Gander, NF

1963 – Narrative Report – National Archives of Canada


 

Narrative Report
RCAF Station Gander
1 Jun 63 to 31 Dec 63

Name of Unit in Full: 226 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Gander, Nfld.

Name of Command: Air Defence Command

Location of Unit Headquarters: RCAF Station Gander, Nfld.

Strength as at 31 Dec

 

Male

Women

Officers

15

1

WOs

1

0

Sr. NCO’s

24

0

Jr. NCO’

38

0

Airmen

96

0

Total all ranks – 175

Total Civilian Personnel – 85

Nominal Roll of key personnel showing appointment held and date TOS.

19893

S/L

CN

Stanley

Air/P

CO

31 Jul 63

15903

F/O

KG

Booth

Pers/Adm

PAdO/CAdO

18 Jun 62

234871

F/L

WD

Boulding

Tech/Tel

CTSO

24 Aug 62

202403

F/L

JE

Fenwick

AS/FtrC

COpsO

5 Dec 62

39014

F/L

JA

Legare

AS/FtrC

SGTO, 2 i/c Station

3 Oct 63

18184

F/O

FR

Yorke

Acc

SAO

2 Jul 63

Appendices

Appendix A – Historical Summary

Appendix B – Monthly Record of Activities

Appendix C – Photographs of officers who assumed key positions during period 1 Jun – 31 Dec 63

Appendix D – Photographs of Air Force Day activities

Appendix E – Photographs of special parades

Signed by:
(CN Stanley) S/L
CO, RCAF Station Gander

 

 

Appendix A to
Historical Report 1963

 

Historical Summary
RCAF Station Gander
1 Jun to 31 Dec 1963

Introduction

No changes were made to the role of this unit which is:

  1. to collect, display and relay to higher echelons up-to-date information on the air situation within its area of responsibility;
  2. provide support services of supply, materiel accounting and unit liaison for four air cadet squadrons, 512 Bishop Falls, 537 Gander, 617 Lewisporte and 727 Glovertown.

Summary of Unit Activities

New incumbents assumed the key positions of CO, CTSO, COpsO, SAO and SGTO.

A successful Air Force Day was held and the unit participated in Memorial Day, Remembrance Day and Battle of Britain Day celebrations.

Various sections were inspected by ADCHQ staff officers and the unit was host at a luncheon to the Chief of Naval Personnel and his party who were conducting an annual inspection of Northern Naval Radio Units.

Operations

This was a normal operational period for this unit. Thirty-eight Systems Training Programs were conducted and four live exercises were participated in. Seven of the Operations Section Officers were transferred out and replaced during this period.

Training

Personnel were provided NDef Training by Station Chatham NDef Team. All personnel who required first aid training were given the appropriate training by the unit Nursing Sister and MedA. The unit EDP was tested by ADCHQ and one unit vulnerability test was conducted.

Technical

There were no major equipment or technical changes during this six month period.

Administration

There were no significant administrative incidents during this period.

Organization

No changed were made to the unit organization.

Official Visits and Inspections

ADCHQ Specialists conducted FSv, Supply, Recreation, Medical, Telecom, and SOPA inspections. HQ Eastern Army Command carried out a postal inspection.

 

 

Appendix B to
Historical Report 1963

 

Monthly Record of Activities
RCAF Station Gander
1 Jun 63 to 31 Dec 63

1 Jun 63

F/L JE Fenwick assumed the position of SGTO on the departure of F/L JR Vickers.

10 Jun 63

Systems Training Program (STP) 665 Category II conducted.

12 Jun 63

Air Force Day was held with the flying and static displays at the Gander International Terminal. The flying program consisted of the Golden Hawks air display, water bombing and forest fire fighting by the Nfld. Forest Service, a skit by the local flying club and a flypast of F-102 aircraft by the 59th FIS from Harmon Air Force Base. On static display were a C-119, C-109, North Star and USAF F-102A. A recruiting unit booth, message centre, radar equipment and USAF flying and safety equipment displays were located inside the terminal building. The RCAF Central Band gave a band concert in the morning at the Gander Arena for the school children. The Golden Hawks were present and received the key to the Town from His Worship Mayor Robertson. Another concert was given at the air terminal in the afternoon prior to the flying display. Following activities at the terminal, a reception was held at the Officer’s Mess for invited dignitaries and guests. The day was concluded with a station dance in the Unit Recreation Centre for all ranks and their guests with music provided by the Central Band. A crowd of approximately 6,000 were present at the terminal and were very impressed with all activities. This was the first air display that most people in this area had ever seen, even though Gander, since its conception, has been associated with aviation and the military.

18 Jun 63

STP 14 Category II was held.

21 Jun 63

STP 14 Category II was held.

26 Jun 63

STP 401 Category IV was held.

29 Jun 63

F/L WD Boulding Tech/Tel assumed the position of CTSO on the departure of F/L CA Mason.

1 Jul 63

The unit participated in the Memorial Day Parade and the placing of wreaths at the Gander War Memorial.

2 Jul 63

STP 17 Category II was conducted.

4 Jul 63

F/O FR Yorke Acc assumed the position of SAO on the departure of F/L OJ Mallalieu.

8 Jul 63

STP 664 Category III was held.

14 – 27 Jul 63

A total of 58 air cadets, from the four squadrons under the control of this unit, attended summer camp at RCAF Station Greenwood. The annual sports award for the best squadron was awarded to 537 Gander Squadron.

