Historical Record
1 Jun 59 to 30 Nov 59
Incumbents of Key Positions 1 Air Div HQ
1 Jun 59 to 30 Nov 59
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SOGE |
W/C AC Bowes |
Secret
Appendix "G" to
Historical Narrative
1 Air Division HQ
Reorganization of SOTel
In Jun 59, the "Staff Officer Communications" section, became responsible to the operational as well as the technical staff work related to 1 Air Division’s AC&W function, and was renamed "Staff Officer Ground Environment". Two F/L Fighter Controller officers, transferred to SOGE, joined the F/O Tech/Tel officer previously in the SOTel, to form the "Radar" sub-section covering the combined operational/technical field of responsibility. Simultaneously, the remainder of the SOTel organization was revamped to include specialized sub-sections for "Communications" and "Aircraft and Airfield Telecom Installations".
Deployment Convoys
During the summer, deployment exercises to Rocroi, St. Hubert and Bertrix, the Wing MSC502 convoys provided the Telecom environment at the deployment bases. Meanwhile, the contract for design and fabrication of the new MSC503 convoys had been let to the Pye Company Limited, of Cambridge, England. By 30 Nov, the design of most of the MSC503 units had been frozen, and fabrication had begun. Target date for delivery of the four MSC503 convoys is Jul 60.
Historical Record
RCAF Support Unit Metz
20 Aug 59
Support Unit Telecommunications participated in Exercise Synthex IV, a 4 ATAF communications exercise to test message procedures, speed of handling and back log reporting.
14 – 25 Sep 59
Personnel participated in Exercise Side Step, a NATO-wide logistics exercise which also tested the formal alert system by:
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(a) |
Testing formal alert procedures and the functioning of personnel responsible for implementing alerts. |
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(b) |
Testing the effectiveness of communication facilities and personnel. |
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(c) |
Verifying the ability to implement the formal alert measures. |
Support Unit personnel assumed their war task assignments for the duration of the exercise in logistics, intelligence and telecommunications. The exercise provided Support Unit Telecommunications with the largest volume of messages in any exercise to date. (Ref Air Division Operations Order 22/59 – Exercise Side Step).
13 Oct 59
G/C GM Fawcett, W/C GL Burness and Mr. JR Eaton of AMCHQ inspected Support Unit telecommunications facilities.
18 Nov 59
W/C JR France, AFHQ/DATel, visited the unit to inspect and discuss telecommunications workshop facilities.