Historical Record
RCAF Support Unit, Metz, France
|
CO |
W/C TWH Hewer |
Air/RN |
|
CAdO |
S/L JML Bourgeois |
Air/RN |
|
CTSO |
S/L W Smalluk |
Tech/Tel |
|
SAO |
S/L JW Coutts |
Acc |
|
SMO |
S/L BW Grace |
Med/MO |
Narrative Report
Support Unit – Metz France
1 Jan 64
New Year’s Eve functions and the proposed New Year’s Day Levee were cancelled because of the Bristol aircraft crash at Marville which took eight lives.
4 Jan 64
Funeral services were held at Grostenquin France for the victims of the Bristol crash.
14 Jan 64
232251W LAW PJ Maltais died as a result of a car accident between the City of Metz and the Chateau de Mercy. She was buried in the Choloy Canadian Military Cemetery – Section 8 Row G Grave 3.
1 Apr 64
The 40th Anniversary of the RCAF was happily celebrated at the Officers Mess.
13 Jun 64
AVM DAR Bradshaw presented one "Gold Cord" and eight "Queen Scouts" awards to the Scouts and Guides of the Maple Leaf Region.
15 Jun 64
AVM DAR Bradshaw deposited the Queen’s Colours and the Colours of the RCAF in the Chateau de Mercy for safekeeping.
16 Jun 64
The CAS Air Marshal GR Dunlap was welcomed to 1 Air Division by AVM DAR Bradshaw. Air Marshall GR Dunlap inspected the Guard of Honour during his visit to the Air Division.
1 Jul 64
Rear Party of 2 Wing RCAF Station, St. Avold PMQs and Schools became the administrative responsibility of SU Metz.
31 Jul 64
W/C EG St. Jean, CO SU Metz, handed over the unit to S/L THW Hewer previously SOPA-2 in 1 Air Division Headquarters.
11 Aug 64
Lt. General JV Allard, Chief of Operations Readiness in the newly Integrated Canadian Forces Headquarters, made a brief visit to 1 Air Division while touring and briefing the Canadian NATO Forces in Europe. Lt. General JV Allard inspected the Guard of Honour.
23 Aug 64
The RCAF Support Unit Band and the RCAF float were part of the Mirabelle Parade. The Queen of the "Mirabelle" and her Maids of Honour were later received at the Chateau de Marcy and at the Officers Mess.
30 Sep 64
A new 16 classroom high school was inaugurated in Plantieres, Metz and named General Navereau High School. The new school has a teaching staff of eighteen professors teaching 177 students. French language enrolment was 100 students with an average attendance of 70%. Twenty-four classes per week were held.
11 Nov 64
The Armistice Day Parade and Services were held on the unit. W/C THW Hewer headed the parade past G/C EP Bridgeland, the reviewing officer.
6 Dec 64
Bishop N Gallagher, Bishop Auxiliary of the Armed Forces confirmed dependent children of personnel from 1 Air Division, Metz and of personnel of American Forces.
23 Dec 64
The Chapels continued the annual custom of distributing Christmas hampers to needy families and organizations in the Metz area. The hampers of food and turkeys were purchased with funds received from individual members of the congregation and from NPF organizations on the unit.
25 Dec 64
The AOC, AVM DAR Bradshaw and the CO/SU W/C THW Hewer, lead the Officers and Senior NCO contingent serving the airmen and airwomen. A good time was had by all.
31 Dec 64
RCAF Station 2 Wing was closed. A small rear party moved to SU Metz. Eighty families were still occupying the St. Avold PMQs which were SU’s responsibility.
1 Jan 64 to 31 Dec 64
Over the 12 months period, the following observations were made by individual sections:
|
(a) |
The old High School Building 38 was internally modified and converted in the "Support Unit Infirmary". This now provides the Metz Complex with a 10-bed hospital with all the modern facilities, including X-ray. |
|
(b) |
The old MIR (#14) was converted into office space. |
|
(c) |
CE completed erection of a "steelox" building to be used as storage facilities by the PX. |
|
(d) |
Medical personnel have attended 6,157 office visits of service and dependent personnel. |
|
(e) |
The MSE personnel drove 766,300 miles and were involved in sixteen accidents. There were one major and two minor injuries. |
|
(f) |
There were 328 PMC accidents in which there were 27 injuries and 82 of the stated number of accidents were estimated as damage exceeding $100.00. |
|
(g) |
One hundred and seven apartments in PMQs were painted from the 6 Jan 64 to 14 Aug 64. |
|
(h) |
The following officers were promoted: W/C THW Hewer, W/C SH McFadden, S/L PE Argue, S/L JML Bourgeois, S/L RE Carruthers, S/L JD McCombe, S/L WG Stewart, S/L JGR Tardif, F/L MAS MacNamara, F/L GC Schadt. |
|
(j) |
Sixty-three personnel were presented with a CD or Clasp to the CD by the Commanding Officer. |
|
(k) |
Attached are: |