Moisie, QC

Following the official ‘taking over’ of the unit by ADC in September 53, the unit received its first visit from the AOC, A/V/M James, accompanied by a party of five on 16 December. This was strictly an informal visit of the AOC to see the new addition to the ranks of ADC.

The usual Christmas and New Year functions were held in the airmen’s mess with the CO and the five officers on strength at that time, carrying out the mess orderly duties for the festive occasions.

As this unit had taken over the accounting from 11TSU Montreal, the 8^th of January 1954 saw the fist SOAF Audit arriving to stay for a three day period.

The 11^th of January saw many smiles light up the faces of the personnel, when the first woman officer F/O R Blisner, Nursing Sister, arrived on posting from Uplands and took over the MIR from the Med A who had been running things until that time.

On 13 of January the Quonset hut previously used for ME storage was converted by voluntary labour into a sports centre, which lifted station morale to quite an extent, allowing for volley-ball and badminton, as well as other indoor sports.

The 23^rd of January brought the Station CE Officer, from Uplands, P/O JV Guntensperger.

On 2 Feb, F/O E Cott arrived with his family on transfer from Lac St. Denis, the second Fighter Controller to arrive at this station. He took over the position of CAdO from F/O GW Young to release him for duty as COpsO in the tower.

F/O Meyer arrived on TD from Falconbridge on 8^th of February to fill in for F/O Young while he was recuperating from losing his appendix. A point worth mentioning here is that this area seems to be good (or bad) for appendicitis, as there have been a least a dozen cases that have been taken to the local hospital from this unit and have returned minus the aforementioned appendage.

On 9^th of February, F/O Mockler arrived on transfer from Hamilton to take over as SSO from F/O N Young, who was soon to leave for Alberta.

The Army exercise "Loup Garou" held in this area, did not affect the unit as active participants, but the army personnel were attached for rations, and the unit ambulance was used to some avail during the parachute phase of the exercise.

The ADC Calibration team arrived to check the operations end of the unit and this coincided with the liaison visit from the Commanding Officer of 221 Squadron Sydney, F/L Lomas, and the Acting COpsO of 221 Squadron, F/O Kerr, on the 11^th of February.

The 19^th of February saw the first of the weekly CO’s parades with once again a comparative lift in station morale.

F/O N Young, our ex SSO was posted to Namao, Alta., leaving the unit on the 22^nd of February.

Amongst melting snow and rain, on the 1^st of March, F/O Anthony, Ftr/Ctr and his wife arrived on the station on a transfer from COC.

On 19 of March, the officers’ team finished the Bowling League playoffs in first place, ending a very successful season that started off with every team using whoever could roll a bowling ball down the alley, to the extent that some wives of personnel were inveigled into playing; to the chagrin of some of our better male players, especially when the girls put up some very good scores.

PMQ inspections were commenced on the 11^th of March, to be continued throughout the year, as well as when any MQs were vacated by transfers.

On 12^th of March, F/O Anthony was appointed as Acting Adjutant to help out the admin side of the station, which left F/O Young on his own in the tower.

G/C Ingles, and a party of eight other officers, arrived on TD from AFHQ on 17 March, for a CE conference, which was followed on the 18^th of March by a dining-in night in their honour.

They were followed on the 22^nd of March by a TD visit from AFHQ of G/C Schroeder and party on personnel admin liaison and familiarization visit.

With all this TD going on, the CO can COpsO left the station of TD on the 2^nd of April for liaison visits with Chatham and Sydney.

On 3^rd of April the first wedding was held on the unit, when LAC J Breton married a local girl, and the Social Centre on station was utilized as reception room for the occasion.

The CO and COpsO returned from TD with a batch of new ideas for making life more interesting on the station, on the 9^th of April.

On the 13^th of April the old adage of 13 being an unlucky number was given a basis of fact (in some people’s mind) in that Northern Allowance was cut off at the unit, as well as free dependents Medical and Dental benefits. Strangely enough we survived.

Hurrah, Spring has arrived, the date is 20 Apr and sand has been seen through the snow and slush around the area.

The SOAF Audit Board arrived on 27 Apr and after carrying out their normal duties, departed.

On the 9^th of May, the Travelling Organization and Establishment Board came in on TD for a conference and a first hand check on the problems of organization and establishment on units of this type. They managed to finish up by the 11^th of May and departed to the next unit on their schedule.

The unit received a flying visit from the Command Welfare Officer, F/O Gordon on the 12^th of May. A welcome surprise, which we hope will be repeated in the near future for a slightly longer period.

On 26 of May, S/L Forbes-Roberts, and S/L Quint arrived on TD from ADCC Chatham to cement closer liaison between ADCC and this unit.

The last promotion list affected:-

The station strength stands at 11 officers, 126 airmen, plus 37 wives and children (too numerous to mention, as the score goes up daily).

The Officer establishment and positions held are as follows: