No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Fingal, Ontario

by Paul E. Laforet

On February 16, 1944 I was posted to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Fingal, as a staff officer to train Airmen. We conducted ground school classes in bombing techniques and took two students at a time on bombing missions over targets at Dutton, Fromeand Melbourne, Ontario. When a bomb was dropped, two houses near the targets, at right angles to each other, recorded the location. Plotting of the two locations at a specific time indicated the margin of error. Results were phoned in to the station, and after landing,, we discussed the results of students bomb drops. Further instruction if necessary took place.

 Our class sizes were 12 and we lectured on drifts, bombsight usage, wind settings, switches in bomb bays etc. As well, bombing teachers were used in hangars to familiarize students regarding map reading and targets. A map was projected on o screen some thirty feet down. The student in a bombaimer position with a map would direct the controls to an appointed target, release a light signal which when reaching the artificial ground, stopped at the position that had been selected by the student. The margin of error was evident at this point as a pinpoint light was visible on the screen.

 Air gunners were also receiving training by firing as we had at Paulson. They flew over Lake Erie near Port Stanley. Parades of course were regular occurrences;  Wing parades were held each month for Gunners.  There were many accidents at Fingal. Snow was cleared from runways and just pushed aside. Wing tips would strike the high drifts and twist the aircraft. We had fatal accidents as well. One I remember was with Ivan Rees and three others. He was a good friend.   I was involved in two flights where engines caught fire during approaches. One was extinguished as the pilot made a sharp left turn. The other was put out by station firefighters on landing.  The war in Europe was winding down and orders came through that training be curtailed and stations closed. The closing of Fingal began before I received a posting for overseas duties.  I had flown 113 flights in Ansons at Fingal for 171:00 hours.  My log book now read 247:40 day and 63:50 night for 311:30 total hours.  I will remember my affiliation with that wonderful station forever..