The Penhold Log, September 1944
Title
The Penhold Log, September 1944
Description
This edition covers a photograph of an Oxfor, a cartoon map of Middle Alberta, photographs of commanding officers, a parade, chief flying and ground instructors, pupils, air cadets and accidents, strong memories of Red Deer and its people, photographs of Red Deer and its surroundings, sporting photographs, Calgary,Edmonton and the Rockies, the Messes, Entertainment and Sport photographs.
Creator
Date
1944-09
Temporal Coverage
Spatial Coverage
Language
Format
One 68 page printed magazine
Conforms To
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
MBiscoeAE129587-191026-12
Transcription
[underlined] SOUVENIR NUMBER [/underlined]
THE PENHOLD LOG
PRICE
10 CENTS
ALBERTA
CANADA
36 S.F.T.S.
[pictures of aircraft, maps of Great Britain and Canada and head and shoulders of a member of aircrew wearing flying helmet]
VOLUME V NUMBER 9
SEPTEMBER 1944
RAF [RAF wings crest]
[page break]
[blank page]
[page break]
THE PENHOLD LOG
[drawing of aircraft flying through clouds]
Souvenir Number
September 1944
Published by kind permission of Group Captain W.T.F. Wightman. D.F.C.
Commanding Officer No 36. S.F.T.S. Penhold.
EDITOR
F/Lt. W.H. Thomas
ADVISORY BOARD: Rev. (S/Ldr.) Crockett, F/Lt. Gilbert, F/Lt. Hudson
COMMITTEE: F/Lt. J. Hibberd, F/O Street, F/O R.A.R. Hummel and LAC Nicholas (Photographs), Sgt. N.R. Smith (Illustrations), Cpl. E.R. Denison Cross and Cpl. McLennan Jones.
[black and white photograph of an Oxford aircraft flying through the clouds)
The Oxford in Alberta Skies
[page break]
YE RAFFE MAP –
[cartoon drawing of a map of Alberta]
[page break]
- OF MIDDLE ALBERTA
[cartoon drawing of a map of Alberta]
Sgt. N.R. Smith’s Projection
[page break]
Page Four
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Group Captain W.B. Farrington]
G/C W.B. Farrington. D.S.O.
Three Commanding Officers
No. 36 S.F.T.S. had three Commanding Officers. Group Captain W.B. Farrington, D.S.O., opened the Station in August 1941. He handed over to Group Captain H.J. Pringle, A.F.C., at the beginning of May, 1943. Group Captain W.T.F. Wightman, D.F.C., took over command of the unit at the end of July, 1944.
[two black and white head and shoulders photographs. One of Group Captain Pringle and the other of Group Captain Wightman]
G/C H.J. Pringle, A.F.C.
G/C W.T.F. Wightman, D.F.C.
[page break]
Page Five
[black and white photograph of a station parade]
STATION PARADES WERE HELD ON THE PARADE GROUND BEHIND THE CONTROL TOWER
[page break]
Page Six
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Wing Commander Hayward]
Many Chief Instructors
There were many Chief Instructors who guided Penhold’s three years of flying training. In 1941 there were W/Cdr. Leggate, S/Ldr. Maxwell and S/Ldr. I.G. Dale. W/Cdr. Chesterman took over in 1942, and was followed by W/Cdr. F.M. Milligan.
Two under whom Flying Wing flourished most successfully were W/Cdr. F.B.H. Hayward (above), C.I. from June, 1943 to February, 1944 and W/Cdr H.A.C. Stratton (right), C.I. from February to July, 1944. The last of Penhold’s C.I.’s is S/Ldr. J. Korndorffer.
[black and white photograph of Wing Commander Stratton sitting at a desk]
[page break]
Page Seven
C.E.O.’S and C.G.I.’s
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Wing Commander Gifford]
W/CDR. GIFFORD
There were three C.E.O.’S – W/Cdr. F.G. Mill, D.F.M., from August, 1941, to June, 1943: W/Cdr. Ovenden, from June to August, 1943, and W/Cdr. S.S. Gifford, from August, 1943.
There were two C.G.I.’s S/Ldr. S.S. Kirsten, from August, 1941, to August, 1943, and S/Ldr. N.G. Minor, from August, 1943
[black and white photograph of Squadron Leader Minor sitting at his desk]
[page break]
Page Eight
[cartoon drawing of a pilot in flying gear]
Three Years of Pupils
How many pilots Penhold produced is still secret. We know that many have won decorations since leaving here. Cartoonists thought of pupils as good types (left) or as dim types (bottom right). The average pupil looked just like the photograph below.
[black and white photograph of a pilot, from behind]
[cartoon drawing of a pilot]
[page break]
Page Nine
Air Cadets
[black and white photograph of a group of Air Cadets looking at a model aircraft]
Air Cadets have been a familiar sight about the camp ever since the station was first opened. The No. 7 (Penhold) Squadron, formed in September, 1940, was the first Alberta squadron, and held regular parades twice monthly on the camp. Though named the Penhold Squadron, it drew recruits from as far afield as Rocky Mountain House, Eckville, Benalto, Sylvan Lake, Markerville, Bowden and Innisfail, as well as from Red Deer. To attend the parades the Rocky Mountain House cadets travelled more than 60 miles each way in all kinds of weather. More than 400 cadets have received their first training in the ranks of the Penhold Squadron. The Squadron was formed under the command of Dr. Thompson, of Innisfail, and is now commanded by F/Lt. Cuthbertson, of Red Deer.
Penhold has also provided other Alberta Air Cadet Squadrons with facilities for summer camps and officers’ courses, while many cadets had their first flights in the aircraft of the unit. For our part, we have been able to learn something from watching the cadets on the parade ground carry out the complicated evolutions of the Canadian drill book.
[page break]
Page Ten
Chapter of Accidents
[black and white photograph of the damaged tail of an aircraft]
Like other training schools, Penhold had its share of accidents. Fortunately the more spectacular often caused more damage to the aircraft than to their occupants.
The aircraft above was flown home safely after losing half its tail unit in a mid-air collision. This was the occasion of the only parachute jump in Penhold’s history. Nobody was injured. The picture below shows what happens when two pilots choose the same time and place for landing. Again nobody was injured.
[black and white photograph of two damaged aircraft]
[page break]
Page Eleven
[black and white photograph of a crashed aircraft]
THIS AIRCRAFT BULL-DOZED ITS WAY THROUGH A BANK OF TREES. THE PILOT ESCAPED WITH A BROKEN LEG.
[page break]
Page Twelve
RED DEER
LOOKING back to the time when we first arrived at Penhold, it is difficult now to remember what we expected on our first visit to the town called Red Deer. The name had an authentic western flavour, and perhaps we had visions of a town complete with cowboys, cattle rustlers and sheriffs. The citizens of Red Deer have also probably forgotten what they thought when they first heard that several trainloads of R.A.F. troops were about to be dumped not so very far outside the city limits. Perhaps they had visions of an invasion of icily supercilious bores with high-pitched voices and affected accents.
