Parent, QC

Since commencement of operations 14 ACW Squadron has been fulfilling a limited Early Warning role 16 hours daily. The squadron’s status during the remaining hours of the day was classified as stand-by Early Warning; the reason for the reduced operational state being under establishment. By the end of December 1953, sufficient personnel were available to operate on a 24 hour basis. Consequently, the squadron became 24 hour operational on 4 Jan 54, with a limited Early Warning status. The responsibility for maintaining the 24 hour watch fell on four crews headed by Flying Officers, Monty, Short, Carter and Chenier, four of the six trained controllers on the station excluding the CO, W/C CC Underhill. The two remaining controllers being A/F/L GL Dumais and F/O G Ramsay; COpO and Training Officer respectively.

The increase in operational status put an added strain on the station services on the whole but, more so on the ME Section who were already battling against a variety of odds, consisting mainly of personnel shortage, topographical hazards and harsh climatic conditions guaranteed to test the best of men and material. The sharply angled road from Parent to the squadron site, coupled with icy road conditions and sub-zero temperatures, was the scene of a near major catastrophe on 10 Dec 53. A squadron bus with twenty passengers on board rolled over the edge of the road from Parent whilst making an early morning trip from town. In addition to three seriously injured passengers, twelve suffered minor injuries whilst the bus was a complete write off.

The squadrons geographical position is unique in the sense that it fringes on the airline routes; it is forty-five minutes flying time from Montreal and yet is deep in the heart of the Quebec bush. With this in mind W/C Underhill detailed the formation of a Search and Rescue Team to F/O Tjeltveit. Initially three teams were selected and equipment demanded for approximately twenty-eight men. The arrival of equipment for ten men necessitated the curtailing of this ambitious project to one team of six men, with four men acting as spares. In order to check the equipment and give experience to personnel unfamiliar with winter bush travel, a six man party led by W/C Underhill made the first trip into the bush on 5 Feb 54. The remaining members of the party were F/L KJ Southwood, F/Os C Tjeltveit, GE Carter, DS Berube and T Richardson.

The temperature on the day of the exercise was around minus 15 degrees, a temperature that would normally be classified as "chilly" but, the less experienced participants found that a parka, snow shoes, 30 lb. pack and a heavily laden toboggan were conducive to exertion and perspiration. After a strenuous treck, an excellent camp site was selected and personnel proceeded to make themselves at home. The specially designed nylon tent was found to be almost completely wind proof, and after a few abortive attempts quite easy to erect. W/C Underhill elected to sleep in a self designed and almost entirely self built lean-too with a southern exposure, and was accompanied in this venture by two other members of the party. The "living-out" members of the party had a very comfortable night’s rest as had the "tent-bound" party. Thus, both tent and sleeping bags were proved to be satisfactory. All equipment was put to the test on the ensuing day and satisfaction expressed at the quality throughout.

The lessons learned from this bush venture were that the worth of well made equipment is directly proportional to the skill of the operator, and that old saw, "Practice makes perfect", holds true in bush travel as in other pursuits or sports. Consequently, a bush travel and familiarization programme is being implemented; six men travelling into the bush every week-end. All personnel enjoy these outings which indicates a high percentage of hunters and would be hunters among station personnel.

Despite the many set backs and upsets synonymous with making a new station operational, personnel still found time and energy or organize and participate in various station entertainment projects. A four week period of experimenting and rehearsing culminated in a variety show staged by the airmen and airwomen on 17 Dec 53. This venture was largely sparked by P/O Rita Westwood, who was responsible for the production.

New Year’s Day a water main burst at a point in front of the Recreation Hall. By a bit of good fortune the weather was mild on this date and the break was repaired without too much difficulty. However, owing to the cutting off of water and heat to the Recreation Hall, quantities of perishables in the grocery store and emergency rations store were lost.

The month of January proved to be the coldest of the winter, and the lowest recorded temperature was 55 degrees below zero.

