Kenneth Oscar LAW DFM
Continued... Page Two
Canada - and Training
The next stop after Fiji appears to have been Vancouver, Canada. Below are photos Ken took as the Awatea approached Vancouver harbour by passing under Lions Gate Bridge. The first shot is looking from the port side, then from the starboard. Photos: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
On arrival in Vancouver, Canada, Ken and his fellow course mates had to cross half a continent till they got to their destination, which was Brandon, Manitoba. This involved crossing the Rockies by train, which must have been such a huge adventure for these Kiwi lads.
This photo taken by Ken shows a station at Banff, Alberta, where the train has stopped en route through the Rocky Mountains of Canada. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Another photo taken at the railway stop in the Rockies. The train was provided by Canadian Public Railways. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
While stopped at Banff the men seem to have had some time for sightseeing. This is The Great Divide, which I'm told is at Kicking Horse Pass on the Alberta / British Columbia border. Lake Louise is about 7 miles to the east. The pass connects Banff and Yoho National Parks. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
The huge steam locomotive engine that hauled Ken and the other RNZAF airmen across Canada. It's number is 6028. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
This is a really interesting photo for me, because according to Ken Law's photo album caption, this excellent photo taken from the train of the scenery was taken by Alan Feisst. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Brandon
In late May 1941, Ken and his friends arrived at No. 12 Service Flying Training School, Brandon, Manitoba. Here he would go on to complete his flying training course, on the Cessna Cranes. Alan Feisst was with him. Ken's course number is not yet known but it appears he was a member of No. 2 Squadron within the school.
Ken's Course mates at Brandon. Ivan Lindsey and I have managed to piece together the details of Ken's course mates. Here are the details - roll over for links on those airmen who never returned.
Back Row
(left to right)
(left to right)
Charles John Freshney
Allan O'Brien
James Douglas Gordon
A.G. Osborne
Bryan Joseph Grofski
D.G. Palliser
Lionel Kesson Guthrie
J.C. Parker
Hill *
J.H. Reason
Laurence Warren Hunt
John Charles Roy
Selwyn ‘Bill' Latta
Kenneth Oscar Law
John Lowrie
Cecil George Russell
G. WilsonNZ405300 NZ405250
NZ404564 NZ402455
NZ41353
NZ41323
NZ41354
NZ404637
NZ405608
?
NZ41526
NZ405278
NZ41361
NZ41339
NZ41340
NZ405290
NZ41527
NZ41387
Thomas Brian Ainger
Jack D. Brewley
George Edw. Francis Bradey
Robert W.L. “Bob” Cargill
E.A. Holdaway
V.J. Crequer
Mervyn Charles de Clifford
Norman ‘Norm' Dumont
Allan Carlyle Feisst
NZ405237 NZ405215
NZ405220
NZ401954
NZ405231
NZ405761
NZ404458
NZ405239
NZ405243
NZ405244
_
The following course members are not present, perhaps due to illness, duties or having been 'chopped' by the time this was taken:Bryan Frank Robert Hotson (NZ405276)
Henry Peter Johnson (NZ41481)
W.R. Jagger (NZ405280)
N.S. Kennedy (NZ405283)
Alexander George Sutherland (NZ405340)
G.H. Jacobsen (NZ41333)
James Beattie Larkins (NZ41387)
* This LAC Hill could be LAC G.C. Hill NZ405271 or LAC R.I. Hill NZ402059 who were both at Brandon at the same time
_
The Cessna Crane
As Cranes never saw service with the RNZAF, a little background - The RCAF ordered the Crane from Cessna in the USA in 1940, to supplement multi-engine training at its Empire Air Training Schools alongside the Avro Anson. The order is regarded as the saviour of that company, which is now world renowned. The RCAF received a total of 826 Cranes, all of which operated as pilot trainers. The pilots nicknamed the Crane the “Wichita Wobbler”, and the “Bamboo Bomber”. The Jacobs radial engines were referred to as “Shakey Jakes”. Several can be found in Canadian museums today.
Ken's first flight in a Crane took place the 26th of May 1941 with his instructor Flying Officer Boulton in control. this was the beginning of his multi-engine conversion training.
