Yorkton, SK

1966 – Historical Summary – National Archives of Canada


RESTRICTED

ANNEX A
TO HISTORICAL REPORT 1966

HISTORICAL SUMMARY
RCAF Station Yorkton, SK
1 Jan 66 to 31 Dec 66

INTRODUCTION

RCAF Station Yorkton maintained the status of a fully operational unit throughout 1966.

MAJOR FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

The major function of the unit is to collect, discriminate and transmit to a designated SAGE Centre, Radar data appearing within the area of coverage.

  1. Summary of Unit Activities

During 1966 activities were devoted to maintaining and improving the operational effectiveness of the unit. The unit as in past years has enjoyed good newspaper, TV and radio coverage due to the efforts of an active Public Information Staff, The physical appearance of the unit was vastly improved by repairs and recovering of roads and sidewalks on the station. Armed Forces Day, 11 Jun, was an unqualified success. Over 1200 people from the surrounding district attended to watch displays put on by this unit and elements of the Army 53rd Field Regiment, Air Force and Navy Cadets. The climax of the show was a fly past of 3 Tutor aircraft. The second annual Winter Carnival was held for personnel on the unit. Organized games and contests filled the off-duty time of personnel for a week. In late fall the self-help outdoor skating rink was completed and opened for sports activities. For the second consecutive year this unit won second place in the National Fire Prevention Association competition.

  1. Operations

Air Ground Air and BUIC Switch installations in DMCC were completed in Apr in support of the BUIC Phase II program. In Jul cross connections providing Mode III capability to Fortuna were completed. Satisfactory support was provided for NORAD exercise requirements.

  1. Training

Two radar courses on the FPS-27 Search Radar were conducted during the year. This consisted of two phases - #1 of 7 weeks duration and #2 of 3 weeks duration. Eight candidates successfully completed the complete course while two completed phase 1 with phase 2 to follow at a later date.

Courses in NBC Warfare, Security Force, French, Driver Improvement and Resuscitator were held throughout the year. A number of personnel also enrolled in extramural and correspondence courses on their own initiative. Physical fitness training was well attended by those personnel wishing to prepare themselves for the fitness tests.

  1. Technical

Resurfacing of the main station road was completed as well as replacement of all steam manhole piping. A new alert warning device was installed at the Fire Hall. High and low water audible alarms were installed on all boilers during the month of Jun. To prevent icing on #2 unit an air intake louvre modification was completed in the CHPP. The month of Aug saw the completion of installation of all automatic fire warning devices in PMQs.

  1. Administration

All ADC inspecting officers; Food Services, SOPA, Security, indicated general satisfaction with unit administration. The Base Transportation section is a reality, an AC ClkAdm with movements experience has been assigned to Base Transport as well as two vehicle operators. Staff turnover was not as high as 1965 with 4 officers, 13 Senior NCOs and 58 other ranks being involved.

  1. Organization

Duty Operations Officer (DOO) positions were deleted 8 Feb and a tentative CGEO organization of TelMaintO, TelOpsO and QCO adopted pending further instructions regarding establishment. New ADCI 3.01/6, Organization and Management of LRR Squadron, was issued in Oct 66. The CGEO type of organization has been adopted for Yorkton and the three junior officer positions are TelMaintO, TelOpsO and SSTO.

  1. Official Visits and Inspections

During 1966 the unit was visited by the following:

Date

Name

From

11 Jan

Lt. Colonel. A Brady

Militia HQ Regina

11 Jan

Major W Milane

Militia HQ Regina

1 Feb

A/V/M MD Lister

Commander ADCHQ

1 Feb

W/C JWD Pudney

ADC HQ

1 Feb

S/L TD MacCauley

ADC

1 Feb

F/L RJ Flynn

ADC

15 Feb

Lt. Fraker USAF

Fortuna AFB

15 Feb

Lt. Morrison USAF

Fortuna AFB

18 Feb

Captain Phillips USAF

Fortuna AFB

18 Feb

Lt. McLeod USAF

Fortuna AFB

21 Feb

F/L BG Smith

ADC HQ

24 Feb

F/L R Slaughter

CFB Moose Jaw

25 Feb

S/L E Williams

RCAF Station Alsask

2 Mar

F/L JC Sadlier

CFB Moose Jaw

7 Mar

F/L JM Sabey

ASC HQ

9 Mar

Lt. J Percival

RU Regina

14 Mar

S/L A Swainson

D/JAG TCHQ Winnipeg

24 Mar

W/C E Olsen

ADCHQ

24 Mar

S/L E Miller

ADCHQ

20 Apr

G/C WM Diggle

ADCHQ

5 May

F/O R Thorne

ADCHQ

5 May

F/L F Burgess

ADCHQ

5 May

F/L H Sullivan

ADCHQ

15 May

F/L P Rodgers

RCAF Station Gypsumville

25 May

F/L RE Monahan

CFHQ

7 Jun

Lt. Colonel L Anglin

RCDC Winnipeg

7 Jun

Captain W O’Brien

RCDC Winnipeg

8 Jun

F/O J Blasko

RCAF Station Gypsumville

23 Jun

S/L LW Mould

ADCHQ

14 Jul

A/C RM Cox

Deputy Commander

11 Aug

S/L MM Riley

Regional Surgeon Winnipeg

11 Aug

S/L RE Forbes

ADCHQ

6 Sep

F/O JJ Pittoello

MATCOM

6 Sep

F/O RM Zadow

MATCOM

27 Sep

W/C WM Ronberg

ADCHQ

15 Oct

F/O Sanderson

ADCHQ

18 Oct

Colonel G Lewis

GRADS

18 Oct

G/C Black

GRADS

25 Oct

Colonel L Smidlin

RCEO Winnipeg

1 Nov

F/L J Kelly

ADCHQ

7 Nov

F/L T Farrer

733 Comm Squadron Winnipeg

8 Nov

F/O W Smith

CFB Winnipeg

8 Dec

S/L LW Mould

ADCHQ

19 Dec

F/O L Roberts

RCAF Station Gypsumville

  1. Recreation

Full use was made of recreational facilities on the unit. Daily fitness classes are held to prepare personnel for the semi-annual fitness tests. The DND School children for a period every school afternoon proceed to the gym for exercises and supervised games.

Volleyball, broomball, bowling, curling and softball are all popular sports and are played either on the unit or, in the case of curling in the city of Yorkton. The completion in the fall of the other outdoor skating rink has greatly enhanced our sports program.

Scouts, Cubs, Brownies, Guides are all in operation under the auspices of the PMQ Council.

Signed by:

(T Goldring) W/C
CO RCAF Station Yorkton