Whatever may have been our various illusions about each other, they were soon dispelled and replaced by many new friendships. Red Deer made us welcome from our very first week-end at Penhold, and ever since the homes of Red Deer have been open to a long succession of those posted to No. 36 S.F.T.S. It cannot be denied that we felt somewhat alone and out in the wilds when we first arrived, for though this is the heart of a well populated and prosperous part of Canada, to English eyes it seemed vast, empty and somewhat bleak. We soon learned that what was lacking in numbers of population was more than overweighed by the warmth of the legendary western hospitality.
We have always grumbled, and wherever we are there is little doubt we always shall. Yet as the time approaches for us to leave Penhold, we realise that a good many of our grumbles have been just part of the national habit, and though we still rally to the cry, “Roll on the Boat,” we shall be sorry to have to say goodbye to our many Canadian friends who have done so much to make our stay here a happy one. A glance at the addresses on 48-hour passes provides abundant evidence of the number of homes in Central Alberta which welcome the R.A.F. Not only in Red Deer, but for a hundred miles around, the R.A.F. have made friends. One of the more distant spots which has always been popular at Penhold is Rocky Mountain House, which in the early days when the first contingents had just arrived, took bus loads of Penhold troops en bloc and organised week-end hospitality for them on a mass scale. Our many friends from outlying farms have often used part of their precious gasoline ration to take us to their homes out in the country. Those of us who were stationed at Penhold’s outposts, Big Bend and Blackfalds, also found many hospitable neighbours.
Each of us individually will be saying goodbye to our particular friends, but we wish also officially and on behalf of the unit to say that we have deeply appreciated all that the people of Red Deer and the surrounding towns and country have done to make our three years in Alberta so pleasant. We hope that new and better opportunities for world travel after the war may make it possible for us to meet again.
[page break]
Page Thirteen
[black and white night-time photograph of a street in Red Deer]
THE TWO RED DEER CINEMAS AND MOST OF THE CAFES ARE IN THIS STREET
[page break]
Page Fourteen
[black and white photograph of a street in Red Deer]
THE CALGARY-EDMONTON ROAD RUNS THROUGH RED DEER, AND HERE IS THE SHOPPING CENTRE
[page break]
Page Fifteen
[black and white photograph of two airmen and three women in a Parcel Booth]
IN WELL STOCKED STORES WE BOUGHT PARCELS TO SEND HOME
[page break]
[black and white photograph of a club house]
GOLFERS SPENT MANY PLEASANT HOURS ON THE BEAUTIFUL BUT TRICKY 18-HOLE RED DEER COURSE. THIS IS THE CLUB HOUSE
[black and white photograph of a bridge over the Red Deer River which if full of ice]
DURING THE SPRING BREAK-UP IN 1943 THE RED DEER RIVER WAS PILED HIGH WITH A HUGE ICE JAM WHICH CAUSED FLOODS IN PARTS OF THE TOWN
[page break]
Page Seventeen
[black and white scenic photograph of Waskasoo Creek surrounded by tall trees]
WASKASOO CREEK RUNS THROUGH RED DEER
[page break]
Page Eighteen
[black and white photograph of Ross Street in Red Deer in 1894]
FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WAS RED DEER – ROSS STREET IN 1894
[page break]
Page Nineteen
SORENSEN’S
[bus ticket of Penhold’s pet dog for 1942]
Sorensen’s Bus Lines linked the Station with cinemas and T-bone steaks in Red Deer. There can be few, if any, of the Station personnel who did not buy at least one ticket on a Sorensen Bus. Penhold’s pet dog in 1942 made regular trips to Red Deer, and was given a special pass.
[black and white photograph of a Sorensen’s bus]
[page break]
Page Twenty
[black and white photograph of a road, covered in snow and surrounded by trees]
Winter
Though often a thing of beauty, it seemed to last forever
[black and white photograph of deep snow in front of a house, whose roof is covered in snow and tall trees in the background]
[page break]
Page Twenty-one
[black and white photograph of a snow plough, ploughing through deep snow]
THERE WAS PLENTY OF WORK FOR THE SICARD SNOW PLOUGH IN WINTER. THE WORST BLIZZARDS DID NOT STOP FLYING FOR LONG
[black and white photograph of three men in suits and ties sitting behind a desk]
FORECASTING A DROP IN TEMPERATURE OF 5O DEGREES F. – AND BEING RIGHT – MADE THE MET. MEN SMILE
[page break]
Page Twenty-two
XMAS
[black and white photograph of Group Captain Pringle helping to serve Christmas dinner]
GROUP CAPTAIN PRINGLE helped to serve the 1943 Christmas Dinner to the Airmen
[black and white photograph of children at a Christmas party]
- AND THE CHILDREN OF RED DEER CAME TO A CHRISTMAS PARTY
[page break]
Page Twenty-three
[drawing of a bear, in front of a man carrying a gun on his shoulder, in a blizzard]
A BIT OF A LINE
Arctic Penhold will no doubt produce even bigger and better lines than this. Just to cramp everyone’s style, here are the facts about the three winters. The first winter, 1941-2, was exceptionally mild, with little snow, lots of sun, and a couple of short cold snaps with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees below zero. The third winter, 1943-4, was an even milder version of the first, with as little snow and only one short cold spell which did not touch 30 below. The second winter, 1942-3, was terrible, some said the worst since 1906-7. There was snow by the end of October and blizzards at least once a month till next March. The snow-blower is claimed to have buried itself digging its way from Innisfail to Big Bend. The average temperature in January, 1943, was 3 degrees below zero, with an average temperature of 27 below for a ten-day period. In three days the temperature fell 68 degrees, and in eight days it fell 93 degrees to reach the lowest official figure of 49.5 degrees below zero.
[page break]
Page Twenty-four
[five black and white photographs of boxing matches]
Winter Sport at Penhold
In winter, most sport took place in the Drill Hall, which was also the stamping ground for daily P.T. Boxing tournaments drew big crowds. Tennis and badminton tournaments were also popular. During the last year, a Bowling Alley was opened at the far end of the Hall. The Drill Hall also managed to house a miniature rifle range, a cricket net, and much weight-lifting apparatus.
[page break]
Page Twenty-five
[black and white photograph of men playing basketball]
Basketball, which is a girls’ game at home, proved a popular Drill Hall sport which could be fast, clever and rough.
[black and white photograph of a burnt out building]
In February, 1944, the Drill Hall became an emergency dining hall, after a fire in the Airmen’s Mess which burnt out the kitchen store rooms. The picture shows the damage to the kitchen roof. Happily the dining halls were saved.
[page break]
Page Twenty-six
Ski Trail
[black and white photograph of a ski slope]
Many of us had our first taste of the thrill of ski-ing [sic] in the Rockies. The slopes at Banff were pitted with craters marking the falls of R.A.F. – and R.A.A.F. – and R.N.Z.A.F. – beginners. The more proficient, or the more adventurous, went to the high mountain lodges above timberline.