15 Jul 63

STP 665 Category II was held.

16 Jul 63

STP 12 Category II was held.

19 Jul 63

STP 14 Category II was held.

22 Jul 63

Modified NE611/612 telephone system was installed.

24 Jul 63

STP 604 Category IV was held.

29 – 31 Jul 63

S/L EH McCaffery of ADCHQ conducted a FSv inspection.

30 Jul 63

STP 8 Category II was held. USN radar picket aircraft crashed. Vehicle and photographic support was provided to the USA.

31 Jul 63

S/L CN Stanley, Air/P, assumed command from S/L KS Patterson, Air/P. A handing over parade was held followed by a reception in the Officers Mess for invited dignitaries and guests. F/L JE Fenwick, AS/FtrC, assumed the position of COpsO on the departure of F/L JOP Chevalier. F/L JW Blumenschein, Air/P, assumed the position of SGTO from F/L JE Fenwick.

1 – 9 Aug 63

Eight cadets from 617 and 727 Squadrons attended the drill course held at Station Torbay. WO2 N French of 537 Gander Squadron was awarded a Flying Training Scholarship, successfully completed the training at the Avalon Flying Club at Torbay and received his Air Cadet Pilot Wings. Two cadets from 537 and 617 squadrons attended the Senior Leader’s Course at RCAF Station Camp Borden.

2 Aug 63

STP 14 Category II conducted.

7 – 8 Aug 63

S/L GD Hines of ADCHQ conducted a supply inspection.

7 Aug 63

STP 725 Category II conducted.

9 Aug 63

STP 17 Category II conducted.

12 Aug 63

STP 725 Category II conducted.

14 Aug 63

STP 17 Category III conducted.

21 Aug 63

STP 13 Category II conducted.

26 Aug 63

STP 664 Category II conducted.

4 Sep 63

Rear Admiral MG Stirling, Chief of Naval Personnel, and party of 11, who were conducting the annual inspection of Northern Naval Radio Units, were entertained at a luncheon in the Officer’s Mess.

5 Sep 63

STP 12 Category II was held. STP 106 Category IV was held.

6 Sep 63

STP 13 Category II was held.

11 Sep 63

F/L AA Jagoe of ADCHQ conducted a test of the unit EDP.

12 Sep 63

STP 106 Category IV.

15 Sep 63

A Battle of Britain Church Parade was held followed by the placing of wreaths on the Gander War Memorial. His Worship Mayor Robertson took the salute.

16 – 18 Sep 63

F/L G Geary of ADCHQ conducted a Recreation Inspection.

17 Sep 63

Participated in live exercise "Little Echo Orange".

19 Sep 63

STP 106 Category IV was held.

24 Sep 63

STP 605 Category II was held.

30 Sep 63

STP 664 Category II was held.

2 Oct 63

STP 17 Category II was held.

3 Oct 63

STP 666 Category IV conducted.

7 Oct 63

STP 725 Category II conducted.

8 – 9 Oct 63

S/L MJ Fitzgerald of ADCHQ conducted an inspection of the medical section.

9 Oct 63

STP 15 Category II conducted.

10 Oct 63

Participated in live exercise "Top Rung One".

15 Oct 63

Thirteen candidates attempted the Oct 63 Trade Examinations. Nine were successful and four failed.

16 – 17 Oct 63

Captain MacKenzie of HQ Eastern Command conducted a postal inspection.

28 Oct 63

STP 666 Category II conducted.

30 Oct 63

STP 605 Category IV conducted. Recorders, RD142A/UN, for monitoring operational voice lines were installed. 537 Gander Squadron moved from unsatisfactory quarters in an old hangar at the Air Terminal to accommodation on Station Gander.

1 Nov 63

F/L JA Legare assumed the position of SGTO on the departure of F/L JW Blumenschein.

3 – 6 Nov 63

Station Chatham NDef Team conducted nuclear defence training courses in monitoring and decontamination.

4 Nov 63

STP 275 Category II was held.

6 Nov 63

STP 401 Category III was held.

7 Nov 63

Participated in live exercise "Mute VII".

11 Nov 63

The unit participated in the Remembrance Day Parade and the placing of wreaths at the Gander War Memorial.

14 Nov 63

F/O D Battye of ADCHQ carried out an inspection of the Telecom Section.

20 Nov 63

Thirty-six sten guns were received to supplement the station security force equipment; however, training cannot be given as there is no firing range available.

21 – 28 Nov 63

F/L EW Gaffray of ADCHQ visited the Telecom Section.

27 Nov 63

STP 666 Category IV was held. Station Armament Section was moved from the new Annex to the station guardhouse. The installation of omni-antenna for 0A2325A/FPS-6 was carried out by a USAF team.

2 Dec 63

STP 665 Category II conducted.

2 – 13 Dec 63

All personnel who had not received first aid training within the past three years were trained.

8 – 10 Dec 63

F/L FA Golding and F/O J Heffel of ADCHQ carried out the annual SOPA inspection.

9 Dec 63

STP 306 Category III conducted.

10 Dec 63

STP 606 Category V conducted.

16 Dec 63

STP 664 Category II conducted. Participated in live exercise "Shock Wave X". A unit vulnerability test was conducted in conjunction with this exercise.