Lac St. Denis, QC

1 Dec 53

F/L Whitehead and F/O McLean visited the emergency airstrip at La Macaza to check on conditions and compile a report on available facilities.

W/C Forbes and 15 officers from Special Navigation course arrived on this station for a familiarization visit. W/C McNair arrived on this station to take up his duties as Sector Commander No. 1 ADCC. S/L Burke, Air Defence Command Public Relations Officer, arrived with 2 photographers to photograph personnel at work in the Ops building for future publicity releases. A social evening was held for Roman Catholic families; refreshments were served.

A hockey match was held between this Station and St. Adele; score St. Adele 10, Lac St. Denis 3.

G/C Scott of ADC arrived on this station to obtain a closer surveillance on Exercise Dust Devil I.

Exercise Dust Devil I. Hockey match between this station and St. Jovite; score St. Joviet 5, Lac St. Denis 4.

S/L Lee AFHQ PRO arrived with members of the National Film Board to make a motion picture of simulated operations in the tower for a future television broadcast.

A Farewell party was held in the Officers Mess for F/O McDowall, Adjutant, and F/L Borysuick, Station Supply Officer.

The Orderly Room staff held a farewell party for F/O McDowall.

S/L Stewart and 10 officers of 147 Squadron RAF, Benson, UK arrived on this station for a goodwill and familiarization visit.

Members of 2401 and 2450 AC&W (Aux.) Squadrons arrived for a weekend training visit.

A hockey match was held on this station between RCAF and Mont Rolland; score Mont Rolland 5, RCAF 5.

F/L Ronnie arrived to take up his duties as COpsO.

A Mess Dinner was held in the Officers Mess, W/C Braham of ADCHQ was the guest speaker.

Lt. Nichols and Lt. Hill of 764 Squadron USAF arrived from St. Albans, Vt. On a cross training and goodwill visit. G/C Bray, S/L Brachen, S/L Monnen and W/C McKnight arrived to inspect the Rec. Hall.

A party was held in the Rec. Hall for Operations personnel who would be on duty over the Christmas holidays. Refreshments were served.

F/O McCaffery arrived to take up her duties as Station Adjutant.

A Children’s Christmas party was held in the Rec. Hall, complete with Christmas tree, refreshments and gifts. F/O Butt as Santa Claus distributed the gifts.

Christmas Day. All Officers were invited to the Sgts. Mess in the morning. Officers then served the dinner in the Airmen’s Mess in the traditional manner.

A party sponsored by General Electric was held in the Officers Mess.

A New Year’s Eve dance was held in the Officer’s Mess; a Station dance was held in the Rec. Hall. Both places being suitably decorated for the occasion.

New Years Day. Sgts. were invited to the Officer’s Mess in the morning, later the Officers served the dinner in the Airmen’s Mess in the traditional manner. The Commanding Officer’s levee was held in the afternoon, the mess being declared "open house" for local dignitaries.

Lac St. Denis defeated the RCMP in a basketball game; score 39 to 35.

A basketball game was held at RCAF Station St. Johns. Lac St. Denis women’s team won, men’s team lost.

Airwomen of this station were invited to a dance at RCAF Station St. Johns, Que.

A Sports night was held in the Rec. Hall against the Royal Montreal Regiment; honours were competed for in: Basketball, volleyball, broomball and badminton. Competition was keen making the undertaking very successful.

W/C Babeneau and F/O Little from 22 AC&W Squadron Halifax arrived for a visit to this station.

A Farewell party in the form of a Mess Dinner was held in the Officer’s Mess. Beer mugs were presented to F/O’s Cott, Roche and Paige who were transferred from this unit.

Members of 401 and 420 (Aux.) (F) Squadrons arrived on this station for a familiarization visit. Members of 2401 and 2450 AC&W (Aux.) Squadrons arrived on a weekend training visit.

A cross training program between USAF and RCAF was inaugurated with the first exchange of personnel between 764 Squadron St. Albans Vt and 11 AC&W Squadron Lac St. Denis. A basketball game was held in the Rec. Hall between RCAF Lac St. Denis and a team from the Royal Canadian Navy. Navy team won the game.

