Metz, France

Hornet Kilo overshot their home base 3 (F) Wing and headed for 1 (F) Wing. As aircraft were short of fuel this unit gave them a modified GCI/GCA into 1 (F) Wing. Both landed safely but one aircraft flamed out on the runway.

Two chaff trails picked up 30-50 miles west of Utrecht. This was an RAF exercise.

Horseman Quebec scrambled live on track 13N, which was passed from Langerkopf. Track identified as 2 B-57s prior to interception by this unit.

Exercise Quick Train effective 0444Z. This units alert system was put into effect at 0525Z.

Height finder number 3 on major maintenance for 3 days. A track originating in Switzerland and heading north was intercepted by this unit using fighters that Lange handed over. Identified as 2 Italian F-86Ks and 1 F-100. Langerkopf complimented this unit on this intercept.

Student Oscar diverted live to Langerkopf but they were unable to complete the intercept because of equipment limitations at Langerkopf. Track was later identified as US Army L-19.

Operation Silent Spectre was carried out with a total of 19 MA and 5 MI.

Squawk 4 in EE3030. This unit intercepted the SOS with Checkerboard Kilo, Number 3 of the section took SOS – a French F-100 into Laon.

Air Div HQ were requested to carry out an immediate fire inspection to check on suspected fire hazards under the Operations Room Flooring. As a result, all electrical wiring is now in process of replacement.

Jamming encountered by Uedem and this unit was identified as a RAF Bomber Command exercise.

All of this units radar equipment changed to 300 PRF.

Two promotions for the Fighter Control Branch. RW Hill to Squadron Leader. RF Ward to Flight Lieutenant. Today the new SOPs became effective, with changes in the names of Operational personnel and new positions as follows: The Duty Controllers name has been deleted. This is now filled by the Operations Officer, who is also the Weapons Assignment Officer under normal Operations. On large scale exercises a Weapons Assignment Officer and an Operations Officer will be working on the dias. A new position instituted was that of Standards Officer, whose duties are to bring the quality of control to a high standard, and to assist in keeping it there be regular evaluation of the controllers. He is assisted by a Standards NCO who will evaluate FtrCops. Horseman Charlie scrambled live on track 28LM, and was handed over to Giebelstadt. Identified friendly before the interception was completed.

All personnel of the message center transferred to SU Metz this date. SU Metz takes over full responsibility for the message center.

Type 80 on maintenance. This was extended past the normal time allotted to include a change of the magnetron.

An emergency squawk in HE0040. A T-33 on fire that crashed south east of Spangdahlem. Occupants parachuted to safety.

Height finder number 1 unserviceable until further notice – awaiting parts.

Mr. Percy Williams, the Marconi Field Service Representative became ill. His recovery was delayed from day to day until finally it became necessary to replace him so that he could return to England for treatment.

Type 80 limited to 4 RPM until further notice.

Van Cal 2 arrived on site with two large trucks to calibrate and test all of this units electronic test equipment. They departed 20 Feb 60.

Horseman Papa diverted onto SOS and an attempt was made to hand this section over to Langerkopf for interception of SOS. This was unsuccessful due to radio difficulties. SOS landed safely at Weisbaden.

A fire started at the Squadron’s Guard House when an electric radiator ignited some wax rags. No material damage was done to the Guard House.

4 RPM restriction on the Type 80 is now lifted. Normal 6 RPM for control can be used. Strongbox Romeo scrambled live. Student Oscar and Strongbox Sierra converted live – all after tracks in the Buffer Zone. All aircraft intercepted were French.

Two live scrambles were made – one for an SOS and the other for handover to Freising. The latter scramble was cancelled before completion of the intercept.

COC started their move from 61 Squadron building to their new quarters in the bunker at Fort D’Ars.

Horseman Papa live scrambled for handover to Langerkopf.

Sandal Sierra 2 squawked 4 and returned to base after flying into tow bar on cine work. W/C Payne, RAF, Padre Harmeyer, RNAF, Service Padres visited the unit. Swiss and Austrian border violation by French F-84s from Frescaty. One aircraft of this section crashed when attempting to land at base. Mr. Roger Moreton arrived as temporary replacement for Mr. Percy Williams.

Sandal Oscar diverted live to intercept SOS. This was identified as a USAF F-100 at 5000 feet. Aircraft landed safely. No report given by Langerkopf of type of emergency.

