Sydney, NS

Narrative Report
RCAF Station Sydney, NS
1 Dec 55 to 31 May 56

F/L Pilon and F/O LsSaulnier departed today after having reviewed Station Security procedures and found everything in order.

F/O JW Thompson, AWelO, MACHQ, visited the Station today on another periodic welfare visit to the CB area.

F/O Richard returned from the CEO’s conference.

Exercise "Crackerjack" terminated officially today, without Station Sydney having been directly involved.

F/O Thompson departed today.

The Station Gift Shop opened today, with a wide selection of toys and giftwares for Xmas shoppers.

F/O Roach, SSO, proceeded on TD today to ADCHQ for a liaison visit with Supply personnel.

F/O Roach returned from ADC today.

F/O Berry returned from the Fighter Controller Course at Tyndall AFB and proceeded on Xmas leave prior to transfer to Station Falconbridge effective 13 Dec.

A combined School Xmas Concert and the Children’s Xmas Party was held today in the School. A very interesting programme was presented by the children, featuring Nativity tableaux, carol singing and similar seasonal activities. The crowning touch, of course, was supplied by St. Nick who arrived on schedule, on the Station Fire Truck, and distributed great quantities of Xmas gifts to all the small fry.

The NCO’s Mess held an At Home for the Officers, after which, all adjourned to the Airmen’s Dining Room where a gala Xmas dinner, with all the trimmings, was served to the Airmen by the Officers and NCOs.

The festive spirit of the Xmas-New Years season was dampened somewhat today, when the Station was called upon to provide a firing party and burial party, under the command of F/O JO McNeill, for the funeral of 228257 LAC LE MacDonald of Station Clinton, which was held in Sydney.
This evening, in the time-honoured tradition, formal New Year’s Eve Dances were held by the Officers and NCO’s Messes.

New Year’s Day Levee was held today by the Officers Mess. A heavy attendance from the Army and Navy , as well as a considerable number of guests from Sydney and surrounding towns was entertained.
LAC WJA Tait (FtrCop) who has been selected for aircrew training departed today on posting to 2PSU(O), London, for selection processing.

F/L JS Bonham, CChap (P), MACHQ, paid another regular staff visit to the Station remaining until 5 Jan.

F/L CA Brunger, Tech/Tel, of ADCHQ was TOS today on transfer, as a replacement for F/L Newbegin who should be departing shortly for ADC/SOPC2.

F/O JW Thompson, AWelO, MACHQ, arrived today on TD concerning the funeral arrangements for the late 231160W F/O MN Taylor of Station Comox.

F/O TM Anderson departed today on TD to the Fighter Controller course at Tyndall AFB, Panama City, Fla.

S/L Lomas departed today on TD to ADCHQ, and F/L Newbegin assumed temporary command of the Station for the last time.

F/O Thompson departed today for Mulgrove, NS, where the funeral of F/O Taylor is to be held. A firing party and burial party proceeded from this Station. In charge of F/L WM Turner of Station Comox who had escorted the body of F/O Taylor east.

F/L JA Newbegin, CTSO, was SOS today on transfer to ADCHQ, and F/L Brunger, as well as assuming his duties as CTSO, also assumed temporary command until return of the CO from TD.

The CO returned today, just in time to see five Station Officers launch into the five day grind of qualifying examinations which commenced today.

Mr. Earl McAllister of DCL, arrived today to act as Resident Engineer on the construction of the Recreation Centre which has just gotten underway by the Stephens Construction Company of Sydney. This marks the culmination of three years of keen expectation of the provision of adequate recreation facilities for the Station which will permit a broadening of our recreation programme and provide facilities for sports and entertainment activities during inclement weather.

F/O HG Brooks, COpsO, departed on TD to Yuma AFB to undergo the lead collision course. F/O Ker assumes the duties of A/COpsO.
F/O JO McNeill departed on TD to Caswell AFB, Limestone, Maine for intercept training.
W/C Kent, ADC/SOPA, paid a staff visit to the Station today.

F/L Brunger proceeded on TD today to ADCHQ to write an examination at McGill University in an extension course which he has undertaken in Digital Computers.

F/L Brunger returned from Montreal.

F/O McNeill returned today from training at Caswell AFB.

F/L C Strugar, ADC/SOAF, arrived to conduct an SOAF audit.

An RCA Victor MPR arrived today, as well as F/O MacDonald, and Messrs. JE Partridge and WL Proctor of AMC, to undertake modifications to radar equipment.

