Sioux Lookout, ON

1954 - Sioux Lookout Revisited - Robert Orton


Looking back, I can still remember the reaction when I received my change of station orders to the 915th AC&W Squadron. Of course, no one knew where Sioux Lookout was, while some just barely knew where Ontario was - just outside of Toronto wasn't it? Well after searching the maps, we found Sioux Lookout and wondered how in !x?& anyone survived way up there.

Finally, in June 1954, I went to Sioux Lookout, alone. All station personnel had been cautioned (ordered would be more like it) not to bring their families until "suitable" quarters could be located. I found a house to rent a month after I arrived.

The summer I arrived, a trailer park was started on base and about ten trailers were in place by the next summer. Housing became critical in Sioux Lookout and families arriving later in my tour could not find adequate housing.

My first year, radar Ops crews consisted of one officer and four or five airmen. The officer on from 4:00 PM to midnight slept in the Ops room from midnight to 7:00 AM; at least we tried to sleep. Scandanavian Airlines started over the pole with DC6 flights to Los Angeles, and were usually off course into Winnipeg at about 3:00AM!

Shortly after my family and I got settled, we were introduced to our first Ontario winter. Even though my wife and I had been born in Northern Illinois, we did not know anything about 50 degrees below zero or headbolt heaters or frozen batteries, but we sure learned fast. All in all, we really enjoyed Canada and we have many fond memories of Sioux Lookout.

-- Submitted by then Captain Robert Orton who was stationed with the 915th AC&W.