Pagwa, ON

APPENDIX B

to Historical Report

RCAF Station Pagwa

32363 F/L SA Dukes, Tech Tel, and 232430 F/O AJ Pchajek Supply arrived as advance party to prepare and plan hand-over of USAF AC&W Squadron to RCAF Station Pagwa.

47463 F/L DC Eggington arrived to assume duties of SAO.

Station became self-accounting for materiel.

Station became self-accounting for M&I.

Station became self-accounting for pay.

A large door in the MSE Section fell, seriously injuring Cpl. GW Snider and LAC Shaddock. These airmen were flown to a hospital in Kapuskasing by USAF aircraft.

7514 S/L WR Shearer and 13312 F/L JAM Whitelaw arrived at unit.

Official handing-over ceremony was held. Major WW Scroggins USAF CO turned the station over to S/L WR Shearer RCAF. Official guests included: Col. Devanier from Sault Sector, G/C Bocking from Duluth Sector and local dignitaries. (See Annex 1).

232430 F/O AW Pchajek was appointed Recreation Officer and Public Relations Officer.

An ME store-room was set up in the MSE section to provide more effective and efficient operation of the ME Section.

On 2 Jun 63, when USAF 913^th AC&W Squadron became RCAF Station Pagwa, the following facilities were received:

1. 2 large - 10 pin bowling alleys;
2. an outdoor tennis court;
3. 2 table tennis sets;
4. 2 pool tables;
5. a weight lifting room;
6. an assortment of balls, bats and equipment; and
7. a local radio station.

First Commanding Officers’ parade and inspection held on unit.

The AOC ADC visited the unit for a formal Annual Inspection. The official party consisted of the following officers from ADCHQ:

• AVM MM Hendrick AOC ADC
• G/C AR Sinclair Comptroller
• G/C CL Olson SPSO
• G/C RK Hollingsworth CTSO
• G/C TJ Powell Reg Surgeon
• S/L JP Desrochers Reg Surg Staff
• S/L E Lee SORS

Exercise Big Mac "C" maximum effort exercise.

Installation of the UPX-14 was completed.

Efforts were commenced to obtain a curling rink due to serious limitation of winter sports.

An Inter-Section baseball league was set-up; this was followed by a station team which beat the RCAF Station Lowther in zone semi-finals, and went on to place 2^nd in the zone finals.

Trade advancement was commenced for all personnel writing trade exams in October.

All operational training exercises were cancelled for this month.

G/C A Houle, Deputy Commander Sault Sector, visited Pagwa accompanied by a group of USAF Officers.

Sgt. PJ Mahood began SIT course at Station Clinton.

1 Aug 63 26387 S/L JC Reid assumes command of RCAF Station Pagwa vice 7514 S/L WR Shearer.

Representatives of ADCHQ CE Branch visited the unit.

F/O AJ Frass ADCHQ Food Services visited the unit.

AOC A Booking Deputy Commander Duluth Sector accompanied by RCAF and USAF specialist officers arrived to conduct briefings for station personnel.

Exercise Big Blast. Maximum effort exercise.

Exercise Swift Kick II.

Installation of Mod OA-2325/A was completed and taken over in Aug 63.

S/L JC Reid proceeded on a visit to Colorado Springs.

F/L Murray, MO from North Bay paid a visit to carry out medical exams.

Exercise Sauk Dance.

Five pin bowling equipment was obtained to complement the large 10 pin equipment and a five pin winter league was started.

The Supply Section was modified to improve internal organization, control and security.

Facilities were set up in the ME Hanger to accommodate badminton, volleyball and basketball. An intersection league was et up in volleyball and arrangements were made for casual games of badminton and basketball.

Modifications are underway at the GATR site to relocate the furnace from the ceiling to an extension being constructed on the west side of the building.

Four airmen from the GATR section started courses at RCAF Station Clinton. LAC Brymer, LAC Campbell were on the Pole Climbing course and LAC’s Green and Truman were on the Digital Techniques course.

Cpl. Lehman and LAC Lapierre started OA2325 course at Antigo AFS, Wisconsin.

A four team intersection flag football league was started following improvements to the playing field. The season was kicked off by a large parade and an East-West game. A beauty queen was chosen from the near-by Indian village to preside over the ceremonies. S/L JC Reid, the CO of the Station kicked off the first ball to open the season. The station team was chosen which went on to beat RCAF Station Lowther in the semi-finals and to place 2^nd in the zone finals.

