Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Smith
The above is a quote from Part 1 of my mate's research, and more will be forthcoming, but I was hoping to fill out some details and clear up any errors. I note that the majority of schools and depots are recorded as No 2. In Australia, this is probably correct as NSW is No 2 Military District and this is probably the correct designation for the Initial Training School and Embarkation Depots, but is it more than co-incidence that Calgary and Mossbank were also No 2 schools, or was there some continuity in the scheme and the training hierarchy?
And what information is available about "M" Depot in Halifax and the Convoy he would have sailed on, including possible ships carrying Aircrews?
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Hi Tony;
Some answers:
1. - In Canada, the Wireless Schools were located as follows:
No. 1 Wireless School - Montreal, Quebec (16 Feb 40 to 1 Sep 44)
No. 1 Wireless School - Mount Hope, Ontario (1 Sep 44 to 31 Oct 45)
No. 2 Wireless School - Calgary, Alberta (16 Sep 40 to 14 Apr 45)
No. 3 Wireless School - Winnipeg, Manitoba (17 Feb 41 to 20 Jan 45)
No. 4 Wireless School - Guelph, Ontario (7 Jul 41 to 20 Jan 45)
and the Bombing and Gunnery Schools were located as follows:
No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School - Jarvis, Ontario (19 Aug 40 to 17 Feb 45)
No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School - Mossbank, Saskatchewan (28 Oct 40 to 15 Dec 44)
No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School - MacDonald, Manitoba (10 Mar 41 to 17 Feb 45)
No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School - Fingal, Ontario (25 Nov 40 to 17 Feb 45)
No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School - Dafoe, Saskatchewan (26 Apr 41 to 17 Feb 45)
No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School - Mountainview, Ontario (23 Jun 41 to Post War)
No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School - Paulson, Manitoba (23 Jun 41 to 2 Feb 45)
No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School - Lethbridge, Alberta (13 Oct 41 to 15 Dec 44)
No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School - Mont Jolie, Quebec (15 Dec 41 to 14 Apr 45)
No. 10 Bombing and Gunnery School - Mount Pleasant, Prince Edward Island (20 Sep 43 to 6 Jun 45)
No. 31 Bombing and Gunnery School - Picton, Ontario (28 Apr 41 to 17 Nov 44)
2. - In Canada, the BCATP facilities came under command of one of four Training Commands of the Royal Canadian Air Force, these being:
No. 1 Training Command, R.C.A.F. - Headquarters - Toronto, Ontario - responsible for all BCATP facilities in Ontario except those in the far southeastern and northwestern ends of the province.
No. 2 Training Command, R.C.A.F. - Headquarters - Winnipeg, Manitoba - responsible for facilities in northwestern Ontario, Manitoba, and part of Saskatchewan.
No. 3 Training Command, R.C.A.F. - Headquarters - Montreal, Quebec - responsible for all BCATP facilities in far southeastern Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes.
No. 4 Training Command, R.C.A.F. - Headquarters - Regina, Saskatchewan (Apr 40 to Oct 41 - transferred to Calgary, Alberta) - responsible for all BCATP facilities in British Columbia, Alberta, and part of Saskatchewan.
As you can see from the above mentioned, both No. 2 Wireless School (Calgary, Alberta) and No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School (Mossbank, Saskatchewan) came under No. 4 Training Command, R.C.A.F. I think that the numbering of both schools (No. 2) is more of a co-incidence, it had nothing to do with the Military Districts here in Canada. Calgary, Alberta was located in Military District No. 13 and Mossbank, Saskatchewan was located in Military District No. 12.
3. - He would have sailed from Halifax in Convoy T.C.11 (Halifax - Gourock, Scotland) which was composed of the following six ships: "Britannic", "Indrapoera", "Stirling Castle", "Windsor Castle", "Andes" and "Pasteur".
4. - The Royal Canadian Air Force operated five Manning Depots across Canada, these being:
No. 1 Manning Depot - Toronto, Ontario
No. 2 Manning Depot - Brandon, Manitoba
No. 3 Manning Depot - Edmonton, Alberta
No. 4 Manning Depot - Quebec City, Quebec
No. 5 Manning Depot - Lachine, Quebec
two of these depots were used principally for the BCATP, these being:
No. 1 Manning Depot - Toronto, Ontario
No. 2 Manning Depot - Brandon, Manitoba
so I have no idea of what “M” Depot at Halifax would have been, unless he may have passed through No. 6 District Depot (for R&Q) which was located at Halifax, prior to embarking on T.C. 11.
Hope this helps.
Cheers