Asleep At The Wheel -During the winter of 1942 the strength of Firefighters in the fire hall was very low, so as a result we had to work long hours. One night they were night flying and I was detailed to man the crash truck located inside one of the Hangars. At about 3:00 am I had fallen asleep in the cab, but forgot to lock the driver’s side door. S/L Searle, the Chief Flying Instructor came by, saw me asleep, opened the cab door and I fell out on the Hangar floor (I nearly broke my neck). He put me on charge for sleeping on duty and I found myself in front of the Commanding Officer, W/C Bill MacBrien (Iron Bill he was known as). He said to me “LAC Graham … are you guilty or not guilty”..and I said guilty Sir, but it was not my fault as I had been on duty for 18 hours straight. The CO then asked Sergeant Bob Armour who was my Fire Chief if this was true. He confirmed that it was true and was due to the shortage of Firefighters. The CO said “case dismissed” . The following week six new Firefighters were posted in.

By Archie Graham, Flight Lieutenant, Retired