SOS reported by Schonfeld did not stand up to interrogation. Only 3 strobes instead of the customary 4 strobes. A practice squawk 4 by Yardarm Tango produced the same result. IFF serviceable 1 hour later.

Owing to weather, all night flying cancelled.

Yardarm Tango scrambled on track 52L. Intercepted by the USAF first as 2 German F-84s who landed with USAF interceptors at Giebelstadt.

Operation Silent Spectre carried out.

Strongbox Romeo scrambled on track 81L over Grostenquin. The track was squawking 4. SOS was Madcap 28 from 2 (F) Wing with faulty parrot. His Excellency the Right Honourable EM Reid, the Canadian Ambassador to West Germany, visited the unit.

Sandal Mike requested a check steer from Grostenquin tower but they were unable to pick up aircraft’s transmission. This units track No. 4 violated the East German border in LF5015. This was identified as Sandal Mike. Special video map checks carried out with Langerkopf and Giebelstadt on a section of aircraft under control in the ADIZ. These checked out to be within 2 or 3 miles of each other – though when Sandal Mike was across the border – a discrepancy of up to 15 miles between the positions reported by the 3 sites was found.

Strongbox Alpha 2 had a flameout whilst under this units control. A relight was made but a second flameout occurred. Another relight was made and aircraft landed safely at 3 (F) Wing.

Type 80 presentation lost on all scopes and the MPS-11 presentation was distorted and intermittent. The trouble was found to be in the Fixed Coil and was cleared in 16 minutes.

The CO had informed the AOC that February would be an accident free month for PMCs. This did not occur as a car driven by a controller was hit by an American serviceman. This was the first accident in 48 days and the best record to date of the unit.

Squawk 4 40 miles north of Marville was believed to be Horseshoe Quebec Lead. This was confirmed when Marville transmitted over beacon. Aircraft landed safely after encountering VHF radio trouble.

The monitor reported a Mayday call on 243.0 mcs. Two USAF aircraft had had a mid air collision. Both pilots bailed out.

Yardarm Uniform was live scrambled on track 91L heading west. This section was then diverted to track 97L – both tracks identified as T-33s. Jacket Golf 3 squawked 4 with a flameout close to base. Landed safely without being able to relight.

Strongbox Romeo 4, while under this units control and in a hassle, reported 3 loud explosions in his tail section. Romeo 4 brought into home base – 3 (F) Wing, by GCI/GCA.

Cashbox Alpha 2 returning from Sardinia to 2 (F) Wing declared an emergency, being short on fuel and with no IFF. CBA2 was taken into 2 (F) Wing by GCI/GCA. A French aircraft out of Lahr was seen circling 4 (F) Wing airfield. Aircraft was given green light for landing but this was ignored. Aircraft then headed west and crashed in the Black Forest killing the pilot.

Power changeover caused a loss of telephone ringing power for 30 minutes.

Toul informed this unit that a British aircraft out of their base was lost with no navigational aids or IFF. This unit unable to assist as aircraft in cloud and in the units permanent echo area..

Checkerboard Alpha 3 and 4, and Checkerboard Delta 1 and 2 diverted to Chaumont – all short of fuel.

Exercise Roulette carried out. At 2150Z a power failure occurred when one voltage regulator went unserviceable.

Type 80 off the air for 1 ½ hours to change magnetron.

35 teachers from the DND school visited the unit for briefing.

Type 80 unserviceable for 1 hour and 13 minutes with oil trouble in the interlock.

Mechanical jamming picked up for a one hour period. Langerkopf requested that Yardarm Golf be prepared for a possible live on track 53L – later cancelled.

Yardarm Tango scrambled live to Langerkopf on track 12L – identified as 2 West German F-86s prior to completion of intercept with Yardarm Tango.

Pictures taken of mechanical jamming.

Successful handoffs to American GCI units.

Exercise "Quick Train" in effect at 0400Z. Zulu aircraft did not fly on this exercise.

Mr. Mike Bartlett arrived as a permanent replacement for Mr. Williams. Mr. Moreton, the temporary replacement, returned to England.

Jacket Golf diverted live on track 31CM and handed over to Langerkopf. Track was identified prior to intercept.

ECM pick up on the Type 80. On cross-checking with the RAF at Uedem, this unit was informed that this was an RAF exercise involving 3 Victors. S/L RW Hill received the Chief of the Air Staffs award from the CO, W/C CS Yarnell.

