S10-136-80/17
8 December, 1961
Mr JR Baldwin
Deputy Minister
Department of Transport
Ottawa, Ontario
Re: USAF Requirement at Baffin Island Air Station -
Frobisher Bay Airport, NWT
I refer to your letter of October 30, 1961, and your recommendation that the Department of National Defence authorize the use of certain property at the site of the former radar station adjacent to the Frobisher Airport, for the housing of employees who will be engaged in the direct support of the USAF Strategic Air Command refuelling operation at Frobisher. The site in question is a former US air control and warning location, the inactivation of which was agreed to in US Note #546 of April 1, 1961, and the Canadian reply in Not #69 of May 4, 1961.
As you will be aware from the copy of the letter dated November 21, 1961, from the Chief of the Air Staff to the Chief, USAF Central Coording Staff, which was forwarded to you, our Minister has concurred in the USAF request on the understanding that as the facilities on the former AC&W site will be used for the support of the USAF Strategic Air Command operations will house a SAC communication unit, the site will be considered as part of the SAC complex at Frobisher and therefore as coming under the scope of, and governed by the Canada-United States Exchange of Notes of June 20, 1958 (Canadian Note 106 and US Note 281).
A point of interest is that the above arrangement has been confirmed by the Department of External Affairs in their letter to us dated November 3, 1961.
I trust that this information will enable your Department to work out with the United States Air Force the necessary arrangements under your Frobisher Working Agreement and I would appreciate being supplied with a copy of the above.
(EB Armstrong)
Deputy Minister