Parent, QC

1962 – Narrative Report – National Archives of Canada


Narrative Report
RCAF Station Parent
1 Dec 62 to 31 May 63

11 Dec 62

STM 401, a 3 hour NNR exercise was run starting at 1200 local. The load was heavy through-out the problem.
Five dependants attended the Operations Guided Tour.

12 Dec 62

The final Bingo of the year was held and approximately 210 persons attended. The Jackpot was allowed to go and prized consisted of Turkeys, Hams and Chickens.

13 Dec 62

Mr. Bob Claydon of Burroughs and a crew of four Burroughs technicians arrived to relocate our RHI’s and associated equipment from the second floor to the DMCC area.

16 Dec 62

The first part of the Inter-Section Basketball League terminated on the 16 Dec and will resume on the 16 Mar 63. This league was considered a success.
The Children’s Wire Swim Meet was held with approximately 35 children taking part, from the ages of 7 to 15 years. Scorers and Timers were provided by Airmen and Airwomen of the Unit.

18 Dec 62

Catseye 6 was held this day. The first target appeared at approximately 1115 local. The problem was relatively light for surveillance but was a generally good exercise.

20 Dec 62

Mr. Kipp and Mr. McLachlan of CNT Toronto and Mr. Plamondon of CNT Senneterre visited to carry out checks on our CNT landlines.
Curling facilities were available in mid-Dec and 3 exhibition bonspeils were held with relative success. Curling schedule for Men’s, Ladies, and Mixed League to commence 7 Jan 63.
Members of the various inter-section hockey teams commenced practice on the Station Rink in late Dec with scheduled play to start 6 Jan 63. A Pee-Wee league was organized and set up on the Tennis Court.

21 Dec 62

The PMQ Council sponsored their annual Children’s Christmas Party. A maximum turnout with both schools participating in Christmas caroling. Help was provided by PMQ members and several Airwomen.
Publication for the play "Arsenic and Old Lace" was received this month and publicity was made up asking for interested persons and volunteers for its production. It is intended to produce the play for late March or early April.

31 Dec 62

New Year’s Dances were held on the Unit for the respective Messes with the Airmen holding their dance in the Rec. Centre. Attendance was good.
Total runs for month of December - 407.
Operational establishment as of 31 Dec 62:

COpsO

S/L Harvey

Ops O

F/L Wybou

Stands O

F/L Vaughan

SGTO

F/L Schulte

Flt Cmdr #1 Flt

F/L Clark

D/Flt Cmdr

F/O Turner

IND

F/O Frederick

 

F/O Patterson

 

F/O McKenna

Flt Cmdr #2 Flt

F/L Robinson

D/Flt Cmdr

F/O Villeneuve

IND

F/O Gumpert

 

F/O Buckler

 

F/O Barr

Flt Cmdr #3 Flt

F/L Parker

D/Flt Cmdr

F/O Clough

IND

F/O Norman

 

F/O Legrange

 

F/O O’Neill

2 Jan 63

Mr. Ron Magson of Western Electric Air Defence Engineering Services arrived as Site coordinator for SAGE sub-systems and systems testing.

4 Jan 63

The GSM and radar report scopes were oriented to true to conform to the SAGE configuration. Control scopes only remained on magnetic.

6 Jan 63

Inter-section Hickey got underway this date.

7 Jan 63

The Station Curling Club commenced their various league games with 9 teams in the Ladies, 15 teams in the Mixed and 17 teams in the Men’s league. Bonspiels are to be held each Saturday between the various messes.

8 Jan 63

Mr. Bob Matkins of WE ADES arrived to carry out radar peaking for SAGE. He departed 18 Jan.

9 Jan 63

A crew of seven #1 CEU personnel arrived to incorporate an air-conditioning modification in the SAGE Annex. The Crew Chief was WO Bell. The crew expected to depart within 3 weeks but supply problems have delayed completion of the modification. The crew now expects to depart 15 Feb.
STM 605, a 3 hour problem, was run this morning.
The Ladies Broomball league commenced their league schedule. There are four teams in the league consisting of Crews 1, 2, 3 and the town of Parent.

12 Jan 63

The Inter-Mess Broomball league commenced play with all four messes entered in the league.
Work commenced on the Gym floor for reconditioning and varnishing. It was closed for five days.

14 Jan 63

The swimming pool closed on this date for general cleaning, painting and change of filters.

16 Jan 63

Station Bingo was held this date with good attendance.

18 Jan 63

STM 401, Junior Battle Staff, was run this morning.

21 Jan 63

The first meeting of the Winter Carnival Committee was held. It was decided that Inter-mess indoor and outdoor competitions, ice-sculpturing and Branch Queens would be the main events. Dates to be 11 to 15 Feb 63.

