The No.7 Bombing and Gunnery School opened on June 24, 1941 at Paulson, located 13 kilometres east of Dauphin on Highway 20. Because of its proximity, Lake Dauphin was used as a practice bombing target range, where there are still a few visible remains of a once-thriving base.

Air Observers and Navigators

The 1940 programme included training “air observers”, a position that combined the functions of navigator and bomber. Air observers also received training in weapons, so they may help in defending the plane. As crews on heavy bombers became more specialized, air observers as such were replaced by separate navigators and bombers. The need for less-specialized personnel such as navigators-bombers (called “navigators B”) or navigators-wireless operators (or “navigators W”) was met by different combinations of courses.