Narrative Report
RCAF Station Gander
1 Jun 61 to 30 Nov 61
6 Jun 61
Northern Electric Company technicians arrived to overhaul the unit’s training equipment.
9 Jun 61
The AOC/ADC arrived for a short unofficial visit. A fifty-man guard of honour welcomed the AOC. During this visit the AOC officially opened the station’s ball fields.
11 Jun 61
The RCAF assumed financial responsibility for Pinetree Line units (which included Station Gander) with subsequent changes in accounting procedures. All "A" and "B" class stores in use on the unit and all "C" and "D" class stores in stock were reported to AMCHQ.
12 Jun 61
233138 F/O RJ Kelly Air/P was TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from Station St. Margarets and, on arrival, assumed duties of operations controller.
19 Jun 61
A rigid radome was installed on Tower #1 by RCA Victor Company technicians.
22 Jun 61
46356 F/L PG Brewster and 200561 F/L GR Wonnacott arrived from ADCHQ to carry out SOPA staff visit.
26 Jun 61
Thus unit’s Radio Amateur (Ham) Operator’s Club received its official operating license.
1 Jul 61
73187 F/C JR Chaisson Pers/Adm, URTP arrived for period of Special Duty. On the 1st Jul 61 Officers Promotion List – 22418 F/O H Bouius Air/RN was promoted to substantive rank of Flight Lieutenant with effective date retroactive to 14 May 61.
2 Jul 61
Thirty one airmen, under the command of 27748 F/O GH Gibbard, represented this unit at the annual Newfoundland Remembrance Day parade held in the town of Gander. 16869 F/L JM Ayres was the wreath layer for the RCAF Station. 19398 A/S/L KS Patterson, CD, Air/L arrived at this unit on transfer from Station North Bay.
3 Jul 61
27480 W/C AW Riddel arrived from ADCHQ on CE Staff Visit.
4 Jul 61
A "Handing and Taking-Over" parade on change of command was held. 19398 A/S/L KS Patterson assumed command of RCAF Station Gander vice 19637 S/L EF Reid.
17 Jul 61
19637 S/L EF Reid Air/P, former CO of this unit, departed on transfer to ADCHQ.
21 Jul 61
A party of USAF service personnel arrived from the 4754th Radar Evaluation Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah, to evaluate this unit’s radar equipment.
30 Jul 61
26299 F/L CA Mason Tech/Tel was TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from Station Uplands and, on arrival 31 Jul 61, assumed duties of CTSO vice 22034 F/L GS Higgins, Tech/Tel. 224418 F/L H Bouius Air/RN successfully passed School of Instructional Techniques course held at SIT Trenton Ontario.
8 Aug 61
237341 F/O W Rae, Pers/PI, was TOS RCAF Station Gander on posting from AFHQ A/CAS DPR.
12 Aug 61
22034 F/L GS Higgins Tech/Tel, was SOS on transfer to ADCHQ/SOORG/MAN/ENG.
15 Aug 61
30390 F/L RE Gluns Air/P was TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from Station Foymount and, on arrival, assumed duties of operations controller.
19 Aug 61
During the summer of 1961 numerous forest fires raged throughout Newfoundland. On 19 Aug 61 a fire started approximately ten miles south-east of Gander and commenced burning towards the town. On 20 Aug a meeting of the leading citizens of Gander too place to formulate plans to fight this fire. Amongst these citizens were the town mayor, the DOT airport manager, the DOT fire chief, the CO RCAF Station Gander, the CO RCN Detachment Gander, and the CO USAF Detachment Gander. These gentlemen realized that an all out effort was essential to save Gander from destruction, and appropriate plans were drawn up.
The fire approached Gander on a wide front and commenced to encircle the airport and town. Because of the size of the fire front it was necessary to divide the area into three distinct sections and control the fire fighting operations in all sections from a fire control centre. The fire control centre, under the command of 202085 F/L GJ Keeper Air/P, was located at RCAF Station Gander.
The emergency nature of the situation was emphasized by an announcement by Premier Smallwood that all women and children would be evacuated by rail to St. John’s. Fortunately, this was not required.
