Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum & RCAF WWII Memorial

Sporting During WWII and Athletics in the RCAF

This post was written by Rory M., one of our summer students. Rory is a Music major at Brandon University.

While WWII changed the experiences of Canadian life in almost all ways, in Canada and other Allied nations sports remained as an escape from the tragedy of war and became an important morale booster. During this period many athletes enlisted in the war effort, professional leagues adapted to the changing times, and Armed Forces organized sports became an important part of everyday life away from the war, and for increased physical fitness and morale alike.

Early in the war, many politicians recognized the value of sports in both morale building, as well as recruitment for some branches of the Armed Forces. Prime Minister Mackenzie King (who was the head of the sports paper at his time at the University of Toronto) as well as President Franklin D. Roosevelt (who often enjoyed horseback riding, golf, and tennis) supported the maintaining of civilian sports, so while many professional leagues considered disbandment during this period, sports were framed as essential to public well-being and patriotism, continuing their operation through the war. In a letter from FDR to the commissioner of MLB known as the “Green Light Letter”, he wrote that “I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going”. He reasoned that a two-hour recreational activity like baseball could offer a much-needed mental break from the demands of wartime work, and even encouraged the expansion of night games to accommodate more workers.

It was also early in the war that the RCAF as well as other branches of service recognized and prioritized athletics for physical training and morale, and established many formal and informal teams across bases in the BCATP, as well as other branches of service. Common sports during this period include soccer, hockey, boxing, softball, baseball, and track and field, and in Brandon at #12 SFTS there are records of organized hockey, soccer, and baseball. In fact, #12 SFTS had many personnel who were avid about playing hockey, and after the war many played for the Brandon Wheat Kings as well as professional hockey teams. This team’s photo can be found on the photo wall of the main gallery of the CATPM, and is of the many sports teams from the RCAF that produced and recruited professional athletes to serve pre and post war. In fact, the RCAF Flyers, an amateur hockey team consisting of RCAF members competed at the 1948 winter Olympics in St. Moritz Switzerland, and won gold. In the Olympics, their goal differential was a staggering 69-5. The team consisted of members who were pilots, gunners, and navigators who had served overseas.

The RCAF Hurricanes, winner of the 1942 Grey Cup

Many professional athletes during the war-era left their teams and careers behind to serve their countries, despite the promise of organized competition and consistent pay. NHL stars like Syl Apps, Maurice “Rocket” Richard, and Turk Broada, MLB players like Ted Williams, Hank Greenberg, Jackie Robinson, and Bob Feller all left the professional leagues for the front lines, and contributed to the war effort by their service while leaving professional sports behind for the time being. In Canadian football, while the CFL suspended operations during the war, military leagues such as the Ontario Rugby Football Union (ORFU) still operated, and Armed Forces teams such as the RCAF Hurricanes of Winnipeg were successful, winning the Grey Cup in 1942. Baseball as well had several adaptations to react to the loss of many players to the war effort. Leagues adapted with younger players, older veterans, as well as the inclusion of women into many leagues such as the MLB and Negro National League. At the time, American baseball was segregated until Jackie Robinson broke the “colour barrier” of baseball in 1947. However, the war was one of the major factors for integration, as black service members served along their white counterparts, and racist stereotypes were shattered by the experience of comradery of all people regardless of race.

Brandonite Turk Broda, who left the 1942 Stanley Cup winning Toronto Maple Leafs for two years of Military Service.

Beyond professional leagues, sports were an important part of everyday life for people stationed abroad. Recreational games among airmen, soldiers, and sailors served not only as physical exercise, but also stress relief, identity building, and camaraderie. In the theatre of war, impromptu games of soccer as well as “mud ball” (modified baseball in muddy conditions) became a unifying experience and provided a reminder of normalcy and home.

On the home front, sports also became an important part of civilian and community life. Despite shifting priorities, local leagues continued to operate with the support of volunteers, and charity matches to support the war effort and civilian morale. Events like the Victory Loan hockey series as well as professional and semi-professional baseball exhibitions sold war bonds in support of those overseas, and blended entertainment simultaneously with patriotism. During this period women’s sports also gained much of the visibility not present before the war, with increased participation in sports like softball and track and field.

