Major General B. J. Webster, Chief of Staff, United States Air Defence Command, handed over #639 Aircraft Warning Station at Lowther to Air Vice Marshall M.M. Hendrick, Air Officer Commanding Royal Canadian Air Force Defence Command, in a demonstration witnessed by several hundred spectators.
General Webster and Air Vice Marshall Hendrick were met at Lowther Air Station by the USAF Officer Commanding, Major Harold Peasley and the new RCAF Commanding Officer, Wing Commander I.D. Tenove. The General took the air salute, then inspected the guard.
In his remarks on this historic occasion, the general said that the smooth transfer of the radar station on the Pinetree Line was another example of the cooperation that had existed between Canada and the United States for a great number of years.
At precisely 1:45 p.m. the Stars and Stripes and the Canadian Ensign, fluttering on adjacent flag poles, were lowered simultaneously. Then the RCAF Ensign and the Canadian Ensign were slowly raised as the guard of honor presented arms, and officers and men from both countries saluted. At that point in time, the USAF base some 40 miles from Kapuskasing, became Canadian.
Air Marshall Hendrick in turn inspected the guard and took the salute. In officially accepting command of the station for Canada he said, "I am happy to report that in every case, mutual records indicate that the stations have continued to prosper under their new operators." He also stated that as long as the enemy had manned bombers, measures would have to be taken to defend against them.
The change of command ceremonies went off with clocklike precision and featured an RCAF honor guard from St. Hubert, Quebec, and RCAF Central Command band from Ottawa. Both USAF and RCAF personnel took part in the flag raising and lowering ritual which the large crowd on hand watched with more than the usual display of emotion.
The many invited guests were entertained at a reception in the recreation hall at the base, following the signing of the official documents.
The new commanding officer and W/C Tenove, expressed their pleasure at meeting so many of the local people and said that all RCAF personnel hoped to establish relationships with the community that would be of benefit to all.
As a token of good public relations which existed between the townspeople and the USAF personnel during their tenure on this northern outpost of the Pinetree Line, the Americans dedicated a welcome sign at the western entrance of town to the people of Kapuskasing and all who might visit the community.
The two last commanding officers while Lowther base was under US command were Major Arthur Fox and Major Harold Peasley.
Major Fox will be remembered not only because of his qualities as a leader and as a man who liked to make friends, but because of a personal tragedy when one of his children was killed in a school bus-truck collision.
Major Peasley endeared himself to the community as a man vitally concerned with the welfare of his own men and an avid interest in any activity that was important to the district in general.
--This article was obtained from a copy of the Northern Times, dated Wednesday, June 23rd, 1971. The newspaper was provided to the Pinetree Line web site by Julie Latimer in May 1998.