Metz, France

1960 – Historical Report – National Archives of Canada


Historical Record
1 Jun 1960 to 30 Nov 1960

1 Jun 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. Hornet Golf 2 had a flame-out, successful relight, and recovered safely at 3 Wing.

2 Jun 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. Received ECM condition 1 on Head 1 only – caused by 2 ARAF exercise. Squawk 4 five miles north of Hahn. SOS was a USAF T-33 under Hahn control and recovered safely at Hahn.

3 Jun 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. A Graduation Parade was held for graduates of the 1960 Summer Season Course. Summer Season is the name for the controller course given to aircrew transferred to the Squadron from # 1 Air Division fighter wings for controller duties. Included on the course for the first time was a German Air Force controller Lt. Lorenz graf von Strachwitz. G/C Olsson presented the diplomas to the RCAF graduates and Lt. Colonel Lingau, GAF, presented the diploma to Lt. Von Strachwitz.

4 Jun 60

Yardarm Golf handoff to Logroll for live intercept against track 62LL – identification one IL-14. Unit on auxiliary power due to water leak at main power source at 2320Z.

5 Jun 60

Back on main power at 0716Z.

7 Jun 60

Yardarm Tango diverted live after track 49L. Target identified friendly prior to intercept.

9 Jun 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

10 Jun 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

16 Jun 60

Cartridge Bravo two had a compressor stall. Recovered safely by Yellowjack and Marville GCA at Marville. Exercise Silent Spectre carried out.

17 Jun 60

Jailer November diverted against track 45L – identification one TU-104.

19 Jun 60

Horseman Papa hand-off to Logroll to intercept track 83L. Identification one IL-14 – call letters OK-MCK.

22 Jun 60

Jailer Mike One and Four had mid-air collision. Jailer Mike One damaged tail pipe, ailerons, and elevators. Jailer Mike Four damaged left aileron, elevator and wing tip. Both aircraft recovered safely at 4 Wing.

23 Jun 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

24 Jun 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. Received intermittent ECM condition 1 090 degrees from 1333Z – 1421Z – source unknown.

25 Jun 60

Strongbox Sierra One had a compressor stall – recovered safely.

30 Jun 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. Yardarm Uniform hand-off to Racecard to intercept unknown track 01 CM. Target identified as four German F-84s.

2 Jul 60

Exercise Superchief called at 1710Z. No action other than acknowledgement required.

7 Jul 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. Emergency squawk in HE3015 identified as Strongbox Echo Two with radio failure. Echo Two intercepted by Echo One and escorted to Zweibrucken and recovered safely via GCI/GCA.

11 July 60

Rhubarb Victor Three returned to base with fire warning light on. Recovered safely.

12 Jul 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. Strongbox Romeo Two had a flame-out and successful re-light.

17 Jul 60

Yardarm Tango Two had fire warning light indication. Recovered safely.

18 Jul 60

Yardarm Tango Three had flame-out – successful re-light.

19 Jul 60

Yardarm Tango handed over to Racecard to intercept unknown track. Target identified as one BOAC Britannia. Horseman Quebec Two had a flame-out – successful re-light on emergency fuel only. Recovered safely via GCI/GCA. Yardarm Golf diverted after unknown track. Target identified as an F-100.

20 Jul 60

Type 80 on special maintenance 1700Z to 1925Z.

21 Jul 60

Exercise Silent Spectre carried out. Chopstick Alpha reported voice jamming on CH 19 as Russian or Slavic. Jamming recorded.

22 Jul 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

24 Jul 60

Aircraft squawking 4 intercepted by Student November and identified as a USAF T-33. Cause was faulty parrot.

27 Jul 60

Wife Six squawking four – nature of emergency fire indication. Yellowjack effected hand-over from Logroll to 4 Wing tower. Wife Six recovered safely at 4 Wing.

28 Jul 60

Intermittent power failure most of afternoon and evening. Exercise Roulette carried out.

29 Jun 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

2 Aug 60

A/C Jones visited the Squadron.

4 Aug 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

5 Aug 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

11 Aug 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. Yardarm Golf Two in distress – engine trouble. Returned to base immediately by Yellowjack and recovered by GCA.

12 Aug 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

13 Aug 60

A/V/M Kerr from 4 ATAF visited the Squadron.

16 Aug 60

Lt. Colonel Risso from Drachenbronn visited the Squadron.

17 Aug 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

18 Aug 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

23 Aug 60

Dickie receiver now available on scope five head two. To be used for ECCM.