As the war began to come to a close, the legacy of sports endured. Many returning servicemen brought their experience in war and athletics into coaching and resumed professional careers, and revived many leagues and local teams that were adapted or put on pause. The Armed Forces investment in personal fitness and recreation during the war era laid groundwork for post-war fitness and recreation, as well as standards of fitness in education. (such as the National Fitness Act of 1943). At the CATPM, we have many artifacts of sporting and fitness during the era, such as photos and uniforms ultimately reminiscent of how sports offered strength, patriotism, and relief in a period of challenge in Canadian history.

Rations and Recipes: Cooking Under Wartime Pressure

This post was written by Rory M., one of our summer students. Rory is a Music major at Brandon University.

When we consider what life was like in the Second World War, we often imagine the battles, uniforms, and equipment. However, behind every mission, training, and day overseas was something very important: a meal. As Napoleon said, “An army marches on their stomach.” Whether feeding airmen at home, civilian families, or armed forces overseas, food was fuel, and feeding many thousands with limited materials was no small task. A task, accomplished by a lot of potatoes and perseverance.

In the early years of the war, Armed Forces cooks were often inexperienced, and sometimes volunteers or drafted from within units. Some had some sort of food-related experience, but others were expected to learn very quickly on the job. Recognizing the importance of proper training was quickly acknowledged, as the RCAF opened the RCAF School of Cookery at RCAF Station Guelph, operating within the larger No. 4 Wireless School. Some topics that were covered in the school of cookery included food storage and sanitation, cooking in different environments, baking without ovens, and the minimization of rations and waste.

WWII poster encouraging the people to not waste food.

Instructional pamphlets, demonstrations, and supervisors in these schools helped improve the quality of the food across units, and according to a 1943 Canadian Government report, better training and standardization of practices increased morale and satisfaction, and reduced food complaints.

Meanwhile, civilians on the home front during the war were also dealing with their own food challenges. Many foods during the war were rationed – including sugar, coffee, meat, fats, butter, and eggs. This led to many innovative recipes and substitutions, including powdered eggs for eggs, potatoes for flour, vinegar for lemon juice, evaporated milk for milk, and margarine for butter. Soups and stews became common because they made the least amount of waste, and every peel, bone, and leftover was put to use. See attached at the bottom of this blog a recipe for a “chocolate wacky cake”, that uses no butter or milk, and tastes delicious!

Many commonwealth families stretched ingredients as far as they could, often turning to “war cakes” (reduced recipe meals) and meatless meals to get by. These creative substitutions didn’t just reflect resourcefulness—they became part of everyday culture during the war. Canadians also planted victory gardens – beds of fresh produce, including herbs, varying vegetables, and fruits.

While cooks worked to provide hot meals at home bases, food overseas was more limited and relied heavily on “field rations” and tinned goods. Allied and Canadian troops often received rations of canned corned beef, biscuits, canned veggies, processed cheese, jam, tea, and coffee. In combat zones, “composite rations” were issued, including boxed meals to feed a small group for 24 hours. Though not always entirely appetizing, they provided durability and nutrition. Occasionally, field kitchens were set up to cook hot meals, especially when Armed Forces members were stationed in the same place for a long period of time.

Reflecting on wartime meals reminds us not only of the adaptability of those who lived through this era but also of the sacrifices they made. These meals—simple, inventive, and often shared—tell a story of resilience. Today, many of the substitutions and recipes born out of necessity still appear in our kitchens. From community gardens to reduced-waste cooking, the lessons of wartime eating continue to shape how we approach food. Remembering these histories helps us better appreciate the abundance we often take for granted.

Recipe!

“Chocolate Wacky Cake” (allrecipes.com)
• 1 & 1/2 cups flour
• 4 Tbsp cocoa
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 & 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 Tbsp vinegar
• 5 Tbsp veg oil
• 1 cup lukewarm Water

Preheat oven to 325°F.

6. Mix dry Ingredients together in one bowl, and wet ingredients together in another.
7. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and beat well with electric beaters, or stir well with a wooden spoon.
8. Bake at 325ºF for 45-50 minutes in an 8×8 ungreased pan.
9. Check with a toothpick before removing from the oven.
10. Allow to cool before frosting

From the Archives: Sonny Boy Cereal and Aircraft Recognition

By CATPM archivist, Judith G.

