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A Typical Day

A typical day on the base began early, and as soon as the trainees rose from sleep, procedures were enacted. A good airman looked after his bunk as though it was his bed at home. It was made up in regulation fashion and there was absolutely no excuse for dirty linen as clean sheets could be secured once a week. The appearance of the barrack room was the responsibility of all sharing it and men would take turns cleaning the windows and mopping floors to make sure it was neat and tidy.

Breakfast, and all other meals, were received in the mess hall. Airmen were expected to arrive on time and in appropriate dress. Airmen ate well. In fact, many trainees from Europe were shocked to find food in abundance that was rationed at home. While food availability was not a problem in Alberta, airmen were reminded not to take more than they could eat.

If an airman was not feeling well, he was to report to his wing orderly room before breakfast. His name was placed on a sick report and he continued on to the medical inspection room. He was examined and given a medical slip determining if he was to work as usual, perform only light duties, be excused from duties but confined to barracks, or be detained in hospital for one day or admitted to the station hospital. Of course all medical emergencies were handled as they occurred. A similar procedure was followed if an airman needed dental work. He would report to the dental clinic and after inspection, the appropriate treatment was administered. The medical clinics asked that all men keep track of their health and accordingly report themselves ill, so that they would be in good health and prevent any sort of epidemic from spreading across the station.

With the exception of lunchtime, at approximately 1200 to 1330 hours, aircrew trainees were involved in a variety of classes and drills. The specifics of the classes varied from school to school, but the nature of them remained the same. An airmen was expected to promptly arrive at the correct classroom, clean shaven, boots polished and appropriately dressed in fatigue clothing, ready to receive instruction on which he would be regularly tested upon. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) recognized that different people learned at different speeds and wanting to graduate as many airmen as possible, offered extra instruction in the evening for those who needed it. Discipline was a large part of the service and trainees were expected to know how to behave during drills. Without procedures it would have been nearly impossible for the thousands of men to have graduated from the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) in Alberta.

A regular evening would find airmen engaged in a wide variety of activities. Some, such as those learning night or instrument flying, would still be in classes. Others would be studying or receiving the extra instruction they needed. Airmen who felt comfortable with what they had learned for the day had the opportunity for some time off. Many could be found in the station canteens enjoying a snack, a drink and conversation. As everywhere else on the station, there were regulations concerning behavior in the canteen. For example, all food and beverages were to be consumed before leaving. A handbook outlining all regulations and procedures pertaining to a specific base was given to each trainee shortly upon arrival.

A great deal was expected of the airmen on each of the BCATP bases. The goal of training an air force in such a short period of time was incredibly ambitious and would not have been reached without due diligence to the rules of conduct.