Training
George was just 20 years old on 2 September 1941 when he presented himself to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) at the recruitment office in Halifax. My best guess is that the RCAF recruitment centre was on Barrington Street, just south of the Dalhousie Faculty of Engineering....possibly 1934 or 1940 Barrington Street.
#1 Manning Pool, Toronto 20 Sep 41 – 29 Oct 41. This was George's first stop on his path to flying a Spitfire and directly contributing to the war effort. Here he learned to wash, shave, salute, march, exercise, and all natures of RCAF basic training stuff.
George's RCAF 'dog tag(s)'. Usually these things are issued as a pair. I can't explain why there is only one. Perhaps the Germans took one from him when he was captured, or perhaps he had to return one to the RCAF upon repatriation. I don't know.
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CAN meant that he was a Canadian
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R124758 was George's Service Number.
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Airman meant that he was a non-commissioned member of the Canadian armed forces.
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RC meant Roman Catholic
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RCAF meant that he was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
#1 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS), Malton, Ont. 2 Mar 42 – 27 Apr 42.
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de Havilland Tiger Moth trainer in background. George is in the back row, second from the left.
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#13 Service Flying Training School (SFTS), St. Hubert, PQ. 12 May 42 – 4 Sep 42.
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George is in the back row, second from the left.
The top picture is interesting as it shows the North American Harvard trainer, the most advanced single engined training aircraft in Canada at the time. George put in many hours in the cockpit of a Harvard.
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The picture was taken on August 27, 1942, one day before he got his wings. His log shows that his last flight at #13 Service Flight Training School (SFTS), St. Hubert, PQ, was on August 26, so George didn't take the picture. In fact George's log shows that, although he flew many different Harvards during training, he never flew serial number 2901 (see the serial number on the back end of the fuselage), so this particular aircraft was likely not a part of #13 SFTS. Perhaps the picture was taken at a different training squadron.
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George wrote on the back of the picture that the aircraft in the pic was piloted by Nick Megura, of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
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The lower image provides the technical specs for the Harvard/Yale.
I assume that this image was taken by the RCAF shortly after he received his wings.
Official RCAF photo.
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George is far right in back row, proudly displaying his new wings. The aircraft is a North American Harvard advanced trainer.
Sweetheart brooch
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During the war it was common for service men to give a sweetheart brooch to the ones they would be missing when off serving their country. This brooch was among George's memorabilia. Click on the underlined text to learn more about Sweetheart Brooches.
Shortly after getting his wings, George became an Instructor, training new recruits how to fly an aircraft, and how to operate a radio. He served as an Instructor in Charlottetown, PEI, and Burch, Ontario.
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Then, on 20 Dec 1943, he was posted to Hagersville, Ontario, for a 'refresher and conversion course'. While at Hagersville he primarily flew Anson II and Master II aircraft.
Avro Anson twin engine multi-role aircraft
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Image from Wikipedia.
Miles Master II, two seat monoplane advanced trainer.
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Image from Wikipedia.
On May 25th, 1944, George finds himself in Turn Hill, England, at #5 Advanced Flying Unit to receive more training on the Miles Master II airplane.
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Then, finally, on 11 September, 1944, George is introduced to the Spitfire. He is transferred to #53 Operations Training Unit in Kirton-in-Lindsay, England. From this point onwards, George is in harm's way.