Edgar, ON

1958 – Narrative Report – National Archives of Canada


NARRATIVE REPORT
RCAF Station Edgar, Ontario
Period 1 Jun 58 to 30 Nov 58, Inclusive

1 Jun 58

Operational Strength

Officers

22

WO

1

Senior NCOs

3

Corporals

23

Airmen

74

Sgt. (AW)

1

Cpl. (AW)

1

Airwomen

27

Total

152

1 Jun to 30 Nov 58

Auxiliary Support.

Auxiliary weekend training was carried out regularly with the following squadrons:

400 (Aux.) Fighter Squadron
411 (Aux.) Fighter Squadron
2400 (Aux.) AC&W Squadron
2424 (Aux.) AC&W Squadron

1 Jun to 30 Nov 58

Courses - Cross Training - Ground Training

Four officers attended the proficiency course at Cold Lake and two at Yuma, Arizona. The following courses were conducted at this unit:

Course

No. of Personnel

TS (2 courses)

48

Surveillance

76

ECM

100

6 Jun 58

41810W F/O MA Stewart appointed Station Messing Officer vice 241543W F/O A Martens. 212413 F/O LK Neilson appointed Station Armament Officer and Station Ground Defence Officer vice 216388 F/O JV Guntensperger.

14 Jun 58

Air Force Day observed this unit. 246626W F/O KM Smith assumes duties of Station Nursing Sister (no Medical Officer on strength) vice 241543W F/O A Martens.

1 Jun to 30 Nov 58

Cross Talk Exercise. Two "Cross Talk" exercises were held during this period, in order that 3 Sector could practice broadcast control procedures.

1 Jun to 30 Nov 58

"Cue Ball" Exercises. A series of Cue Ball exercises were held at thus Unit during this period and provided valuable practice to our Controllers.

1 Jun to 30 Nov 58

"Big Blast" ECM/ECCM. The "Big Blast" series of exercises were held to provide maximum ADC ECCM training. SAC Bomb Wing were assigned to Air Defence Sectors/Divisions.

1 Jul 58

A Field Maintenance Party was initiated to perform teletype maintenance for RCAF Stations Uplands, Downsview, Falconbridge, North Bay, and Foymount. The FMP is based at RCAF Station Edgar and is responsible to the Comm O. To this date the FMP has proved to be most satisfactory.

Jun to Jul 58

An Azimuth Time Recorder was installed at this unit to be used to obtain the Azimuth bearing of a jamming aircraft. It was tested in this role and found to be satisfactory. It was then used in conjunction with Astrid equipment but was not too satisfactory. The Astrid equipment, installed at Foymount and Falconbridge, was used to give a visual presentation of the jamming strobes and thereby obtain a fix on the jamming aircraft. The additional load of the Astrid equipment prevented good operation of the Azimuth Time Recorder.

12 Jul 58

Exercise Cage Bird. The "Cage Bird" series of exercises were to test the capabilities of the existing Air Defence Systems to detect and track low flying aircraft.

31 Jul 58

9961 S/L WJ Honegger assumed duties of CTSO vice 30209 S/L RT Keill. 41810W F/O MA Stewart appointed Station Purchasing Officer vice 17600 F/L JB Miller.

1 Aug 58

The 102A key Bell telephone system completely installed in the Operations building, this system commences Dec 57. The installed system is for the use of 3 ADCC personnel. The facility was installed to relieve the load on the NE 603 telephone system. The 102A system is rented and maintained through the Bell Telephone Company. The Alternate Combat Operations Centre (ALCOP) located in 3 ADCC was completed insofar as long line circuits were concerned. These lines are on an emergency call-up basis and the call-up procedure is carried out by the Sector Commander or his delegated officer.

4 Aug 58

9961 S/L WJ Honegger assumed temporary command of RCAF Station Edgar vice 249 W/C H Bryant.

6 Aug 58

249 W/C H Bryant reassumes command of RCAF Station Edgar, vice 9961 S/L WJ Honegger. 17600 F/L JB Miller appointed Station Purchasing Officer vice 41810W F/O MA Stewart.

20 Aug to 14 Oct 58

Exercise "WEXVAL". The "WEXVAL" series of exercises were held to evaluate the present manual Air Defence system’s effectiveness against ECM activity. This Unit’s primary role during this exercise was surveillance. ECCM equipment was used and was seldom employed as traffic continuity was maintained throughout the ECM exercises.

6 Sep 58

36912 F/L RJ Cutting appointed Station COpsO during absence of 10128 S/L RM Beer.

20 Sep 58

Exercise "Top Hand". A command, no notice NORAD exercise. A total of 29 fighters, USAF and RCAF were committed to targets.

21 Sep 58

Battle of Britain Parade and Church Services.

22 Sep 58

Dedication ceremony held naming the dependents’ school this unit The Air Vice Marshall RC Ripley School. 10128 S/L RM Beer resumes duties as COpsO vice 36912 F/L RJ Cutting.

29 Sep 58

A/V/M WR MacBrien, OBE, CD, Air Officer Commanding, Air Defence Command, visited RCAF Station Edgar on a tour of inspection.

Sep to Oct 58

Station Edgar was selected for the installation of an Anti-jamming console for the Radar Search and Height Finder. This equipment was developed by Canadian Arsenals Ltd. It brings together into one console all the anti-jamming equipments and controls available in the field today. This was tested on several occasions and proved to be quite satisfactory. A formal evaluation will be carried out in the near future.

8 Oct 58

Exercise "Desk Top". A NORAD wide STP exercise which was divided into two phases. The first phase was of very little value to Cupid, only four tracks were reported. The second phase involved 110 tracks, 18 of which were Hostile. The exercise was considered excellent and provided practice for saturation of tracks. 9961 S/L WJ Honegger assumed command of RCAF Station Edgar during the temporary absence of 249 W/C H Bryant.

14 Oct 58

10128 S/L RM Beer assumes command of RCAF Station Edgar vice 9961 S/L WJ Honegger, during temporary absence of 249 W/C H Bryant.

15 Oct 58

224656W F/O EM Boyce appointed PAdO vice 41810W F/O MA Stewart.

20 Oct 58

249 W/C H Bryant resumes command RCAF Station Edgar vice 10128 S/L RM Beer. 210944 F/O TC Nilsen assumes duties of CAdO and Station Purchasing Officer during the temporary absence of 17600 F/L JB Miller.

22 Oct 58

"Big Jump". Special overfly by Strategic Air Command. Cocked Pistol state: 1800Z 22 Oct - 1530Z 24 Oct.

31 Oct 58

"Mainframe". The 42nd BW (SAC) conducted an evaluation of the B52s offensive and defensive ECM capability.

11 Nov 58

Remembrance Day Church Services.

24 Nov 58

10128 S/L RM Beer assumes temporary command RCAF Station Edgar during the absence on annual leave of 249 W/C H Bryant.

26 Nov 58

17600 F/L JB Miller resumes duties of CAdO and Station Purchasing Officer vice 210944 F/O TG Nilsen.

30 Nov 58

Operational Strength

Officers

24

WO

1

Senior NCOs

5

Corporals

17

Airmen

78

Airwomen

39

Total

164

Submitted by:

(H Bryant) W/C,
CO RCAF Station Edgar