As previously recorded, the squadron had progressed from the original canteen to include a Combined Officers’ Sergeant’ Mess. On 1 Feb 54, the Officers’ Mess was officially opened and the former combined mess then took its rightful role as a Sergeants’ Mess.

The long winter was broken up in part by an unseasonable thaw in February and also, by two very successful station dances held on 12 February and 5 March. The RCAF Central Band visited the station for the latter dance.

Exercise "Heat Wave" scheduled for the 10 and 11 Feb but delayed until 12 Feb, proved a welcome respite from day to day routine of the squadron’s Early Warning role. This exercise called for a flight of B47 Strategic Air Command aircraft to overfly Central Sector, thereby testing defences and giving pilots and controllers welcome intercept experience. Contrary to expectations the "enemy" came out en masse making a very impressive but unconcealable target. In passing it may be mentioned that exercise "Heat Wave" was conducted whilst the temperature stood at a frigid twenty-eight degrees below zero.

In February the squadron’s All Star bowling team visited Senneterre and won a play-off with a team of that unit. Similarly the squadron’s hockey team played-off against Senneterre but, in this case, the tables were reversed. The squadron basketball team, although having had very little practice, made a creditable showing against the La Tuque team in two games, one of which was played at the squadron and one in the town of La Tuque.

Trade advancement lectures for operations personnel progressed during stand downs and maintenance periods under the direction of F/O G Ramsay. That the training programme was successfully completed is evident by the results of 17 Dec 53 trade examinations; low mark was 69%, average 73.4%, whilst the station and command high was 88%, the latter mark being set by A/Cpl. Malish of operations.

Before frigid February was ushered out, exercise "Cold Sweat" was launched on the 35^th of that month. Forces from USAF (SAC B47) were the target a/c, whilst 423 Sqn RCAF provided the friendly force of fighters. The operations order required B47s to enter number one area in the north west; maintain a south east track and be cleared of the area by 260015Z. 423 Sqn RCAF were ordered to have a/c available at 252230Z.

The first a/c participating in exercise "Cold Sweat" was picked up by 14 Sqn’s radar at 252330Z, and were identified as four B47 a/c of SAC. The last a/c of SAC to be tracked by 14 Sqn’s radar beam faded from the scope at 260002Z, the last a/c making a total of fifteen SAC B47s to be tracked by the squadron in thirty-three minutes. The careful planning, co-ordination and liaison between USAF and RCAF ADC may be gauged by comparison of the requirements stated in the operations order with the time of entry and departure from #1 Sector after ground speed, time of siting and fade are taken into consideration.

To digress from operational matters to a less serious but none the less important subject. For quite some time the CO had felt that the squadron should have a crest. Consequently a form of competition was initiated among the more artistic station personnel. A design submitted by F/O Mesure of operations was approved by the CO at the end of February. The winning design shows the silver stars of the Plough constellation superimposed upon a blue, offset radar grid. The motto, "Guardians of the North".

The month of March was very cold throughout the month and into the first week of April, temperatures hovered at 20 degrees below zero. Also, of interest in this month, a girl’s Brownie Pack was formed and also, the squadron was visited by the DPA at AFHQ, G/C WH Schroeder, accompanied by W/C TH Speer, W/C RJ Gordon and W/C JK Tett, DFC.

The first formal mess dinner and dance to be held in the Officers’ Mess, which had become a separate entity on 1 Feb 54, took place on 23 Apr 54. This date throughout the Christian world is set aside to commemorate St. George, the patron saint of England. The success of this formal dinner and dance was due largely to the efforts of F/L NS Greig, the mess’s first PMC.

In March the station was honored by the visit of His Grace, Archbishop Carrington of the Diocese of Quebec. Confirmation was administered to civilian residents of the town of Parent and to Service personnel’s dependents in the station theatre. Assisting His Grace was Canon CES Bown and the Reverend Mr. S Meade.

