Pagwa, ON

All personnel who are to be assigned to EDAF Canadian AC&W Squadrons are placed in interim TDY to the 575^th Air Defence Group, Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, for the purpose of overseas processing and issue of arctic clothing. Personnel are to report to the Base Overseas Processing Center, Building #362, for "Pinetree Processing" between the hours of 0800 and 1700. At all other times, personnel should report to Building #305, Headquarters Squadron Section, 575^th Air Defense Group.

Personnel may travel to Selfridge Air Force Base by privately owned vehicle (TPA); however, authority must be contained in reassignment orders. Personnel being assigned to the 912^th AC&W Squadron, Ramore, Ontario, Canada, may continue travel to that station from Selfridge Air Force Base by privately owned vehicle, and again the authority for TPA must be contained in the reassignment orders. Personnel being assigned to the 913^th AC&W Squadron, Pagwa, Ontario, Canada, and to the 914^th AC&W Squadron, Armstrong, Ontario, Canada, are not authorized to travel by privately owned vehicle from Selfridge Air Force Base to these sites. Personnel assigned to these units must dispose of their privately owned vehicles prior to departure from Selfridge Air Force Base.

Upon arrival at the overseas processing center, personnel will receive a complete briefing concerning their overseas processing and future assignment. Processing will consist mainly of a physical examination to include dental check, issue of arctic clothing and a complete personnel records check. Processing is usually completed in 3 working days if personnel do not require additional medical or dental attention.

Personnel who were not paid in full for the month preceding the month of arrival at Selfridge Air Force Base may receive the balance of pay due for that month. Partial payment arrangements will be made for personnel who are required to remain at Selfridge Air Force Base an excessive amount of time due to required dental work, etc. Travel pay for expenses incurred through travel to Selfridge Air Force Base and payment for leave rations will be paid at final unit of assignment in Canada.

Passes are normally granted for personnel, upon request, if the pass does not interfere with overseas processing schedule or departure date to Canada. Weekend passes are usually granted from 1700 hours Friday to 0750 hours the following Monday.

No dependent housing is available at the site, and it is strongly recommended that assigned personnel do not have their dependents join them at the site. Due to complete lack of dependent housing, concurrent travel of dependents is not authorized, nor is authority granted for dependents to join personnel after arrival. However, dependent guests may visit this site in a tourist status, and receive accommodations in the BOQ on a space available basis. Due to the lack of adequate medical facilities, no children under twelve (12) years of age are invited as guests. All visits by dependents to this site must be approved by the Squadron Commander.

Travel by privately owned vehicles is not authorized from Selfridge Air Force Base to the 913^th AC&W Squadron. It is strongly recommended that personnel do not have their vehicles shipped to them at the 913^th AC&W Squadron. Several times during the course of the year, roads are impassable. Also, the conditions of the roads cause excessive wear on an automobile. The nearest storage facilities are located in Hearst, 75 miles distant, and the rates are excessively high.

Your complete mandatory clothing allowance must accompany you to the 913^th AC&W Squadron, and you will find a need for both winter and summer uniforms while in Canada. Civilian clothing may be worn during all seasons of the year; however, you are cautioned against bringing expensive or dress civilian clothes. You will find that "Levi’s", plaid sports shirts, and "knock-around" civilian clothing will fulfill most of your needs at this site.

All items accompanying an individual will be cleared through customs, duty free. Radios, electronic razors, cameras, fishing tackle and hunting equipment are useable at the site.

No commercial telephone facilities exist. Mail and telegraph are the only means of communication. All letters must have Canadian stamps. Incoming mail arrives on Wednesday and Saturday of each week; outgoing mail leaves Thursday and Sunday of each week. Your new mailing address will be:

A/2C John Doe
AF 44563893
913^th AC&W Squadron
Pagwa, Ontario, Canada

The Post Exchange is small but well stocked with all the mandatory items needed by you, i.e., toiletries, washing supplies, writing materials, cards, candies, etc. American cigarettes are available.

The dining halls are of Royal Canadian Air Force design, with separate wings for officers, non-commissioned officers and airmen. The dining halls are cafeteria style. You will find the food (RCAF rations) equal to or better than what you may have enjoyed at other military installations during the course of your service life.

Officers: Facilities are quite modern and adequate and include one single room for each officer. Shower and toilet facilities are shared by two officers. Rooms are furnished with floor lamps, rugs, night tables, writing desks, hampers and lounging chairs.

Airmen: Single rooms are available for senior NCO’s. Double and triple man rooms are available to junior NCO’s and airmen. Barracks facilities include automatic washers and dryers, ironing equipment, luggage space, showers and latrines. Rooms are furnished with bureaus, rugs, writing desks, lounging chairs and mirrors.

A consolidated NCO Open Mess is available at this station and maintains liquor and beer bars in the Officers, NCO’s and Airmen Lounges. Dues are currently $1.00 per month, and airmen of the lower four pay grades are invited as associate members. The NCO Mess provides other facilities which supplement Unit Welfare activities.

Three medical technicians (enlisted) are assigned to maintain a base dispensary for first aid treatments only. Patients requiring emergency care are air evacuated.

Leaves to the United States are authorized and begin upon departure from the site. Passes are granted to deserving personnel.

Winters are cold and extend from the middle of November to the first of May. The arctic clothing you are issued at Selfridge Air Force Base is more than adequate to combat the cold you will encounter. The grounds clear of snow in May, and the mild summer extends from June to October.

No scheduled religious services are conducted, due to the non-availability of ministers and priests. Religious activities are limited to services conducted by base personnel and visiting USAF Chaplains or clergymen.

A minimum of three films are shown weekly for an admission charge of $.25 each. The NCO Mess supplements with additional films procured through Toronto distributors. The films vary, with recent as well as older films.

The site has a travelling library consisting of some 350 cloth bound books. Approximately 500 pocket books are also available. Most of these are fictional and only a few are of a technical nature.

Activities during the summer season include softball, volleyball, hiking, boating, swimming and excellent hunting and fishing. Sports to be enjoyed during the winter months include ice skating, snow shoeing, skiing and fishing. Activities enjoyed by personnel throughout the year include basketball, pool, ping pong etc.