71-00-04
16 Mar 65
Historical Report – 1964
RCAF Station Sioux Lookout
1 Jan 64 – 31 Dec 64
Strength as of 31 December
Officers |
10 |
WOs |
1 |
NCOs |
26 |
Airmen |
101 |
Total All Ranks |
138 |
Total Civilian Personnel |
62 |
Nominal Roll of Key Personnel attached.
Appendices:
Appendix A Historical Summary 1 Jan – 31 Dec 64
Appendix B Nominal Role Key Personnel
Appendix C Monthly Records of Activities Jan – Dec 64
(WC Kent) W/C
Commanding Officer
APPENDIX A to
71-00-04(CO)
dated 16 Mar 65
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
1 JAN 1964 – 31 DEC 1964
Introduction
The unit is charged with the responsibility to operate and maintain a complex of Long Range Radars capable of functioning in SAGE Mode I, Manual Mode III or Mode IV environment. The Unit is a NORAD Surveillance Site (NSS) and has as its prime function the continuous semi-automatic reporting of Search, SIF and Height information to the Direction Centre (DC) at Duluth NORAD Sector HQ (DUNADS).
Major Functions of the Unit:
(1) The Unit’s activities in 1964 can be classified as routine. Throughout the year a gradual improvement was noticeable in the Unit’s efficiency in operating and maintaining its equipment.
(2) Operations Three major points developed in operations during the year. The first was the training of the Battle Staff in Electronic Warfare. The Unit participated in a large number of exercises involving ECM. From this emerged a well-trained staff of wide experience composed of both operations and technical personnel.
The second point was the shift in emphasis from SAGE Mode I Operation to Manual Mode III. It is true that the Unit operated over 80% of the total time in SAGE Mode I. However, towards the middle of the year, periods of intensive Air activity, Live exercises and Synthetic exercises increasingly found the Unit operating in the Manual Mode III environment. This shift in emphasis continued until during the last two months of the year, almost all training was conducted in the manual Mode III.
The third major point was the preparation of all FCO Personnel for the successful passing of the Unit’s first Radar Squadron Assessment. All FCOs devoted many extra hours to local exercises and study during September, October and November.
(3) Training Both the Station and ADCHQ conducted training at the Unit. ADC ran two courses at Sioux Lookout. The first, in June, was given by two Officers from the Electronic Welfare Unit. All operations and technical personnel in the CGEO Branch were given two days of films and lectures, on Electronic Warfare. The second course was given for electro-mechanical technicians of the Construction and Engineering Branch. Twelve airmen students drawn from other Units attended. In conjunction with this course, five SCEOs were given a shorter electro-mechanical course.
Unit training covered almost every activity. The Fire Chief gave the volunteer firemen lectures and demonstrations on fire fighting. The Air Force Police, with the assistance of the Command Security Officers, gave security lectures to all personnel. Several Search exercises were conducted by the Ground Search Party, one in extremely cold weather. Three security exercises were mounted during the year, they covered both day and night conditions.
Operations throughout the year conducted live and synthetic exercises as needed by Sector and Local requirements. In addition, lectures and self-study of operations material were stepped up in September, October and November. As part of the Operations Training, the Unit as a whole was trained in Nuclear Fallout and swift reaction to Emergency Recall of personnel.
Technical training for Radar Techs was mostly "On the Job" with the switching of full trained personnel from Radar to Radar and from the Radar to the computer and vice-versa.
(4) Technical Little new equipment was installed in 1964. The main effort was directed toward improving the "On the Air Time" and the efficiency of our existing radars. Much improvement of equipment was noticeable. Spare parts became easier to obtain, resulting in a remarkable increase in "On the Air time". Proficiency of technicians increased and, with this, the reliability of our equipment increased. Statistics released by Duluth NORAD Sector show a steady increase in efficiency and effectiveness at Sioux Lookout.
Modifications to all equipments were carried out as the kits were received.
(5) Administration In April the PAdO position was upgraded to CAdO.
During July and August almost all key positions were taken over by new incumbents. The hand-overs, spaced over two months, went smoothly.
(6) Organization Other than the upgrading of the PAdO position to CAdO, no other changes took place.
(7) Official Visits and Inspections In May, Brigadier General Dickman USAF, Commander Duluth NORAD Sector, accompanied by A/C Wiser, 30 NORAD Division and G/C Bocking, Deputy Commander Duluth NORAD Sector inspected the Unit.
A/C Hull, Chief of Staff, Air Defence Command carried out the AOCs annual inspection in June.
Routine Command inspections were carried out throughout the year.
(8) Recreation Most station recreation was carried out on a self help basis. The lack of a recreation hall severely cramped activities. Service skiers joined the towns people in forming a local Ski Club, clearing a slope and building a tow with Club funds.
The Rifle Club used an indoor range, borrowed from a local service club, to hold their shoots.
Winter sports activity centered around the Curling Club. The recreational staff managed to borrow the Gym of the nearby Indian School, several evenings each week. This increased the range of activities available to service personnel.
Summer activities were almost all connected with fishing, hunting, and camping in the bush.
(9) Public Relations During the year relations with the town remained good. With most of our married personnel living in the town and, with such a small population, personnel contacts between service people and civilians are relatively easy to form and maintain.
APPENDIX B to
71-00-04(CO)
16 Mar 65
NOMINAL ROLL OF KEY PERSONNEL
Appointment |
Name |
TOS Date |
SOS Date |
|
CO |
17706 |
W/C RE Ratcliffe DFC CD |
16 Sep 62 |
15 Aug 64 |
CO |
867 |
W/C WC Kent CD |
20 Jul 64 |
|
CAdO |
300560 |
F/L JA English CD |
17 Aug 62 |
15 Jul 64 |
CAdO |
24391 |
F/L Furneaux CD |
17 Jun 64 |
|
CGEO |
23555 |
F/L DJ Driscoll CD |
17 Aug 62 |
1 Aug 64 |
CGEO |
30184 |
S/L RE Fletcher CD |
2 Aug 64 |
|
STelOO |
56674 |
F/L JR Gerard |
17 Aug 62 |
1 Aug 64 |
STelOO |
16567 |
F/L S Dove CD |
15 Sep 64 |
|
SAO |
227288 |
S/L HF Smith CD |
17 Aug 62 |
14 Aug 64 |
SAO |
24004 |
F/L A Broda CD |
10 Aug 64 |
|
SSupO |
162030 |
F/L WJ Albrecht CD |
17 Aug 62 |
26 Jul 64 |
SSupO |
153444 |
F/L RE Egan |
13 Jul 64 |
|
SCOO |
33538 |
F/O R Stalker |
5 Jul 64 |
|
SCEO |
17147 |
F/O RP Russell CD |
17 Aug 62 |
15 Jul 64 |
SCEO |
56622 |
F/O RA Nobbs |
30 Jun 64 |
APPENDIX "C" to
71-00-04(CO)
16 Mar 65
Monthly Record of Activities
1 Jan 64 – 31 Dec 64
1 Jan 64
Levee, Officers’ Mess, 30 guests from Sioux Lookout and Hudson.
8 Jan 64
Start of the Operational Capabilities Inspection. 3 Officers from ADCHQ and one from Duluth NORAD Sector H, giving tests; First Unit OCI.
11 Jan 64
Squadron completes OCI; Test team declares themselves satisfied. EWU Boneyard ECM a/c (CHQ) conducted small scale ECM Exercise with Unit.
15 Jan 64
Tower security exercise: Local penetration team trying to gain access to operations area. Results: no penetrations of area, two sabotage attempts outside area.
20 Jan 64
SAO F/L Smith promoted to S/L effective 16 Jan.
22 Jan 64
SAUK Dance IV Exercise Live 22 1800Z to 24 0800Z
4 Feb 64
Staff visit by two officers from AFHQ. Purpose of the visit, to discuss with the CO and Mayor of Sioux Lookout, the construction of PMQs. Outlook dim.
13 Feb 64
Electronic Warfare Exercise Big Blast Foxtrot 13 2200Z to 14 0600Z. ECM Heavy, Good Practice for Battle Staff.
4 Mar 64
Official opening of Station Post Office.
18 Mar 64
Live Exercise SAUK Dance VI, Heavy Air Traffic but no ECM.
1 Apr 64
40th Birthday of the RCAF.
3 Apr 64
Mess Dinner to celebrate 40th Birthday of the Service. Invited guests were ex-officers living in the area.
4 Apr 64
Public Relations visit by local Rotary Club, supper in the Mess, then tour. Live ECM Exercise Big blast Golf 04 2200Z to 10 0400Z. Good work-out for ECCMO and Staff.
10 Apr 64
Live exercise SAUK Dance VII 1800Z.
20 Apr 64
Change in appointment of STelO F/L Gerard to F/O R Stalker.
21 Apr 64
Staff visit by ADCHQ Command Security Officer.
30 Apr 64
Change in appointments, the PAdO position upgraded to CAdO.
1 May 64
EWU Boneyard ECM C-119 good results.