What was once called ‘porridge’ is now called ‘hot cereal’. Developed in 1929 in Alberta, Sunny Boy cereal was a combination of wheat, rye and flax. There is also a suggestion that it was developed in Winnipeg by the Red River Cereal company in 1924 and yet another website suggests Calgary 1943 (though that location and year may have to do with the promotion of the game)

Radio was becoming very popular entertainment and advertisers recognizing its potential started promoting their products. It was not unusual for promotional items to be included in the product packaging. Many advertisers included stamps, coupons or trinkets.

Sunny Boy, as it names suggests was aimed at children and they promoted collecting stamps for the Radio Game.

Players would ‘send away’ for the game map and stamp album. Each week, a number corresponding to one of the silhouettes would be broadcast. You would then identify the aircraft from your stamps.

During the Second World War aircraft recognition was learned by service personnel and civilians alike. The mystery of this particular artifact is that the map has Antarctica in the center and no North America. Was Chart No. 2 for the south hemisphere? Was there one for the North? Every picture tells a story or at least prompts more questions!

John De Le Paulle, A 1941 American Graduate of No. 12 SFTS Brandon Who Won the DFC in 1944 for Anti U-boat Operations

Editor’s Note: This is a special guest post by Don Stanton. Don is a retired U.S. Navy pilot who flew long-range P-3C (Aurora) patrol planes and serves on the Maryland Aviation Commission. He published Looking Back at the Cold War; 30 Veterans and a Patrol Plane Commander Remember. In this piece, Don writes about a young American who joined the RCAF and did his training in Virden and in Brandon to earn his wings. We have a small section in the museum dedicated to those US citizens who came to Canada to join and fight in the RCAF. You can find Don and more of his writing on Linked In.

Even after the Nazi invasions of Czechoslovakia and Poland and their vicious persecution of Jews, a September 1939 Gallup Poll found that 84% of Americans still opposed U.S. military aid to Europe. The America First Committee was formed in September 1940 at Yale University and rapidly grew to over 850,000 members in 450 chapters across the country. Many powerful senators, representatives, and business leaders pushed to keep the US neutral and opposed military assistance to Britain which might lead the US into the war.

In March 1939, Air Marshall Bishop visited President Roosevelt and gained his approval for low-key Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) recruiting. An American WWI pilot led the “Clayton Knight Committee” and established a headquarters in New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel and recruiting hubs in 17 other U.S. cities. Low-profile RCAF recruiters visited airfields and bars across the US and compiled lists of over 700 potential instructors and 1,400 air crew candidates.

During the darkest years of WWII in 1940-41, thousands of determined young Americans ranging from workers to Ivy League students bucked the prevailing U.S. neutrality and took buses, trains, and even hitchhiked to Canada to enlist in the RCAF. They brought their high school diploma, two letters of recommendation, took tests, and were carefully interviewed during the aircrew selection process. RCAF interviewers were looking for highly motivated men who showed the potential to earn their brevet wings in about 6-12 months (depending on aircrew position; about 200 hours of flight time for pilots). Americans joined the RCAF by swearing an ‘Oath of obedience to superior officers’ rather than to the king.

One of those motivated Americans who joined the RCAF in Montreal on April 17 1941 was 19-year-old Jacques (John) Andre Hubert De Le Paulle who was born in New York City, educated in France, but listed his home as Washington D.C. John had already been in action in 1940 as a US Ambulance Corps volunteer in France and was awarded the Croix de Guerre. John started at No.2 Initial Training School at Regina SK where he was selected for the pilot track and trained at No.19 Elementary Flying Training School at Virden MB.

