Donald Haug joined the RCAF at Regina on August 12, 1941 (R120625) and went through the various stages of the BCATP until finally flying with the 407 Squadron overseas. He was the subject of a documentary, "Missing On Way Back", which was shown on History Television a number of times to enthusiastic audiences. He is also mentioned in the May, 2000 issue of Flypastin connection with the sinking of U-966.
The two pictures on the left are from Rusty's #2 ITS group shot in Regina. In the enlargement I have pointed out Stan Shepherd, who enlisted the same day as Rusty, at which time they became friends. Stan recalls turning around and seeing Rusty six places behind him (Stan's serial number was, of course, R120619).
Rusty and Stan's progress through the BCATP was quite typical. They were assigned to #3 Manning Depot in Edmonton, traveling together from Regina by train. While there they were involved in the same sports and even did KP duty together, peeling large barrels of potatoes and carrots. According to archival records, this lasted from Sept. 11 to Dec. 5, 1941. They then went straight to what was called "Guard Duty" in Claresholm, Alberta from Dec. 6, 1941 until January 31, 1942. This was a way to keep them busy before being assigned to the next step in their training. It was exactly as described--standing guard with a WWI Lee Enfield in a drafty guard box at the edges of the air base at Claresholm, #15 SFTS. They were then assigned to #2 ITS (Initial Training School) in Regina, the BCATP's version of ground school (Rusty was there from Feb. 1 to April 11, 1942). It was here that Rusty showed enough promise to be assigned to continue his pilot training, while Stan was sent to #6 B&GS (Bombing and Gunnery School) in Mountain View, Ontario, eventually finishing a tour of 32 sorties with 408 Squadron overseas. He is seen in the photo on the right with his class, standing in middle of the back row. Fred Rayment (mentioned in the "Graduation Ephemera" section) was also in the ITS group picture, and was sent to #4 AOS in Portage La Prairie, becoming a navigator with 408 Squadron. He wasn't as lucky as Stan, being shot down on his second sortie and spending the duration as a POW.
Rusty was now posted to #15 EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School) in Regina and was there from April 12 to June 20, 1942. (He would be the closest cadet to home because his house was just at the north end of the Regina Municipal Airport where they trained.) Here he began his flying career in Tiger Moths and soloed on May 1, after 18 hours of dual training. In the enlargement (left) I have pointed out Herman Kleinau, from Chicago, who was killed when he went into a spin from a gliding turn on April 30, 1942, the day before Rusty's first solo. But Rusty made it to the next step, and found himself revisiting #15 SFTS (Service Flying Training School) at Claresholm, Alberta, this time as a cadet. He was here from June 21 to Oct. 30, 1942. Above right are photos of Rusty--one showing him being awarded his wings and the other with his graduating class on October 9, 1942 (in front of a Cessna Crane). They would all be promoted from LAC to Sergeant on that day, and at some point within days, a special few would be given commissions. The graduates would now either be going to a specialized school such as an OTU (Operational Training Unit) either in Canada or Bermuda, but most likely in Britain, before assignment as aircrew on one of the many fronts of the war, or to further training to become instructors in the BCATP.
After receiving his wings, Rusty went to #1 GRS (General Reconnaisance School) in Summerside, PEI for four weeks, where he trained over the ocean, learning a new top secret technology called ASV (Air to Surface Vessel). He was posted overseas in January, 1943, eventually taken on strength with the 407 "Demon" Squadron, flying Wellington XIV's on anti-sub patrols over the Bay of Biscay (see photo at right). After nearly 200 hours of uneventful patrols, he went missing with his crew (he was 2nd pilot) on November 10, 1943 and was never seen again.
In 1997 I visited the Runneymede Memorial (north of London, England), commemorating Commonwealth airmen who died with no known grave. It was a truly moving experience to find Rusty's name and be in the presence of the nearly 20 000 names of young men who made the supreme sacrifice and disappeared without a trace.
