My first permanent duty station was as a Radar Operator at the 762nd AC&W Squadron at North Truro, Massachutes. It was at this location that I was advised of my next assignment which was to be Detacment #2 at the 921st AC&W Squadron, at La Scie Newfoundland. For the record, I was an A/2C at the time, and contrary to what some may think - "I did not volunteer" for this assignment".
I left the States at the end of November 1956 and flew to Torbay, Newfoundland. Torbay was the closest airfield to the 64th Air Division which was located at Pepperrell AFB. After a couple of weeks at Pepperrell, I went to Goose Bay Labrador for a week or so, and then went back to Pepperell AFB. I remember that it was during this period of time that Elvis made his first appearance on TV.
A few days later we boarded a ship, USAF C50, going north. As I recall we couldn't get into La Scie because there was too much ice. We continued on up to St. Anthony where we were able to get into the harbor - but not the dock (again because of too much ice). We were then picked up by a big bombadier snowmobile which took us to the site at St. Anthony. I would guess that I arrived at St. Anthony either in December 1956 or the first part of January 1957.
While at St. Anthony, I worked shift work in Operations as a Radar Operator. I stayed in St. Anthony until April of 1957 at which time I continued my trek to La Scie. We flew on a Beaver type aircraft that had skis and landed on a lake near La Scie. At long last - I had arrived at my new assignment in April 1957, and it had only taken me four months to get there.
We were met by Mr. Norm Toms, a horse and a sled. He took us and our luggage to an awaiting 6x6 truck which we boarded to the site. The best I can remember is that the distance was about seven miles. There was an advance party of about 4 or 5 guys already there. All of our supplies such as beding, food etc was there in conexes buried by vast amounts of snow. We managed to locate enough food to survive on - and this was supplemeted by periodic air drops. We had to destroy lots of food and beer because of the effects of freezing.
We had a total of three vehicles in our Motor Pool fleet: one 6x6 truck, one jeep, and one bulldozer. We hauled what must have been thousands of barrells of fuel: gas, diesel and JP4. This took a couple of months. We had a pipeline from the dock to the site - which had three pump stations and a huge storage tank. We pumped fuel for our diesel powered generators which ran the site. There was only one building at the site but we did manage to get use to the noise. Some time later our helicopter pad was finished and that helped a great deal as we then had a means for obtain supplies, mail, and food from the outside world.
Our operations section was located in the second deck of the tower. We had one scope and I remember that we made use of a B-29 aircraft to calibrate our radar. We eventually had about four to six Radar Operators on staff, and to the best of my recollection, we never did get to 24 hour operations during my assignment. As was the case with the other USAF manned Gap Filler sites, we were equipped with the FPS-14, and we didn't really handle any traffic while I was at La Scie. Our Operations complex consisted of only one scope. We did not have any plotting boards, tote boards, or any control capibilities while I was there. I should emphasize that the site was in the process of getting established and operational during the eight months that I was at this location. Our communications, as best I remember, was an HF BC610 transmitter/receiver. I expect that this would have eventually been replaced with VHF/UHF equipment. I remember you could sit at the scope, hold a florescent light bulb in your hand, and it would light up.
On pay days, well we'd go down to La Scie where an SA-16 seaplane would land, we would board, and get paid in cash. We had our movies in the dining hall - when we could get them. I saw "We're No Angles" umteen dozen times. As can be expected, we made use of 16mm projectors at the time. We also could go to the movies in town where they had an old weather beaten building that served as a theatre. They would fire up a small generator outside and show us a movie. The only other form of recreation at the site was a pool table. There were no USO shows
The town also had a couple of stores. I remember Norm Toms had a small store and there was a Hudson's Bay store there also but it was small. What I remember mostly was you couldn't buy a pair of pants with two back pockets. We could go to town on our off duty hours - usually to visit with local families, see an occasional movie, or even partake in cod jigging. As for the local folks we were often invited into their homes. They, in turn, were invited up to the site on different occassions. We all got along very good. Girl friends - yes, there were a few, but there were not that many social activities. It's kind of hard to explain.
While I was there we a had total of 19 people on staff. Our commander was a Captain Iseral. He spent a lot of his off duty time at the Nurse's Station which was located on the left just as you entered the town. She was a good looker. He also had the jeep. We had to use the 6x6. I think we had two civilians employed in the Power Plant. One was a fellow from Montreal, who was naturally called "Frenchy".
For the most part, we hauled barrells of fuel all summerand we pumped a lot of fuel through our three pump stations. I can remember only one time when we had a chopper land at our site. We had a guy with a broken arm and he had to be evacuated. Our radar was not really operational when I left, although we liked to fool around with it in the tower. It had been evaluated and calibrated during the summer months by a B-29 aircraft out of Rome NY.
The weather was generally good but I recall there were lots of mosquitos during the summer months and I expect the winter months would have been pretty rough. Food was generally good and we each cooked our own breakfast. Occasionally we got milk from the mechacical cow at Pepperrell AFB. I recall that we all looked forward to that. We had beer on the site but there was no hard drinks. As a result - alcohol was never a problem. Mail was delivered mostly by airdrop and there was no regularity to when it arrived - mainly due to the weather conditions. Our outgoing mail was sent just about any way we could get it out - bush pilots, boats, or even our own planes such as the L-20 or the SA-16.
I was ready to depart in November 1957. Once again, on a Beaver like type aircraft with floats, and then a commercial air carrier out of St. John's enroute to Kirtland AFB in Albequerque New Mexico.