RELEASE
NO: 60-47ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE
Public Relations Office,
4050 West Fourth Avenue,
Vancouver 8, BC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TELEPHONE: Regent 3-9111 Local 129
VANCOUVER, BC, 13 May 60
Far from being a "secret" base, Puntzi Lake, which was built in 1954 as part of the "Pinetree Line" by several hundred Canadians, has had only normal security regulations since occupation by an all United States staff. Two others are located in BC at Kamloops and Baldy Hughes near Prince George.
It is one of the many stations in the Pinetree Line built by joint Canadian-American agreement on a cost sharing basis for the early warning and control of interceptor aircraft. Under terms of an agreement some of these were staffed by US personnel and others by RCAF.
The radar facilities naturally are available to all aircraft, service and civilian, should the necessity arise. Many Canadian civilian aircraft have been helped by the radar facility.
Security is always a major requirement at these bases but local residents have always been welcome at "Open House" days.
Last year 27 turned up including six Indians and this year the station will be open again to the public on the 21st of May.
It is purely coincidental that a 6000 foot air strip is in the vicinity. It was built primarily for emergency landings of our CF-100 jet aircraft and is open for public use.
The USAF use it constantly to supply stores and move personnel.
The only classified information about the base is the radio and radar frequencies together with its operational capability.
Visits to the station can be arranged for press and interested civic bodies.