7 May 64
Big Blast Hotel ECM exercise. Full battle staff on duty, all personnel given a good work out. Results good.
19 May 64
CGEO acting for ADCHQ signed final acceptance documents for the GATR site.
22 May 64
Visit by 30 Air Div and Duluth NORAD Staff Officers. Visitors included A/C Wiser, Brigadier General Dickman, G/C Bocking.
4 Jun 64
Local penetration exercise, 3 man team used. Two men caught, the third succeeded in gaining access to operations complex.
8 Jun 64
Chief of Staffs inspection, A/C Hull and S/L MacAuly. Reception in Officers Mess, many prominent local people attended.
9 Jun 64
Departure of Chief of Staff. Departure guard mounted at the airport.
11 Jun 64
Electronic Warfare lectures and films shown by EWU personnel.
14 Jun 64
Air Force Day. Heavy turnout. Static displays out side curling club with conducted tours of operations complex. Total number of visitors: 526. One out of every six persons in district visited Unit.
17 Jun 64
Staff visit ADCHQ SOPA, two Officers.
1 Jul 64
ECM exercise Big Blast ALPHA 01 2200Z to 02 0400Z. Unit results good.
7 Jul 64
SAUK Dance. Live Exercise, traffic heavy. No ECM, results excellent.
15 Jul 64
Change in appointment, CAdO F/L English hands over to F/L Furneaux. Change in appointment, SCEO F/O Nobbs takes over from F/O Russell.
22 Jul 64
Staff visit, one Officer, RCASC, Winnipeg.
26 Jul 64
Change in appointment SSupO F/L Albrecht hands over to F/L Egan.
30 – 31 Jul 64
Demonstration of ECM equipped CF-100 ML5.
4 Aug 64
Change in appointment, Chief Ground Environment Officer F/L Driscoll hands over to S/L RF Fletcher.
11 Aug 64
S/L Fletcher, takes command of Unit from W/C RE Ratcliffe DFC, CD, until arrival of new CO W/C Kent. Hand-over parade cancelled due to cold and rain, reception for Sioux Lookout citizens in Officers Mess.
14 Aug 64
Change in appointment S/L Smith SAO hands over to F/L Broda.
17 Aug 64
W/C Kent, took command of RCAF Station, Sioux Lookout from S/L RF Fletcher.
19 Aug 64
ADC Staff visit, RC and Prot Command Chaplains. Top Rung V exercise. Unit performed well.
26 Aug 64
ADC Staff visit, one recreation Officer.
14 Sep 64
Station Snack Bar re-opened for winter season. CAE Calibration Van arrived to check Unit Test Equipment.
15 Sep 64
Change in appointment – STelOO F/l Stalker to F/L Dove, F/O Stalker to SCOO.
17 – 18 Sep 64
Snow Time VIII Electronic Warfare Exercise.
24 Sep 64
Big Blast Bravo Electronic Warfare Exercise. Heavy ECM. Good Practice.
7 Oct 64
CAE Calibration Van departed.
19 Oct 64
ADC conducting an Electro-Mechanical Course for CE EM Techs. 12 Airmen students commenced course on Station Radars. In addition, 4 visiting SCEOs started a separate EM Course. Instructors include Air Force and CGE personnel.
28 Oct 64
15 CF-100 Mark 5 ECM Equipped aircraft passed through Sector. Best Training Mission so far.
28 – 31 Oct 64
Mute XI. Unit participation limited to Manual Operation in Mode III.
5 Nov 64
Unit Safety Council formed.
6 Nov 64
ADC Electro-Mechanical Course completed. Student returned to Units.
8 Nov 64
Church Parade in Sioux Lookout. Squadron of three flights march to Anglican, United and Roman Catholic Churches.
11 Nov 64
Remembrance Day. Officers and men at Canadian Legion indoor service. Squadron was not on parade.
12 Nov 64
Security exercise vulnerability test. Six airmen from Unit attempted to gain access to operations.
8 Dec 64
Second Annual Radar Squadron Assessment started. ADCHQ Team consist of four Officers, one S/L, three F/Ls. Units first complete Operational test.
11 Dec 64
RSA completed. Staff Team departed. Results: passed. EWU C-119 ECM demonstration with Unit. Good training.
17 Dec 64
Big Blast Charlie. Electronic Warfare Exercise 17 1700Z – 18 0400Z. Heavy ECM, excellent training for Battle Staff.
25 Dec 64
Officers and Sr. NCOs served Christmas Dinner to twenty-six people in the Airmen’s Dining Hall.
31 Dec 64
Mobile Equipment Section had accident free year, 127,000 miles without a scratch.