[page break]
Page Twenty-seven
[black and white photograph of a skier skiing down a snow covered hill]
EVEN THOUGH WE COULD NOT ACHIEVE THIS FLUID MASTERY –
[page break]
Page Twenty-eight
[black and white photograph of two skiers skiing through the snow]
THE AVERAGE BEGINNER COULD FOLLOW EXPERTS TO THE VIRGIN SNOW
[page break]
Page Twenty-nine
. . . SKATING . . .
[drawing of a man and women ice skating]
Most of us took a crack at skating, which was at least one way of getting to know people. Finally we produced an ice hockey team, which was all Canadian except for the goal-minder.
[black and white photograph of six men playing ice hockey]
THE STATION HOCKEY TEAM PLAYED GAMES IN RED DEER ARENA
[page break]
Page Thirty
Summer Sport
According to some authorities, Alberta has two seasons, July and Winter. If this may be condemned as an exaggeration, it is still true that England’s winter and summer sports all have to be crammed into the few short summer months, and soccer, rugger, cricket and athletics at Penhold made a crowded season of outdoor games. Soccer, although sometimes played on hot, dusty evenings alive with mosquitoes, was the most popular and successful game. The Penhold soccer eleven, calling themselves the Fliers, won the Alberta Inter-Service Soccer championship in 1942 and 1943, and by the middle of 1944 had made certain of a place in the final. In the first two seasons, R.A.F., Calgary, were our rivals in the final, but since the closing of the Calgary R.A.F. station, Penhold is matched for the first time in the final against a Canadian team, the A-20 Army side from Red Deer.
Out athletics team won the Alberta championship in 1942, came second in 1943, and was second in the Northern Alberta meeting in 1944. Rugby football was confined to friendly matches until 1944, when a contest between Alberta air training schools was arranged and gave Penhold the chance of proving its rugger prowess by winning the championship. The station cricketers found many good teams to play against in Calgary and Edmonton, and during the last two seasons made tours to Vancouver and Victoria.
[black and white photograph of three rows of men, the front row seated and back two rows standing, wearing their football kit]
PENHOLD FLIERS, 1944
[page break]
Page Thirty-one
[black and white photograph of men playing football]
PENHOLD FLIERS WERE ALBERTA CHAMPIONS IN 1942 –
[black and white photograph of spectators cheering at football match]
- AND PLEASED THEIR ENTHUSIASTIC FOLLOWERS
[page break]
Page Thirty-two
CALGARY – The City of Cowboys and Chinooks
[black and white aerial photograph of the city of Calgary]
Those who expected hitching posts in Calgary may have been disappointed in this city of 90,000 people, luxurious hotels and fine shops. It was, nevertheless, a popular haunt for week-end leave, and we spent lots of money and made many friends here.
[black and white photograph of aircraft on an air strip with the Chinook clouds in the background]
[page break]
Page Thirty-three
[black and white aerial photograph of the city of Calgary]
The Chinook arch is often seen in the western sky at Calgary – and sometimes at Penhold. The Chinook is a warm wind blowing over the mountains from the Pacific. It forms a characteristic arch of high cloud when it meets the cold prairie air in winter.
[black and white photograph of aircraft on an air strip with the Chinook clouds in the background]
[page break]
Page Thirty-four
[black and white photograph of Calgary at night]
To black-out accustomed eyes, Calgary at night was ablaze with bright lights. Above is a view from the Palliser Hotel, and below is a scene on Eighth Avenue.
[black and white photograph of Eighth Avenue, Calgary at night]
[page break]
Page Thirty-five
Fine Bridges Span Bow River at Calgary
[black and white photograph of the bridges across Bow River, Calgary]
[page break]
Page Thirty-six
[black and white photograph of a man riding a horse attempting to rope a calf]
The Calgary Stampede, held each year in July, is world famous. The wartime stampedes drew record crowds. Many from Penhold went to see calf-roping (left) and bronk riding (below).
[black and white photograph of a man riding a bucking bronco]
[page break]
Page Thirty-seven
[black and white photograph of a man bareback riding a steer]
BAREBACK STEER RIDING WAS A FEATURE OF THE CALGARY STAMPEDE
[page break]
Page Thirty-eight
Cross Roads of the World
[black and white photograph of the corner of a street in Edmonton with men digging through the deep snow]
Somewhat snowed up after a blizzard, this is the heart of Edmonton and, to quote the radio, the gateway to the north-west and the crossroads of the world. It was in 1942 that Edmonton sprang into world prominence as the jumping-off point for the Alaska highway, and a natural air terminus for great circle air routes from North America to China and Russia. Though one hundred miles away, Penhold had a fellow feeling for Edmonton in its expanding greatness! Following U.S. announcements that aircraft and supplies have been flown to Russia over this north-western route, we can now say that Penhold occasionally served as an emergency landing ground in bad weather for aircraft destined for the Russian fronts, and the R.A.F. had the pleasure of welcoming the U.S. flying crews who were forced down here.
Edmonton shared with Calgary about equal popularity for leave and “48’s”, though it was generally more difficult to get accommodation there during the time of the American occupation. But as in Calgary and elsewhere, many Canadian homes were opened to us in this city which we thought of as the northern limit of civilisation. Few of us went farther north than Edmonton, and yet Alberta stretches for another 500 miles towards the Arctic.
[page break]
Page Thirty-nine
[black and white aerial photograph of the city of Edmonton]
THIS IS THE HEART OF EDMONTON, WITH THE MACDONALD HOTEL IN THE FOREGROUND
[page break]
Page Forty
[black and white photograph of four men in a Jeep driving on the Alaska Highway]
THE ALASKA HIGHWAY, BUILT IN 1942, RUNS FOR 1,500 MILES THROUGH NORTH-WESTERN CANADA –
[black and white photograph of a suspension bridge over the Peace River]
- AND CROSSES THE PEACE RIVER BY THIS MAGNIFICENT BRIDGE
[page break]
Page Forty-one
FAREWELL . . .
To The Rockies
[black and white photograph of a train travelling through the Rocky Mountains]
On Penhold’s western horizon stand the massive eastern ranges of the Rocky Mountains. A forbidden land for pilots, it was a favourite country for leave both in winter and summer. Ski-ing [sic] enthusiasts even managed to get to Banff and back on a “48”. Pupils with their newly won wings and their first leave for many months regularly celebrated with a visit to Banff, and on the Norquay ski slopes enjoyed greater risk of physical injury than they ever did as pilots under training. In the depth of winter many bathed in the Banff hot springs, and had their photographs taken standing in bathing shorts holding a ball of snow. In summer there was canoeing on the Bow River . . . beavers at work in the evenings on their dams . . . and bears rummaging in the garbage cans (we mean dust bins) even in the middle of the town. A few went deeper into the mountains, to the magnificent Lake Louise, or far up the Banff-Jasper road to the Columbia icefields, where the biggest glaciers south of the Arctic feed rivers running to the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. All who went to the Rocky Mountains saw some of the most magnificent mountain scenery in the world.
