Narrative Report
RCAF Station Gander
1 Jun 55 to 30 Nov 55
16 Jun 55
216425 F/O AW Becker TOS for duty in the Operations Section.
28 Jun 55
30830 F/L EA Thompson attended a Radar Maintenance Conference at ADCHQ.
1 Jul 55
The unit participated in the Annual Memorial Day Parade to commemorate the Battle of Beaumont Hamel, 1916. A wreath was placed on the cenotaph by S/L HE Pledge.
23 Jul 55
Attached as Appendix "A" is an account of an Operations incident.
21 Jul 54
Four F-89D aircraft pilots from the 61st Fighter Interceptor Squadron based at Harmon Air Force Base, Nfld., paid a visit to the Operations Section.
27 Jul 54
Colonel De Witters, the Netherlands Air Attache, Ottawa, arrived at the unit and proceeded on a fishing trip in the locality.
29 Aug 55
His Excellency, The Governor-General of Canada, The Right Honorable Vincent Massey, CH, arrived by rail to officially open the new town of Gander. His Excellency was met by the Commanding Officer S/L HE Pledge, CD, and Mr. Eric Winsor, DOT Airport Manager, who accompanied him to the RCAF Staff car and to the official ceremonies. After a tour of Gander proper and RCAF Station Gander, His Excellency was taken to the International Terminal from where he departed by the RCAF’s C-5 for Ottawa.
3 Sep 55
9715 F/L RG Henley was TOS as CTechSO to replace 130065 F/L Williamson.
19 Sep 55
A Church Parade was held to commemorate Battle of Britain Sunday. 30833 F/L G MacDonald CEduO, Maritime Air Command, paid a Staff Visit to the Station.
5 Oct 55
27018 S/L HE Pledge attended a Commanding Officers Conference at ADCHQ.
10 Oct 55
240235 F/O CF Sole was TOS as a U/T Fighter Controller.
24 Oct 55
206146 F/L JS Bonham, Protestant Padre from Maritime Air Command, paid the Station a Staff visit.
11 Nov 55
The Station participated in the Annual Memorial Day Parade. 27018 S/L HE Pledge placed a wreath at the Cenotaph.
15 Nov 55
30830 F/O EA Thompson attended a Communications Conference at ADCHQ.
21 Nov 55
Attached as Appendix "B" find an account of an Operations Incident.
29 Nov 55
9715 F/L RG Henley attended a Construction Engineering Conference at ADCHQ.
Signed by:
(HE Pledge) A/S/L
Commanding Officer
RCAF Station Gander,
Gander Nfld.
Appendix "A"
to RCAF Station Gander
Historical Narrative
1 Jun 55 to 30 Nov 55
5-1-0
Gander, Nfld.,
23 Jul 1955
640th AC&W Squadron,
Ernest Harmon Air Force Base,
Stephenville, Nfld.
Recovery of Aircraft,
DND Piper Apache
Informed by Ops "B" at 1115Z that aircraft DMD was calling Radar and Gander Tower on emergency channel 121.5.
Made radio contact with DMD at 1120Z – informed that he was 2 hours out of Charlottetown, destination Gander, flying at 5,000 feet, that his compass had gone, and he was not sure of his position. He thought he was on Green 3 Airways.
Made search of south west quadrant and located him 20 miles south west of Gander at 5,000 feet, on Green 3 heading in, asked to make identification turns – the pilot did not seem to understand instructions. Passes this information to ATC and Gander tower. Lost the contact due to heavy weather showering in the area, but DR’s his track into Gander.
Tower passed information to GCA who picked up DMD at 10 miles and brought him in to land at 1149Z.
(MG Anthony) F/O
for Commanding Officer
RCAF Station Gander
Gander, Nfld.
Appendix "B"
to RCAF Station Gander
Historical Narrative
1 Jun 55 to 30 Nov 55
Report on Rescue Mission
Weather Aircraft 61710
On the morning of 21 Nov 55 at 1420Z, Eyebrow control was listening out on CF 10 when Rescue 0129 called Enrage requesting information on next radar station on their flight plan across Newfoundland, to be called. As Rescue 0129 had then entered Eyebrow control area, Eyebrow 4 gave them a call asking if they needed flight assistance. Rescue 0129 replied that they were on a rescue mission for a B-29 weather aircraft number 61710 and requested position reports on 61710 be forwarded to them.
At 1425Z Eyebrow 4 assumed control of Rescue 0129 and advised Enrage.
At 1433Z Rescue 0129 advised Eyebrow of the last information received from Enrage regarding the distressed aircraft 61710, the information was as follows: The aircraft was an Army weather ship heading 225 degrees T with a GS of 144K. It was flying at 5,000 feet and had numbers 1 and 2 engines feathered. The 1411Z position report on 61710 was 54.26N, 44.14W.
Enrage passed the 1430Z position report of 53.56N, 44.53W to Eyebrow at 1509Z. This information was forwarded on to Rescue 0129.
Enrage was advised at 1512Z that Eyebrow 4 had lost radio and radar contact with Rescue 0129 at 1510Z.
At 1526Z the 1509Z position report of 53.14N, 46.57W was received from Enrage – also the information that 61710 was heading 236 degrees T with a GS of 129K at 5,000 feet.
Eyebrow control at 1600Z was advised that Rescue 5306 was coming over from Enrage to help in the rescue mission. Eyebrow 5 at 1630Z had radio (CF D) and radar contact with 5306.
The 1515Z position report on 61710 of 52.28N, 48.50W and information on the heading (236 degrees) speed (117 knots) and height (5000 feet) was received at 1634Z from Rescue 5306. Enrage was advised.
1611Z position report on 61710, 52.08N, 49.40W and the information on heading of 236 degrees T, speed of 120K, ETA Gar 1713Z was received from Enrage at 1636Z.
The weather and runway conditions at Harmon plus the information on an alternate of Moncton was forwarded to Eyebrow control by Enrage at 1800Z. This information was given to Coast Guard 7250 on CF Gd. Who passed it on to 61710 at 1810Z. 61710 announced to Eyebrow at 1811Z that they intended to land at Gander.
Eyebrow 4 at 1820Z made radio contact on CG Gd. With 61710 and received information that he was at 4.5 A. Enrage was advised.
Gander tower was alerted at 1825Z of the arrival of 61710 and at 1827Z 61710 contacted Gander tower on CF Gd.
Bluejay, Gander control, took over control of 61710 at 1840Z and 61710 was brought in for a landing at 1857Z. With 61710 landed, Rescue 0129 and 5306 were cleared to Harmon.
Signed by:
(AW Becker) F/O
Duty Controller
(202)
