Metz, France

Monthly Argus exercise scheduled for today postponed and later cancelled.

SHAPE readiness test called for the Air Division. YJ was on weekly maintenance at the time and Type 80 had to be brought back on the air. Type 80 was brought back on at 0910Z and continued to operate until 1245Z completion of test.

LAC Royer of 61 Squadron driving PMC AF0296 hit and killed French National pedestrian on Strasbourg highway near Metz. LAC Royer later cleared of all blame in accident.

Monthly Argus exercise scheduled for today cancelled because of icy runways and poor weather.

F/O RA Robertson Pers/Admin transferred to #1 Air Div. HQ, SOPC branch. F/O Robertson was replaced by F/L Flannigan, Air/P who at the time was on a ground tour as a Fighter Controller at YJ.

G/C AB Searle, CO of 2(F) Wing, with a party of six officers visited unit on cross training.

F/L Bertrand departed today on two weeks cross training with USAF CRC at Freising Germany.

Mr. Chisholm, Marconi Tech Rep, departed for Canada and was replaced by Mr. Williams from Marconi Co. in England.

F/O ES Marlin departed the Squadron on return to Canada for release.

Monthly Argus exercise.

F/O E McKillop, last of the female AS/FtrCs in RCAF left for Canada today after being remustered to Pers/Admin. F/O McKillop was transferred to Station St. Sylvestre.

A/C EC Poole, Chief of Telecom for RCAF visited unit today accompanied by W/C Bowes from 1 Air Division.

Strongbox Sierra scrambled live on track 02M. Identified as two Canadian F-86s.

A squadron of RAF Javelins, temporarily stationed at Marville, departed for their home base today. During their stay, YJ controllers gained some valuable experience in new AI tactics.

Another SHAPE readiness test today. The new Alert Plan was brought into effect and all personnel were called in, both as a test of the new plan and to support the SHAPE readiness test.

Possibly a record for the Squadron so far was achieved when 27 GCI/GCAs were completed in one evening with 427 Squadron into Zweibrucken.

YJ placed on Simple Alert, leading up to "Operation Top Weight", annual NATO exercise. Full Operations and Ground Defence Reports added as Appendix "P"

Two parties of VIPs visited 61 Squadron today. In the morning Dr. JA MacFarlane, Chairman Canadian Forces Medical Council, Surgeon Commodore TB McLean, Deputy Surgeon General (Professional), and G/C GD Coldbrick, accompanied by W/C Running, Air Division SOMS. In the afternoon, His Excellency, Most Reverend ML Roy, Military Ordinate, Monsignor R MacLean, Chaplain General of the Armed Forces (RC), Monsignor Paul Nicole, Secretary to His Excellency, accompanied by the AOC 1 Air Division and S/L Poirier, Command Chaplain (RC).

Chaff drop by USAF picked up and pictures were suggested, but no film was available for scope camera.

A tour of the site was made today by Brigadier JM Forth, Chaplain General of the Armed Forces (P) accompanied by W/C ES Light, 1 Air Division SORA (P).

A T-33 flown by two pilots from 440 Squadron hit the radar antenna at FAF GCI Station Drachenbronn. Both pilots were killed and the antenna was destroyed. A/C Lipton, AFC, DC, AFHQ/COps visited the unit today.

A party of visitors to Squadron today consisted of Mr. Gordon Cox, personal assistant to the Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. G/C CW Burgess, Executive Officer, CJS London and Lt. Colonel GAM Nantel A/JAC, CJS London.

Squadron controller commended S/L Bacon of his handling of CF-100 crew who had oxygen failure on night exercise. F/L GW Tahirali CTSO departed for Canada on transfer to AFHQ.

P/O Godbout, Tech/Tel, reported to unit from University of Montreal for summer employment.

Flight of 10 F-100s as rotation plan from USA were intercepted by YJ controlling USAF F-86Ds and led in to Hahn AFB. This procedure has now become standard for all inbound flights.

Monthly Argus Exercise. Two sections of RCAF F-86s flew as targets for the exercise. Night Argus targets carried but no intercept action taken. F/Cs Dixon and Mowatt reported from Canada for summer employment as AS/FtrCs/UT.

Mr. Leger, Canadian Ambassador to NATO, accompanied by AOC, visited unit today.

F/L Smith, AS/FtrC, reported to unit from St. Sylvestre, Quebec.

YJ Practice Alert for vulnerability test. The Deputy Commander of 4 ATAF, General G de Rivals-Mayeres accompanied by A/C HM Carscallen, visited unit today.

An active defence exercise was carried out at 61 AC&W Squadron on the night of 16 Apr 59, the last night of Exercise Top Weight.

F/O Hull organized a party of volunteers and devised a plan to try and penetrate the defences of 61 Squadron by covert means and also by direct assault.

F/O Hull’s plan was to have two of his party (Cpl. Nichols and Col. Betteridge) gain entrance to the site by covert means. Once on the site they would stay concealed until 2300 hours when they would cut the cables supplying power to the perimeter lights. Within a couple minutes of the lights going out an ambulance would arrive at the gate. Forty-five seconds before the ambulance arrived a call would be put through to the guard room, allegedly from the Duty Controller saying that an ambulance was on the way. Concealed in the back of the ambulance would be a raiding party. When the ambulance was inside the gates and the raiding party concealed in it made their presence known a further raiding party concealed in the woods behind the Type 80 would under the cover of darkness and confusion, cut their way through the barbed wire and attack the modulator building.