[page break]
Page Forty-two
[scenic black and white photograph of Cascade Mountain]
BANFF IS DOMINATED BY BEAUTIFUL CASCADE MOUNTAIN
[page break]
Page Forty-three
[black and white photograph of a Canadian Mountie on his horse in the foreground and an Indian in tribal dress sitting on his horse in the background]
DURING THE “INDIAN DAYS” AT BANFF IN SUMMER, THERE ARE RED COATED MOUNTIES AND INDIANS IN TRIBAL DRESS
[page break]
Forty-four
[black and white photograph of a log cabin in the mountains]
HIDDEN AMONG THE MOUNTAIN FIRS ARE PICTURESQUE LOG CABINS
[page break]
[six black and white photographs of various scenic views on the Banff-Jasper Highway]
MAGNIFICENT SCENERY ON THE BANFF-JASPER HIGHWAY
[page break]
Page Forty-six
[three black and white photographs of an elk, a beaver and a mountain sheep]
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARKS ARE A SANCTUARY FOR WILD LIFE. HERE ARE THE ELK, THE BEAVER AND THE MOUNTAIN SHEEP
[page break]
Page Forty-seven
[black and white photograph of a man with a fishing rod and net, fishing in the river]
Fishing
There was magnificent fishing in the foothills. To get to it you crossed 60 miles of dirt road . . . if there had been rain you didn’t.
[black and white photograph of a man standing beside a car which is stuck in deep mud]
[page break]
Page Forty-eight
[black and white photograph of a Gopher]
Summer
The Gopher is the first sign of summer, and harvesting marks the approach of another winter.
[black and white photograph of men harvesting in a field with a horse in the foreground]
[page break]
Page Forty-nine
[cartoon drawing of two airmen, one in “blues” uniform and one in tropical uniform]
We wore tropical kit in summer, usually with raincoats and winter underwear. When the sun came out, mosquitoes came out, too, and feasted on bare knees. Taking it all round, we found blue more fitting. Everybody said the summers were unusual. The records showed the summers of 1942 and 1944 were the wettest for many years. The summer of 1943 was not so hot, either. Someone said: “If this place is drought-ridden, Manchester must be the dust bowl of the universe.”
[page break]
Page Fifty
[black and white photograph of view of Sylvan Lake through the branches of a tree]
THERE WERE HOT SUNNY DAYS AT SYLVAN LAKE –
[black and white photograph of a muddy road]
- AND COLD WET DAYS ON THE DIRT ROADS
[page break]
Page Fifty-one
[black and white photograph of a Hawk perched on someone’s arm]
The Station had many and varied pets. Perhaps the most colourful was Percy the Hawk, of Maintenance Wing.
[black and white photograph of a Hawk with wings spread out]
[page break]
Page Fifty-two
THE OFFICERS’ MESS
[black and white photograph of the garden in front of the Officers’ Mess]
THE GARDEN WAS PLANNED BY THE FIRST C.E.O., W/CDR. MILL
[black and white photograph of Officers’ Mess bar, with two men behind the bar and one walking in from the side]
- AND THE BAR BY THE SECOND C.E.O., W/CDR. GIFFORD
[page break]
Page Fifty-three
[black and white photograph of nine airmen holding pints and standing in front of the Sergeants’ Mess bar]
MANY FAMOUS FACES LINED THE SERGEANTS’ MESS BAR
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Flight Sergeant Sutherland]
F/Sgt. Sutherland, N.C.O. i/c S.H.Q. Orderly Room, arrived at Penhold in August, 1941, is still with us and likely to be one of the last to leave. He is the final authority on the history of the unit. No doubt, realising he was a Penhold institution, he married the daughter of the owner of the land on which the Station was built.
[page break]
Page Fifty-four
OUTPOSTS
[black and white photograph of an airman standing in the doorway of a hut]
Penhold had two outposts. Innisfail had a remarkable guard room, and at Blackfalds there was a sea of mud. There were good things to be said for both of them, and the staffs there liked the life.
[black and white photograph of the guardroom at Innisfail]
[page break]
Page Fifty-five
Entertainments
[black and white photograph of men sitting watching a band playing on stage in the Recreation Hall]
There were a few nights when there was no entertainment in the Recreation Hall. There were stage shows, first class films, and Station Dances. Revues and concerts were brought by travelling companies, and we produced some gay concert parties of our own. Two of the most popular and talented of our stage stars were LAC Atkinson and LAC White-Ridley. On the left they are seen in an unusual revival of “Tea for Two,” with Atkinson as glamour girl. This was in the last Penhold Revue, produced in August, 1944.
[black and white photograph of LACs Atkinson and Ridley dancing on stage]
[symbol]
[page break]
Page Fifty-six
[black and white photograph of three men dressed as women singing on stage]
THIS TRIO SANG AS SWEETLY AS THE ANDREWS SISTERS EVEN IF THEY LOOKED MORE LIKE MAORIS
[black and white photograph of six men dressed as chorus girls dancing on stage]
THE “R.A.F. RASCALS” HAD GLAMOUROUS CHORUS GIRLS
[page break]
Page Fifty-seven
[black and white photograph of an orchestra playing on stage]
LAC GORDON MORRIS LED A FINE STATION ORCHESTRA –
[black and white photograph of three airmen behind a microphone, two standing and one sitting playing the piano]
- AND THE PENHOLD TRIO BROADCAST FREQUENTLY
[page break]
Page Fifty-eight
[black and white photograph of couples dancing]
NEARLY EVERY WEDNESDAY THERE WAS A DANCE IN THE RECREATION HALL. PENHOLD HAD ITS OWN EXCELLENT STATION BAND
The “Y” Canteen
[black and white photograph of a crowd of men, two in front with cups in their hands]
THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF TEA AND COFFEE WERE SOLD IN THE “Y” CANTEEN
[page break]
Page Fifty-nine
[black and white photograph of the interior of the station chapel]
The Old Station Chapel
The first Station Chapel was in the back of a hangar. There is now a Church, with Catholic and Anglican altars. The Works and Buildings Section built a font out of propeller bosses.
[black and white photograph of the Anglican altar and font]
ANGLICAN ALTAR AND FONT IN THE NEW CHURCH
[page break]
Page Sixty
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Corporal McLellan Jones]
The “Log”
The “Penhold Log” ran continuously from December, 1941. Cpl. McLellan Jones, writing under the pseudonym of “Mac,” has been a humourous [sic] feature writer since February, 1943. His work was at last properly recognised when it reached the C.B.C. News and national papers in August, 1944.
The most wicked cracks came from the pen of F/O Street, who wrote constantly and anonymously for more than a year. He also was quoted in the newspapers. In “Flaps From the Flying Wing,” nothing and nobody was immune from attack. In this popular column he immortalized –
[black and white photograph of Flying Officer Street sitting at a desk]
[cartoon drawing of an aircraft]
Not to be outdone, the present Editor claims a story of his about a skunk was used by the B.B.C.
[page break]
Page Sixty-one
The “Log” always had good illustrators. These cartoons are taken from back numbers.
