Derbert Flight line 1943

Photo source: 439 Sqn archives

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Cleaning the buildings at Debert was quite a problem as the coal burning Quebec heaters left a film of soot that required an abnormal amount of scrubbing to remove.  Everything was spotless though when the Inspector General, AVM (Air Vice Marshall) Croil, arrived on 18 March to examine personnel and quarters.  His visit was considered “a complete success"; only one thing was lacking, the aircraft which were still downed at Megantic.

When they arrived a few days later No. 123 was able to get to work, carrying out training and exercises in conjunction with the 4th Division of the Canadian Army under the command of Maj. Gen. F.F. Worthington. As the 4th was an armoured division, bomb tactics took a very prominent part in the syllabus of training.  The Squadron's flying activities during the next 18 months included dive-bombing practices, mock attacks on the Army using flour bombs, tactical reconnaissance exercises, supply dropping tests, photographic missions, cross-country flights, artillery reconnaissance "shoots", and flights for the training of radar locator crews.  Another feature of life at Debert was the occasional practice air raid alarm.

Staff Photo

Photo source: 439 Sqn archives

Throughout the greater part of its time at Debert,  No. 123 functioned as a station as well, as a squadron. When it first arrived at the East Camp it had to share the area with No. 3 "Y" Depot. The Depot moved to Moncton on 7 April l942 and No. 123 then took over the whole of the East Camp. No. 31 Operational Training Unit of the RAF (Royal Air Force), was located in the West Camp, but its accommodation and facilities ware inadequate so that No. 123 was responsible for quartering and feeding from 300 to 640 RAF airmen in addition to its (1) own personnel. The average number of RAF attached airmen, in the period April 1942 to August 1943, was about 460.  The Squadron's own strength varied between 200 and 330 officers and airman.  The diary of No. 123 frequently laments an apparent lack of co-operative spirit on the part of the O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit).   The station strength varied from 552 in April 1942 to a peak of 942 in March 1943.