This unit reduced operations and telecom personnel to a total of twelve and they were required to maintain operations on a 24 hour basis. The mess hall was put on a 24 hour basis, and authority for unlimited overtime for civilian personnel was obtained. All other personnel were diverted to fight the encroaching fire.
All local organizations and businesses either closed or went on reduced staff to permit their employees to fight the fire. All fire fighters (RCN, USAF, civilian volunteers, civilian employees, as well as RCAF) congregated at RCAF Station Gander and were dispatched as required.
During this emergency, fire fighters were frequently in the field for 18 hours at a time, and in a few cases, worked a 24 hour stretch. This situation was further complicated by the arrival on 24 Aug of approximately 1,200 army personnel who arrived at Gander, used RCAF Station Gander as their co-ordinating base, and were dispatched to various areas in Newfoundland for forest fire fighting.
The local emergency situation continued from 20 Sep to 4 Sep when the Gander fire situation improved, and gradually returned to near normal on 8 Sep. Complete normalcy did not return until 19 Sep when the last of the army personnel returned to the mainland.
23 Aug 61
16869 F/L JM Ayres Air/P, was SOS on posting to Station Foymount. 234418 F/O W Rae Pers/PI was SOS on transfer to Grand Forks Sector HQ, Grand Forks, USA. 234418 F/L H Bouius Air/RN was SOS on posting to CNS Winnipeg.
10 Sep 61
43682 F/L WL Stewart and 15552 Sgt. ML Hayes arrived from ADCHQ to carry out SOAF inspection.
13 Sep 61
123912 F/O G Goodwin arrived from ADCHQ on legal staff visit.
15 Sep 61
73187 F/C JR Chaisson Pers/Adm URTP of St Francis Xavier Squadron and 52826 F/C S Isenberg AS/FtrC URTP of 102 McGill University Squadron Montreal departed on return to respective university squadrons after completion of period of special duty.
20 Sep 61
27944 S/L KH House arrived from MACHQ on padre/welfare duties.
24 Sep 61
72704 F/C MC McSweeney Tech/CE ROTP returned to NB University Fredericton on completion of period of special duty.
2 Oct 61
Deputy Minister’s auditors arrived to carry out DM audit.
6 Oct 61
A Commanding Officer’s parade was held this date. On this parade 41370 Sgt. LD Mason FF was decorated with the Canadian Forces Decoration.
16 Oct 61
21404 WO1 JA McDougall, Command Fire Chief, arrived from ADCHQ on staff visit. 244494W F/O KL Webb arrived from ADCHQ for Food Services staff visit. Colonel AT Rogers and SL34298 S/Sgt. RG Stewart, both from HMCS Stadacona, and ZD4511 Major IW Susser of Station Greenwood arrived at this unit to discuss feasibility of locating permanent dental facilities at this unit. The outcome of this discussion resulted in a special room being set up in the barracks for use by dental personnel when they arrive at this unit on their regular dental visits.
23 Oct 61
7521 WO1 WAW Smith arrived from ADCHQ on photo staff visit.
3 Nov 61
19398 A/S/L KS Patterson Air/P returned from attending Basic Controllers Course at 42 AC&W Squadron Cold Lake.
6 Nov 61
200567 F/L KM Cady arrived from ADCHQ on M&I inspection.
7 Nov 61
A party of Canadian General Electric technicians arrived to overhaul AN/FPS-6B Height Finding Radar.
11 Nov 61
A Remembrance Day Parade was held in the town of Gander. Thirty two officers and men from this station participated in the parade. The wreath layer for the RCAF Station was 202085 F/L GJ Keeper.
14 Nov 61
37874 F/L JM Blumenschein Air/P was TOS RCAF Station Gander on transfer from Station Beaverbank and, on arrival, assumed duties of operations controller.
27 Nov 61
204512 F/L GR Howson arrived from ADCHQ on security staff visit.
Signed by:
(KS Patterson) A/S/L
CO, RCAF Station Gander