Elliston Ridge, NF
Photographs


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  1. Special Orders. Assignment to Elliston Ridge - 20 November 1957.
    Courtesy Bob Wilder.

  2. Special Orders Number 137 - 11 November 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  3. Mike Dougherty manning the "sophisticated radar outpost equipment (in Class A's - probably preparing for inspection) - November 1957.
    Courtesy Mike Dougherty.

  4. Three RCA Tech Reps to complete radar installation and calibration. "Eddie" is doing the cigarette commercial. - November 1957.
    Courtesy Mike Dougherty.

  5. Cyrill Mifflin and Dougald Duffett field dressing a bull moose - October 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  6. Lt Bunsen and Dougald Duffett with Lt Bunsens bull moose - October 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  7. Harold and Rufus (civilian stationary engineers) operated our diesel generators - October 1957.
    Courtesy Mike Dougherty.

  8. George Jine with his wife and son ouside his restaurant on Main Street in Bonavista - September 1957.
    The large building in the background was the movie theatre. The two girls on the left worked in the restaurant.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  9. Lt Bunsen with a visiting Chaplain - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  10. Aerial photo of the Gap Filler site - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  11. Larger image of the Gap Filler aerial photo - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  12. Don Steinbrecher's rotation party at Elliston Ridge - August 1957.
    The civilian with the bow tie was a Tech Rep.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  13. Don Steinbrecher celebrates his rotation party with 1st Lt Dale M Bunsen in the Mess Hall - August 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  14. A/1C Milton Wright (medic/cooks helper) at work in the Mess Hall - August 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  15. Local girls at Elliston Beach - August 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  16. The Sawyers operation in Bonavista with a good sunset - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  17. The Bonavista docks - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  18. The North Atlantic coastline around Bonavista, Newfoundland - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  19. Lt Bunsen at the lower POL booster pump site waiting for the refuelling tanker to arrive - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  20. A tanker tied to our bollards making ready to resupply us with diesel fuel - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  21. US Naval Ship "Nooaway" was the diesel refueling tanker at our dock - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  22. On board the refuelling tanker - August 1957.
    (L-R) - Unidentified refuelling tanker Captain, Lt Bunsen.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  23. Lt Bunsen at the lower POL booster pump site - August 1957.
    Note the hose indicatng that we were being refueled and the sign that said "No Smoking Within 50 Feet"
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  24. The radar screen at Elliston Ridge - August 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  25. A/1C Larry Partyka (Apricot One) on duty at Elliston Ridge - August 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  26. A/3C Earl Stromberg on duty in Radar Ops - August 1957.
    The radar equipment was located in the lower level (first floor) of the radar tower.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  27. Radar Operations in the lower level (first floor) of the radar tower - August 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  28. The "troops" lines up for a rare inspection - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  29. The "troops" lined up for a rare inspection - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  30. Larger image of the "troops" lined up for a rare inspection photo - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  31. Gathering mussels offshore at Catalina - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  32. Looking north from Bonavists with an iceberg in the background - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  33. Looking down into Elliston from the site - August 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  34. A1C Sandling getting a jeep ready in the Motor Pool - July 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  35. The Elliston Ridge Gap Filler complex - July 1957.
    Dotted arrow indicates the Officers Club. Windows directly below the OC were the Mess Hall. Solid arrow points to my quarters.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  36. Fresh Elliston Harbour lobster selling at 25 cents a pound - July 1957.
    Larry Partyka appears quite pleased to know what the evening meal will be.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  37. A lobster feast! How sweet it was! - July 1957.
    (L-R) - T/Sgt Graves, Dalton (local civilian who maintained the machinery), A/2C Ed Bartosiewicz, unidentified local civilian who maintained the machinery.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  38. Painting the radome at Elliston Ridge - July 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  39. Clean up duty in the furnace room - June 1957.
    (L-R) - A/1C Larry Partyka, A/3C Harold Proveaux, A/2C Lanny Fredricks.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  40. The Site Commanders bedroom - June 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  41. The North Atlantic off of Elliston - June 1957.
    Note the 5-6 story tall iceberg in the background.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  42. A1C Sanders and Sgt Wersebe were cooks in our kitchen - June 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  43. Lt Bunsen and Airman Bartosowicz with some personnel from the Corps of Engineering - June 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  44. Radar Ops crew personnel - June 1957.
    Back row (L-R) Charles Sweitzer, A/3C Harold Proveaux. Front row (L-R) A/2C Don Steinbrecher, A/1C Larry Partyka, A/3C Earl Stromberg.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  45. Mess Hall/Recreation Center, movie screen and pool table - June 1957.
    There was also a ping pong table with a hi-fi radio-record player. A TV was in the lounge room upstairs. A/1C Larry Partyka lines up a shot in the side pocket.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  46. "Pan ice offshore in the local area - June 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  47. Lt Bunsen and Don Sieckmeier (Bendix Rep) at the Motor Pool end of the site - June 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  48. Don Seickmeier (Bendix Rep), Sgt Wersebe and Lt Bunsen by the "boat project" - June 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  49. Lt Bunsen and Sgt Wersebe on the Helio pad in front of the radome - June 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  50. Anderson, Seickmeier (Bendix Rep) and Nordstrom working on a scope - June 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  51. The road to the Gap Filler site at Ellison - June 1957.
    Note the site is visible pn the top of the "ridge".
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  52. Larger image of the road to the Gap Filler site photo - June 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  53. Codfish drying in Bonavista - June 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  54. Lt Bunsen with a visiting dentist at the site - June 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  55. Lt Bunsen in his office - June 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  56. Airman Anderson and Blunt by the site welcoming sign - May 1957.
  57. The same location 31 years later - July 1988.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  58. Sgt Graves maintaining our communications equipment - May 1957.
    Courtesy Dale Bunsen.

