Beaverbank, NS

1954 – Exercise Dry Run - National Archives of Canada

6. Sector, later telephoned for a FighterStat which was completed and sent at 1510.
1. Apple Jack was ordered at 1522 and received at 1531.
2. The Duty Controller immediately ordered Flat Top Yellow to Standby and Flat Top Green to Available. These Status were reached at 1536 and information passed to Sector.
3. On information received from Sector the Duty Controller increased the status of Flat Top Green to Readiness and then Standby. Arriving at said status by 1551 and 1600 respectively. Information passed to Sector.
4. The first initial plot on a CANNED FAKER was at 1559 on an azimuth of 093 degrees, range 172 miles. This position was 60 miles inside Sydney’s Sub-Sector and heading SW. No warning tell plot was received. The track was designated FAKER by the Unit Umpire. A warning tell position was received at 1604 when the FAKER was approximately 25 miles from the Sub-Sector boundary. The strength at this time was given as VM. A telephone call to Sydney’s Unit Umpire confirmed strength 20, and was carried as WK82.
5. Scramble action was delayed by Sector until 1610 when Flat Top Squadron was scrambled, becoming airborne at 1612.
6. The intercept was accomplished without difficulty, see attached chart, and a Tally Ho was given as 11Q5 at 1619. There being 20 DB20’s flying SW at 25,000 feet. Combat took place and 4 DB20’s were splashed when the Fighter Aircraft ran out of ammunition. They were ordered back to base at 1629 for refuel and rearming. Tactical action was passed to Sector at 1627.
7. Flat Top Squadron landed at 1637 and five minutes later the second FAKER TRACK appeared at 320 degrees range 98 miles. This plot was 42 miles inside St. Margarets sub-sector. No warning tell was received from St. Margarets until well past the 50 mile mark from the Sub-Sector boundary, and the Unit Umpire telephone for confirmation and strength. This track was carried as CAM WE 80J with a strength of two.
8. The Duty Controller ordered an immediate scramble when four Flat Top Fighters were re-armed. These four fighters were known as Flat Top Yellow and were airborne at 1651. This information was passed to Sector.
9. The Fighter Aircraft gave a Tally Ho at 1705 of 12Q6 2DB20. This Tally Ho was passed to Sector and was followed by the Tactical Action of 2 DB 20’s splashed at 1736.
10. FTY were returned to base and landed at 1712.
11. Exercise terminated at 1715.
12. The tactical action as far as this Unit was concerned appeared timely. There were sufficient fighters to repel the first attacking force, but four tenths were destroyed. The intercept controller gave his fighters one thousand feet higher than the FAKER and kept his fighters between the defended target and the enemy. This meant an approach to the south into the sun, but under the conditions it was felt necessary.
13. Owing to a fifteen minute turn around for the Sea Furies, scrambling on WE80 was delayed. As all aircraft had previously been scrambled against WK82. Tactical action was reasonable. Four aircraft were committed against two FAKER aircraft and the fakers were destroyed. Again the fighters were given 1000 feet height advantage.
14. WE80 track initiated in Mont Apica area and it is questioned why it had a WE track designator?
15. With only one voice line to Sector this unit had communications difficulties with an overlap teller, Duty Controller and Unit Umpire wanting to use the one line. This undoubtedly caused delay in overlap telling.
16. It was observed that the Duty Controller needed to look up books in order to comply with existing orders. The reason for this is the lack of use of most GCI orders at this unit, only more and frequent exercises can cure this ailment.
17. It was found that Fighter Control Operators were unfamiliar with making up necessary track placques and abbreviations. Further practical training and more and frequent exercises of this nature are needed.
18. It is recommended that the exercise be run as soon after units have acknowledged the receipt of the Operations Order. Also the date should be specified before hand to ensure that the Unit Umpire is available on not on leave or TD, or if sick, a replacement found.