De Le Paulle checked-in on August 31, 1941 to No.12 Service Flying Training School at Brandon MB with Class #37. His class was part of the intense push to get trained pilots shipped over to Britain and only about seven months after enlisting, John was awarded his pilot brevet on November 22, 1941. As noted in this CP article: “Brandon Manitoba November 22, 1941 “Wings Added To Croix De Guerre. Nineteen-year-old John De La Paulle of New York who won the Croix De Guerre as a volunteer United States ambulance driver in Belgium and France in 1940 today received Royal Canadian Air Force Wings at No. 12 Service Flying Training School here. When Wing Cmdr. R.C. Gordon, commanding officer of the air station, pinned the wings on his chest the young American pilot who holds vivid memories of Nazi Stuka pilots machine gunning Red Cross and American ambulances overseas expressed pleasure that “I will soon be able to take a crack at ‘Jerry’ with something more than an ambulance.” No. 12 Service Flying Training School Brandon

Pilot Officer John De Le Paulle must have had good mathematics test results because he was selected for the long-range patrol flying boat pilot track which required him to go to advanced navigation training at No. 32 Air Navigation School Charlottetown PEI and then on to No. 31 Operational Training Unit Debert NS before shipping overseas in mid-1942. De Le Paulle was initially assigned to No. 423 Squadron at RAF Castle Archdale Northern Ireland and later to the new RCAF No. 422 Squadron flying Sunderland flying boats. These huge aircraft were manned by a crew of about 11 (including 3 to 5 gunners), cruised at only about 155 knots, and had an endurance of 13 hours.

On September 3 1943 at 0100 F/Lt De Le Paulle took off with a crew of 12 from RAF Castle Archdale Northern Ireland in Sunderland III “P” DD861 for a long-range anti U-boat patrol in the Bay of Biscay. 8 hours later at 0915 the starboard outer engine caught fire and dropped from the wing followed by the starboard inner engine failing. John managed to ditch the Sunderland in Bay of Biscay, the crew sent out three “SOS” messages, and released their homing pigeon to hopefully fly back to their base. The Sunderland sank in two minutes, but the crew gathered in two dinghies and managed to survive until they were rescued 4 days later. RCAF 422 Sunderland, DD861, Crew? – WARTIMES.ca

F/Lt De Le Paulle later flew in the RAF Coastal Operational Training Unit and in December 1944 he returned to Canada where he served in No. 45 Group before leaving the RCAF in September 1945. A September 10 1944 article noted “Flt/Lt J.A. De Le Paulle of 4884 MacArthur Boulevard, Washington, D.C., 23-year-old American pilot in the R.C.A.F. who has recently won the D.F.C for anti-U-boat operations, spent part of 10 days leave in Normandy in capturing four armed German soldiers. He also entered Paris with the American Army of Liberation.” R.A.F. COASTAL COMMAND PILOT SPENDS 10 DAYS LEAVE IN NORMANDY | Imperial War Museums

It is amazing that withing five years, 23-year-old F/Lt De Le Paulle had gone from volunteering for ambulances during the 1940 Fall of France, to gaining his wings at Brandon’s No. 12 SFTS in 1941, to winning a DFC in 1944 hunting U-boats. Between 1940-45, over 9000 Americans stepped-up to serve in the RCAF and 829 were killed in action. In the years after the US entered WWII, about half of these Americans would transfer into the Army Air Forces, but about half decided to stayed with their RCAF and RAF squadrons. Americans in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War 2 – Military Aviation Chronicles

The RCAF Streamliners: Creating Hope During Devastation

This is the second post written by one of our summer student workers, Seraphina G., Seraphina is a music student at Brandon University.

Andy Sparling (son of Streamliner saxophonist Phil) is the source for much of the information, the photos and the recording in this article. His book “Dance Through the Darkness: The Untold Story of the RCAF Streamliners” is available by contacting him at andy.sparling89@gmail.com

“We were asked if we carried weapons. I said that I had my clarinet. But you can’t kill a guy with a clarinet.”

— Pat Riccio

When thinking about the 1940s, the first thing that may come to your mind would be the Second World War, but unbeknownst to many, this era had a rich music history with much emphasis placed on the jazz genre. The events of WWII overlapped with the height of the swing era, the period of jazz that highlighted big bands and upbeat, swung rhythms. The big bands were enjoyed at the time by civilians and soldiers alike, as music increased morale during desperately dark times. Many of the popular swing bands at the time originated from the US, such as Major Glenn Miller’s Orchestra which was greatly enjoyed by soldiers. Despite the focus on American talent, many loved bands were coming from Canada; one of these bands was the RCAF Streamliners from St. Thomas, Ontario. During the devastation of war, the RCAF Streamliners used music to comfort the suffering people and transformed jazz into a bridge between the home front and battlefront.