A mid-air collision between two RCAF aircraft – Madcap Bravo 4 and Cartridge Charlie 4 occurred. They were not under anyone’s control at the time. Both pilots were picked up by helicopter – quite alright – after bailing out.

Yardarm Tango handed over to Langerkopf for interception of an unknown track that this unit was not seeing. Target faded from Langerkopf’s radar before interception took place.

Funeral services were held for LAC Hurlbert, Telephone Tech, who died from injuries received in a car accident.

Commandant Debrvot, FAF, arrived from Drachenbronn, for a liaison visit to discuss cross-telling between his unit and this unit. Camera switched on to photograph chaff and heavy traffic.

This unit unable to pick up emergency squawk reported by Langerkopf. An RCAF aircraft did a practice emergency squawk subsequently which was received by this unit without difficulty.

Handcuff Kilo No. 2 reported that Kilo 1 had crashed. Both aircrew parachuted from aircraft and landed safely.

Mr. Avis arrived from UK to make emergency repairs to the Type 80.

Langerkopf handed over two American aircraft Dot 7 and 8 for this units control to intercept unknown track 73L. Both aircraft returned to base short of fuel before intercept could be completed.

61 AC&W Squadron held their first annual Spring Ball – this was an all ranks affair and was well attended and highly successful. Honoured Guests included AVM and Mrs. LR Wray, Group Captains Wurtele and Ledoux and wives. The AOC stated that he was very pleased at being requested to be a guest at the Ball, and that he was very well satisfied in the way everyone was conducting themselves. He hoped this would set a precedence for other sections and units of Air Division.

Operation Sad Sack commenced today. This was an exercise testing the 4 (F) Wing Emergency Defence Plan.

Operation Sad Sack completed. Mechanical jamming picked up on the Type 80. Aircraft involved were 2 T-33 aircraft on Exercise Raindrop under Langerkopf control. AVM MacBrien, AOC, ADC visited the unit.

Exercise Roulette took place. Camera on to take pictures of mechanical jamming drifting towards the Swiss – Austrian border.

Zulu aircraft to take part in Strategical Operation Patrols (STOP) exercise as of this date.

Exercise Senior Sentinel in effect at 0355Z. The units alert plan put into effect and all cells notified by 0600Z. The exercise ended at 1050Z. After Exercise, unit on minimum manning in the Operations Room (during painting of same) for the period 0800-1800 local for the remainder of the week.

RCAF aircraft during this period were handed over to American, German, French and RAF GCIs for control.

Langerkopf handed over one of their aircraft so that this unit could do a frequency check on UHF channels. This the first of an exercise, to be run when Langerkopf has aircraft available.

Jamming encountered from an RAF exercise. Unofficial opening of the 9 hole "Pitch and Putt" golf course between the inner and outer perimeter fences. This course is a result of an idea of F/L Evans and was constructed using local labour and resources in approximately 4 weeks.

Exercise Roulette took place. Pan call on 121.5 mcs by an aircraft lost in thunderstorms. This unit answered the Pan call but was unable to make positive contact. Another GCI site obtained positive control and guided the aircraft to a safe landing at Wildenrath.

Type 80 to be on 4 RPM over the week-end as only one motor working, though speed can be increased to 6 RPM for emergencies and live scrambles if required. Student Oscar scrambled live on SOS and identified it as a West German F-86F.

4 SOS’s during the period 1439Z and 1526Z – all under American control. Exercise Silent Spectre and Stop cancelled for the evening due to weather.

Yardarm Uniform lead and Horseman Papa 4 had a mid air collision during a hassle after intercept. Both pilots landed safely by parachute. RCAF aircraft took part in the RAF annual air defence exercise in England (called Yoeman this year). All RCAF aircraft were targets.

CF-100 aircraft from 1, 2 and 3 (F) Wings took part in exercise Yoeman. All 3 (F) Wing aircraft were diverted to 1 (F) Wing due to weather. Handcuff India 2 declared an emergency and returned to base with port engine unserviceable under this units control.

Air Chief Marshal, Sir Harry Broadhurst, RAF, visited the unit.

Langerkopf passed the report that an Italian Airliner had complained about being intercepted by a Canadian F-86 aircraft – this interception ordered by No. 1 Air Division COC.

Jacket Golf diverted after track K51 – identified as KLM Super Constellation

Exercise Roulette took place.

Belgian aircraft are on deployment at Marville and under this units GCI control.

Signed By:
(CS Yarnell) W/C
CO, 61 AC&W Squadron, RCAF