  59. Aerial photo of Elliston Ridge Gap Filler complex - May 1957.
    Courtesy William Parrott.

  60. Diagram with identification of buildings in the aerial photo of the Elliston Ridge Gap Filler complex - May 1957.
    Courtesy Mike Dougherty.

  61. Aerial photo of Elliston Ridge Gap Filler complex - May 1957.
    Courtesy William Parrott.

  62. USAF personnel at Elliston Ridge - May 1957.
    The rest of the story.
    Courtesy Orvel Blunt.

  63. Larger image of the previous photo - May 1957.
    The rest of the story.
    Courtesy Orvel Blunt.

  64. Bonavista harbour with fishing boats unloading cod fish on the pier - May 1957.
    The tall building on the left was the fish processing and packing plant.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  65. Unloading the days cod fish catch at the Bonavista harbour - May 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  66. The north Atlantic and the town of Elliston as seen from Elliston Ridge - May 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  67. Larger image of the previous photo - May 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  68. This vehicle served as our primary means of transportation at Elliston Ridge - May 1957.
    We also had a Weapons Carrier, a Jeep and a Weasel. (L-R) - S/Sgt John Wersebe (cook), A/2C Paul Nordstrom (Radar Maint), Anderson.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  69. Officials Visit Elliston Ridge - May 1957.
    Newspaper clipping.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  70. Sgt Bill Hooper's rotation party at George Jines restaurant - April 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  71. Larger image of the previous photo - April 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  72. USAF personnel assembled for a photo shoot on the road across from the helicopter pad, which also served as the softball field - April 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  73. USAF personnel photo - April 1957.
    Back row (L-R) - Charles Sweitzer (Snake), A/1C Bud Sandling, A/3C Harold Proveaux, A/1C Curtis Sanders, A/1C Milton Wright, A/2C Paul Nordstrom, A/1C Orvel Blunt, 1st Lt Dale Bunsen, T/Sgt Graves. Front row (L-R) - Sgt Bill Hooper, S/Sgt John Wersebe, A/2C Ed Bartosiewicz, A/3C Earl Stromberg, A/2C Lanny Fredricks.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  74. Larger image of the previous photo - April 1957.
    Back row (L-R) - Charles Sweitzer (Snake), A/1C Bud Sandling, A/3C Harold Proveaux, A/1C Curtis Sanders, A/1C Milton Wright, A/2C Paul Nordstrom, A/1C Orvel Blunt, 1st Lt Dale Bunsen, T/Sgt Graves. Front row (L-R) - Sgt Bill Hooper, S/Sgt John Wersebe, A/2C Ed Bartosiewicz, A/3C Earl Stromberg, A/2C Lanny Fredricks.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  75. The Road to the Bonavista lighthouse - April 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  76. The Bonavista lighthouse - April 1957.
    (L-R) - Fredricks, Anderson, Wright, Stromberg, Steinbrecher.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  77. The Elliston Ridge Gap Filler detachment - April 1957.
    Radar tower and radome on the left. The enclosed corridor (center) led to the Mess Hall, barracks and Motor Pool garage.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  78. A different view of the radar tower and radome - April 1957.
    The Mess Hall was in the black building (lower level right). Out of the picture (lower level left) was the Motor Pool and the barracks were in the upper level.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  79. A/2C Ed Bartosiewicz on the roof of the main building installing the anemometer - April 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  80. A/2C Ed Bartosiewicz "taking a break" - April 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  81. A/1C Larry Partyka checking things out on the roof of the main building - April 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  82. Personnel Actions Memorandum Number 12, page 1 of 2 - 14 March 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  83. Personnel Actions Memorandum Number 12, page 2 of 2 - 14 March 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  84. Small but tasty! - March 1957.
    Brook trout caught from numerous ponds and streams around Bonavista and Elliston.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  85. Radio Maintenenace crew assembling and erecting an antenna - March 1957.
    (L-R) A/2C Ed Bartosiewicz, T/Sgt Graves, A/2C Fredricks.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  86. Radio Maintenenace crew assembling and erecting an antenna - March 1957.
    (L-R) A/2C Ed Bartosiewicz, T/Sgt Graves, A/2C Fredricks.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  87. A/1C Larry Partyka taking a smoke break - March 1957.
    Note the slight traces of snow on his shoes.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  88. Special Orders Number 14 - 14 February 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.

  89. The "Newfie Bullet" en route from St. John's to Bonavista - February 1957.
    Courtesy Larry Partyka.


Photographic Credits

All photos are used with permission.

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Updated: March 30, 2005