Capt. W Sinclair RCDC visited the unit to carry out dental examinations.

Associate Minister’s Visit: The Associate Minister, Mr. Lucien Cardin, accompanied by the AOC and other Air Force dignitaries visited this unit to witness first-hand the situation at a "have-not" unit. They were most interested in local conditions, recreational facilities and isolation allowance.

The Associate Minister upon his arrival inspected the Guard of Honour accompanied by the Guard Commander F/O AW Pchajek. He was escorted on his tour of the unit by the CO, S/L JC Reid.

Top Rung I - maximum effort exercise.

Can Du West - maximum effort exercise.

Supply building renovated to meet working requirements.

Party of officers arrived from ADCHQ CE Branch to conduct inspection of station facilities.

52906 F/O K Drolet arrived and assumed duties of Maint. O.

F/L A Jagoe NDefO from ADCHQ arrived to test the station EDP.

Snowtime II - exercise.

SAGE Mode IV communications installed.

130775 F/L G Sicard reported in as the first DMCC officer at the unit, and assumed the position of SCOO. DMCC/Ops personnel were made responsible to the SCOO. F/O B Abbott left for Station Centralia to undertake the Tech Tel course.

Sgt. PJ Mahood and Cpl. GS McRitchie received ECCM training at Duluth AFB, Minn.

Big Blast - exercise.

An ice rink was set up for casual skating and for challenge games in hockey and broomball. Hockey games will be played weekly between the Indian billage and the Station.

ADCHQ ME Staff carried out the annual inspection of the ME facilities at Pagwa.

Mute VII - exercise.

CE Preventative Maintenance concept put into operation to effect a higher standard of maintenance.

Major N Burgess RCPC paid a visit to unit to inspect postal facilities.

Snowtime II - exercise.

Cpl. Munroe completed the ADC management course

Winnebago Feather Roman One - Exercise.

130775 F/L G Sicard is appointed Station Public Relations Officer vice 232420 F/O AW Pchajek.

F/O W Harrison Accounts arrived from Armstrong to conduct a cash count.

Sauk Dance Roman 3 - Maximum effort exercise.

F/L RV Crook and F/L GR Wonnacott ADCHQ/SOPA arrived to carry out annual M&I Inspection.

The "Otis Notice", Otis Air Force Base 3 newspaper invited this unit to submit an article on Station Pagwa for inclusion in their Air Force Travelogue series.

243930 F/L R Tetarenko reported in to assume DMCC duties. Upon arrival he was appointed NBWO and EDP co-ordinator, and went to Camp Borden for the NBWO course.

51198 F/O WJ Dean reported to assume DMCC duties.

S/L JC Reid attended a meeting at AFHQ under the sponsorship of DOT. The meeting concerned the proposed handover of DOT facilities at Pagwa.

S/L WR Palmer ADCHQ/SOPA arrived at Pagwa to conduct inspection of recreational facilities.

As of Dec 63 all recreational facilities are being fully utilized including broadcasting (local) on WBR (World’s Best Radio). Unfortunately at this date, the unit is no further ahead in its procurement of a curling rink in spite of continuous efforts since Jun to obtain one.

Desk Top VI - simulated system training.

Top Rung Roman Two - maximum effort. F/O Smith reported in to assume DMCC duties.

The CO, S/L JC Reid, accompanied by F/L G Sicard, WO1 Power, LAC Stan Gagnon, distributed to our Cree Indian neighbours, clothing received from the Catholic Women’s League of the Station Trenton, Ontario. This donation had been arranged by WO1 Keith Saddlemyre, of Station Trenton, and airlifted to Pagwa with the kind permission of G/C Lupton of ATC.

The Indians of the local village were entertained to movies in our Station Theatre. This was followed by presentation of gifts valued at about a dollar fifty, plus candies and soft drinks. The kids and their parents witnessed carol singing by our "Live Five" group (F/O Drolet, F/O Pchajek, F/O Dueck, F/O McDavid and Mr. Boucher). Following this, the CO distributed about one hundred pairs of skates sent to us by North American Insurance agent, Mr. Roy McKeown, in co-operation with Toronto Radio Station CKEY.

F/L Tetarenko’s promotion to the rank of F/L is announced.