At the Laurentian Festival in St. Agathe, Que. Cpl. Baril of the Orderly Room staff was chosen beauty Queen of the Laurentians. AW Levesque was named Miss St. Adolphe. W/C Dupuis and Prof. Stolland of College Militaire St. Johns arrived on the station with a ski team of six cadets.

A day of competition with the ski team of cadets from College Militaire. A basketball game against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. RCMP won the game.

The inauguration of the first Integrated Anti Aircraft Artillery course, a joint Army – Air Force undertaking whereby members of both forces attended the Anti Aircraft school at Picton Ont. And later completed their course at 11 AC&W Squadron Lac St. Denis. This is the first course of its kind offered in Canada.

AM Sir Dermott Boyle C in C Fighter Command RAF arrived this station for a familiarization and goodwill visit. Accompanying the party were: A/C Roberts RAF, S/L Scandrett PSO and G/C Scott ADCHQ.

Bell Telephone show arrived on the station. This show, held in the Rec. Hall provided excellent and well appreciated entertainment.

Dr. Fairlie and Miss G Fulton of the Defence Research Board on a visit to the Operations site. First Anti Aircraft course arrived from Picton Ont. To complete the GCI portion of the course.

S/L Bourque ADCHQ Public Relations Officer arrived with members of Week-end Magazine to complete a new story on the daily activities of the airwoman. The final story complete with photographs (sample attached) portrayed the work, the accommodation and recreational facilities in the RCAF.

A conference and familiarization visit by members of the GObC was held on this unit. In attendance were: F/L Labbe CO 6 GObC, Three Rivers; F/O Godborit, 61 GObC Rimouski and F/O Veasey, 60 GObC St. Jerome, Que.

W/C McGill, S/L Leon and F/L Luton RAF from Dorval Overseas Ferry Unit arrived on the station for a familiarization visit. A St. Valentines dance was held in the Officers Mess and in the Rec. Hall. Refreshments were served, both places were decorated for the occasion. Cpl. J Baril was crowned Queen of the Laurentians at a carnival in the Belmont Hotel, St. Agathe, Que. A Guard of Honour made up of Airwomen from this station took part in the ceremony.

Members of 2401 AC&W Squadron (Aux.) arrived for a weekend training visit.

An exhibition of paintings was held in the Rec. Hall, Mr. Holgate RCA awarded the painting by Cpl. Faulkner the first prize.

An old time dance was held in the Rec. Hall. Refreshments were served. Among the guests were 16 cadets from College Militaire at St. Johns Que. Members of the Officers Mess were invited to a Mess Dinner at 2401 Squadron Montreal. This provided an excellent opportunity to meet members of our neighbouring auxiliary squadrons; an excellent time was had by all.

RCAF Station St. Hubert band provided an enjoyable band concert in the Rec. Hall.

F/O Hilton transferred from this unit as Support Officer to 2403 AC&WS (Aux.) Calgary, Alta.

Members of 423 AW (F) Squadron arrived on a familiarization visit. 67 Officers from RCAF Staff College arrived on a familiarization visit.

Lt. Col. Hillary, Capt. Carris, Capt. Hansen USAF and F/O Prentice arrived on this unit to discuss USAF – RCAF cross-training.

A Mess Dinner was held in the Officers Mess. The guest speaker, Major Croft, Royal Canadian Artillery spoke on the role of Anti-Aircraft in the defence of Canada.

F/C Miller and 7 officers from the RAF Flying College, Manby, UK arrived on a familiarization and goodwill visit. W/C Johnson, UK Air Liaison Officer and S/L Yarnell, ADC, accompanied the party. A hockey game between 11 AC&WS and 12 AC&WS Mont Apica, the score 1 – 1.

S/L Perrodeau and pilots of 438 F (Aux.) Squadron Montreal arrived on the station for a familiarization visit.

S/L Grant, F/L Bassen and F/O Rietelle from 2402 AC&WS (Aux.) Winnipeg, arrived on this unit for a familiarization visit.

A Tabloid of sports was held in the Rec. Hall. The Commanding Officer and other officers of the unit acted as judges and awarded the prizes. Refreshments were served at the end of the evening. This was a very successful undertaking.

