Page 19 - William B. Lake

From the 8B&GS Lethbridge Daily Reports it appears that the 67B aircrew group completed their
B&GS gunnery training prior to Christmas 1942. The atrocious weather conditions affected all
aspects of the site’s activities. The transfer of 67B aircrew group to No. 2 Air Observer Course at
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Edmonton was expected in early January. An airgraph from Bill on 9 January 1943 indicated that
67B aircrew trainees had only the previous day arrived at the No. 2 AOS Edmonton training site.

While training in Canada they were treated to the hospitality of the local civilian population. The
following photo shows Bill at Mr R. Y. Paton’s home in Lethbridge. From his description on the
reverse side of the photo, Dad celebrated Xmas 1942 with the Paton family. Mr Paton was the
President of the Lethbridge Rotary Club and their club members visited the Lethbridge 8B&GS site
for various functions. The relationship that Bill developed with the Paton family was to endure
throughout his time in Canada and he would visit Lethbridge occasionally and stay with them.

Taken at Lethbridge outside the Paton residence at Xmas 1942

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A news item in the Lethbridge Herald 17 Dec 1942 revealed that Bill gave a presentation at a
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Lethbridge Rotary luncheon held on 14 Dec. Bill extolled the virtues of Australian cities and
invited Canadians to visit Australia after the war when air travel would be well established.

Extract from Lethbridge Herald Thurs 17 Dec 1942
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