Historical Record
1 Jun 61 to 30 Nov 1961
1 Jun 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
6 Jun 61
Exercise Co-Op carried out.
9 Jun 61
1230Z Logroll advised a Squawk Flash observed in the ADIZ. Yellowjack diverted Checkerboard Whiskey and Quebec and upon interception identified the aircraft as a RCAF T-33 number 611. 1328Z Rhubarb Papa 3 returned to Zweibrucken due to pressurization trouble. Recovered safely. 1421Z Emergency observed on PPI. USAF AF4020 experiencing control and radio trouble. Strongbox Romeo and Sierra diverted and handed over to Logroll for intercept of SOS. Strongbox Sierra and Romeo broken off intercept as SOS under Frankfurt Control. 1638Z SOS reported by MCAC. RCAF T-33 AF639 from Zweibrucken homed on Zweibrucken beacon and recovered visual by Zweibrucken tower.
12 Jun 61
Exercise Silent Spectre conducted.
13 Jun 61
Student Kilo declared PAN. Very low on fuel and diverted safely to Soellingen.
14 Jun 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
15 Jun 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
20 Jun 61
Logroll advise that their radio monitor unserviceable and request that Yellowjack monitor and advise Logroll of any aircraft calling them. MCAC experienced power failure and requesting Yellowjack provide assistance for any aircraft heard calling MCAC.
21 Jun 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
22 Jun 61
1413Z Exercise Roulette carried out. 2317Z AF607 an RCAF T-33, declared emergency due to unserviceable compass. Yellowjack directed AF607 to Grostenquin and handed over to GCA for a safe recovery.
26 Jun 61
Type 80 radar antenna reduced to 4 RPM due to high winds.
27 Jun 61
Exercise Silent Spectre carried out.
4 Jul 61
35614 S/L RW Hill assumes temporary command of 61 AC&W Squadron vice 19611 W/C CS Yarnell.
6 Jul 61
Exercise Roulette carried out. 1429Z Horseshoe Echo 1, a 445 Squadron CF-100, crashed in vicinity of Grostenquin and there were no survivors.
11 Jul 61
Strongbox Sierra 2, an F-86 under Yellowjack control, flamed out. A re-light was obtained two minutes later and Strongbox Sierra continued on his mission.
13 Jul 61
Rhubarb Tango 1, 440 Squadron CF-100 on mutual exercise, lost port engine. Recovered safely at Grostenquin.
20 Jul 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
24 Jul 61
Exercise Silent Spectre carried out.
27 Jul 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
28 Jul 61
SOS observed south of Toul. Canadian T-33 21386 under the Yellowjack Fighter Marshal endeavoured to intercept but was unable as the SOS descended into cloud. Learned later that SOS was a USAF T-33 under Toul control and recovered safely at that base.
1 Aug 61
985 W/C HC Vinnicombe assumes command of 61 AC&W Squadron vice 35614 S/L RW Hill.
2 Aug 61
Strongbox Uniform 1, an F-86 under Yellowjack, blew his canopy at 42,000 feet. He descended safely and was handed over by Yellowjack to Zweibrucken GCA.
3 Aug 61
Exercise Roulette carried out. 2151Z Horseshoe Echo 3 declared an emergency because of low fuel. Yellowjack directed to Marville and handed over to MCAC for a "straight-in" GCI/GCA. Horseshoe Echo 3 recovered safely.
8 Aug 61
Horseshoe Hotel 3 declared emergency as port fuel tank not feeding. Aircraft directed to Marville by Yellowjack, handed over to GCA and recovered safely.
10 Aug 61
Exercise Roulette carried out. 1120Z Hornet Foxtrot 2 declared emergency due to lost hydraulics. Yellowjack gave GCI/GCA and handed-over to Zweibrucken GCA.
17 Aug 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
24 Aug 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
31 Aug 61
Exercise Roulette carried out. 2027Z Rhubarb Papa 2 declared emergency due to hydraulic pressure failure. Yellowjack provided GCI/GCA and handed aircraft over to Zweibrucken GCA. The aircraft landed safely.
5 Sep 61
Yellowjack monitor heard a weak Mayday on 121.5 mcs. No call sign heard and no further information received.
7 Sep 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
12 Sep 61
Exercise Checkmate commenced.
14 Sep 61
Exercise Checkmate ceased.
20 Sep 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
25 Sep 61
0840Z Jailer Quebec 2 experienced oxygen failure while under Joplin control. Handed back to Yellowjack for an emergency GCI/GCA into Soellingen and recovered safely. 1337Z AF613, an RCAF T-33, lost fuel pressure. Aircraft was given an emergency GCI/GCA by Yellowjack and recovered safely at Zweibrucken.