Second Integrated Anti-Aircraft Artillery course commenced.

St. Patrick’s Day. A formal dinner-dance was held in the Officer’s Mess, a dance in the Sgts. Mess and a station dance in the Rec. Hall, both Messes and the Rec. Hall were decorated for the occasion.

Exercise Dust Devil II.

F/O Nourse and F/O Hilton were presented with beer mugs at a farewell party in their honour in the Officers Mess. W/C Lawler and F/L Francis from 423 Squadron arrived on this unit to discuss methods of control and make recommendations re GCI methods.

Mr. McNeill, Mr. Davis, A/C Long, W/C Holmes and W/C Nichol arrived to discuss the proposed new buildings on the station.

G/C Schroeder, W/C McNee, W/C Spear, W/C Tett arrived on the station to discuss Welfare and Administrative problems.

S/L Fee, protestant Chaplain, arrived to conduct a 3 day Protestant Mission.

G/C Carling-Kelly arrived on the Station from No. 1 Group HQ Montreal for a goodwill and familiarization visit.

A dance was held in the Rec. Hall to commemorate the 2^nd anniversary of 11 AC&W Squadron. Refreshments were served.

Bishop Frenette from St. Jerome arrived on the station to conduct Confirmation and First Communion services for RC dependents. Refreshments were served at the completion of the services.

A/C Cameron, S/L Dempsey and S/L Goodwin arrived on this unit from AFHQ.

W/C Welsh and W/C Jackson on a visit to this unit to make recommendation on the lighting in the Ops building. Sector Telecommunications Conference was held on this unit. W/C Gwinn and Telecomm Officers from other stations and squadrons were present.

Personnel of 2401 AC&W (Aux.) Squadron arrived on a weekend training visit.

Third Integrated Anti-Aircraft course commenced. S/L Yarnell arrived on this unit to discuss Quality Control and its application to the AC&W System.

W/C Labelle arrived for 2 days for the Annual Supply Inspection.

A stag night was held in the Officers Mess. Refreshments were served; a very successful and enjoyable evening was had by all.

14 Officers and 16 other ranks arrived from 2450 AC&W (Aux.) Squadron Sherbrooke, Que. For a weekend training exercise.

S/L Yarnell and staff arrived to discuss the possibility of ECM exercises at 11 AC&WS.

Mess Dinner in the Officers Mess. G/C Patrick as guest speaker, emphasized the importance of our radar defences in relation to the Atomic Bomb.

A games night was held in the Officers Mess with the Officers competing against the Sgts. Games included: darts, bridge, cribbage and ping pong. Refreshments were served. The evening was very successful.

W/C Scott arrived on a goodwill visit.

S/L Bing and F/O Hawks of 423 Squadron arrived on a familiarization visit.

A tabloid of sports was held in the Rec. Hall, points being awarded for winners of individual sports. Crew seven won on total points. Resumption of Controllers course at Tyndall AFB Florida. F/O Todd being the first of our U/T Controllers to proceed on course.

W/C Jackson CO 11 AC&W Squadron proceeded to Clinton Ontario on a guided missile course.

F/O Kitching arrived from Falconbridge, Ont. for 2 weeks TD.

AVM James, AOC ADC, visited this unit. A parade and inspection was held at 1015 hours. At the completion of the inspection, the AOC expressed his approval of the standard of deportment on this station. In the afternoon AVM James visited the Operations site. At 1900 hours a cocktail party was held in the Officers Mess, AVM and Mrs. James being the guests of honour. The opportunity of personally meeting AVM James was greatly appreciated by all officers of the unit.

P/O P Harris arrived for contact training pending the opening of RCAF Station St. Sylvestre. Major Moore, USAF, Major Dott of DDP arrived with party to discuss installations of VHF/UHF channels.

W/C Jackson, F/O Arnold, F/O Bonneau and F/O McLean attended Open House at the National Research Council, Ottawa.

Some officers of this unit attended a Mess Dinner at 2401 AC&W Squadron, Montreal.

Officers of 2401 AC&W (Aux.) Squadron arrived this unit for weekend training exercise.