Page 29 - William B. Lake

The nearest community was the township of Mossbank itself which was located about 70 km
south-west of Moose Jaw where there was another airfield (No.32 SFTS which was used for pilot
training). What was also strategically significant was that approximately 12 km north of the
Mossbank 2B&GS site was a large shallow lake known (at that stage) as Johnstone Lake. It was
the designated location for aerial bombing training (using floating targets) and gunnery practice
using land ranges adjacent to the lake. The general area was also used for aerial gunnery practice
by the use of aircraft with trailing target drogues.

Mossbank 2B&GS location with (then) Lake Johnstone providing the bombing ranges

Bill’s initial role was as Officer in Charge of the so-called “Bombing Teacher” which was a
instrumented device which allowed the students to be inside a module which simulated their role in
bombing a target. The training involved in part some classroom instruction. But the emphasis was
on “hands-on” training in the simulator that allowed the student to develop their skills before
conducting aerial practice bombing exercises at Lake Johnstone.

Mossbank 2B&GS Aerial View of Buildings ca 1942