Documentation pertaining to Gap filler sites has proven to be extremely difficult to locate or obtain. All of the AC&W Squadrons which formed the 64th Air Division (Defense), NEAC, were expected to provide Historical Reports on a quarterly basis. We have not been able to locate any Historical Reports which originated at the Gap Filler Detachments. As a result, we focused our attention to the AC&W Squadron Historical Reports, and in some cases, we were able to find some mention of Gap Filler(s).
The 642nd AC&W Squadron was located at Red Cliff, Newfoundland. This squadron had a Gap Filler Detachment within its overall area of responsibility. This unit was:
Detachment 1 – Elliston Ridge, Newfoundland – N-22B
The following detail pertaining to this Gap Filler site has been extracted from the 642nd AC&W Squadron Historical Reports – and provides some detail of interest to the reader.
1 October 1956 to 31 December 1956
Civilian employees are authorized at Red Cliff and also at Detachment #1, our Gap Filler site at Elliston Ridge, Newfoundland. However, negotiations to authorize a forty-eight plus eight hour work week for diesel operators at Elliston Ridge ground to a halt shortly after the men were hired. RCA technical representative have been seeting up an FM radio link between the 642nd AC&W Squadron at Red Cliff and Detachment #1 at Elliston Ridge. Work is now in the final stages. This high frequency net uses BC-610H equipment and it was put into operation by the end of this period.
1 January 1959 to 31 March 1959
A Medical Technician, AFSC 90250, reported for duty in March at Detachment #1, Elliston Ridge.
1 April 1959 to 30 June 1959
This month saw the installation of an OA-947 and the GPX-6A (Gap Filler Monitor and SIFF (Selective IFF). (This implies that the 642nd AC&W Squadron at Red Cliff would now have the ability to monitor the traffic which originated at the Elliston Ridge Gap Filler site).
1 October 1959 to 31 December 1959
The teletype portion of the Tropo Radio circuit to Elliston Ridge was installed and is now in operation. (This implies that the 642nd AC&W Squadron at Red Cliff was making use of a circuit on the Tropospheric Scatter communications system for teletype transmissions). Equipment Performance: 0A-947/FST-1 – Gap Filler Monitor was moved from the Operations Room to the right-hand room under the dias. Maintenance and Supply Problems: One 64173, T/Sgt. John S Gardner, was assigned for duty. Sgt. Gardner will proceed to Detachment 1 at Elliston Ridge in March 1960 to fill the vacancy which will exist due to the March rotation of A/2C David R Rowe, presently of Detachment 1. No forecast of personnel assignment to fill the vacancy of Sgt. Gardner has been received.
1 April 1961 to 30 June 1961
Operations – Losses: Detachment #1, 642 AC&W Squadron, Elliston Ridge, Newfoundland, became inactive at 2050Z, 28 June 1961. Equipment Performance - The Canadian Marconi Company installed a depot level modification in the MTI system on the AN/FPS-14 at Elliston Ridge on 14 April 1961. Contractor assistance was given by Canadian Marconi Company to Ellistion Ridge on 23 April 1961, to correct troubles inherent in the modification to the MTI System on the AN/FPS-14 Radar. C-22B, Elliston Ridge Gap Filler Radar, was directed by Goose Air Defense Sector to cease operation, 28 June 1961.
NOTE:
We are aware that the Detachment #1 Gap Filler Site at Elliston Ridge was only operational between 1957 and 1961. It is unfortunate that we do not have very many quarterly Historical Records for Red Cliff during this four year period. It is, however, somewhat unlikely that there would be a great deal of additional detail pertaining to the Gap Filler Detachment in the missing Red Cliff Historical Records.
The only recurring detail which was found in all appropriate Historical Records for Red Cliff was found in Section 4, as follows:
Subordinate Units
Detachment #1, 642nd AC&W Squadron, Elliston Ridge, Bonavista, Newfoundland.