I seem to recall that I arrived at Elliston Ridge in either December 1956 or January 1957. I was an Airman First Class (A1/C) - also referred to as a "Buck Sgt" at the time and was trained as a Supply Tech. Like so many others, I certainly did not volunteer for this assignment. My baby daughter had been born in October 1956 and even this was not sufficient to get the assignment deferred or cancelled. I had been assigned at Ardmore Air Force base in Ardmore, Oklahoma as part of a C-130 troop carrier group prior to my assignment to Elliston Ridge.
I worked as part of the support group at Elliston Ridge - ordering all of the supplies that were necessary. Thinking back - I suppose I was fortunate as I worked a typical Monday to Friday routine between 8 and 5. When I arrived, a lot of the equipment was still located outside of the building. A bunch of the USAF personnel had to dig the equipment out of the snow and ice. I remember one occasion where the Radar Operator picked up an image on the radar screen. They did not know what it was, so they called in an aircraft to check things out. It was an iceberg.
There was very little available in the area of recreational facilities. In fact, all I can recall is that we had a pool table at that time. We spent a lot of our off-duty hours in Bonavista. Again, looking back I am reminded of the fact that I never did leave the Elliston area for the States during my assignment. There were a number of things to do while at Elliston Ridge. I attended the local church. I remember a Chinese man that operated a small restaurant in Bonavista. We would take hamburger meat to his place and he would fix us a hamburger and chips. There was a movie house in Bonavista and we would go to a movie ever now and then. As can be expected, we dated the local girls. Local residents went out ifshing for cod when opportunity permitted. They would bring their catch and have it processed. I remember going occasions when these people would come to the movies after they had finished cleaning their fish. Needless to say, there was a good smell of fish in the theater.
A tanker came to deliver fuel to the storage tanks at the bottom of the ridge in Elliston. The Captain took a couple of us out to his boat. He had given an order to the effect that we were not to sell any beer to his crew. Somehow or other the message did not reach the Ridge and the S/Sgt in charge of the beer sold beer to the crew from the tanker. As can be expected, they managed to get drunk. It was an awkward situation as they returned to the tanker in their dory. Some of the crew fell out of the dory and into the cold water. I was sent in - stayed a year - and eventually departed.
While the weather might have left a great deal to be desired by some, it really wasn't all that bad. As can be expected, the ocean froze over during the winter months and the temperatures were probably colder than what many of us had experienced to that time in our lives.
I recall that we had 16 USAF personnel at the complex and we also employed five civilians on the station. I recall we had the best of food. It was first class and the cooks were great. Food supplies were provided during the summer months and were set up to last a full year. Fresh vegetables and other goodies were delivered to us via the "Newfie Bullet" - the local rail transportation system. We had plenty to drink - but to my surprise, drinking was not a problem at the time. While we did not have any USO shows, we did get movies on a regular basis - again, compliments of the "Newfie Bullet". Mail deliveries were frequent and this allowed everyone with the opportunity to maintain contact with family and friends that were not in the area.
I departed Elliston Ridge in November 1957 - having finished my assignment. As luck would have it, I was reassigned right back to Ardmore Air Force base in Oklahoma.
Orvel Blunt