24 Aug 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

25 Aug 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

26 Aug 60

Comet with the CAS on board intercepted by Horseshoe Papa and Cartridge Charlie and escorted to Marville.

29 Aug 60

The CAS A/M Hugh Campbell visited the Squadron.

30 Aug 60

Logroll advised that Russians are giving false steers in English. Exercise Co-Op carried out.

1 Sep 60

Strongbox Sierra diverted against an unknown track and handed over to Moonglow. Track identified friendly prior to interception.

6 Sep 60

Checkerboard Golf One and Two had unserviceable radios. Recovered safely at Marville.

7 Sep 60

Exercise Roulette cancelled. Dr. Hunt from NRC visited the unit.

8 Sep 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. Yardarm Tango scrambled live against unknown track 97L at 1054Z. Target entered Switzerland and Yardarm Tango kept in position should it re-enter France. Yardarm Tango intercepted 97L at 1122Z – identification one French F-86K. Chaff dropped by Ideal 96 and during two Snow Shower Exercises blown into Switzerland by high winds.

9 Sep 60

Stopgap Bravo Two declared emergency low fuel and lost. Recovered safely under Yellowjack control ZW GCA.

13 Sep 60

SOS picked up in FF4020. Glons advised it is a C-47 on one engine and will land at Bitburg and is no longer considered an emergency. Stopgap Alpha diverted against track 56LF and hand-off to Moonglow. Target identified friendly prior to intercept.

14 Sep 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. SOS in KD0550 is AF079. Aircraft is lost and under Logroll control.

15 Sep 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. Horseshoe Romeo Three declared an emergency – low fuel – wing tanks not feeding. Recovered safely by Yellowjack and Marville GCA.

18 Sep 60

Complete power failure at 1515Z. Yellowjack fully serviceable at 1612Z.

20 Sep 60

Exercise Flashback – full scale NATO exercise – commenced. Yellowjack fully operational at commencement. At the beginning of the exercise this unit was responsible to Sector Operations Center Drachenbronn only. During the latter part of the exercise the unit was responsible to both SOC’s (Langerkopf and Drachenbronn) for maximum effectiveness.

25 Sep 60

Large balloon, named Berlin, three persons in gondola, passed over 61 Squadron at approximately 1000 feet.

27 Sep 60

Heavy night flying program – 86 RCAF aircraft scheduled tonight.

1 Oct 60

Annual maintenance period (1 Oct to 14 Oct) commenced at 0800Z. All STOP missions cancelled until further notice by CANAIRDIV.

11 Oct 60

Chopstick Delta Three crashed eight KM north of Strasbourg. Both crew members fatalities. No station had radar or radio contact and no maydays were received at time of crash. Yellowjack on annual maintenance.

15 Oct 60

Yellowjack operational at 0001Z – maintenance completed.

17 Oct 60

Rhubarb Whiskey One lost hydraulics – recovered safely at Zweibrucken.

19 Oct 60

Horseman Papa diverted after track 81L which is dropping chaff. Target identified as one USAF T-33.

21 Oct 60

Madcap Delta One had a flame-out and successful re-light. Madcap Delta One lost a tip tank in GD3540.

22 Oct 60

Yardarm Uniform live scramble at 1126Z against aircraft squawking mayday – track 41C. This track descended through very thick cloud, passed over 4 Wing within sight of the tower, headed towards Strasbourg and shut off parrot. 41C later identified as a French T-33 with radio trouble.

26 Oct 60

Rhubarb Uniform Three diverted after SOS in JE2030. Aircraft identified as Handcuff Golf Three with unserviceable radio. Handcuff Golf Three recovered safely at GT via GCI/GCA with Rhubarb Uniform Three leading him down.

28 Oct 60

Weather briefing from duty wing forecaster now being tape recorded for morning briefing. F/O P Zinkan received notice of a commendation from Chief of Staff. The following is an extract from AFRO dated 10 Oct 60. "On 2 March, 1960, at 4 Fighter Wing, Germany, F/O Zinkan displayed outstanding professional skill which contributed to the safe landing of a disabled aircraft. F/O Zinkan flew in a chase position to the disabled aircraft and throughout the descent rendered sound advice and assistance and thereby assisted in preventing what could have been a major and possibly fatal accident".

29 Oct 60

Type 80 on emergency maintenance 0545Z to 1020Z. Lost landlines and radar intermittently due to power failures during this period.

