Confidential
Appendix A to
Historical Report 1965
Historical Summary
RCAF Station Gander
Introduction
Summary of Unit Activities
Operations
Training
All new controllers and NCOs completed cross training at the 640th AC&W Unit and 59 FIS Det 1 at Harmon. A GNS operations officers conference at Goose Bay was attended by the COpsO and CStandO. Station Gander was host to a GNS training conference of twenty officers representing all units in the Goose NORAD Sector on 26 and 27 Oct. Early in December, the CStandO and his staff attended a surveillance conference at 640th AC&W Unit, Stephenville. In telecommunications, personnel participated in 9 ECM training demonstrations. A maintenance control centre equipment status report training course was run locally in off duty hours. Two formal TA courses each of two weeks duration was conducted. EWU conducted a one day ECM familiarization course on the unit for technical and operations personnel. F/L Coll, AS/FtrC, conducted EDP training until his departure. F/L G Shaw, CTSO, assumed this duty in September and the Gander EDP was rewritten, tested, and proven in November. Four officer cadets received summer training as follows:
O/C |
WD Sherk |
Royal Roads |
ROTP |
Telecom |
O/C |
DW Czinkota |
Univ. of Sask. |
ROTP |
Telecom |
O/C |
WW Thistle |
Memorial Univ. St. John’s |
URTP |
Admin |
O/C |
AV Piercey |
Memorial Univ. St. John’s |
URTP |
CE |
Technical
(a) Telecommunications
(b) Photo
201177 Cpl. DF Piercey, Photo Tech 3Y, TOS 16 Oct 65 replaced 201973 Cpl. JF Grogan, Photo Tech 3Y, SOS 15 Oct 65.
(c) Supply
(d) Construction Engineering
(e) Mobile Support Equipment
(f) Technical - General
Administration
On 12 Aug 65 command of the station was passed from 19893 S/L CN Stanley to 209059 S/L TM Swindells. In July, the accounts section was passed from 18184F/O R Yorke to 12104 F/O J Stager (now F/L). In July the SULO, 55342 F/O DH Douglas, was transferred and was replaced by 201165 F/L JR Raymond. In September 210509 F/L HG Andrews replaced 202402 F/L J Fenwick as COpsO. 99736W F/O B Buchanan replaced 95335W F/O J Mackay as Station Nurse.
Organization and Establishment
Radar section establishment was decreased by 2 Sgts., 2 Cpls., and 2 Acs. Communications operator establishment was reduced by 1 Cpl. and 1 AC. Clerk Admin establishment was reduced by 1 AC.
Official Visits and Inspections
20 Apr |
Cpl. Murphy (GADS) |
29 Apr |
Major General G Turcot |
1 Jun |
Col. WG Lucas (GADS) and Commissioner Edwards |
3 Jul |
Lt. Gen. Walsh, R/Adm Welland. Maj. Gen. Lilly and A/C Whiting |
5 Jul |
G/C McCaig (Acc) and G/C Monkman |
3 Aug |
W/C Pudney SOAF Visit |
4 Aug |
A/V/M Lister and W/C EL Olson |
5 Aug |
S/L Hines (ADC) SOSup/Sup4 |
27 Aug |
Brig Gen. AM Burke (GADS) |
1 Sep |
Brig J Kenyon and G/C EW Pierce |
29 Sep |
G/C AC Bowes |
26 Oct |
Col. T Willie |
Nov |
MAC/ACLO accompanied by SULO conducted an inspection of all Air Cadet Squadrons in Nov. |
Recreation
An extensive program of recreational activities was carried out under direction of the Station Recreation Council with a budget of $3,048.00 made up of $548.00 public, $1,500.00 NPF and $1,000.00 membership contributions. Activities included badminton, baseball, basketball, bowling, broomball, curling, flag football, hockey, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, station dances, and woodworking. On 14 Jun 65 the annual sports banquet was held. Ralph Backstrom, centre player for Montreal Canadiens, was guest of honour.
Public Relations
On transfer of F/O B Hogan, F/L Starks assumed the duties of PIO on 1 Jun 65. Shortly thereafter, F/L Starks suffered a heart attack and passed his duties to F/L Raymond. In Sept, F/L Raymond was succeeded by F/O Dallimore.
A noteworthy event during the past year was the successful crash landing on 26 Jan 65 near Gander airport of the American aviatrix, Louise Sacchi of Pennsylvania, who was on a solo flight to Europe in a small private aircraft. Mrs. Sacchi is 52 and still owns and pilots her own aircraft. The Station Gander ground search team co-operated in getting her rushed to Patton Memorial Hospital where her injuries were reported to be slight. Other news items in 1965 included:
Air Cadets
222 |
summer camp at Greenwood |
34 |
Gander drill course |
3 |
Flying scholarship Moncton NB |
4 |
Flying scholarship St. John NB |
8 |
Senior Leaders course Camp Borden |
2 |
Exchange visits – 1 to USA and 1 to France |
Appendix B to
Historical Report 1965
Monthly Record of Activities
RCAF Station Gander
12 Jan 65
ECM Demonstration by EMU
22 – 24 Jan 65
Third annual Station Gander Invitational Bonspiel was held in the new curling rink.
4 Feb 65
Live Exercise Chippewa Hunt II. ECM by EWU.
8 – 28 Feb 65
MCCESR reporting course held during off duty hours – 6 personnel trained.
12 Feb 65
ECM demonstration by EWU.
15 Feb 65
Canadian Flag Raising Ceremony.
22 Feb 65
Live exercise Top Rung VII.
26 Feb 65
Mechanical inspection carried out on FPS-6B pedestal by Canadian General Electric personnel.
5 Mar 65
Cashier system commenced in accounts section.
11 Mar 65
ECM demonstration by EWU. 40190 Sgt. LG Thorne TOS as NCO i/c Communications. RSA Evaluation carried out by ADC team.
29 Mar 65
Formal TA course conducted for Tel personnel writing trade examinations – 10 personnel trained, seven were successful and one ComOp passed written exam but failed practical.
7 Apr 65
Live exercise Chippewa Feather IV.
20 Apr 65
Visit by Colonel W Murphy (GADS) Deputy Commander.
21 Apr 65
Live exercise Cree Feather XII.
29 Apr 65
Visit by Major General G Turcot, OC Eastern Area Command, and Colonel Pincock, OC Newfoundland Area.
10 May 65
Live exercise Cree Opal I.
12 May 65
ECM demonstration by EWU.
19 May 65
FPS-93A pedestal inspected and checked by Canadian Marconi Company (CMC) representative Goose Air Defence Sector.
27 May 65
Live exercise Chippewa Feather V.
1 Jun 65
Visit by Colonel WG Lucas, USAF Base Commander, Goose Bay and Commissioner Edwards of Goose Bay, Commissioner of Labrador.
10 Jun 65
Live exercise Chippewa Feather V.
17 Jun 65
Live exercise Chippewa Feather VI.
23 Jun 65
ECM demonstration by EWU.
29 Jun 65
Live exercise Cree Feather XIII.
3 Jul 65
Visit by Lt. General Walsh, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Welland, Chief of Operational Readiness, Major General Lilly and A/C Whiting.
5 Jul 65
Visit by G/C McCaig and G/C Monkman.
5 Jul 65
18731 Sgt. F Roach replaced 26050 Sgt. JK Tregloan as Chief Operator.
19 Jul 65
45492 FS WT Green replaced 32570 FS CE Spears as NCO i/c radar.
20 Jul 65
Passive tracking ECM exercise conducted by EWU.
26 Jul 65
Live exercise Mute XV.
4 Aug 65
AOC’s inspection – A/V/M MD Lister, AOC ADC, and W/C EL Olson.
6 Aug 65
AMC representatives – O/C BT Korchinsk and O/C CE Jackson visited the radar section to collect data for research reports.
11 Aug 65
Live exercise Chippewa Feather VII.
12 Aug 65
Station parade Station Handing Over Ceremony from S/L CN Stanley to S/L TM Swindells.
12 – 18 Aug 65
MK-747 modification installed on search radar by civilian contractor (CAE). Radome re-caulked and repainted by civilian contractor (Unitec International of Canada).
16 Aug 65
Live exercise SAGE 20-65.
27 Aug 65
Visit by Brigadier General AM Burke (GADS) Commander.
29 Aug 65
Visit by A/C R Wakefield – RAF Scampton.
1 Sep 65
Live exercise Chippewa Feather VIII. Single shift maintenance concept adopted in radar section. Visit by Brigadier LE Kenyon, Director General Intelligence CFHQ and:
G/C EW Pierce |
Dcom Eng. CFHQ |
Captain RV Henning |
RCN DPFM CFHQ |
Colonel HA Merklinger |
Chap (P) CFHQ |
Colonel WW McConnel |
DGQ CFHQ |
13 Sep 65
ECM demonstration by EWU.
24 Sep 65
Formal TA Course commenced for Tel personnel writing trade examinations. Five personnel trained – all passed.
25 Sep 65
Central band visit – station dance.
29 Sep 65
Visit by G/C AC Bowes – ADCHQ/SCESO.
1 Oct 65
15-J1D installed. Radar ancillary equipment overhauled by Canadian Marconi Company field representative/
5 Oct 65
Visit by Colonel G Hale, Commander Newfoundland Area.
7 Oct 65
Visit by Inspector S McKinn, RCMP St. John’s.
22 Oct 65
Live exercise Apache Arrow I.
26 Oct 65
Visit by Colonel T Willie, Deputy Commander Operations GADS.
26 – 27 Oct 65
GNS Operations Officers Conference. SOSME Visit and Inspection.
27 Oct 65
Live exercise Chippewa Feather IX. Passive tracking ECM exercise conducted by EWU.
1 – 2 Nov 65
Regional Matron Major Warren visited.
1 – 15 Nov 65
Dental Officer, Major Crossman, on semi-annual visit.
5 Nov 65
Live exercise Top Rung X. 0A-4381 modification installed on search radar by unit personnel.
6 Nov 65
RCAC Officers Conference.
10 Nov 65
Visit and tour by Lewisport Young Peoples Association Group.
19 Nov 65
Live exercise Big Blast Foxtrot.
1 Dec 65
Live exercise Chippewa Feather X.
2 Dec 65
ECM demonstration by EWU.
10 Dec 65
New office built in FPS-6B tower.
11 Dec 65
Red Cross Examiners and Instructors Course was held in the Recreation Centre.