[cartoon drawing of three witches]
GEORGE – “THE ERK” HORS d’OEUVRES
[four cartoon drawings]
[page break]
Page Sixty-two
[black and white photograph of a train at the Penhold railway station]
THIS IS THE “CHINOOK” WHICH TOOK US ON LEAVE –
[page break]
Page Sixty-three
[black and white photograph of a number of airmen standing in front of a train]
- AND THIS WAS THE FIRST OF THE BOAT TRAINS TO TAKE US HOME
[page break]
Page Sixty-four
[cartoon drawing of three Indians in tribal dress in the foreground and an airman waving to them and carrying his kit bag]
THE END
[page break]
[blank page]
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THE PENHOLD LOG
PRICE
10 CENTS
ALBERTA
CANADA
36 S.F.T.S.
[pictures of aircraft, maps of Great Britain and Canada and head and shoulders of a member of aircrew wearing flying helmet]
VOLUME V NUMBER 9
SEPTEMBER 1944
RAF [RAF wings crest]
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THE PENHOLD LOG
[drawing of aircraft flying through clouds]
Souvenir Number
September 1944
Published by kind permission of Group Captain W.T.F. Wightman. D.F.C.
Commanding Officer No 36. S.F.T.S. Penhold.
EDITOR
F/Lt. W.H. Thomas
ADVISORY BOARD: Rev. (S/Ldr.) Crockett, F/Lt. Gilbert, F/Lt. Hudson
COMMITTEE: F/Lt. J. Hibberd, F/O Street, F/O R.A.R. Hummel and LAC Nicholas (Photographs), Sgt. N.R. Smith (Illustrations), Cpl. E.R. Denison Cross and Cpl. McLennan Jones.
[black and white photograph of an Oxford aircraft flying through the clouds)
The Oxford in Alberta Skies
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YE RAFFE MAP –
[cartoon drawing of a map of Alberta]
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- OF MIDDLE ALBERTA
[cartoon drawing of a map of Alberta]
Sgt. N.R. Smith’s Projection
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Page Four
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Group Captain W.B. Farrington]
G/C W.B. Farrington. D.S.O.
Three Commanding Officers
No. 36 S.F.T.S. had three Commanding Officers. Group Captain W.B. Farrington, D.S.O., opened the Station in August 1941. He handed over to Group Captain H.J. Pringle, A.F.C., at the beginning of May, 1943. Group Captain W.T.F. Wightman, D.F.C., took over command of the unit at the end of July, 1944.
[two black and white head and shoulders photographs. One of Group Captain Pringle and the other of Group Captain Wightman]
G/C H.J. Pringle, A.F.C.
G/C W.T.F. Wightman, D.F.C.
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Page Five
[black and white photograph of a station parade]
STATION PARADES WERE HELD ON THE PARADE GROUND BEHIND THE CONTROL TOWER
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Page Six
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Wing Commander Hayward]
Many Chief Instructors
There were many Chief Instructors who guided Penhold’s three years of flying training. In 1941 there were W/Cdr. Leggate, S/Ldr. Maxwell and S/Ldr. I.G. Dale. W/Cdr. Chesterman took over in 1942, and was followed by W/Cdr. F.M. Milligan.
Two under whom Flying Wing flourished most successfully were W/Cdr. F.B.H. Hayward (above), C.I. from June, 1943 to February, 1944 and W/Cdr H.A.C. Stratton (right), C.I. from February to July, 1944. The last of Penhold’s C.I.’s is S/Ldr. J. Korndorffer.
[black and white photograph of Wing Commander Stratton sitting at a desk]
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Page Seven
C.E.O.’S and C.G.I.’s
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Wing Commander Gifford]
W/CDR. GIFFORD
There were three C.E.O.’S – W/Cdr. F.G. Mill, D.F.M., from August, 1941, to June, 1943: W/Cdr. Ovenden, from June to August, 1943, and W/Cdr. S.S. Gifford, from August, 1943.
There were two C.G.I.’s S/Ldr. S.S. Kirsten, from August, 1941, to August, 1943, and S/Ldr. N.G. Minor, from August, 1943
[black and white photograph of Squadron Leader Minor sitting at his desk]
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Page Eight
[cartoon drawing of a pilot in flying gear]
Three Years of Pupils
How many pilots Penhold produced is still secret. We know that many have won decorations since leaving here. Cartoonists thought of pupils as good types (left) or as dim types (bottom right). The average pupil looked just like the photograph below.
[black and white photograph of a pilot, from behind]
[cartoon drawing of a pilot]
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Page Nine
Air Cadets
[black and white photograph of a group of Air Cadets looking at a model aircraft]
Air Cadets have been a familiar sight about the camp ever since the station was first opened. The No. 7 (Penhold) Squadron, formed in September, 1940, was the first Alberta squadron, and held regular parades twice monthly on the camp. Though named the Penhold Squadron, it drew recruits from as far afield as Rocky Mountain House, Eckville, Benalto, Sylvan Lake, Markerville, Bowden and Innisfail, as well as from Red Deer. To attend the parades the Rocky Mountain House cadets travelled more than 60 miles each way in all kinds of weather. More than 400 cadets have received their first training in the ranks of the Penhold Squadron. The Squadron was formed under the command of Dr. Thompson, of Innisfail, and is now commanded by F/Lt. Cuthbertson, of Red Deer.
Penhold has also provided other Alberta Air Cadet Squadrons with facilities for summer camps and officers’ courses, while many cadets had their first flights in the aircraft of the unit. For our part, we have been able to learn something from watching the cadets on the parade ground carry out the complicated evolutions of the Canadian drill book.
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Page Ten
Chapter of Accidents
[black and white photograph of the damaged tail of an aircraft]
Like other training schools, Penhold had its share of accidents. Fortunately the more spectacular often caused more damage to the aircraft than to their occupants.
The aircraft above was flown home safely after losing half its tail unit in a mid-air collision. This was the occasion of the only parachute jump in Penhold’s history. Nobody was injured. The picture below shows what happens when two pilots choose the same time and place for landing. Again nobody was injured.
[black and white photograph of two damaged aircraft]
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Page Eleven
[black and white photograph of a crashed aircraft]
THIS AIRCRAFT BULL-DOZED ITS WAY THROUGH A BANK OF TREES. THE PILOT ESCAPED WITH A BROKEN LEG.
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Page Twelve
RED DEER
LOOKING back to the time when we first arrived at Penhold, it is difficult now to remember what we expected on our first visit to the town called Red Deer. The name had an authentic western flavour, and perhaps we had visions of a town complete with cowboys, cattle rustlers and sheriffs. The citizens of Red Deer have also probably forgotten what they thought when they first heard that several trainloads of R.A.F. troops were about to be dumped not so very far outside the city limits. Perhaps they had visions of an invasion of icily supercilious bores with high-pitched voices and affected accents.