28 Sep 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
2 Oct 61
Jacket Juliet 1, an F-86, declared emergency due to control difficulties. Yellowjack provided GCI/GCA and aircraft landed safely at Soellingen.
3 Oct 61
AF 508, RCAF T-33, lost radio transmitters and Yellowjack provided an emergency GCI/GCA into Soellingen for a safe recovery.
5 Oct 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
6 Oct 61
Vinking Red 2, low on fuel, given a "straight-in" GCI/GCA to Grostenquin and recovered safely.
12 Oct 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
15 Oct 61
Aircraft on scope measured at 85,000 feet and in gradual descent. Last height at 58,000 prior to fade.
18 Oct 61
Jacket Juliet 1 and 2 declared emergency. Jacket Juliet 1 has unserviceable compass and Jacket Juliet 2 control troubles. Yellowjack provided GCI/GCA into Soellingen and both aircraft recovered safely.
19 Oct 61
Smoke observed in the Operations Room. Fire Alarm sounded and investigation revealed smoke entering through heating ducts as a result of over-heating of the elements in the heating system. No damage sustained.
21 Oct 61
Annual maintenance till 31 Oct.
2 Nov 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
3 Nov 61
Logroll intercepted a RCAF T-33 who was squawking emergency. Yellowjack observed the emergency. Two USAF F-102 escorted the T-33 to Ramstein AFB.
6 Nov 61
Grostenquin tower advised that Hammerhead 213, a T-33 holding at 20,000 over Grostenquin beacon had lost his instrument lights and required assistance to let down. Yellowjack vectored Handcuff Kilo, CF-100 on the T-33 and a safe recovery was effected.
8 Nov 61
Stopgap Hotel 1 and 2, two F-86 under Yellowjack declared emergency due to low fuel. Yellowjack directed aircraft to Chaumont where they recovered safely.
9 Nov 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
12 Nov 61
The Type 80 radar antenna reduced to 2 RPM due to high winds.
16 Nov 61
Exercise Roulette carried out.
27 Nov 61
Sadly Golf 2, a USAF F-104 under Yellowjack control, declared an emergency due to loss of engine oil pressure. Yellowjack returned Sadly Golf 2 to Logroll control and the aircraft recovered safely at Ramstein AFB. Exercise Silent Spectre carried out.
29 Nov 61
Handcuff Lima 2, a CG-100 under Yellowjack control, declared emergency due to control difficulties. Grostenquin GCA took over control and a safe recovery was effected.
30 Nov 61
Exercise Quick Train carried out commencing 0540Z. Exercise Roulette carried out. 1128Z An emergency squawk was observed by Yellowjack and Horseman November was scrambled from Grostenquin to intercept. The intercept was successful and since the nature of the emergency was complete loss of radios, Horseman November escorted the aircraft to a safe landing at Zweibrucken.
Signed By:
(HC Vinnicombe) W/C
CO, 61 AC&W Squadron, RCAF
Historical Summary of Technical
Events Occurring During
The Period 1 Jun 61 to 30 Nov 61
Technical Services
There was no major construction undertaken during this period and all items submitted for the CE estimates for 1962 were deleted by CHQ.
A considerable amount of re-distribution of work area took place during this period, namely, the Message Centre was moved from building R-2 to building R-3; the Monitor Room was moved out of the Operations Room to the space vacated by the Message Centre; the Recorders were moved in with the monitor equipment and the space vacated was allocated to the Standards Officer; the Drafting Office was moved from building R-2 to building R-3 to make room for a new briefing screen.
A local fire alarm system was introduced during this period.
Communications Services
The telephone switchboard was removed in Sep and the Support Unit took over all telephone services.
Radar Services
The annual overhaul of the type 80 and fixed coil display system took place in the latter part of Oct and during the turntable inspection a broken pinion gear was discovered on the final drive shaft. When the new pinion was installed considerable vibration developed in the turntable which has necessitated the unit to reduce the speed of rotation from 6 RPM to 4 RPM.
During this period Mobile Repair Parties were required to assist in repairing: (a) The type 80 motor generator bearing (Brush Electric of England). (b) The frequency converters (John Cohens of Wales). (c) The type 80 turntable (John Currans of Wales).
The following installation work was undertaken and completed during this period: (a) SIF – by local technicians. (b) IFF antenna – by local technicians. This installation did not prove successful and was subsequently removed. (c) The ECCM consoles for the FPS-507 Height Finders – supervised by Mr. E Chisholm of AMCHQ using local technicians.
An ECM training device, triggered by IFF returns was constructed locally at the request of G/C Huxley of AIRCENT and demonstrated on two occasions to other NATO members. The Unit was highly commended for this service.
Organization and Administration
Training – Ten technicians left in November for five months technical training at RAF Locking.
Contract – Bendix Radio Company replaced General Electric as the company supplying third line services for the American radar equipment.