Since I was one of the first women RCAF pilots, I was typically responsible for helping other women train to become part of the RCAF. This responsibly was not very easy, seeing that most of us women were accustomed to cooking, washing clothes, and taking care of the family at home. However, since the job of a housewife involved picking up the pieces of their family, the women I trained had good work ethic and they were willing to learn. I was very courageous and wanted to explore something new. Training to become a RCAF pilot was hard work and you had to be motivated to become one.
There wasn’t much action back at home except for training women to become RCAF pilots. The most difficult mission happened when I was shipped overseas to replace a male RCAF fighter. War officials overseas were experiencing a shortage of personnel. Men were needed for actual combat duties and for training duties at British Commonwealth Air Training Plan schools across
Women RCAF pilots were mainly part of the second line of wartime operations, encouraging males to get prepared for battle. It was completely different for me. I was terrified. I said my final goodbyes to my loved ones and got shipped overseas to
Battling against the German air force was not the best experience. Knowing that at anytime your life could be taken from you was horrifying. Having thousands of German pilots shooting at your allies was not a happy encounter. I was glad I made it out safe, despite the fact that many were killed.
I know what you've been going through as well. The same kind of situation happened to me while I was at sea fighting in the Battle of the Atlantic. I was sent as well due to the shortage of men in the Royal Canadian Navy. I was very scared knowing that I may never come back. I knew sacrifices were all part of war, which was what my dad had taught me before he was killed in Vimy Ridge in the First World War. My corvette ship, the HMCS Weyburn, was small because it was mainly used for coast patrol and convoy escort. They were slower than U-boats, but because of their small size, it was easily maneuverable. I remember once we were escorting a merchant ship filled with supplies to Britain when a British airplane noticed a U-boat in its radar and quickly shot it down. It was terrifying when I learnt how we were so close to being killed in so little time but I am extremely thankful to this day.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand the feelings that you had during your mission. The same feelings happened to me when I was being recruited to join the Canadian soldiers in protecting Hong Kong from Japan. I already travelled to many different areas to help aid wounded soldiers but this time, I was going to Hong Kong. For some reason, I felt very nervous and that something bad would happen. Never the less, I still went with the Canadian soldiers but luckily Kathleen, another nursing sister was by my side. Sadly, my bad senses did happen; the Canadian soldiers and I were held prisoners of war for 44 months in Hong Kong after Britain surrendered. The conditions I had to live in were horrible but my mission was to help the Canadian soldiers. I wasn’t given enough food or medical supplies and had to face the fear of getting raped by the Japanese or executed. Luckily I did survive and completed my mission and managed to save a few soldiers from their diseases or injuries! Even though this mission was difficult and I wanted to give up, I just tried my best to survive and helped others do that also. All I can say is I succeeded!
ReplyDeleteI really feel for what you went through, and I doubt that I would have taken it well in your position. Even from the home front, I was separated from my family by about a three hour train trek. I thought about them constantly and kept in touch as often as possible. Not only was it hard to be away from the people I loved, I was constantly worried about our troops. Even though I did not know most of them, I knew that they were the key to protecting the world from what could have turned into complete world domination by Hitler and his army. Listening to the graphic news of battle and loss made me feel connected to them and I just wanted to do all I could to make sure that good triumphed.
ReplyDeleteEmotional pain was probably one of the worst in war. Physical you can deal with, especially if you have a loved one there to help you through it. However, being homesick or heart broken makes it really hard to see the point in going on sometimes. I'm glad you made it out safe as well.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I hated about the war was that I was never able to get in and fight battles myself. As a result, when men came back fatally injured or, God forbid, dead, I felt guilty and, in a way, responsible. If only I could get out there and physically help to end this war, then I would be satisfied.
However, people have told me to be proud of what I did, the personal missions that I accomplished. I am - I just wish I could have done more.
Your experiences remind me of my own..especially when I had to change from being a normal housewife to a soldier! However, the situation of the war and the shortage of men provided us with a chance to step up to the plate and show the world what we could do. We really had to come out of our shells to rise to the challenge, but honestly ladies, I think we more than answered the call.
ReplyDeleteThere was definitely a shortage in all our lives during this war. Being far from home, separated from loved ones for such a long period of time. War is truly not anything like it is portrayed, nothing like anything civvies have ever experienced, gladly.