brenton - 21 Sqn. Middle East; (404375) George Aldred Crowhurst - PoW; +(404281) Charles Aubrey Latter

3 Royal Norwegian Naval Air Force graduates

Course 13 Observers: March 3 - April 14, 1941

32 RCAF Observers Gordon D. Anderson, Preston; +(R70455) Lawrence Graydon Rowe - 15 OTU, Guelph

1 RAAF

Co. 7 WAG's: March 17 - April 17, 1941

Group Captain A.J. Ashton presented badges.

82 graduates

27 RCAF; 39 RAAF

16 RNZAF: +(NZ402977) Bruce Alexander Godley Bond, +(NZ402981) Robin William Caskey, +(NZ402991) Kenneth Gordon Franklin DFC

Course 15 Air Observers: May 12, 1941

34 graduates presented with their badges

Posted to

No. 1 ANS Rivers

May 25, 1941

Wings Parade was held at 1100 hours in the Drill Hall.

RAAF: 49 graduates posted overseas

(404343) Norman Henry Kobelke DFC; +(402360) Robert Johnston; +(404092) James Courtney; +(413988) William Graham, Jack Dyson; Hoot Martin; Norman McDonald; Fred Hunter; Wally Betts

RCAF: 24

RAF: 1

June 3, 1941

+(404634) Beaumont Churchill Dickson - 20 OTU; +Alistair Milliken

Embarked on Aorangi November 24, 1940 arriving in Vancouver december 23, 1940.

Posted in from No. 2 Wireless School

May 12 - June 22, 1941

May 12 - June 22, 1941
Embarked at Sydney January 23, 1941 (5th Draft). Disembarked Vancouver, Canada February 16, 1941. Group portrait of ten RAAF graduates of an air observer's school (AOS), taken just after the "wings" parade, standing in front of a building at RCAF Station Mossbank, Saskatchewan. Rear from left, standing: "Snow" Pearson; possibly 14539 Sergeant (Sgt) Albert Richard Lewis; 402250 Sgt Sydney George Renneberg; Dan O'Shea; 400393 Sgt (later Flying Officer) Eliot Ralph Barnfather (lost on operations over Denmark, 18 May 1942); 400611 Sgt (later Warrant Officer) Clive Alfred Woods (lost on operations in the Middle East, 23 September 1942). Kneeling: 402648 Sgt (later Flying Officer) Norman Falkner Dwyer (lost on operations over the Celebes, 1 October 1943; "Judge" Rutherford; 404174 Sgt (later Flying Officer) Leslie Clement Dorward (lost on operations over Germany, 5 October 1942); 400294 Sgt George Henry Shannon.

June 22, 1941

June 22, 1941
Group portrait of five recent RAAF graduates of an Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) air observer's school (AOS), standing in front of a Fairey Battle light bomber at RCAF Station Mossbank, Saskatchewan. From left: 400393 Sergeant (Sgt) (later Flying Officer) Eliot Ralph Barnfather (lost on operations over Denmark, 18 May 1942); 400294 Sgt George Henry Shannon (lost on operations over the Netherlands on 2 October 1942) ; 404322 Sgt William Samuel Charles Atherton (lost on operations over Gibraltar, 9 January 1942); Gus Robertson; 402648 Sgt (later Flying Officer) Norman Falkner Dwyer (lost on operations over the Celebes, 1 October 1943). (AWM)

June 22, 1941

June 22, 1941
400393 Sergeant (Sgt) Eliot Ralph Barnfather RAAF, having just completed gunnery practise in a Fairey Battle light bomber against a drogue target, at No 2 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mossbank, Saskatchewan, Canada. A barrister and solicitor from Geelong, Victoria, prior to enlistment, Sgt Barnfather trained initially at No 8 Elementary Flying Training School (8 EFTS), Narrandera before being shipped to Canada to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS). He received his 'wing' as an air observer on 22 June 1941. Commissioned after his training, Flying Officer (FO) Barnfather was a crew member of 218 Squadron RAF Stirling bomber N6071, radio call sign HA-G, which was shot down near Lyne, Denmark, on 18 May 1942. He was fatally wounded after parachuting from the aircraft. He was 27 years of age. (AWM)

Co. 9 Observers: May 23 - June 22, 1941

Wings Parade was held in the Drill Hall at 1400 hours when Observers and Air Gunners were presented with their wings by Group Captain A.J. Ashton.

Co. 18 Air Observers: 38 graduates

Co. 9 Air Gunners: 71 graduates

Embarked from Sydney November 29, 1940. Disembarked Canada December 23, 1940.

