Historical Summary
RCAF Station Tofino
1952-53
The rehabilitation of Tofino to provide domestic services for the Early Warning Squadron is completed.
1 Jan 1954
Unit activated effective this date.
1 Nov 1954
Unit operational effective this date
1 Dec 1954
Unit self accounting effective this date
2 Nov 1955
Installation of AN/GNH-501 recorder reproducer at 52 AC&W Squadron was begun on a crash basis.
2 Mar 1956
Extremely windy and gusty. Winds of 70-90 MPH were recorded. Many TV antennae were twisted. The search antenna was blown off of the tower in the late evening.
3 Jul 1956
Organization Order 3.7 for 52 AC&W Squadron, Tofino, was rewritten because the squadron’s role was changed from GCI to EW.
30 Jul 1956
The Commanding Officer called a conference regarding the new establishment RCAF Station Tofino with the station identified as being reduced to Early Warning status in the near future.
1 Aug 1956
Role of RCAF Station Tofino changed to Early Warning and establishment reduced accordingly - effective this date.
1 Oct 1957
Station Tofino was de-activated and no longer part of the Pinetree Radar System. All personnel will be transferred to other units by the end of 1957.
Nov 1957
RCAF Station Tofino is to disband effective 31 December 1957.
19 Dec 1957
Disbandment date for Tofino changed to 10 January 1958. DOT will be taking over the airfield on that date.
10 Jan 1958
Unit disbanded effective this date
Additional detail:
RCAF Station Tofino was built on the grounds of the former wartime station which was located at the airport. In fact, the RCAF used the wartime building and only needed to repair some, and construct a new operations site. There were, however, indications that some married quarters were built just prior to its announced closure. The station used a CPS-5D search radar, on loan from the USAF, and two TPS-502 Canadian-owned height finders. Its AN/GPX-13 IFF was also loaned from the USAF. Tofino ceased its operational role on 31 October 1957 and the station was disbanded on 10 January 1958, after which the airfield was transferred to the DOT. After its closure, part of the CPS-5D was returned to the USA, part sent to Comox and a part went to CAE in Vancouver. Some parts of the TPS-502s were sent to Technical Services Detachment in Montreal and other parts went to 7 Supply Depot. One Edmonton Journal article stated the station was being transferred to Cold Lake but this has never been substantiated.
The station equipment transferred to the DOT was estimated at $200,000. This included equipment in the married quarters, vehicles, fire-fighting instruments, CE material, telecom, office equipment, station school material and items from the Airmen’s canteen. All of this, of course, is in addition to the property and the buildings. The NE611 switchboard was sent to Clinton as a training aid for students. The telecom equipment was varied and consisted of the following transmitters (quantities in brackets).
AT3 HF (2) TE755C (1) FRT-502 (5)
FRT-501 HF (4) T282 UHF (4) FRN-503
and the following receivers:
R61A UHF (4) GR9 HF (7) GR17
BC639 URG60 VHF (10) CR91A HF (2)
and the model 19 (1) and 15 (5) teletypes.