As mentioned in our previous Column, Course No.1 at No.34 Operational Training Unit (O.T.U.), a solid little British enclave staffed almost entirely by Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel, right down to the batmen, commenced on June 8, 1942 with 62 trainees (17 RAF Pilots, 15 RCAF Observers & 30 RCAF Wireless Operators/Air Gunners).
The purpose of No.34 O.T.U. was to bring the four members of the aircrew (Pilot, Observer (later known as Navigator), Wireless Operator/Air Gunner and Air Gunner) together and prepare aircrews for operations on the Lockheed Vega-Ventura, a twin-engine medium bomber. The courses were around twelve weeks in length, depending on weather, serviceability of aircraft, availability of qualified instructors (both ground and air), etc.
Pilots & Wireless Operator/Air Gunners (WO/AGs) would commence first – a Pilot’s first solo at “the Ridge” always included a hapless WO/AG (an airmen trained to use the radio equipment on board an aircraft and maintain communication with the world outside) as well. Around two weeks later the Navigator would join followed four weeks later by the Air Gunner.
A Course No.20 (Pilot) remarked regarding training: “I was checked out in the Ventura with its two 2,000 hp engines and a takeoff gross weight of 32,000 pounds after six short instructional flights totalling four hours and 45 minutes, which contrasted sharply with the brand of training we had just completed flying the Anson II for four months at the SFTS. It is a miracle there were not more Venturas lying about the airfield at the end of each day.”
In the training syllabus for No.34 O.T.U. you will find the word “wastage” referring to the waste of resources, or more pointedly dealing with the accepted and inevitable losses from those killed or injured during training. For Course No.1 this occurred a little more then 6 weeks (July 23rd) into training when Ventura AE950 failed to return from evening local flight for airscrew feathering, single engine flying and use of flaps. The crew consisted of Sgt. Pilot Harvey John AUSTIN (GB1334195) (RAFVR) and WAG Sgt. Joseph Stanley YURKOWSKI (R/107012) (RCAF).
Four days after Ventura AE950 disappeared into the abyss, Sgt. R.W. TIMBERLAKE (GB1330923) (RAFVR) (” …failed the Course through failure to go solo on Ventura A/C.”) and Sgt. L.R. DOOLEY (R/122173) (…permanently grounded and posted away owing to incurable air sickness.”) were both posted to the Reselection Center, Trenton, ON. Whereas Sgt. R.A. CAMERON (R/125099) was “…put back to No.4 Course owing to illness.” and Sgt. L.G.J. GOUGH (R/110156) was “…taken off training during the month and is awaiting trial by Court Martial on a charge of 23 days absence without leave.”
On August 29th the course moved to No.34 O.T.U. Detachment, Yarmouth, NS by road and air for their armament training portion of the course. The first mishap at Yarmouth occurred September 2nd when the “Tail Oleo of Ventura AE954 was holed by machine gun fire whilst re-arming.” Luckily no one was injured!
Examinations occurred on September 7th & 8th before returning to Pennfield Ridge on the 9th. Graduation followed on the 11th with 11 complete crews each consisting of 1 Pilot, 1 Observer and 2 WOP/AGs and 1 crew consisting of 1 Pilot, 1 Observer and 1 WOP/AG. 3 Pilots, 3 Observers and 3 WOP/AGs were screened and retained at the Unit to fill staff vacancies.
The graduates (totalling 47 airmen) were given two weeks Embarkation Leave after which time they were to report to No.1 “Y” Depot, Halifax, NS to await transportation overseas – 17 of the said airmen failed to return home at war’s end. Of the 9 retained to fill staff vacancies, 1 was killed in a crash of a Ventura 4 miles northeast of Caledonia, N.S. in November 1942 & one was later posted overseas in October 1943 only to have the angel of death call him home in February 1944.
An interesting note, one of the retained airmen was Sgt. J.E. BIGELOW (R/114528), a graduate of the Presbyterian College in 1940 before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force, held church services at the Pennfield Presbyterian Kirk and officiated at least two marriages while here.
Christian Larsen currently serves as President of Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society. He has been actively involved in researching the genealogical & military history of Pennfield Parish for nearly four decades. From 2009 until 2017 he hosted the annual Pennfield Ridge War Memorial Services. Recognized at the provincial & federal levels for his work with Veterans having been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012); Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023); Minister of Veteran Affairs Commendation (2024) & King Charles III’s Coronation Medal (2025). He can be reached at: ppmhsociety@gmail.com