(Left to Right) Billy Carter, Jack Perdue and Phil Sparling

The RCAF Streamliners (though it wouldn’t receive its name until later on) was started in the spring of 1941 by Bill Carter, an airman at the RCAF Technical Training School in St. Thomas. Carter played trumpet professionally before joining the RCAF and after enlistment, he wanted to form a dance band with some of his fellow airmen. He recruited two other musicians who enlisted in the Air Force, Jack Perdue and Phil Sparling. The three were reassigned to bandsmen and worked together to enlist other airmen into the band, and by July 25^th, 1941, they had enough players for their first performance. The band would continue to perform and grow in popularity among the Air Force and were eventually reassigned to Gander, Newfoundland, where they arrived in early 1943. The Streamliners were wildly loved in Gander and played for many events and dances. The band had a unique sound that was enjoyed by many; this was because their saxophonist, Pat Riccio, being a talented arranger.

RCAF Streamliners at Lincoln Inn Fields Park, London

During their time in Gander, the RCAF Streamliners received their name and spent the majority of their free time either practicing or rehearsing. On top of their performances in both civilian and military settings, the band also recorded a weekly radio broadcast which could be heard as far as Ontario. As their popularity increased, the Streamliners eventually received orders to report overseas for duty and to function as morale for troops and civilians overseas. They left Gander on the Empress of Scotland and arrived in London within a month of getting their orders. Many concerts were scheduled for the Streamliners once they were in London, and they performed in a many different venues. One of the venues was the Lincoln Inn Fields Park, where they held daylight concerts that were often under the threat of being bombed by Axis forces. Despite the risk, thousands of people would still turn out for these performances.

RCAF Streamliners playing for an appreciative audience

The RCAF Streamliners were loved in both Canada and Europe, and they received high praise from another military swing band at the time – Glenn Miller’s Orchestra. Glenn Miller and his group were in Europe for the same reason, to bring comfort to the people during trying times. After witnessing one of the Streamliners’ concerts, Glenn Miller told an interviewer “The RCAF Streamliners are the best band in Europe – Next to mine!”. His compliment helped the growth of the Streamliners popularity. On top of this praise, the band also performed with many popular acts overseas, such as Stephane Grappelli and Vera Lynn. This whirlwind of performances and popularity lasted only 4 months and by the end of 1944, the RCAF Streamliners were given a new assignment – to bring a taste of home to the Allied troops on the front lines.

The RCAF Streamliners were shipped out of southern Belgium and in late December 1944, they found themselves weaponless on the frontlines of the Battle of the Bulge. Although they were absolutely convinced that they were going to die, the band carried their instruments amid gunfire and arrived at a small church in the Dutch countryside. Here, with the chaos of battle all around them, the band played to tired and anxious troops. The soldiers were on such high alert that whenever the church door opened, everyone would stop swaying to the music and point their rifles at the door… just in case it was the enemy. This was one of many concerts given by the Streamliners on the frontlines and each one brought great comfort to the struggling soldiers. The band travelled all around Europe and performed in the most devasting of circumstances, including a performance in the rubble of Hamberg where it was estimated that 40,000 civilians died.

RCAF Streamliners at the opening of the Canada Club hostel in Hamburg Germany

The RCAF Streamliners continued to spread hope and joy until 1946, delivering over 400 concerts in under 2 years. The group disbanded after the war ended and they were discharged from the military, though most members continued to make music. Some of them even ended up playing with legendary musicians such as Duke Ellington and the Beatles. The story of the RCAF Streamliners is a powerful reminder of music’s ability to uplift, even in the darkest of times. From their humble start at the RCAF training schools in Canada to their performances on the war-torn front lines of Europe, the Streamliners carried hope to those impacted by the devastation. Their music bridged the gap between home and war, offering soldiers and civilians alike a short escape from the difficulties of battle. The praise they received from Glenn Miller and their collaborations with renowned artists showcase their incredible talent and influence. The band had an amazing ability to unite those facing the harsh realities of the Second World War. The RCAF Streamliners were more than a band, they were a symbol of hope in some of humanity’s darkest moments. They knew that despite the dangers, as long as there was music to be played, the show must go on.

Left: Billy Carter, who started it all.

If you would like to hear a recording of the Streamliners, click here!