403 Squadron Church Service - 21st March 1943

On 21st March, 1943, No.403 squadron, RCAF, attended a short church service in their dispersal hut at RAF Kenley.

The squadron, commanded by Squadron Leader L.S. Ford, from Liverpool, Nova Scotia, is at readiness. I wonder whether they had to don their gear specially for the photographer, because the weather was terrible all day and there was no flying at all. These photos give us a rare glimpse inside one of RAF Kenley’s Dispersal huts. 

403 Squadron, formed on March 1, 1941, was the first RCAF 400-series squadron formed overseas as a direct result of Article XV of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

Here is the day’s entry in the Squadron’s Operations Record Book….

Sunday, 21 March, 1943

It was fog down to the ground all day and no flying.  S/L Belton, RCAF Padre, conducted a short service in the dispersal with all the pilots and many of the ground crew attending.  Pictures were taken by RCAF photographers for a War Album being compiled by the RCAF.  Group Captain Fenton DSO DFC was also present.  LAC F.M. Lisk of the Orderly Room and LAC C.M. Adderson AFM, left for repatriation to Canada for aircrew training.