The 15^th of March saw a repetition of Toastmaster I of 6 Jan 54, in the name of Toastmaster II. Again 15’ diameter balloons of plastic and foil construction were released from Montana, USA. Escort was provided by B36, B47 and B29 a/c of SAC. ADC stations tracked the balloons and escorts across Canada, and kept in close liaison with USAF ADC. Valuable experience was gained in plotting, telling and general surveillance.

17 Mar 54, marked the successful culmination of a year’s endeavour to obtain bowling alleys on the squadron with the arrival of two alleys ready for installation. Two alleys were formally opened by the CO on 8 Apr. Of interest in the opening ceremony was the fact that the symbolic ribbon used for the occasion was the same ribbon that had been used for the same purpose in the opening of the canteen a little over a year previously. The revenue earned by the canteen at the time the construction workers were still on the squadron accounted in a great part for the financing of the alleys.

On completion of Toastmaster II, operations personnel readied themselves for exercise "Dust Devil". Scheduled for 20 and 21 March, this exercise was intended to be put into two parts but, unfortunately, Part I was cancelled due to unfavourable weather conditions. Consequently, it was not until 1132Z of 21 Mar that the first faker B36 was "painted" by the unit.

Traffic was brisk throughout the remainder of the exercise; the peak period being reached at 1500Z when eight faker tracks were on display. The last "Dust Devil" track faded at 2225Z on 21 Mar for a day’s total of sixty-four tracks; thirty-four of which were "Dust Devil" tracks.

Although constructed and equipped to perform a GCI function, the squadron had never operated as such due to service requirements and under establishment. Consequently, no controlling had been done by any fighter controllers since their arrival on the station. Credit for the first ground control of an a/c, therefore goes to F/O E Chenier, who controlled a CF-100 engaged in a height finder test run within the squadron’s sub-sector on 24 Mar 54.

The CF-100 engaged on the test of the ISG-98 height finder proved to be too fleet a target for calibration purposes. The results were, therefore inconclusive. On the arrival of HRI calibration equipment the following day, a request for another target a/c was sent through channels. Before closing the official record on the squadron life for the month of March, it is of interest to note that on 11 Mar a grant of $2,000.00 and a loan of $3,000.00 was gratefully received from the Central Institutes Fund.

The month of March closed without any conclusive proof as to the operational quality of the height range indicator. Several height readings were obtained, but without flight information which is available only to radar stations fulfilling a GCI role, these indicated heights were purely proof that the equipment was working but, "how correctly" was a question on everyone’s mind.

The dubiety was finally expelled on the afternoon of 25 Apr when several excellent height finder readings were obtained on two USAF B25 a/c engaged in electronic counter-measures with 14 Sqn’s sub-sector. The accuracy of the readings were substantiated by means of R/T contact with the flight leader. In passing, it may be mentioned that on completion of the exercise, the two a/c in question were "homed" to the squadron site by the senior controller where they gave a display of safe but comparatively low flying for seven or eight minutes. The display was greatly appreciated by all squadron personnel.

On 7 Apr, operations personnel were informed that on three consecutive Wednesdays, two C-45 a/c from 104 "K" Flight St. Hubert, would be made available to the squadron for GCI practice. This information was received with gratification as there had been no opportunity for controllers to exercise their skills since arrival at Parent.

On the day of the first scheduled exercise, F/O Ramsay won the honour of completing the first successful intercept on the unit. These exercises are now planned to continue through May and are awaited with a great deal of anticipation.

7 Apr 54, was noteworthy in that icy road conditions prevented personnel from reaching the Main Building. This was the first time that this situation had occurred. During this month notification was received of the transfer of F/O RN Senior to course with the USAF. Departure of this officer was the first break-up through normal service movements, of the original party at this squadron. From the very beginning this officer contributed greatly to the welfare and future of the squadron from his well directed energies in the field of entertainment and squadron committees.

During the winter the nursery in the squadron hospital was kept busy with the arrival of five new "members" to the squadron.