Whatever may have been our various illusions about each other, they were soon dispelled and replaced by many new friendships. Red Deer made us welcome from our very first week-end at Penhold, and ever since the homes of Red Deer have been open to a long succession of those posted to No. 36 S.F.T.S. It cannot be denied that we felt somewhat alone and out in the wilds when we first arrived, for though this is the heart of a well populated and prosperous part of Canada, to English eyes it seemed vast, empty and somewhat bleak. We soon learned that what was lacking in numbers of population was more than overweighed by the warmth of the legendary western hospitality.
We have always grumbled, and wherever we are there is little doubt we always shall. Yet as the time approaches for us to leave Penhold, we realise that a good many of our grumbles have been just part of the national habit, and though we still rally to the cry, “Roll on the Boat,” we shall be sorry to have to say goodbye to our many Canadian friends who have done so much to make our stay here a happy one. A glance at the addresses on 48-hour passes provides abundant evidence of the number of homes in Central Alberta which welcome the R.A.F. Not only in Red Deer, but for a hundred miles around, the R.A.F. have made friends. One of the more distant spots which has always been popular at Penhold is Rocky Mountain House, which in the early days when the first contingents had just arrived, took bus loads of Penhold troops en bloc and organised week-end hospitality for them on a mass scale. Our many friends from outlying farms have often used part of their precious gasoline ration to take us to their homes out in the country. Those of us who were stationed at Penhold’s outposts, Big Bend and Blackfalds, also found many hospitable neighbours.
Each of us individually will be saying goodbye to our particular friends, but we wish also officially and on behalf of the unit to say that we have deeply appreciated all that the people of Red Deer and the surrounding towns and country have done to make our three years in Alberta so pleasant. We hope that new and better opportunities for world travel after the war may make it possible for us to meet again.
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Page Thirteen
[black and white night-time photograph of a street in Red Deer]
THE TWO RED DEER CINEMAS AND MOST OF THE CAFES ARE IN THIS STREET
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Page Fourteen
[black and white photograph of a street in Red Deer]
THE CALGARY-EDMONTON ROAD RUNS THROUGH RED DEER, AND HERE IS THE SHOPPING CENTRE
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Page Fifteen
[black and white photograph of two airmen and three women in a Parcel Booth]
IN WELL STOCKED STORES WE BOUGHT PARCELS TO SEND HOME
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[black and white photograph of a club house]
GOLFERS SPENT MANY PLEASANT HOURS ON THE BEAUTIFUL BUT TRICKY 18-HOLE RED DEER COURSE. THIS IS THE CLUB HOUSE
[black and white photograph of a bridge over the Red Deer River which if full of ice]
DURING THE SPRING BREAK-UP IN 1943 THE RED DEER RIVER WAS PILED HIGH WITH A HUGE ICE JAM WHICH CAUSED FLOODS IN PARTS OF THE TOWN
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Page Seventeen
[black and white scenic photograph of Waskasoo Creek surrounded by tall trees]
WASKASOO CREEK RUNS THROUGH RED DEER
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Page Eighteen
[black and white photograph of Ross Street in Red Deer in 1894]
FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WAS RED DEER – ROSS STREET IN 1894
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Page Nineteen
SORENSEN’S
[bus ticket of Penhold’s pet dog for 1942]
Sorensen’s Bus Lines linked the Station with cinemas and T-bone steaks in Red Deer. There can be few, if any, of the Station personnel who did not buy at least one ticket on a Sorensen Bus. Penhold’s pet dog in 1942 made regular trips to Red Deer, and was given a special pass.
[black and white photograph of a Sorensen’s bus]
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Page Twenty
[black and white photograph of a road, covered in snow and surrounded by trees]
Winter
Though often a thing of beauty, it seemed to last forever
[black and white photograph of deep snow in front of a house, whose roof is covered in snow and tall trees in the background]
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Page Twenty-one
[black and white photograph of a snow plough, ploughing through deep snow]
THERE WAS PLENTY OF WORK FOR THE SICARD SNOW PLOUGH IN WINTER. THE WORST BLIZZARDS DID NOT STOP FLYING FOR LONG
[black and white photograph of three men in suits and ties sitting behind a desk]
FORECASTING A DROP IN TEMPERATURE OF 5O DEGREES F. – AND BEING RIGHT – MADE THE MET. MEN SMILE
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Page Twenty-two
XMAS
[black and white photograph of Group Captain Pringle helping to serve Christmas dinner]
GROUP CAPTAIN PRINGLE helped to serve the 1943 Christmas Dinner to the Airmen
[black and white photograph of children at a Christmas party]
- AND THE CHILDREN OF RED DEER CAME TO A CHRISTMAS PARTY
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Page Twenty-three
[drawing of a bear, in front of a man carrying a gun on his shoulder, in a blizzard]
A BIT OF A LINE
Arctic Penhold will no doubt produce even bigger and better lines than this. Just to cramp everyone’s style, here are the facts about the three winters. The first winter, 1941-2, was exceptionally mild, with little snow, lots of sun, and a couple of short cold snaps with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees below zero. The third winter, 1943-4, was an even milder version of the first, with as little snow and only one short cold spell which did not touch 30 below. The second winter, 1942-3, was terrible, some said the worst since 1906-7. There was snow by the end of October and blizzards at least once a month till next March. The snow-blower is claimed to have buried itself digging its way from Innisfail to Big Bend. The average temperature in January, 1943, was 3 degrees below zero, with an average temperature of 27 below for a ten-day period. In three days the temperature fell 68 degrees, and in eight days it fell 93 degrees to reach the lowest official figure of 49.5 degrees below zero.
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Page Twenty-four
[five black and white photographs of boxing matches]
Winter Sport at Penhold
In winter, most sport took place in the Drill Hall, which was also the stamping ground for daily P.T. Boxing tournaments drew big crowds. Tennis and badminton tournaments were also popular. During the last year, a Bowling Alley was opened at the far end of the Hall. The Drill Hall also managed to house a miniature rifle range, a cricket net, and much weight-lifting apparatus.
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Page Twenty-five
[black and white photograph of men playing basketball]
Basketball, which is a girls’ game at home, proved a popular Drill Hall sport which could be fast, clever and rough.
[black and white photograph of a burnt out building]
In February, 1944, the Drill Hall became an emergency dining hall, after a fire in the Airmen’s Mess which burnt out the kitchen store rooms. The picture shows the damage to the kitchen roof. Happily the dining halls were saved.
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Page Twenty-six
Ski Trail
[black and white photograph of a ski slope]
Many of us had our first taste of the thrill of ski-ing [sic] in the Rockies. The slopes at Banff were pitted with craters marking the falls of R.A.F. – and R.A.A.F. – and R.N.Z.A.F. – beginners. The more proficient, or the more adventurous, went to the high mountain lodges above timberline.
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Page Twenty-seven
[black and white photograph of a skier skiing down a snow covered hill]
EVEN THOUGH WE COULD NOT ACHIEVE THIS FLUID MASTERY –
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Page Twenty-eight
[black and white photograph of two skiers skiing through the snow]
THE AVERAGE BEGINNER COULD FOLLOW EXPERTS TO THE VIRGIN SNOW
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Page Twenty-nine
. . . SKATING . . .