F/L Brunger departed on TD to ADCHQ, escorting an airman AWA from Station Claresholm for pickup by a Claresholm escort in Montreal, and on a visit to Telecom Branch. F/O Richard accompanied him on the trip, destined for a CE conference at ADC/SOCE.
Cpl. FA Mailhot and LAC PL Miller arrived on TD from 6RD to do some maintenance work on Crypto machines.
The Station firing party and burial party, this time commanded by F/O P Engbrecht, attended the funeral in Sydney of 216772 LAC DJ Howard of Station Greenwood.

Cpl. Mailhot and LAC Miller returned to 6RD.

F/O Richard returned from TD at ADC.

F/L Brunger returned from his trip to Montreal, and F/O Brooks returned from his course at Yuma AFB.

A/C EM Reyno, D/AOC paid a brief, unofficial visit to the Station today. He arrived in mid-morning, remained for a pleasant and informal luncheon at the Officer’s Mess, discussed various matters with the CO and Station specialist officers, and departed, in the late afternoon for Station Beaverbank.

The CO proceeded on TD to 2 ADCC, St. Margarets, and F/L Brunger assumed temporary command.

F/O Brooks proceeded on TD to ADC/SOAC for debriefing following the attendance of the LC Course at Yuma AFB.

F/O Anderson returned from TD at Fighter Controller course at Tyndall AFB.

F/O Anderson was SOS on transfer to Station Foymount.
F/O Roach, SSO, proceeded on TD to Rome AFB for a supply liaison visit and familiarization in Pinetree supply procedures with personnel of the supply depot.

F/O Brooks returned from TD at ADCHQ, and the CO returned from his trip to Sector.

F/O Beals, SAO, proceeded on TD to Station Gander to do a cash count, as ordered by SOAF.

F/O Beals returned from Station Gander.

F/O Roach returned from his trip to Rome AFB.

F/L J Wood, SAO, Station Gander, arrived on a surprise visit to do a cash count. Sauce for the Goose, etc.!

F/L Brunger proceeded on TD to ADCHQ on technical matters, to visit SOCE and Telecom Branches.

F/L Brunger returned from Command.

Easter Sunday - and Promotion Day - a double header celebration. The most important news, of course, was happily received by the following Station personnel for the obvious reasons indicated: Sgt. (former Cpl. CW DeGrouchy (PPoP); Cpl. (no longer acting) WS Beswick, (FtrCop), and new Cpls. WR Dempsey (TToP), LJ Austen (Comm Tech G), DG Kern and GL Shufflebotham (Radar Techs) and PR Atkinson (Cook).

Mr. DR Denman of NDHQ visited the Station today regarding improvements to the municipal access road. We are given to understand that paving of the few miles of road connecting the Station, transmitter and receiver sites with Sydney might be undertaken this summer. We shall see.

The CO departed on TD to ADC again for the CO’s conference, with F/L Brunger assuming temporary command. After the conference, the CO is to proceed to DRML/IAM for consultation on operations room lighting.

News was received - joyously - today of the Armed Forces pay increase. Needless to say, a large part of the first month’s increase promptly "bit the dust" in the celebrations which took place at 1700 hours in all Messes.

F/O JC Richard commanded a firing party and a burial party today at the funeral, in Sydney, of 227583 LAC FE Sollazzo of Station Goose Bay who was killed in a recent flying accident near that Station. The Sollazzo family are very well known in local circles and the funeral was one of the largest seen locally in some time.

Both men’s and women’s teams from the Station Mixed Bowling League competed today in the RCAF Bowling Championship Wire Tournament. Unhappily, no honours, either team or individual, came to the Station although the men’s team particularly had done well with a pinfall of 3333.
Miniature license plates, as vehicle markers, were introduced today replacing windshield stickers which have been used since the Station commenced. Only recently, it was discovered that windshield stickers contravene Nova Scotia Laws and the plates therefore will bring use completely within the law as well as provide a more permanent, secure, identification.

The largest TE Board ever held at this Station wrote today - 42 candidates in all. The ME Section had to be cleared of all vehicles to provide sufficient space for all to write in one location and thus facilitate supervision by one presiding officer.

The CO returned from TD at ADC and IAM.
F/O FA Creelman, Supply, arrived on transfer from Station Comox to assume duties as SSO.

F/O EW Fox, STelO, today assumes secondary duties as SARO, vice F/O P Engbrecht.

