Remembering Wings & Wheels 2, June 20 & 21, 2009!
Dedicated to the Memory of Kaitlin Vanderhoek!
RCAF Stn Fingal
No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School opened on 25 November 1940. Bombing ranges were sighted at Dutton, Melbourne, Frome and Tempo. A marine section was located at Port Stanley that included bombing ranges on Lake Erie. Aircraft types included the Fairey Battle, Nomad, and Lysander, all of which were gradually replaced by Ansons and Bolingbrokes.
The student body consisted of graduate Wireless Operators / Air Gunners (WAG), arriving from Wireless Schools, graduate Air Observers, and Air Gunners from Initial Training Schools. Gunnery training lasted 6 weeks. Air Observers received an additional 12 weeks of bombing training. Later, Flight Engineers also received gunnery training.
Prior to disbandment on 17 February 1945, the school held 98 parades to honour 4142 graduates comprising 2196 WAGs, 1006 Navigators, 504 Air Gunners and 436 Flight Engineers. While 75% were Canadian, the remainder included British, Australian, and New Zealand airmen.
Copyright Paul Ozorak
(from the Spooner Memorial at 427
Wing, Air
Force Association of Canada)
Avro Anson, Bristol Bolingbroke IVT and Fairey Battle
Northrop Nomad, Westland Lysand
