Narrative Report
RCAF Station Gander
1 Jun 60 to 30 Nov 60
7 Jun 60
23298 F/O JL Clarke, Pers/Adm, TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from AMCHQ.
15 Jun 60
223570 F/L OJ Mallalieu, Acc, TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from Station Senneterre. Work commenced on a station sports field. This sports field will consist of a softball diamond, baseball diamond, tennis court, soccer field, and a small track. Most of the labour required to complete this project will be done by the station personnel on a voluntary basis.
16 Jun 60
23298 F/O JL Clarke, Pers/Adm, assumed duties of PAdO vice 132142 F/O JC Silvester, Pers/Adm, who was transferred to AFHQ/AMTS/CCE.
17 Jun 60
223570 F/L OJ Mallalieu, Acc, assumed duties of SAO vice 216064 F/L JMP Tremblay, Acc, who was transferred to RCAF Station Saskatoon.
28 Jun 60
W/C HHS Farrell of AFHQ, and Colonel GB Hooker, Lt. Colonel PA Weisener, Major Verplank, Major MJ Bailey, all of 4602nd Group, arrived at Station Gander for a visit to the Operations Section.
2 Jul 60
27748 F/O JG Gibbard, Sup, TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from CJS Washington.
3 Jul 60
120034 S/L RG Walker arrived from ADCHQ to carry out an SOAF inspection. Thirty one officers and men from this station took part in the Newfoundland Remembrance Day Parade held in the town of Gander. 22034 F/L GS Higgins, CD, was the wreath layer for the RCAF Station.
4 Jul 60
33508 F/L JODP Chenalier, Air/P, TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from Station Lac St. Denis and, on arrival, assumed the duties of Assistant COpsO.
5 Jul 60
242512 F/O W Charnley, Air/Obs, TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from 414 AW Squadron North Bay and, on arrival, commenced to carry out duties of Operations Controller.
7 Jul 60
27748 F/O JH Gibbard, Sup, assumed duties of SSupO vice 243759 F/O PG Dupuis, Sup, who was transferred to 6 MovU Paris.
15 Jul 60
At a station dance held this date, the two 14’ 8" speedboats built by station fund and service personnel volunteer labour were officially christened "The Blip" and "The Gremlin".
17 Jul 60
233158 F/O BML King, Air/P, departed this unit on release from the RCAF.
23 Jul 60
A Mess Dinner was held in the Sergeant’s Mess in honour of 1018 WO2 FW Naish, TelMSupt(G), who was retiring from the RCAF after completing 25 years service.
25 Jul 60
42739W F/L EH McCaffrey arrived from ADCHQ on a Food Services staff visit.
26 Jul 60
20808 S/L R Stantial arrived from ATCHQ to discuss "in-flight" feeding services for transatlantic service flights.
30 Jul 60
240402 F/O DA Calnan arrived on one month’s temporary duty from Station Lac St. Denis as a temporary operations controller replacement.
1 Aug 60
33508 F/L JODP Chevalier, Air/P, assumed duties of COpsO.
Due to the disbandment of 72 GObC Detachment Gander, 43731 F/L WSE Wood was transferred from AS/GOb branch to Tech/MSE and transferred to Supernumerary Strength RCAF Station Gander. For same reasons, 80149 F/L GR Lees was transferred from AS/GOb branch to Supply and transferred to Supernumerary Strength RCAF Station Gander. 220639 F/O RH Buckley, AS/GOb, was transferred from 72 GObC Detachment Gander, to Supernumerary strength RCAF Station Gander.
9 Aug 60
151685 F/C DI Hughes, Tech/Tel, arrived this unit to commence third year summer training as member of URTP.
13 Aug 60
220639 F/O RH Buckley, AS/GOb, transferred from Supernumerary Strength RCAF Station Gander to RCAF GObC Unit St. Hubert.
15 Aug 60
43731 F/L WSE Wood, Tech/MSE, transferred from Supernumerary Strength RCAF Station Gander to 5SD Moncton. 80149 F/L GR Less, Sup, transferred from Supernumerary Strength RCAF Station Gander to Station Trenton.
25 Aug 60
30164 F/L JG Joy and 37820 F/L WR Wingate arrived from ADCHQ for organization and establishment visit concerning recreation centre and mess hall staff.
26 Aug 60
16869 F/L JM Ayres, Air/P, TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from Station Beaverbank and, on arrival, assumed duties of operations controller.
29 Aug 60
200654 F/L DS Shepherd, Air/P, TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from Station St. Margarets and, on arrival, assumed duties of operations controller.
3 Sep 60
155614 F/O VJ Always, STelO, SOS Station Gander on transfer to ADCHQ.
6 Sep 60
161041 F/O JA Pottier, AS/FtrC, SOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer to 42 AC&W Squadron Cold Lake.
8 Sep 60
235789 F/O WJ Stewart, Tech/Tel, TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from 1 R&CS Clinton and, on arrival, assumed duties of STelO. 212076 F/L JB Vickers, AS/FtrC, TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from 1 Air Div HQ.