[drawing of a man and women ice skating]
Most of us took a crack at skating, which was at least one way of getting to know people. Finally we produced an ice hockey team, which was all Canadian except for the goal-minder.
[black and white photograph of six men playing ice hockey]
THE STATION HOCKEY TEAM PLAYED GAMES IN RED DEER ARENA
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Page Thirty
Summer Sport
According to some authorities, Alberta has two seasons, July and Winter. If this may be condemned as an exaggeration, it is still true that England’s winter and summer sports all have to be crammed into the few short summer months, and soccer, rugger, cricket and athletics at Penhold made a crowded season of outdoor games. Soccer, although sometimes played on hot, dusty evenings alive with mosquitoes, was the most popular and successful game. The Penhold soccer eleven, calling themselves the Fliers, won the Alberta Inter-Service Soccer championship in 1942 and 1943, and by the middle of 1944 had made certain of a place in the final. In the first two seasons, R.A.F., Calgary, were our rivals in the final, but since the closing of the Calgary R.A.F. station, Penhold is matched for the first time in the final against a Canadian team, the A-20 Army side from Red Deer.
Out athletics team won the Alberta championship in 1942, came second in 1943, and was second in the Northern Alberta meeting in 1944. Rugby football was confined to friendly matches until 1944, when a contest between Alberta air training schools was arranged and gave Penhold the chance of proving its rugger prowess by winning the championship. The station cricketers found many good teams to play against in Calgary and Edmonton, and during the last two seasons made tours to Vancouver and Victoria.
[black and white photograph of three rows of men, the front row seated and back two rows standing, wearing their football kit]
PENHOLD FLIERS, 1944
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Page Thirty-one
[black and white photograph of men playing football]
PENHOLD FLIERS WERE ALBERTA CHAMPIONS IN 1942 –
[black and white photograph of spectators cheering at football match]
- AND PLEASED THEIR ENTHUSIASTIC FOLLOWERS
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Page Thirty-two
CALGARY – The City of Cowboys and Chinooks
[black and white aerial photograph of the city of Calgary]
Those who expected hitching posts in Calgary may have been disappointed in this city of 90,000 people, luxurious hotels and fine shops. It was, nevertheless, a popular haunt for week-end leave, and we spent lots of money and made many friends here.
[black and white photograph of aircraft on an air strip with the Chinook clouds in the background]
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Page Thirty-three
[black and white aerial photograph of the city of Calgary]
The Chinook arch is often seen in the western sky at Calgary – and sometimes at Penhold. The Chinook is a warm wind blowing over the mountains from the Pacific. It forms a characteristic arch of high cloud when it meets the cold prairie air in winter.
[black and white photograph of aircraft on an air strip with the Chinook clouds in the background]
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Page Thirty-four
[black and white photograph of Calgary at night]
To black-out accustomed eyes, Calgary at night was ablaze with bright lights. Above is a view from the Palliser Hotel, and below is a scene on Eighth Avenue.
[black and white photograph of Eighth Avenue, Calgary at night]
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Page Thirty-five
Fine Bridges Span Bow River at Calgary
[black and white photograph of the bridges across Bow River, Calgary]
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Page Thirty-six
[black and white photograph of a man riding a horse attempting to rope a calf]
The Calgary Stampede, held each year in July, is world famous. The wartime stampedes drew record crowds. Many from Penhold went to see calf-roping (left) and bronk riding (below).
[black and white photograph of a man riding a bucking bronco]
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Page Thirty-seven
[black and white photograph of a man bareback riding a steer]
BAREBACK STEER RIDING WAS A FEATURE OF THE CALGARY STAMPEDE
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Page Thirty-eight
Cross Roads of the World
[black and white photograph of the corner of a street in Edmonton with men digging through the deep snow]
Somewhat snowed up after a blizzard, this is the heart of Edmonton and, to quote the radio, the gateway to the north-west and the crossroads of the world. It was in 1942 that Edmonton sprang into world prominence as the jumping-off point for the Alaska highway, and a natural air terminus for great circle air routes from North America to China and Russia. Though one hundred miles away, Penhold had a fellow feeling for Edmonton in its expanding greatness! Following U.S. announcements that aircraft and supplies have been flown to Russia over this north-western route, we can now say that Penhold occasionally served as an emergency landing ground in bad weather for aircraft destined for the Russian fronts, and the R.A.F. had the pleasure of welcoming the U.S. flying crews who were forced down here.
Edmonton shared with Calgary about equal popularity for leave and “48’s”, though it was generally more difficult to get accommodation there during the time of the American occupation. But as in Calgary and elsewhere, many Canadian homes were opened to us in this city which we thought of as the northern limit of civilisation. Few of us went farther north than Edmonton, and yet Alberta stretches for another 500 miles towards the Arctic.
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Page Thirty-nine
[black and white aerial photograph of the city of Edmonton]
THIS IS THE HEART OF EDMONTON, WITH THE MACDONALD HOTEL IN THE FOREGROUND
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Page Forty
[black and white photograph of four men in a Jeep driving on the Alaska Highway]
THE ALASKA HIGHWAY, BUILT IN 1942, RUNS FOR 1,500 MILES THROUGH NORTH-WESTERN CANADA –
[black and white photograph of a suspension bridge over the Peace River]
- AND CROSSES THE PEACE RIVER BY THIS MAGNIFICENT BRIDGE
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Page Forty-one
FAREWELL . . .
To The Rockies
[black and white photograph of a train travelling through the Rocky Mountains]
On Penhold’s western horizon stand the massive eastern ranges of the Rocky Mountains. A forbidden land for pilots, it was a favourite country for leave both in winter and summer. Ski-ing [sic] enthusiasts even managed to get to Banff and back on a “48”. Pupils with their newly won wings and their first leave for many months regularly celebrated with a visit to Banff, and on the Norquay ski slopes enjoyed greater risk of physical injury than they ever did as pilots under training. In the depth of winter many bathed in the Banff hot springs, and had their photographs taken standing in bathing shorts holding a ball of snow. In summer there was canoeing on the Bow River . . . beavers at work in the evenings on their dams . . . and bears rummaging in the garbage cans (we mean dust bins) even in the middle of the town. A few went deeper into the mountains, to the magnificent Lake Louise, or far up the Banff-Jasper road to the Columbia icefields, where the biggest glaciers south of the Arctic feed rivers running to the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. All who went to the Rocky Mountains saw some of the most magnificent mountain scenery in the world.