23 Jan 63

Senior Battle Staff STM 402 started at 1400 local for 3 hours. The problem was extremely heavy, particularly during the last 1 ½ hours. Unrealistic stream presented a problem.
Mr. Timmerman, Mr. Hellyer and Mr. Gillard all of Western Electric Company visited to discuss SAGE implementation.

25 Jan 63

STM - Surveillance only.

28 Jan 63

Mr. Phil Pote of Burroughs arrived to assume technician duties on the FST-2.

An initial meeting for the cast of "Arsenic and Old Lace" was held with a very reasonable turnout.

29 Jan 63

Mr. Bernie Langdon for Burroughs arrived to act as Burroughs Site Engineer in charge of FST-2.
Apex Alpha, a live exercise, was run this day. Targets were T-33, CF-100 and CF-101’s which appeared at 1215 local. The targets wave was heavy and realistic. The exercise was considered good.

30 Jan 63

Flt 3 wrote their Control Proficiency Exam.
Mr. Howard Moore of WE ADES arrived to work with Mr. Magson as site coordinators for SAGE sub-systems and systems testing.

31 Jan 63

Mr. Radcliffe of Burroughs arrived to assume technician duties on the FST-2.
Total intercepts for the month of January - 241.
Due to the closing of both gymnasium and swimming pool during this month, participation was not as high as usual. However, Curling, Skiing, Bowling, Hockey and Broomball continued as the main participation activities.

5 Feb 63

Desk Top V phase 2 was conducted this afternoon. Film start time was 1800 local and lasted for 3 hours. Major problems were track suppression which made correlation of "live vs. suppressed" extremely difficult. The track load was not too heavy.
S/L Lemkey and Mr. Peters of ADCHQ visited re TACAN Siting.

6 Feb 63

S/L Murchie from AFHQ visited the unit.

7 - 8 Feb 63

SOSup Inspection team visited Station Parent these dates. No observations were noted.

11 Feb 63

This date marked the opening of the 1963 Winter Carnival. (See Annex 1 to Appendix "A").

11 - 12 Feb 63

Major Hissem, NORAD HQ, Lt. Davis, Stewart AFB, NY and Mr. Shank, SAC HQ visited the unit to watch manual and Drumstick operation while live exercise Autumn Moon was in progress. Autumn Moon was cancelled.

12 Feb 63

Mr. Matkins of Western Electric ADES arrived to peak the GATR equipment for SAGE.

19 Feb 63

The CEU crew from Calgary departed for Lac St. Denis. The air conditioning modification in the SAGE Annex has now been completed.
S/L Harvey, COpsO, received word of his transfer to Station North Bay effective the end of April.

20 Feb 63

F/L Schulte departed on TD to ONS Edgar to attend an STP conference.
STM 402 was conducted.
Mr. Martin of CGE Toronto visited to conduct lectures on the FPS-507 magnetron.

28 Feb 63

Except for carnival week where normal league play in various sports were suspended, participation in all activities was normal.

2 Mar 63

An Auction Sale was held in the Rec. Centre. Items were provided by the Station Fund Trading Post and any persons wishing to sell their own items. Attendance was very good.
Shock Wave 8 was conducted this day. The siren sounded at 0700 local. The exercise ended at 1300 local.

5 Mar 63

This date saw the opening play for the Hockey Championships between Town and Uphill. Town proved to be too strong and won the series 3 games to 1. The league was considered very successful and worthwhile.
A no-notice STM was conducted this morning. The siren sounded at 0135 local and lasted till 0600 local.

6 Mar 63

In a sudden death semi-final broomball game, Town of Parent girls defeated Crew 1 girls 4-0 and won their bit to enter the finals against Crew 2 who had defeated Crew 3. The finals with the Town vs. Crew 2 went to three games. The final game lasted 3 full periods plus 7 overtime periods before a winner was declared. Crew 2 fired the winning goal in the 7th overtime period and put them ahead 2-1 to win the Ladies Broomball Championship.

7 Mar 63

The Inter-Mess Broomball finals got under way between the Officers and Airmen. The Airmen, strong throughout the season, came through with 2 games to 0 in a best of 3 game series.
On the Commanding Officers Parade the MSEO was presented with the Air Defence Command Award of Honour for Distinguished Service to Safety in recognition of outstanding achievement in the Accident Prevention Programme by attaining an accident free driving record for the year 1962.

11 Mar 63

Ops Swordfish flight test trials for SAGE started this day.

13 Mar 63

Bingo was held this date with an attendance of 92 persons.

