Spotted Island, Labrador

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 64^th 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 922^nd AC&W Squadron was located at Cartwright, Labrador. This squadron had three Gap Filler Detachments within its overall area of responsibility. One of these units was:

Detachment 2 – Spotted Island, Labrador – N-27B

The following detail pertaining to this Gap Filler site has been extracted from the 922^nd AC&W Squadron Historical Reports – and provides some detail of interest to the reader.

Housing (at Cartwright) has proven to be a large problem during this period. We were required to house the gap filler personnel on their way to remote sites. Because of early arrivals of replacement personnel, there were no rooms available to accommodate these people. Recreation Hall #2 was cleared of its equipment and some twelve double deck beds were constructed out of single frame metal cots.

Detachment # 2 became operational during this period. A Motor Pool specialist from this station was placed on TDY to the Detachments to render assistance and establish proper records. Detachment # 2 has been visited.

Supply functions have been varied for this period, with the shipping season in full swing. The Magga Dan arrived at this detachment in July, supplying dry storage and frozen storage food supplies. The Wang Pioneer also visited with supplies of a general nature. The USNS Chattahootchie supplied the annual bulk fuel supplies.

On 6 February 1959, 1^st Lt. Keith W Langley relieved Captain Chester H Wheeless of command of Detachment # 2 to allow Captain Wheeless to return to Goose Air Base to fulfill AFR 60-2 requirements. On 11 March Lt. Langley returned the command to Captain Wheeless. Supply ordering, stocking and recording for this detachment was turned over to the unit from the 922^nd AC&W Squadron on 15^th January. At a preliminary meeting in Cartwright, personnel from this detachment were briefed on supply responsibility and accountability in addition to the difficulties to supply organizations in this area. Although the detachment has been given the supply function, Staff and Command responsibility remains with the 922^nd AC&W Squadron.

The 0A-97 remoting equipment has been put in place, both at this detachment, and at the 922^nd AC&W Squadron at Cartwright. This equipment consists of consoles which present PPI presentations in Cartwright, of air traffic which originates on our AN/FPS-14 search radar. The input is carried on existing Baby Pole Vault channels.

Change of command at the detachment included: Captain Von E LeVan replaced Captain Chester H Wheeless at Detachment # 2.

Communications equipment identified as follows: BC-639 Single Channel VHF Transmitter (1ea), and BC-640 Single Channel Transmitter, (1ea)

Change of command at the detachment included: Captain Jack C Shupert replaced Captain Donald W Hylton at Detachment # 2, Spotted Island.

Teletype maintenance personnel from the 922^nd AC&W Squadron at Cartwright made a trip to our Detachment to repair the teletype machines in use at this station and to give instructions on the teletype machines. A local modification by the Philco Technician and a Radar Maintenance man at the 922^nd AC&W Squadron at Cartwright, eliminated an inherent internal interference which was quite disturbing when high voltage was being applied during maintenance on the 0A-99 PPI scope. The modification was submitted to Philco Canada and reproduced for use at other Gap Filler stations. A two man Marconi team arrived to assist Detachment personnel in relocating the high frequency radio equipment. Prior to the move this equipment was located on the first floor of the radar tower. Movement of this equipment to the disaster shack, a short distance away from the main building, provide an emergency means of communication in the event that the main building has to be abandoned. The Commander, Captain Jack C Shupert reports that on Saturday, the 29^th of October, the second monthly commanders dining in was held. It has become a policy for the commander to invite all personnel to dine with him on the last Saturday of each month. This program has been very successful in boosting morale and consequently making an isolated tour a little better for everyone.

Word was officially received to discontinue operations at Spotted Island, Gap Filler, as of 28 June 1961.

After 1 August, the only means of contact with this Detachment was HF Radio. Approximately 200 messages were received from and sent to the 922^nd AC&W Squadron at Cartwright monthly. The 922^nd AC&W Squadron advised that in addition to receiving their SUNEC 1961 shipment, they also received the majority of supplies and equipment from Spotted Island.

We are aware that the Detachment #2 Gap Filler Site at Spotted Island was only operational between 1957 and 1961. It is unfortunate that we do not have very many quarterly Historical Records for Cartwright 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 Cartwright Historical Records.

The only recurring detail which was found in all appropriate Historical Records for Cartwright was found in Section 7, as follows:

Equipment
AN/FPS-14 Search Radar (3 ea)