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Page Forty-two
[scenic black and white photograph of Cascade Mountain]
BANFF IS DOMINATED BY BEAUTIFUL CASCADE MOUNTAIN
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Page Forty-three
[black and white photograph of a Canadian Mountie on his horse in the foreground and an Indian in tribal dress sitting on his horse in the background]
DURING THE “INDIAN DAYS” AT BANFF IN SUMMER, THERE ARE RED COATED MOUNTIES AND INDIANS IN TRIBAL DRESS
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Forty-four
[black and white photograph of a log cabin in the mountains]
HIDDEN AMONG THE MOUNTAIN FIRS ARE PICTURESQUE LOG CABINS
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[six black and white photographs of various scenic views on the Banff-Jasper Highway]
MAGNIFICENT SCENERY ON THE BANFF-JASPER HIGHWAY
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Page Forty-six
[three black and white photographs of an elk, a beaver and a mountain sheep]
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARKS ARE A SANCTUARY FOR WILD LIFE. HERE ARE THE ELK, THE BEAVER AND THE MOUNTAIN SHEEP
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Page Forty-seven
[black and white photograph of a man with a fishing rod and net, fishing in the river]
Fishing
There was magnificent fishing in the foothills. To get to it you crossed 60 miles of dirt road . . . if there had been rain you didn’t.
[black and white photograph of a man standing beside a car which is stuck in deep mud]
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Page Forty-eight
[black and white photograph of a Gopher]
Summer
The Gopher is the first sign of summer, and harvesting marks the approach of another winter.
[black and white photograph of men harvesting in a field with a horse in the foreground]
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Page Forty-nine
[cartoon drawing of two airmen, one in “blues” uniform and one in tropical uniform]
We wore tropical kit in summer, usually with raincoats and winter underwear. When the sun came out, mosquitoes came out, too, and feasted on bare knees. Taking it all round, we found blue more fitting. Everybody said the summers were unusual. The records showed the summers of 1942 and 1944 were the wettest for many years. The summer of 1943 was not so hot, either. Someone said: “If this place is drought-ridden, Manchester must be the dust bowl of the universe.”
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Page Fifty
[black and white photograph of view of Sylvan Lake through the branches of a tree]
THERE WERE HOT SUNNY DAYS AT SYLVAN LAKE –
[black and white photograph of a muddy road]
- AND COLD WET DAYS ON THE DIRT ROADS
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Page Fifty-one
[black and white photograph of a Hawk perched on someone’s arm]
The Station had many and varied pets. Perhaps the most colourful was Percy the Hawk, of Maintenance Wing.
[black and white photograph of a Hawk with wings spread out]
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Page Fifty-two
THE OFFICERS’ MESS
[black and white photograph of the garden in front of the Officers’ Mess]
THE GARDEN WAS PLANNED BY THE FIRST C.E.O., W/CDR. MILL
[black and white photograph of Officers’ Mess bar, with two men behind the bar and one walking in from the side]
- AND THE BAR BY THE SECOND C.E.O., W/CDR. GIFFORD
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Page Fifty-three
[black and white photograph of nine airmen holding pints and standing in front of the Sergeants’ Mess bar]
MANY FAMOUS FACES LINED THE SERGEANTS’ MESS BAR
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Flight Sergeant Sutherland]
F/Sgt. Sutherland, N.C.O. i/c S.H.Q. Orderly Room, arrived at Penhold in August, 1941, is still with us and likely to be one of the last to leave. He is the final authority on the history of the unit. No doubt, realising he was a Penhold institution, he married the daughter of the owner of the land on which the Station was built.
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Page Fifty-four
OUTPOSTS
[black and white photograph of an airman standing in the doorway of a hut]
Penhold had two outposts. Innisfail had a remarkable guard room, and at Blackfalds there was a sea of mud. There were good things to be said for both of them, and the staffs there liked the life.
[black and white photograph of the guardroom at Innisfail]
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Page Fifty-five
Entertainments
[black and white photograph of men sitting watching a band playing on stage in the Recreation Hall]
There were a few nights when there was no entertainment in the Recreation Hall. There were stage shows, first class films, and Station Dances. Revues and concerts were brought by travelling companies, and we produced some gay concert parties of our own. Two of the most popular and talented of our stage stars were LAC Atkinson and LAC White-Ridley. On the left they are seen in an unusual revival of “Tea for Two,” with Atkinson as glamour girl. This was in the last Penhold Revue, produced in August, 1944.
[black and white photograph of LACs Atkinson and Ridley dancing on stage]
[symbol]
[page break]
Page Fifty-six
[black and white photograph of three men dressed as women singing on stage]
THIS TRIO SANG AS SWEETLY AS THE ANDREWS SISTERS EVEN IF THEY LOOKED MORE LIKE MAORIS
[black and white photograph of six men dressed as chorus girls dancing on stage]
THE “R.A.F. RASCALS” HAD GLAMOUROUS CHORUS GIRLS
[page break]
Page Fifty-seven
[black and white photograph of an orchestra playing on stage]
LAC GORDON MORRIS LED A FINE STATION ORCHESTRA –
[black and white photograph of three airmen behind a microphone, two standing and one sitting playing the piano]
- AND THE PENHOLD TRIO BROADCAST FREQUENTLY
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Page Fifty-eight
[black and white photograph of couples dancing]
NEARLY EVERY WEDNESDAY THERE WAS A DANCE IN THE RECREATION HALL. PENHOLD HAD ITS OWN EXCELLENT STATION BAND
The “Y” Canteen
[black and white photograph of a crowd of men, two in front with cups in their hands]
THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF TEA AND COFFEE WERE SOLD IN THE “Y” CANTEEN
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Page Fifty-nine
[black and white photograph of the interior of the station chapel]
The Old Station Chapel
The first Station Chapel was in the back of a hangar. There is now a Church, with Catholic and Anglican altars. The Works and Buildings Section built a font out of propeller bosses.
[black and white photograph of the Anglican altar and font]
ANGLICAN ALTAR AND FONT IN THE NEW CHURCH
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Page Sixty
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Corporal McLellan Jones]
The “Log”
The “Penhold Log” ran continuously from December, 1941. Cpl. McLellan Jones, writing under the pseudonym of “Mac,” has been a humourous [sic] feature writer since February, 1943. His work was at last properly recognised when it reached the C.B.C. News and national papers in August, 1944.
The most wicked cracks came from the pen of F/O Street, who wrote constantly and anonymously for more than a year. He also was quoted in the newspapers. In “Flaps From the Flying Wing,” nothing and nobody was immune from attack. In this popular column he immortalized –
[black and white photograph of Flying Officer Street sitting at a desk]
[cartoon drawing of an aircraft]
Not to be outdone, the present Editor claims a story of his about a skunk was used by the B.B.C.
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Page Sixty-one
The “Log” always had good illustrators. These cartoons are taken from back numbers.
[cartoon drawing of three witches]
GEORGE – “THE ERK” HORS d’OEUVRES
[four cartoon drawings]
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Page Sixty-two
[black and white photograph of a train at the Penhold railway station]
THIS IS THE “CHINOOK” WHICH TOOK US ON LEAVE –
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Page Sixty-three
[black and white photograph of a number of airmen standing in front of a train]
- AND THIS WAS THE FIRST OF THE BOAT TRAINS TO TAKE US HOME
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Page Sixty-four
[cartoon drawing of three Indians in tribal dress in the foreground and an airman waving to them and carrying his kit bag]
THE END
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Collection
Citation
No 36 SFTS, Penhold, “The Penhold Log, September 1944,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed May 1, 2025, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/23636.
Item Relations
This item has no relations.