14 Mar 63

This date saw the closing of the three curling leagues on the station. In the mixed league, a rink skipped by FS Barber took top honors after ending the season tied for first place with S/L Harvey. In the Ladies league LAW Book’s team won the championship. The Men’s league was won by Mr. Charltre who was the skip of a civilian team from Town. The Curling Club operation this season was considered a great success. To round off the season, several Bonspiels were held in all three classes in conjunction with the Town Curling Club.

19 Mar 63

Swordfish 31-H-2 run from 1000 - 1600 local.

20 Mar 63

Bingo was held this date with an attendance of 99 persons. The jackpot was won in 56 numbers.
STM 402 was run this morning.

25 Mar 63

Swordfish 31-0-4 pattern was carried out.

26 Mar 63

Swordfish 31-H-2 pattern was carried out.

27 Aug 63

STM 605 was run starting at 1100 local.
A Euchre Card Party was held in the Rec. Centre this night with 20 people attending. It was decided to continue these card parties every Wednesday following Bingo week as interest is high.

28 Mar 63

Swordfish 31-0-4 pattern carried out.

31 Mar 63

Intercepts for the month - 398. Total for quarter - 915.
Due to warmer weather, many activities ceased around the middle of the month, such as hockey, curling, broomball and skiing.

1 Apr 63

The MSE Section now has 730 accident free driving days, and 396,813 accident free miles.

3 Apr 63

STM 401 was run this morning for 2 hours.

9 Apr 63

Vehicle #653A5-CR63 Staff Car arrived Station Parent on QTO #5244 dated 11 Mar 63.

10 Apr 63

STM 401 started at 1200 local for 3+00 hours. Heavy chaff made it a difficult problem.

16 Apr 63

STM 402 run this morning for 1+30 hours. It was a rehearsal for Montreal businessmen visiting NNRCC for the 18 Apr 63.

18 Apr 63

STM 402 started at 1400 local for 2+00 hours.

24 Apr 63

STM 605 run off for 2+00 hours. Very light traffic.
The Command Nuclear and Security Team under F/L Winchester conducted a security and Nuclear exercise.

25 Apr 63

Big Blast "O" was run with the siren sounding at 1850 local. Phase I - IP was approximately 2150 local. The traffic load was not too heavy. ECM experienced.
Phase II - was the Big Blast part and was very light.

29 Apr 63

The Air Staff Visiting Team consisting of S/L Beasleigh, F/L’s Jewitt, Bullock and Ferguson arrived for 4 days. F/L Chez from ONS was also in the group.

30 Apr 63

Total intercepts for the month - 327.

1 May 63

STM 402 was run for 2+00 starting at 0900 local. The Air Staff Evaluation Team evaluated Crew 3.
Swordfish 31-0-3 was carried out.

2 May 63

The Air Staff Evaluation Team debriefed their evaluation findings. The unit attained a mark of 85%, which, according to them, is the highest ever attained by an ADC unit. The following message was received from the AOC:
"My congratulations on the excellent results achieved by Station Parent during TAC Evaluations 29 Apr - 1 May 63. I am aware that these results can only be attained through hard work, meticulous and informed supervision and polished team work. Please convey my confidence in their initiative to sustain the effort."

6 - 7 May 63

The Play "Arsenic and Old Lace" was presented these two nights with a full house on both nights. The play was very well presented and acting was extremely well done.

9 May 63

The siren sounded for Big Blast Papa at 2030 local. The first IP was at 0200 local. ECM was light. The faker wave was quite heavy giving surveillance a great workout. Fade out came at 0240 local. It was considered a good exercise.

16 May 63

The siren sounded at 0815 local for Desk Top V Phase III. Start time was 1200 local, for 3+00 hours. The traffic load was not too heavy and was handled satisfactorily.

21 May 63

Catseye 7 was run this day. Big Noise D Apple Jack was declared at 1020Z. The first wave started at 1600 and ended at 1800 local. The traffic load was light and there was no problem. The second wave was from 2000 to 2200 local. The Boneyard C-119 sat over our nest on this wave.

29 May 63

STM 605 was run this morning for 2+30 hours.

30 May 63

The Station EDP was run this morning with all personnel spending an hour in the shelter.

31 May 63

Total runs for the month - 235.
Controller strength - 18

COpsO

F/L Wybou

Stands O

F/L Vaughan

SGTO

F/L Schulte

Crew 1

F/L Clark

 

F/O Frederick

 

F/O Patterson

Crew 2

F/O Villeneuve

 

F/O Barr

 

F/O Legrange

Crew 3

F/L Parker

 

F/O Hare

 

F/O O’Neill

Crew 4

F/O Clough

 

F/O Gumpert

 

F/O McKenna

Crew 5

F/L Robinson

 

F/O Buckler

Signed by:
(WC Kent) W/C
Commanding Officer
RCAF Station Parent, PQ