Pagwa, ON

1994 - General History - Paul Ozorak

In the early 1950s, the United States Air Force established a radar station just west of the village of Pagwa River. Pagwa Air Station was the location of the 913th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron which had as some of its earlier equipment an FPS-3 Search, a TPS-502 Height-Finder and an FPS-502 Back-Up Search Radar. Pagwa first reported to Sault Ste. Marie Air Defence Sector Headquarters but with NORAD boundaries changing in the 1960s, it was later tied into the 29th Region at Duluth, Minnesota. Interceptor support was provided by KI Sawyer Air Force Base in northern Michigan. In June 1963, the establishment became RCAF Station Pagwa and the 913th AC&W Squadron was replaced by 37 Radar Squadron. Station strength in 1964 was 175 military personnel and 18 civilians. The station closed in October 1966 because of redundancy with RCAF Stations Armstrong and Lowther taking over its coverage area.

Station Pagwa was one of the few installations not visited by the author. The road leaving Highway 11 is not conductive to tourism and VIA Rail no longer passes through the town. Apparently, all the buildings have been removed or destroyed.

-- Paul Ozorak