Posted in from No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary

(Aus.404589) Arthur Reginald Britton Schrock (POW - 2nd tour)

Co. 19: May 27 - July 7, 1941

Alexander Ian McFarlane, +Edward Sudbury Alexander (DFM); +(R/90747) Evan Milner - 423 Sqn.; +(R/77507) Andrew Lennox - 142 Sqn.

July 23, 1941

Hugh John Anderson (DFM)

Co. 6 Air Gunners

Co. 6 Air Gunners
Front row L to R: 1. 2. Colin Campbell 3. Francis Monckton 4. Gordon Shaw (AWM)

Course 6 (Air Gunners): July 7 - August 3, 1941

Wing Parade was held at 1100 hours following the weekly Church Parade. Air Observers and Air Gunners. Group Captain Ashton presented wings.

5th RAAF draft S.S. Aorangi embarked from Sydney January 23, 1941 - (404929) Gordon Henry William Shaw, +(403169) Athol Richard Grainger; (404859) Colin Neil Campbell - DFC 467 Sqn.; +(403197) Francis Edward Monckton - 12 Sqn.


Course 11: July 7 - August 17, 1941

Sunday Wings presented by Group Captain A.J. Ashton following Church Parade. 61 Observers.

+(J/7523 - R/69807) Mado Henry MacDonald - 44 Sqn., b (Eng) r CT; +(R/65413) Joseph Kenneth Norman MacMillan - 459 Sqn.


August 31, 1941

Wings Parade was held at 1330 hours, when 34 WAG's received their badges.

August 6 - September 15, 1941

9th RAAF Draft. Embarked at Sydney April 22, 1941. Disembarked at Vancouver May 14, 1941. (403128) Alexander Michael Abbey, (401351) Arthur Geoffrey Sinclair RCAF: Trevor Maxwell Anderson (DFC)

Air Gunner Course 15: Sept. 1 - 28, 1941

Air Gunner Course 15: +(R/79076) Fred Winslow Guild

Air Observer Co. 25:

October 26, 1941

Church Parade was held at 1100 hours. After the Parade the Commanding Officer distributed wings to one class of Air Gunners and one class of Observers.

+(J/9152) Lawrence Balfour 'Duke' Abelson. John C. Burns, Ottawa

One Australian graduate put most of his pay into a long distance telephone call to his parents "down under".

November 8, 1941

Wings Parade was held at 1000 hours.

Course 18 WOAG's: 32

Course 28 Observers: 40

Course 30: October 27 - December 6, 1941

Course 20 Air Gunners: 28

Course 30 Air Observers: 25

Wings Parade was held at 1000 hours in the Drill Hall. Group Captain A.J. Ashton presented badges.

+Elmer Robert Vance; +(R/102004) Robert John Thomas Lynn - 218 Sqn.

Course 21: Nov. 24 - Dec. 20, 1941

Course 21 Air Gunners: 41 graduates. +(R/98016) Joseph Wayne Ganes - 88 Sqn.; A.B. Colquhon, Parry Sound; F.J. Hodgson, Springfield; +(R82608) Edmund St Aubin 'Eddie' Richardson - 12 Sqn., Richmond; +(J9585) Douglas Alfred Street - 405 Sqn., Welland

Course 31 Observers: 30 graduates +(R82280) Lawrence Joseph Lalonde - 57 Sqn., Cornwall; A.F. Reid, Hamilton; J.A. Royale, Niagara Falls

Course 22 Air Gunners: January 3, 1942

Wings presentation parade was held at 1000 hours in the Drill Hall. 11 graduates.

January 16, 1942

Course 32 Observers 20 graduates Dec. 7, 41 - January 19, 1942: +(R107094) Frederick Louis Edward Dupre, Goldfields, Sask.

Course 23 WAG's: 23 graduates

Wings Parade was held in the Drill Hall at 1400 hours. C.O. presented wings.

Course 25: Jan. 19 - Feb. 20, 1942

+(R139127) William Stanley Rausch - 78 Sqn.

Course 33: Dec.22, 41 - January 31, 1942

+(R/98793) Walter Carl Pedersen

April 1942

+(NZ41184) Jack Andrew Olsen

Course (27): March 16 - April 13, 1942

+(R/120070) Roger Edwin Vanderbeck - 424 Sqn.

April 9 - May 23, 1942

(J/12725) Edward Stewart Annis

May 9: S. Allen, Toronto; J.L. Arthur, Toronto; Pierre former sub-lieutenant in the French Navy who saw action during Dunkirk and escaped from a German prison camp.

Course 31 WAGS: May 11 - June 8, 1942

+(R122111 - J86433) Lloyd George Rowell - 431 Sqn., New Westminster, B.C.

Course 32: May 25 - June 22, 1942

+(R/120674) Russell George Causier

Course 33: June 8 - July 6, 1942

+(R/140082) Martin David Davis - 101 Sqn.; +(R/134921) Robert Russell Gourde - 419 Sqn., Longview, WA; +(R/113992) Carl William Milton - 22 OTU, Edgetts Landing, N.B.

June 7 - July 25, 1942 Observers

+(R/128983) Gerald Victor Bartle - 612 Sqn., Vancouver

Posted to

No. 1 CNS Rivers: Bartle

Course 35 WOAG: July 6 - Aug. 3, 1942

+(R112800) Leonard Strickland - KIFA 6 (C) OTU, Toronto

Course 36A: July 19 - August 28, 1942

+(R/147249 - J/19976) John Frederick O'Dowda - 51 Sqn.; (R/139843) Douglas Wilson Milliken - 51 Sqn.; +(R/139842) Merton Earl Zapfe - 51 Sqn. May 24, 43

Course 36A

Course 36A
(RCAF Photo via Milliken)

Course 36 A Wings Parade

Course 36 A Wings Parade
Doug Milliken is congratulated by C.O. (RCAF photo via Milliken)

July 5 - August 15, 1942

+(R/92454) David Beatty Evans Skinner

Co. 36: July 20 - Aug. 17, 42: +(R116192 - J.13586) Fredrick William Schwartz - 524 Sqn., Flin Flon

Course 64: Sept. 28 - Nov. 27, 1942

+(R/157138) Paul Jack Barske - 428 Sqn.

Co. 43 WOAG's: Oct. 26 - Nov. 23, 1942

+(R126963) Robert George Jacobs - 3 (C) OTU, Windsor; +(R/129291) George Michael Frederick Stockwell

Course 66: October 26 - December 23, 1942

+(R/159260) W. Baxter

Course 42B: Nov. 9 - Dec. 7, 1942

+(R/132466) William John Brown - KIFA No. 4 AOS Crumlin, Theodore, Sask.

Posted in from

No. 2 Wireless School: Brown

Course 42B: November 8 - December 7, 1942

Course 42B: November 8 - December 7, 1942
Embarked Melbourne March 21, 1942. Disembarked Vancouver April 18, 1942. Training in the snow as wireless air gunners at Mossbank. L to R: Sergeant (Sgt) Bob Mann; (414803) Sgt William Bernard ("Bill") Kaus; (414787) Sgt Gordon Clarence Goodrich; (420126) Norman Leo Bowes.

March 1943

+(NZ416897) Colin John Falconer - 53 Sqn.

Course 49: Feb. 22 - April 2, 1943

+(R164531 - J.87061) Preston St Clare Legge - 434 Sqn.

Battle 1934

May 2 - July 24, 1943

✡(R/177952 - J.35060) Samuel William Pechet - 428 Sqn.

Posted to No. 7 AOS: Pechet

Course 91: July 12 - Dec. 10, 1943

+(R174852) Frederick Cleveland Irving - 153 Sqn., Hillsboro, N.B.

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✡ Samuel William Pechet

✡ Samuel William Pechet
KIA 428 Squadron

✡ Joseph Alfred Jacobson - Co. 3 Observers

✡ Joseph Alfred Jacobson - Co. 3 Observers
KIA 106 Squadron, January 28, 1942

Carl William Milton - Co. 33

Carl William Milton - Co. 33
KIA 28 OTU

+(R82608) Edmund St Aubin 'Eddie' Richardson - Co. 21 Air Gunners

+(R82608) Edmund St Aubin 'Eddie' Richardson - Co. 21 Air Gunners
KIA 12 Sqn.

+(R/129291) George Michael Frederick Stockwell - Co. 43

+(R/129291) George Michael Frederick Stockwell - Co. 43
KIA

Fredrick William Schwartz

Fredrick William Schwartz
KIA 524 Sqn.

+(R/128983) Gerald Victor Bartle

+(R/128983) Gerald Victor Bartle
KIA 612 Sqn.

+(R174852) Frederick Cleveland Irving - Co. 91

+(R174852) Frederick Cleveland Irving - Co. 91
KIA 153 Squadron

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