RCAF Support Unit Metz, France
Narrative Report
3 Dec 56
Mr. AA Smith, DND Director of Education, visited the General Navereau School.
4 Dec 56
G/C FR Sharp, W/C HG Mariott, F/L DH MacKay arrived 1 Air Division HQ for the purpose of discussing Sabre Maintenance Manhour Trail with SASO, STSO, SOPO.
21 Dec 56
The annual Christmas Party for dependent children was held in the Station Theatre and Recreation Hall. Refreshments were served after the movie and Santa Claus (F/L Winchester) was in attendance with a gift for each child. 67 girls from the Bon Pasteur Orphanage were guests of the Canadian children at the party.
22 Dec 56
The Protestant Chapel Guild was responsible for providing a Christmas dinner and gifts for the children of the St. Jean Orphanage at Borny.
23 Dec 56
Personnel and dependents very kindly donated money at a "Bingo" and privately, which enabled individual gifts and a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and an individual present to be given to the children of "La Providence" Orphans home in Metz.
25 Dec 56
The Officers of the "1700" Club through (donations) obtained a goodly sum of francs, lira, drachma, etc., and in keeping with past policy arranged to give a big Christmas party for the Old Men’s Hospice near 1 Air Div HQ. A party of seven officers including the AOC dropped in for a visit. The old men sang a song of welcome and presented the AOC with an illuminated scroll. One of the sisters presented the AOC, attended by F/L Gil Guerin, with a bouquet of mistletoe.
1 Jan 57
A total of eight officers from Support Unit, 1 Air Division HQ, and 61 AC&W Squadron received promotions to the next highest rank.
6 Jan 57
F/O IW Bowes, on temporary duty from 3 (F) Wing and acting as Chief Supply Officer, was killed in an automobile accident on the Sarrbrucken road. He was buried at Choloy RCAF Cemetery - Section 6 Row C Grave 13.
11 Jan 57
SOGD, SU Ground Defence Section, and 61 AC&W Squadron, were visited by S/L AH Blake and Major JC Bently.
14 Jan 57
1 Air Division HQ was visited by General Jean Etienne Vallery, the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, Central Europe.
16 Jan 57
G/C EL Gerow, Directorate of Accounting, AFHQ, arrived 1 Air Division HQ for financial discussions.
17 Jan 57
Airwomen’s Lounge Bar went into operation. This project took over three years to finalize.
25 Jan 57
W/C JM Enstone was transferred to 1 Air Division HQ as SOPA from TCHQ.
26 Jan 57
A gymnastic show was held in the Recreation Hall and featured a tumbling and gymnastic show, Judo performance, fencing show, and hand balance performance.
30 Jan 57
M Louis de Beauchamp, Chief of Public Relations Department, French Liaison Mission, Paris, visited 1 Air Division HQ. Mr. Beauchamp was honoured at a luncheon in the Officers Mess.
31 Jan 57
Three Hungarian Refugee Camps in Austria received more than 15 tons of food, blankets, clothing and toys and gifts from Canada’s NATO Air Division. Particulars are attached as Appendix "C".
4 Feb 57
Eight members of the Royal Danish Air Force visited 1 Air Division HQ and made a tour of 61 AC&W Squadron.
12 Feb 57
The European Premier of the British Royal Performance film "Battle of the River Plate" was held in the Astra Theatre. The guests were afterwards entertained in the Officers Mess.
19 Feb 57
A Father and Son Banquet for all Cubs and Scouts was held in the Airmen’s Mess.
20 Feb 57
An investiture Parade was held at which time S/L Campbell, S/L Souchen, F/L Miller, F/O Cooke, Sgt. Jantsen and Sgt. Walters received the Canadian Decoration from the Chief of Staff, A/C Clements.
3 Mar 57
An exercise was carried out early in March which put into action the internal link equipment in the MSC-501 Convoy. Voice, teletype, and crypto messages were transmitted over the equipment with exceptional success.
4 Mar 57
F/L CA Lafrance replaced F/L W Guerin as EA/COC. F/L Lafrance was awarded the American DFC by General Lee at 1 (F) Wing in early February.
8 Mar 57
The entire Support Unit held a reception and dance in the Recreation Hall to welcome W/C and Mrs. BD Kehoe to Metz. The official welcome was given by F/O Paige, A/PAdO, who presented Mrs. Kehoe with a bouquet of roses.
18 – 20 Mar 57
A Technical Armament Officers Conference was held at 1 Air Division HQ, with Officers attending from AFHQ, AMCHQ, TCHQ and ADCHQ.
29 Mar 57
Three officers visited from AFHQ, A/C RB Whiting, W/C WW Abra, S/L DG Forrest, to discuss construction and engineering problems.
1 Apr 57
W/C JD Shannon, AFHQ-CCE, arrived for discussions with SOCE concerning runways and roads.
7 Apr 57
The American Red Cross Centre opened in Metz.
9 Apr 57
The Air Officer Commanding 1 Air Division, A/V/M HB Godwin, was presented to her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, at the British Commonwealth reception in Versailles. 1 Air Division provided a 100-man attending party for the reception.
15 Apr 57
A/C MD Lister, CD, V/CAS (Plans), AFHQ, toured and visited 61 AC&W Squadron.
6 May 57
Representatives of the Canadian NATO Delegation visited 1 Air Division HQ, making a tour of the Station and 61 AC&W Squadron.
7 May 57
1 Air Division HQ was visited by Air Marshal CR Slemon, CB, CBE, CD, Chief of the Air Staff, accompanied by Mrs. CR Slemon and G/C WL Gillespie, CD. Air Marshal Slemon inspected the Guard of Honour in front of the Chateau. Inspection of several units of the station followed a luncheon at the Officers Mess. A reception and dinner were held in the evening in the Officers Mess.
8 May 57
Personnel from 1 Air Division HQ and Support Unit participated in the Liberation Day Parade in Metz.
10 May 57
W/C JHC Lewis and W/C HM Smith were transferred from 1 Air Division HQ (SPSO) to AFHQ.
20 May 57
W/C MSC Clark, AFHQ/DPA/PAS, arrived 1 Air Division HQ for inspection of 1 Air Division Messing.
22 May 57
The annual staff visit was carried out by G/C LA Costello, DRA (RC).
23 May 57
W/C NL Magnusson, S/L JI Mullen, S/L EM Butcher, S/L C Torontow arrived 1 Air Division HQ for AFHQ staff visit.
27 May 57
Colonel AU Bannard, CTO/DND, made the DND Staff visit to 1 Air Division HQ.
28 May 57
1 Air Division HQ was visited by A/V/M WE Kennedy, Comptroller AFHQ, and G/C EC Emond for the purpose of discussing establishments and commitments of the RCAF.