Above: Cessna Cranes at Brandon, May 1941. That's not snow on the ground, it's whitewashed rocks to denote the path, handy during the blackout. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: Like the Tiger Moths Ken had previously flown in New Zealand, the Cranes were bright yellow for identification purposes, so collisions could be reduced. This is demonstrated above in a photo that was hand coloured by Ken's classmate Bill Latta. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: An early morning line up of Cranes, awaiting their student pilots and instructors to arrive and take them off in all directions across the Canadian tundra. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: A head on shot of a Crane on the tarmac at Brandon. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: Cranes at Brandon, taken in June 1941. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: More Cranes at Brandon. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Ken made ten flights in various Cranes, seven with F/O Boulton, two with instructor Sorley, and the last with Flight Lieutenant Knowles, before going solo on the type.
Above: Ken at Brandon, probably outside his barracks. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: Ken Law and Jack Brewley at Brandon in May 1941. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: A Noorduyn Norseman aircraft photographed on the tarmac at Brandon. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: Ken's 'office' or several months at Brandon, the cockpit of a Cessna Crane. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: The caption reads 'A Sprog Pilot', an Air Force term for trainee. Ken stands in front of a Crane, with his parachute in hand ready for a flight. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
The course at Brandon was not all flying. There was the usual amount of classroom work to gain the theoretical side of flying and fighting. Also there was a lot of sport to sharpen the student pilots' fitness. Luckily Ken's course was during the summer months when outdoor activities were an option. Here is a selection of photos from Ken's collection taken at Brandon and in that area showing sport and recreational activities he undertook:
Above: This photo shows Ken's PT class at Brandon, and by the looks of things they're playing the locally popular game of baseball. This field is on the edge of the aerodrome. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
More like home, a familiar game... Cricket at Brandon: Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: The game pauses momentarily as an Avro Anson takes off. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
From the photos in Ken's collection the airmen from Brandon spent a fair amount of recreational time at Clear Lake, which is apparently 100km's (60 miles) north of Brandon. At this lake there was a canoe club and golf course, among other attractions.
Golf at Clear Lake. The caption in Ken's album reading "Norm, Hoddy, Myself and Jack". Norm was Norman Dumont, Jack is Jack Brewley. I'm unsure who Hoddy was, possibly LAC Holdiway. Note Hoddy also has a camera so there are probably more photos out there somewhere of this day's golfing. They appear to have some sort of furniture with them, and I'm wondering if perhaps it was a gramophone? Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
A nice fairway on the course. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Golfing airmen at Clear Lake, outside the club house. Left to right are Jack Brewley. Ken Law, unknown, Norm Dumont and Bob Cargill. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: The lake itself proved fun for the airmen. This scene, according to the caption in Ken's book, shows Bob in the boat. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above is a photo of the Canoe Club and Clear Lake. This must have been a welcome recreation spot for many a Kiwi airmen, and others from across the Empire. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: A blurry photo but it depicts the gang relaxing - probably after a long game of golf - in the pavilion at Clear Lake, Manitoba. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Of course the lake was not the only attraction to see. Jack Brewley has a beer with a couple of local girls. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
The beachfront at Clear Lake. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: 'Hoddy'. Bob Cargill, Jack Brewley and Norm Dumont. Bob's sweatshirt has 12 SFTS and the unit's crest printed on it. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Canoeing at Winnipeg. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: Ken, Jack, Hoddy and Bob. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Of course the training continued through that Canadian summer, and Ken continued learning on the Cranes till the 6th of August 1941, at which point he completed the course. He gained his wings and was promoted to Sergeant.
Ken saluting the Commanding Officer after having received his Wings, during the passing out parade inside a hangar at Brandon. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: Ken wearing his new wings and stripes. A proud day. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Above: Wings Up. New pilots parade their wings and sergeant's stripes for the camera. Photo: Ken Law collection, via Pam O'Connor
Thanks to Pam O'Connor, Natalie Bayer and Ivan Lindsey for their assistance with information on this page, as well as the usual good help of Eris Parker and the team at the Cambridge Museum
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