The month of April witnessed the coming of Spring, and as the sun began to dissipate the deep snow, the knowledge that Spring was not far off was a great stimulus to all. The ice went out in Lower Lake on 1 May, and with the coming of open water all interest turned to fishing. The most ambitious fishing expedition launched from the squadron took place in the week of 17 to 24 May when Flying Officers Berube and Spurr, and LACs Toth and Bourget, proceeded by canoe to Lake O’Neill, approximately two day’s journey north of Parent, and returned with a great catch of lake trout and speckled trout.

A cypher message on 5 May informed operations of exercise "Round House", scheduled for 7 through 11 May and promised a welcome break in the normal operational routine. Forces included were one hundred and twenty-three B47 and seventy-five KC97 a/c of USAF SAC; Goose Bay and Harmon Field being principal launching bases. RCAF fighter squadrons intended as participants in this exercise were listed as 440, 431 and 445 squadrons; the latter squadron moving from their Ottawa base to North Bay for the purpose of this exercise.

Since all of the above listed RCAF squadrons would be based within a 200 mile radius of Parent, it was assumed that 14 ACW Sqn would participate in a few intercepts. A cypher message of 8 May dispelled the roseate glow surrounding controllers on the squadron. This message stated: "Participation of RCAF a/c in exercise with SAC a/c is cancelled". A follow-up message originated approximately two hours after the a/m signal delayed the SAC overfly by 24 hours.

Participating as an early warning unit cannot compare to that of filling an active GCI role but, it was preferable to sitting on the side lines carrying out normal routine operations, and indications were that the next signal would read "Exercise Round House Scrubbed".

Much to the station’s surprise, exercise "Round House" opened on schedule. The first radar contact with SAC a/c was made at 2114Z, 8 May, the initial plot position being approximately Newport, Vermont, USA. This distance is an excellent indication of the class of maintenance and repair work done by the technicians on the FPS-3, search equipment installed at this squadron, when comparison with the radar coverage indicator giving optimum operating distances, showed them to have been bettered by five nautical miles.

Exercise "Round House" reached its peak locally on 9 May when a total of fifty SAC a/c tracks being plotted. At a briefing prior to the commencement of exercise "Round House", it was stated that mass raids were anticipated within the squadron’s sub-sector. Crews, were therefore briefed to classify adjacent radar contacts as "mass raids". This procedure was impossible to implement as the pattern flown by SAC a/c favoured a flight of six to nine a/c spread over a hundred mile area entering the squadron’s contact area.

Valuable training in speed and accuracy was obtained throughout the duration of the exercise. The last radar contact with SAC a/c was made at 1725Z on 12 May and faded south east of the station. The exercise finished officially at 1730Z with 14 ACW Sqn having made a total of eight-seven radar contacts with SAC a/c.

On 3 May, U/T controllers began a course which covered the basic techniques of fighter controlling, meteorology, radar, R/T procedure and navigation. This course was initiated by F/O GE Carter, Training Officer, and planned to last a week but was curtailed by exercise "Round House". Although short, the course should prove valuable to the U/T controllers if augmented by a sufficient amount of self study. The course also tested the trained controllers’ instructional capabilities, and self-corrective measures are being adapted. The remainder of May was given over to normal operations without any significant break in usual operational routine.

26 May, saw the culmination of a project which had found great interest in the squadron, which was the original clearing of Lower Lake in the previous fall, and the stocking by air on this date of 1,500 rainbow trout. The appearance of Beaver aircraft making low passes over the camp for the fishing drop brought everyone to the lakeshore to witness the event.

The final date of this narrative finds the Parent area enjoying good weather, with a promise of an excellent summer season, and a possible increase or upgrade of the squadron'’ operational status during the period of annual exercises involving Auxiliary and Regular Service personnel.

Signed by:

(CC Underhill) W/C,
CO, 14 ACW Squadron, Parent