2 Nov 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

3 Nov 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. At 1806Z an unidentified person was seen attempting to break into the main power plant. Three AFPs and one dog were sent to the scene immediately but were able to find nothing but the top fence strand cut and footprints in the area.

7 Nov 60

Odour of smoke in air conditioning – cause electrical wiring. No serious damage.

9 Nov 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

10 Nov 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

14 Nov 60

First UHF test carried out between 445 Squadron and this unit. 445 is the first flight squadron in 1 Air Div to be UHF equipped.

17 Nov 60

Exercise Roulette carried out. Advised by COC at 1910Z that Exercise Quick Train in effect. Unit at full control capability at 1938Z.

21 Nov 60

Horseshoe 81 declared emergency – port engine unserviceable. Recovered safely via Yellowjack and Marville GCA.

22 Nov 60

Handcuff Hotel Two declared emergency – controls not functioning properly. Recovered safely via GCI/GCA at GT.

23 Nov 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

26 Nov 60

MPS-11 off the air for approximately 10 days.

28 Nov 60

Exercise Silent Spectre carried out.

30 Nov 60

Exercise Roulette carried out.

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

 

Historical Summary of Technical
Events Occurring During
The Period June 60 to Jan 61

Introduction

For the sake of clarity this summary is divided into three main headings: Technical Services, Communications Services and Radar Services.

Technical Services

In mar 60 the Enterprise Travlor Company commenced work on a 50 man underground shelter with an estimated date of completion of August 1960. The project was completed in Oct 60, and accepted by the RCAF.

Water Reservoir – In Apr 60 the Enterprise Norwell Company commenced work on a 100 cubic metre reservoir the purpose of which was to serve as a reservoir of water that was immediately available in sufficient quantity and pressure to fight a fire on Squadron premises. An initial inspection by DCL revealed leakages in the base of the structure. DCL tentatively accepted the project, however, to this date the Company are still not finished covering the tank with earth. There is little good that can be said about the manner in which this contractor worked.

Renovations to the Operations Building:

During this period many changes and improvements were incorporated in buildings R2 and R3, namely: (I) the canteen was moved into R2. (ii) the GTO and Ops Orderly Room were partitioned. (iii) a classroom and projection room were made in the area occupied by COC. (iv) R2 and the operations room were painted. (v) the extension to building R4 to house the telephone section was started. During this period an extensive rewiring program brought the 110 volt distribution system up to RCAF standards.

Receiver and Transmitter Buildings – In July 1960 Enterprise Travlor Company started construction of concrete block buildings at the new transmitter site within the confines of 61 Squadron and another one at the receiver site. The buildings were the outgrowth of the decision to cancel 61 Squadron’s role as a mobile unit. The buildings were completed, less power, by August 60 in time for commencement of the UHF conversion program.

Communications Services

Landline Section – During this period the telephone section was particularly busy preparing for the UHF conversion program. In particular the following work was carried out: (a) Two additional key boxes were installed at each scope position. (b) All cabling was extended so that the GTA-6 telephone plant could be moved to its new location when the extension to north end of building R4 was completed. (c) Cables from the new TX and RX buildings were terminated in operations. (d) PTT installed landline cables to the new RX and TX sites and a 7 pair cable to the guardhouse. Also 7 common pairs were provided to the MPS-11, MPS-14’s and Type 80 for communications between these units. One problem encountered by PTT was in splicing a plastic cable to a lead cable. As of this date this problem has not been fully resolved and moisture has repeatedly caused failures in the cable to the guardhouse.

Communication Section – In August the advance 6RD installation party and AMCHQ project officer arrived at 61 Squadron and commenced the preparatory work (Modification to equipments etc.) prior to the installation of UHF equipments in the new TX and RX buildings. 20 channels of UHF communication were available by 15 Nov 60 and the sites were officially handed over to 1 Air Division on the 2nd Dec 60.

Radar Services

During this period the Radar Section was particularly busy with the installation of: (i) the Dickie ECH Receiver for the Type 80. (ii) The Selective Identification Feature for the search radar. (iii) a new type 64 console as a weapons assignment facility.

In October the section closed down for 14 days for the annual overhaul by Marconi and Decca.

The demobilization of the MPS-11 and three MPS-14’s was completed during this period. In keeping with this, the old canteen building was relocated to house the MPS-11.

Test Equipment Calibration – On 22 November, Van Cal arrived at the unit to recalibrate and service the odd 300 test sets in the Air Div area. The calibration van was spotted behind the Type 80 building and office and support accommodation was provided in the Type 80 building. They expect to be here till mid December 60.