As a serviceman heading overseas in March of 1945, Murray Fraser had more paperwork to complete, of course. The forces kept close tabs on the families of its members.
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| Every form seemed to ask for Next of Kin. |
Every time he turned around, Cpl. Fraser faced more bumpf. This time it was an Arrival Report for Ground Trades.
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| Cpl. Fraser noted his experience with Harvard and Yale training aircraft in particular. |
The North American Harvard trainer was built in greater numbers than most combat aircraft during World War Two. They were used as advanced trainers with the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan at 15 flying schools across the country. A total of 1,455 fixed-gear and 20,110 retractable-gear variants of the Harvard were produced in the USA, Canada, and other countries. [1]
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| Training aircraft at Trenton, 1941. [2] |
Yales were lighter, simpler intermediate trainers used between small biplanes and the similar-looking but more powerful Harvard. Considered redundant in 1943, Yales were relegated to wireless operator training. |
| North American NA-64 Yale, the forerunner of the Harvard. Note its fixed landing gear. [3] |
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| North American Harvard IIB, RAF Museum, London. Harvards were more plentiful and had retractable wheels, which student pilots needed to remember! [4] |
While deemed “one of the best pilot training aircraft ever produced,” [5] Harvards were understandably subject to prangs of all sorts. The unofficial motto at No. 6 Repair Depot in Trenton, “You Bend ’Em, We Mend ’Em” certainly applied. 6RD handled nearly every type of aircraft that saw service in the RCAF during WWII. The Yale and Harvard were only two of the many aircraft there, including Ansons, Fairey Battles, Bolingbrokes, Hurricanes, Mosquitoes, Lockheed Hudsons, Spitfires, and Lancasters. [6]
One embarrassed Harvard pilot collided with an RCAF radio control truck in October 1943. “This Harvard Mk. IIB was from the Test and Development Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. The accident occurred at 11:25 hours on the 15th, and was the result of a blind spot. The driver, Corporal A. R. Coulter was slightly injured. The two in the Harvard were fine but the aircraft received Cat C3 damage.” [7]
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| The chagrined pilot had some explaining to do. October 15, 1943. |
Cpl. Fraser was issued a new identity card prior to going overseas to join RCAF Squadron No. 426 in No. 6 Bomber Command at Linton-on-Ouse, York.
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| "This card must be carried by the holder at all times." |
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| ID Card issued February 28, 1945. |
Sorry, but you can’t leave for England until we count your toothbrushes and socks:
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| Kit Inspection, side 1, February 1945. Heaven forbid a serviceman absconds with shorts and shoelaces. |
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| Kit Inspection, side 2, February 1945, prior to embarkation. This form, for once, did not ask for Next of Kin. |
Even specialist tradesmen had to complete routine ground defence training. Cpl. Fraser passed the required courses in “Rifle,” “Sten,” “Grenade,” “Application of fire,” “Bayonet,” and “Fieldcraft” in April 1945. Thankfully, he was not tested in real battle.
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Details of Ground Training, side 1. Farmers would be familiar with rifles. Grenades and bayonets? Not so much.
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| Details of Ground Training, side 2. "When personnel are posted this form is to be sent to the new station without delay." |
By October 1945 the war was over and it was time to head back to Canada. That would take a few months yet. Time for more red tape!
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| The Embarkation Statement asked about Next of Kin, as usual, and included a reminder about income tax. |
While in Bournemouth’s PRC (Personnel Reception Centre) in November 1945 and eager to return home, Cpl. Fraser was offered an “Application for Enlistment or Appointment to the RCAF During the Transition Period.” He was not tempted.
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| Cpl. Fraser did not bother to complete every part of the "Application for Enlistment or Appointment to the RCAF During the Transition Period." |
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| But on side 2, he specifically completed section 12, declining the offer to enlist in the Interim Air Force. "I hereby DO NOT apply..." |
The Air Force noted his refusal:
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| Cpl. Fraser had enough of air force life. |
But, as usual, heading back to Canada spawned more paperwork, this time an Airman’s Record Sheet for the RAF. The form included Murray Fraser’s various postings. In addition to listing Next of Kin (always an air force requirement), the record noted that he had left Halifax on March 3, 1945, disembarking in Britain on March 26.
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| The Record Sheet tracks Murray Fraser's movements in Britain. The first entry notes that Cpl. Fraser left 6RD for "1 Y Depot" (Overseas Transit Depot), on March 11, 1945. The last entry notes "from ACHQ" (Air Command Headquarters or Area Combined Headquarters), "to PRC" (Personnel Reception Centre) on October 24, 1945. |
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| Side 2 of his Airman's Record Sheet lists the character of Cpl. Fraser, an AFM (Air Frame Mechanic) as VG (Very Good). It also notes he was awarded the CVSM (Canadian Volunteer Service Medal) on January 15, 1944. |
The CVSM is granted to those who voluntarily served on Active Service and completed 18 months (540 days) total voluntary service from September 3, 1939 to March 1, 1947. A silver bar (or “clasp”) featuring a maple leaf was awarded for 60 days service outside Canada. [8]
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| A CVSM medal with Maple Leaf clasp and Bomber Command bar. [9] |
Murray Fraser earned a CVSM and clasp, serving from April 25, 1941 to February 7, 1946, including 287 days overseas. He received the Bomber Command Bar posthumously. Not introduced until 2013, it features a Lancaster Bomber, and is for those who served with Bomber Command between September 3, 1939 and May 8, 1945. Families of deceased servicemen can apply for it on behalf of their veterans.
Cpl. Fraser never actually requested his CVSM medal and clasp, available post-war, but he did keep the small CVSM ribbon lapel pin given in wartime.
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| Murray Fraser's tiny CVSM ribbon lapel pin. |
Sailing on HMT Mauretania, Murray arrived in Halifax on January 1, 1946. It was a new year and time to ponder civilian life.
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| Murray Fraser, back in Winnipeg and back in civvies. |
Sources (retrieved September 18, 2024)
- “History of the Harvard,” The Hangar Flight Museum, Calgary, Alberta, https://thehangarmuseum.ca/search?keywords=Harvard&spammaster_extra_field_1=&spammaster_extra_field_2=
- 419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945. Training of Ground Crew Trades. http://www.419squadron.com/tradetrain.html
- “North American NA-64 Yale,” Bomber Command R.C.A.F. F/LT Sean Dunn, https://www.bombercommand.ca/yale-trainer-.html
- North American Harvard IIB, RAF Museum, London. https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/north-american-harvard-iib/
- “History of the Harvard,” The Hangar Flight Museum, Calgary, Alberta, https://thehangarmuseum.ca/search?keywords=Harvard&spammaster_extra_field_1=&spammaster_extra_field_2=
- Karkut, E.T. (Ed.). (1990). The History of 6RD and the Aerospace Maintenance Development Unit. Trenton, ON: AMDU.
- Harold A. Skaarup, “Canadian Warplanes 3: North American Harvard and Canadian Car Foundry Harvard,” Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583056, in https://www.silverhawkauthor.com/post/canadian-warplanes-3-north-american-harvard-and-canadian-car-and-foundry-harvard
- “Canadian Volunteer Service Medal,” Veteran Affairs Canada, https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/medals-decorations/details/21
- Warrant Officer Class II Walter Leonard Cogger,” profile, Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Veterans Affairs Canada, https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2079073