At an Officers Mess Dinner this evening, a select company was inaugurated with the founding of the "RCBAF" - the "Royal Cape Breton Air Force". F/O SB Roach, departing SSO, was honoured with the first membership certificate in this August organization with prerogatives and perquisites accordingly. Membership is to be restricted to members of the Officers Mess (both regular and associate) and such honorary members who, by distinction, warrant such honour at future times. A scroll listing memberships will be maintained in the Officers Mess and, by its very exclusive nature, the organization will undoubtedly become an envied one.

F/O McNeill proceeded on TD to Moody Bay for the lead collision course.

Daylight Saving Time became the vogue again today and the ardent fishermen and sports addicts will now have an extra hour each evening to practice their chosen hobbies.

F/O SB Roach, SSO, departed on transfer to Station Falconbridge.

The Station Scout and Cub Group showed the film of the Scout Jamboree in the School this evening, at a nominal admission, with proceeds going to the Scout and Cub Organization.

Word was received today by the CO of the intended visit of the AOC to the Station on 31 May. This will be the first occasion on which an AOC has made an official visit to Station Sydney and plans are rapidly being developed to make the occasion a memorable one.

F/L CH Brooks, ADC/SOSec, made a staff visit to the Station - arriving today and remaining, reviewing security matters, etc., until 12 May.

F/O Creelman, SSO, departed on TD to Station Beaverbank for a supply liaison visit regarding Pinetree supply procedures.

F/O Fox, STelO, proceeded to ADCHQ for the RAdO’s conference.

F/O Creelman returned from Station Beaverbank.

F/O Fox returned from ADCHQ.

F/O AW Beals, SAO, was admitted to hospital today with kidney stones, complicating a hepatitis condition.

F/O JE Ferris of ADC/SOAF arrived today on TD as a replacement for F/O Beals during his period in hospital.

The "big day" arrived. Promptly, a few minutes after 1000 hours, the AOC, accompanied by Lt. Colonel CC Smith, USAF, and S/L WF Baynton, EA, arrived at Sydney Airport by service aircraft and was met by the CO and F/O Creelman, SSO. Returning to the Station, A/V/M Wray was greeted by a 50 man Guard of Honour commanded by F/O KM Morgan, CAdO, and proceeded to the Officers Mess for an informal luncheon attended by all officers. Following the dinner, a briefing on Station organization and activities was given by the three Branch Heads, and the official party consisting of the AOC, CO, S/L Baynton and F/O Morgan, departed at approximately 1340 hours for a tour of the Station.
Starting at the Transmitter Site, the party visited, in order, the Guard House (where the AOC appeared much impressed by the recently completed gateway), Barrack Block 7, Supply Section, Administration Building, Barrack Block 3, ME Section, CE Section, School, Recreation Centre construction site, PMQ Area and Combined Mess. After inspecting the combined Mess Kitchen, and the Airmen’s Club, the party proceeded to the NCO’s Mess Lounge where coffee was served and the AOC had the opportunity of meeting the Officers and NCO’s wives who were assembled there.
After "coffee break", the AOC and party proceeded to the Operations Area where the Pumphouse, Power Plant, Towers and Operations Building were inspected.
Concluding the inspection at approximately 1600 hours, the AOC returned to the Isle Royale Hotel in Sydney.
At 1830 hours, cocktails were served in the Officers Mess Lounge preliminary to a Mess Dinner. Accompanying the AOC at the head table was Magistrate MG Whalley of Sydney, an ex-aircrew officer and associate member of the Officers Mess who had been with A/V/M Wray in a POW camp in Germany during World War II. The AOC was delighted at this opportunity of renewing his friendship with "Mike" Whalley, and following the dinner, he spoke briefly to the company.
The highlight of the dinner came when F/O Creelman, as junior member of the RCBAF, presented the AOC with the first honourary membership in that Force, as well as the badge of membership - a Nova Scotia Tartan Tie and a Cape Breton Tie Clip. In his presentation address, F/O Creelman reached unexpected heights when, altogether unwittingly in describing the uniqueness of the RCBAF and its peculiar prerogatives, reference was made to "that other Air Force" (the RCAF) - a phrase which apparently caught the AOC’s fancy and became the quotable quote of his entire visit. The CO then enjoined the AOC, as the price of his membership, that in his peregrinations throughout "that other Air Force" he must perforce insist that Station Sydney is the "best d--- Station in the country".
The AOC, in reply, displayed either consummate diplomacy or, as we would rather think is the case, that he had been suitably and pleasantly impressed with the RCBAF, since he solemnly promised that he would gladly exercise that condition of membership.
The evening continued in a rather informal manner, happily rounding out a much appreciated visit by the AOC, until midnight when he took his leave to return to the hotel.

Signed by:
(GA Armstrong) S/L
Commanding Officer