The day after writing my Grade 12 exams, I left for the Air Force. I reported to Saskatoon and was sent to Edmonton Manning Depot to begin Basic Training. Thankfully discipline was fairly strict at home so I got along well. After many tests and lots of marching drills I was considered fit for aircrew; a dream come true. I took further training at Claresholme, Alberta, Saskatoon and Prince Albert in Saskatchewan, then on to Manitoba at Brandon and Paulson; next to Malton, Ontario, just out of Toronto. My training was complete for now, so I was sent home for a month's embarkation leave, then on to Halifax, NS, and sailed for England on the Queen Mary in late August. I thoroughly enuoyed every trip I made on the ocean, - the meals were great and I was lucky - I was never seasick. I took further training in Bournemouth, Cumberland and Derbyshire, then on to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire for operations.
On May 28th, 1944 our plane was shot down over France and our pilot was killed. He went down with the plane, thus giving the crew a chance to bail out; a great man. I was the first one back to England and I was dreading the job of contacting his parents, but they were great people and I felt much better after having talked to them.
Doreen and I were married September 2, 1944; shortly after I returned to England. |