Cpl. Nichols and Betteridge gained access to the site concealed in the ration truck that entered the unit at approximately 2100 hours. They climbed on the roof of the Ops Admin Building and were not detected. Then Cpl. Betteridge came down and wandered about the site and theoretically assassinated two airforce policemen on patrol and took their armbands and side arms. Then accompanied by these two "assassinated" policemen he proceeded to Defence HQs and when the undersigned walked out of Defence HQs to have a look around, Cpl. Betteridge followed him and theoretically assassinated him approximately twenty feet from Defence HQs. The undersigned fell to the ground, thereby giving the alarm. The Ground attack warning was sounded and Cpl. Nichols, on the roof of the Ops Admin building, thinking that the attack had started, cut the cable to the perimeter lights. The perimeter lights were repaired in approximately one half hour (2230 hours). At approximately 2259 hours a phone call was received at the guard room (allegedly from the Duty Controller) saying that an accident had taken place in the modular building and that an ambulance was on the way. Almost immediately, an ambulance arrived at the main gate and was admitted to the site without delay. Concealed in the back of the ambulance was a raiding party. When the ambulance arrived at the Ops Admin Building it was surrounded by guards and the raiding party theoretically wiped out. At the same time the raiding party concealed in the bushes behind the modulator tried to attack but the perimeter lights were back in action and this party was either killed or captured.

As in previous exercises it was again demonstrated that the weakest link in the defence system is the main gate. This year not only infiltration’s but a raiding party as well gained access to the site without a shot being fired.

It is recommended that in future exercises a more thorough examination be made of vehicles admitted to the site. It is also recommended that the security officer arrange briefings for the AFPs regarding the various possible means by which agents could gain entrance to the site.

Three "Soft Spot" exercises were initiated during the NATO sponsored exercise "Top Weight" and the following comments and recommendations are passed for your information and perusal.

The purpose and aim of the exercise were to:

The first passive defence exercise was organized by SU/GDefO and was initiated at 1700Z/15 by YJ who passed the situation reports to the PDSU HQs via the TANNOY Communication system (A copy of the situation report is attached).

As the unit was involved in heavy flying commitments no actual physical change over of personnel was attempted however section heads commenced a synthetic change-over utilizing the Radiation figures posted on the radiation intensity board by the decontamination and survey officer.

Although the actual changing of personnel was simulated the fact that they were reporting into the shelter provided a physical test of equipment and procedures for the monitors, decontamination and cleansing sections.

Personnel were duly processed through the monitor’s check point at the entrance to Salle des Machines, their names were recorded and DT-60s checked, however, after entering the clean area control of these people became very loose.

The second "Soft Spot" exercise was initiated by Air Division HQs and involved a simulated nuclear blast near #3 Fighter Wing. Again personnel were paper switched to maintain the units operational commitment during fall-out conditions. This second exercise gave further experience to the PDSU personnel and also provided the section heads with the opportunity of applying new ideas on scheduling and control of personnel.

The third and last SoftSpot type exercise during exercise "Top Weight" was called towards the end of the exercise and involved the physical change of personnel to maintain the operational role of the unit under extremely high radiation and fall-out conditions.

The situation times and readings are recorded here to give an idea of the length of time available for the change of personnel and also keep within the maximum tolerance dose of 300 r as laid down by the CO.

It was interesting to note that as the fall-out diminished the radioactivity inside tended to remain constant or even increase due to radioactive dust remaining on the roofs of buildings and adjacent ground area.

The physical change-over of personnel was accomplished by a shuttle service utilizing a 15 passenger bus and an AFP Station Wagon when available.

During the exercise, drivers were supplied by the Tech Section, however, one driver was lost for every return trip made due to maximum dosage being received. This problems would be eliminated during actual hostilities by merely letting one individual in each shift change drive the vehicle.

The PDSU HQs functioning as intended. No great difficulty was encountered in computing Radiation readings although a "Ground Large" computer as used by SUGDef Section would ease the eye strain.

Communications – The communications installed in the control centre A/PDSU was found to be adequate however, thought might be given to a TANNOY system connecting the standby rooms, First Aid Post, Admin and Canteen centres in the 61 AC&W Squadron bunker room.

General – It was felt by the undersigned that the passive defence exercises called "Top Weight" were extremely successful in accomplishing the aim as stated in para 2 however the following recommendations are extended for possible action: (a) Continued training of personnel for Passive defence duties. (b) Control points set up at entrance to tunnel at Salle des Machines and West Battery for control of personnel. (c) Separate room or area for Section Heads to work out schedules etc., (d) Continued renovation re heat, lighting, accommodation etc.

15 Apr 59/0700Z

Situation:

A nuclear ground burst has been dropped upwind of Metz 3 hours ago.

Fall-out in this area has been recorded as it increased, and at H plus 5 the radiation from fallout has reached a level where precautions must be taken.

The tolerance dose for 61 AC&W Squadron personnel is 200R.

All buildings in the site area will provide a certain amount of protection (attentuation) from radiation).

The Bunkers are considered safe – but should be checked periodically.

The water supply is safe.

Unless working in the open, personnel will be contaminated to any noticeable extent.

Mission:

61 AC&W Squadron will continue to operate within the bounds of the permissible tolerance dose.

Exercise Data:

Radiation -

Tolerance Dose – 200R per person

Protection Factor of Buildings -

Contaminated Personnel -

Contaminated Buildings and Equipment – Decontamination by Unit arrangements.