Pinetree Line Miscellaneous

One of the main objectives in manning the Pinetree Line was to allow for detection and early warning of incoming enemy aircraft. But just who was the enemy?

I suppose the Cold War dictated that the enemy would more than likely consist of Soviet Bloc or Russian aircraft. Certainly this was the case in the 1950s and 1960s.

So there you were. Working at a Pinetree Line site – waiting, and waiting, and waiting. I would venture to guess that every one of the 44 radar stations which made up the Pinetree Line managed to plot, track and identify a large number of tracks as "Unknown". But how many of these aircraft were actually Russian or Soviet Bloc?

In my opinion – we will never have the ability to answer that question. Many of us have heard stories from co-workers about picking up a Soviet aircraft – but very few of us can actually claim that we were there at the time.

It is safe to assume that most, if not all of the Soviet Bloc intrusions were either on the east or the west coasts. I mean no disrespect, but I have difficulty envisioning one of the Prairie stations (or even those in Ontario) ever having tracked a Soviet Bloc aircraft unless it was on a pre-approved flight plan. That would leave us to imagine that the majority of Soviet Bloc intrusions were either Atlantic or Pacific encounters.

In the area of written documentation – well this is a little more difficult to deal with as we have not been able to obtain too much to substantiate the actual situation.

The Historical Reports for the 12th AC&W Squadron located at Mont Apica, Quebec revealed the following:

13 Jun 58

A Russian TU-104 aircraft was tracked from Goose Bay to Ottawa.

12 Sep 60

Largo advised that five Russian trawlers are fishing in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence.

The Historical Report for the 641st AC&W Squadron (Melville AFS) located at Goose Bay, Labrador revealed the following:

1 June 1968 to 30 September 1968

Number of Soviet Block tracks identified - 126

The Historical Report for the 21st AC&W Squadron located at St. Margarets, New Brunswick revealed the following:

Dr. G Lindsay, ADC Ops research visited this unit for purposed of evaluating TU-104 overflight.

Russian TU-104 flew through our area on these flights to and from New York. Complete records of the radar tracking information was sent to ADCHQ. The flight was also witnessed and evaluated by ADC Ops Research personnel.

This sub-sector was penetrated by Russian TU-104 on a flight from Gander Nfld. to New York. Complete records of radar tracking information were kept and forwarded to ADCHQ. As of this date it was forbidden to intercept any SAC aircraft.

A Russian TU-114 carried by TE radar from 1308 – 1349Z as it passed en route to New York from Goose Bay.

A Russian TU-114 and a TU-104 passed through our area, carried on TE radar for a 24 minute period.

A Russian TU-104 carried by TE radar as it passed through a portion of the sub-sector.

A Russian TU-104 followed by a Russian TU 114 were carried on TE radar en route to Washington.

Another Russian TU-104 carried on TE radar en route to the United States.

A Russian TU-104 carried by TE radar en route to Washington.

Russian TU-114 carried by TE radar en route back to Moscow.

We were more fortunate with extracts from the 22 AC&W Squadron, Beaverbank, NS, narrative reports – again as proof that there was a reason for our being there in the first place. It is safe to assume that all of the Soviet aircraft activity mentioned by Beaverbank were flying in accordance with flight plans. The trawler activity in the coastal waters is another matter.

Finally - it should be mentioned that the insertion of aircraft photos throughout the deatils of the Beaverbank narrative report have been added simply to provide you with an idea as to what this radar station was dealing with and referring to.

Mohawk advises Russian aircraft due off Goose Bay at 2250Z – B-47’s escort off Portsmouth 2245Z direct to Goose Bay.

TU-104 will be late. Time not known. Garfield escort will wait for TU-104. Garfield 55 SOS. Aircraft crew bailed out. Search and Rescue dispatched to area from Capable. Garfield 45 still in general area.

TU-104 passed through our area in the afternoon.

TU-104 passed through our area on return trip.

20 surface vessels sighted at 4334 degrees North 5000 degrees West identified as Russian trawlers. These ships have been under observation for some time.

The following detail has been extracted from the Narrative Reports at Lac St. Denis, Quebec.

28 Jun 59

TU-114 – Goose Bay direct Idlewilde overflew this area.

Russian TU-104 jet passenger aircraft given surveillance on overfly this area. Handed over to 26^th Air Division.

One TU-104 overflew area on return to Russia.

One TU-104 overflew this area on return to Russia.

TU-104, courier aircraft, overflew area on way to States.

Two Russian aircraft overflew area on return flight to Russia.

TU-114 overflew area eastbound.

Aeroflot 75696 landed Mikoyan at Halifax on his trip to Mexico City.

Aeroflot 75696 handed over to Bankmud control.

Aeroflot 75696 carrying Mikoyan on his return to Russia passed this area.

Because of the presence of Soviet vessels in coastal waters, this unit went on "minimize". This condition of security lasted until 1927Z 7 Jul.

Aeroflot 42463 overflew this area on flight Boston to Gander.

Special 16 overflew this area enroute to Havana. Close liaison maintained between this unit and Bangor while this aircraft was in our area.

Request received from Barrington for this unit to provide close surveillance on Cubana 476 which landed at Halifax International at 2012Z. Cubana 476 was subsequently airborne at 2256Z, with destination Czechoslovakia. Carried as track number X651.

Cuban Crisis – 22 AC&W Squadron placed on Defcon 3 at 1732Z. One week supply of food was placed in the Operations kitchen. Two dormitories were set up, one for airwomen and the other for officers and men. Capacity 30. A Deputy Battle Commander was on 15 minutes standby. All flights placed on 15 minute standby and increased manning implemented. Security checks in Operations building carried out hourly, around the clock. Fire arms issued to all officers and WOs. 22 AC&W placed on Defcon 5 at 0020Z.

We do not have any documentation that details the ongoing "cat and mouse" air activity that existed during the 1950s and 1960s between Soviet bloc bombers and our NORAD jet fighters. We can however, offer the following photographs of Russian bomber intercepts – just to prove that this sort of thing actually did happen. I guess there was a reason for our being at Pinetree Line locations after all.