On January 5th the cadre of the 330th was alerted and moved on the 11th. Their leaving severely handicapped the organisation for a time, however seven new men were assigned during the month.

At the beginning of the month S/Sgt Moore moved his Carpentry Shop to the new site as did the Electric Shop, Dope, Fabric and Drafting Shop. All Shops continued with their program of Shop Improvement during spare time.

Jan 12: General Electric's Phil Reed and Emery Houghton of Carning Glass Company, accompanied by Lt Col Reed, Ground Exec, and Major Jolicouer made a tour of the Sub-Depot's facilities.

Jan 16: Col J.J.Nazarro, Station Commander, departed for a higher position and Lt Col H.Leber assumed command.

Re-organisation of the Station Mobile Defence reduced the unit's quota to only 22 men. These men meet twice a week at 1300 hrs until 1500 hrs, and our location made us a logical supply point for mobile units. 1st Strategic Air Depot benefited considerably.

Four engines and props, four oil regulators and four oil tanks were sent to their units at Bournemouth and Hornchurch during the month.

Jan 20: Superior rating was given all departments by Major Lawrence, 1st Division Inspector after a very thorough examination.

Lt M.M. Hall was appointed Plans and Training Officer. Cross training of all men, already in progress for some time, was further developed. The essence being, all men to work in other depts for a period of two weeks. Eleven men were sent to various Technical Training Schools, while Lt W.J. Muckerman attended Gas School at Rolleston Camp for 12 days.

In anticipation of Station # 127's movement, a 60 day level of supplies were requisitioned. Re-arrangement of the Supply Office and a new office for Capt Miller were completed at the end of the month.

A resume of Supply activities for the month show 63 trucks loads of supplies received from the Depot, 25 truck loads of repairables and serviceable items shipped to the Depot, 2,839 requisitions were filled by Supply for units on this field with 88% of all requisitions filled immediately. 168 items were requisitioned by teletype and 355 by routine. Some 580,000 gallons, or 290 truck loads, of gas were received and 578,370 were disbursed, 391 cylinders of breathing oxygen hauled from Barnhum were used, and 31 new airplanes were received and checked in by the Aircraft Record Section.

First into the hangar in January for repair was 42-30721 (533rd VP-I SWEET & LOVELY) for major damage to the right wing, followed closely by 42-3411 (532nd VE-I). On Jan 5, by virtue of another freak accident, we gained another ship. Leaflets from another plane above stove in the right wing of 42-31047 (535th MS-Q WOLVERINE), in addition to the right stabilizer and Nos 3 & 4 engines.

To our list of accidents was added 42-39906 (535th MS-X SQUAT 'N DROPPIT) on Jan 23 when two trucks rammed it, and the same evening 42-37983 (532nd VE-N) overshot the airfield and had to be retrieved from a nearby ditch, to have the right wing changed, all four engines and props changed, tail section and belly rebuilt and right stabilizer changed. However in 16 days it was flying again.

Altogether during the month 151 airplanes were worked on by our crews, 126 for maintenance and 25 for battle damage. The Engine Section built up 27 engines for quick change by the Bomb Group; Prop Shop showed 28 more props overhauled; and 12 assembled; 60 governors were cleaned, tested and repaired; Parachute Shop packed 1,006 'chutes; Electric Shop had tested and repaired 51 generators, 51 starters, 27 retracting motors, 110 flying suits, 90 pairs of shoes, 110 pairs of gloves; 37 Oil Coolers were cleaned, flushed and repaired by the cooler shop which also repaired seven C-10 power plants. In the Instrument Shop 91 instruments were tested and repaired.

This month also saw the beginning of our own motor pool with two Jeeps, a weapons carrier, two 2 1/2 ton trucks, two Cletracs, a 40 x 25 ft Trailer and an Auto car. It was headed by Cpl Young as Chief Mechanic, Cpl Pearson as Dispatcher and nine drivers.

At the end of the month it was further augmented by three more Jeeps, another Cletrac, and a Steam Jenny for cleaning. The Motor Pool is located in the centre of the Technical Site adjacent to Hangar # 1. Its routine runs consist of Oxygen runs to Barnum, the the different Depts and the warehouse in Yeldham.

R.D. Jolicouer,
Major, Air Corps,
Commanding.