9 Sep 60
A station defence exercise was carried out in conjunction with Operation "Sky Shield". Guard positions were manned throughout the exercise but no penetration was attempted. The station guards remained keen and alert throughout the entire exercise.
11 Sep 60
33022 S/L EW McConnell arrived from ADCHQ for CE staff visit.
12 Sep 60
An advance party of CMU personnel, headed by 24025 WO2 JH Howitt, arrived at this unit for erection of AB563 tower to house FPS-6 equipment. This project will take approximately five months to complete.
13 Sep 60
162192 F/L RC Austin, AS/FtrC, SOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer to 61 AC&W Squadron, Metz.
15 Sep 60
URTP personnel, 151685 DI Hughes, Tech/Tel, and 55987 F/C TG Taylor, Tech/CE, ceased period of special duty on posting to McGill U Squadron and Acadia U Squadron respectively.
21 Sep 60
A party consisting of the undermentioned were guests of this unit for several days:
|
Abdel Hamid Seoud |
UAR Ambassador |
|
Walid Maged |
Counsellor |
|
Mohamed Ibrahim Kamel |
Counsel General in Montreal |
|
Mohamed Shabana Aly |
Second Secretary |
|
Hamdy Nassef |
Commercial Secretary |
|
Khaled Babaa |
Director of UAR Information office in Ottawa |
1 Oct 60
ZM10175 Captain WI Nelson, 7 Coy RCASC, and SG1922 Sgt. JF Corcoran, 7 Coy RCASC, arrived this unit for a two month period of duty. During this period, Captain Nelson and Sgt. Corcoran acted as liaison unit for army personnel passing through Gander on rotation to and from overseas duties.
3 Oct 60
Mr. Johnson, and party of three, arrived from Halifax to carry out DM audit.
4 Oct 60
A vulnerability test, under the surveillance of ADCHQ representative F/O D Bly, proved that Station Gander’s defence organization was effective in protecting the unit’s vital components from infiltrators.
5 Oct 60
Lt. Colonel CB Hall, Commander of the 640th AC&W Squadron, Harmon, visited the unit on a familiarization tour.
7 Oct 60
39256 Sgt. GR Burns, 33611 Cpl. JE Deveau, and 210854 Cpl. WS Thomson were awarded the Canadian Force’s Decoration on a Commanding Officer’s parade.
11 Oct 60
A big bull moose gained access to the station via the gate leading to the sports field. After several attempts to persuade the moose to leave the confines of the station proved fruitless, it was necessary to destroy the animal.
14 Oct 60
76037 F/L RE Goatcher, AS/FtrC, proceeded on a ten week SAGE training course at Richards Gebaur Air Force Base Missouri, USA.
22 Oct 60
27748 F/O JH Gibbard, SSupO, proceeded on a six weeks CFR course at 1 OS Centralia. 34827 F/L ER Archer arrived on temporary duty from Station St. Hubert to carry out duties of acting SSupO during F/O Gibbard’s absence.
23 Oct 60
224818 F/O H Bouis, Air/P, TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from Station Senneterre and, on arrival, assumed the duties of operations controller.
24 Oct 60
46700 F/L A Beals arrived from Station Chatham to carry out M&I Audit Board.
7 Nov 60
His Honour the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland, Campbell MacPherson, visited the town of Gander. The RCAF Station Staff Car, with 15811 Cpl. KD Cunningham as driver, was used for transportation purposes.
11 Nov 60
A Remembrance Day Parade was held in the town of Gander. Thirty one officers and men from the RCAF Station participated in this parade.
15 Nov 60
Complete renovation of the Airmen’s Club was commenced. It was estimated that it would cost approximately $3,000.00 to renovate the club.
16 Nov 60
242512 F/O W Charnley, Air/Obs, successfully completed a three week Controller Basic Training Course held at Cold Lake, Alberta.
20 Nov 60
59620 F/O GW Niles, AS/FtrC, TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from Station St. Margarets.
22 Nov 60
20835 F/L LS Williams arrived from ADCHQ on a Recreation staff visit.
24 Nov 60
20222 S/L RJ Millage and 200561 F/L GRD Wonnacott arrived from ADCHQ on a SOPA staff visit.
29 Nov 60
26270 F/L WW Laakso arrived from ADCHQ on a telecommunications staff visit.
30 Nov 60
A/C EC Poole, Chief of Telecommunications, arrived for an informal visit of the telecom section in particular and the station in general.
A nuclear defence test was conducted under the direction of ADCHQ representative F/O WA Porter. Air Force personnel were sheltered in their designated shelters for approximately two hours whilst the visiting ADCHQ nuclear defence team inspected station facilities.
As of this date, it is estimated that 75% of the station road paving programme has been completed at an estimated cost of $50,000. Seventy five percent of the station landscaping programme has been completed at an estimated cost of $25,000.
Signed by:
(EF Reid) S/L
CO, RCAF Station Gander