Beaverbank, NS

1953 – Narrative Report – National Archives of Canada


SECRET

NARRATIVE REPORT
22 AC&W SQUADRON HALIFAX
1 Dec 53 to 31 May 54

Section I – General

As of the 31st May the staff (Officers) of 22 AC&W Squadron was as follows:

Headquarters

Commanding Officer W/C DB Babineau

Senior Accounts Officer F/L WA Bradshaw

CAdO F/O HA Little

Adjutant P/O ME MacMillan

Tele Communications

REO F/O AS Atkinson

Chief Technical Officer

CTechO S/L IG Duncan

Construction & Engineering

C&E Officer F/O KH Wheatley

Supply Section

Supply Officer F/O GL Calver

Fighter Controller Branch

Senior Controller F/L TE Wallis

Spec/Ftr. Controller F/L WD Hill

Spec/Ftr. Controller F/O HJ Burrill

Spec/Ftr. Controller U/T F/O JA Quarmstrom

Spec/Ftr. Controller F/O RJ Recher

Spec/Ftr. Controller F/O HG Andrews

Spec/Ftr. Controller U/T F/O CM Robinson

Spec/Ftr. Controller F/O WG Standing

Spec/Ftr. Controller U/T F/O JJH Maxwell

Medical Branch

Nursing Sister F/O H Needham

Section II – Commanding Officer

The following is an outline of the activities of the Commanding Officer for this period.

2 Dec 53

The CO moved to a station house this date.

15 Dec 53

The CO toured the station with AVM James and inspecting party this date.

21 Dec 53

The CO attended the station children’s Xmas tree party.

23 Dec 53

The CO was guest of honor at Civilian employee’s Xmas party.

18 Jan 54

The CO was in conference with W/C McBride and W/C Gordon and party re organization from ADC.

22 Jan 54

The CO and party proceeded on familiarization visit to ADC HQ, Lac St. Denis, and station Edgar.

1 Feb 54

The CO and party returned from visit to ADC HQ, Lac St. Denis, and station Edgar.

26 Feb 54

The CO officiated at the opening of the station grocery store.

20 Mar 54

CO in conference with G/C Inglis and party from AMC regarding unfinished contracts.

21 Apr 54

CO officiated at opening of Sunday School.

16 May 54

CO opened the first Protestant Church on the station.

18 May 54

CO departed for Tyndall, Florida, on course.

18 May 54

S/L Duncan assumes command of station during the absence of W/C Babineau.

Section III – Chief Technical Officer Section

The following is an outline of the activities of the sections under command of the CTechO.

C&E Section

15 Dec 53

AVM James and party visited the unit, WO1 Grover, foreman of works, was instructed to cease work on partitioning of the CE Section, pending arrival of standard Layout.

16 Dec 53

Chlorinator plant connected at Sewage Disposal plant.

18 Dec 53

Discovered leak in roof of No 2 Barrack Quarters. Bremners Ltd. Notified.

11 Jan 54

Hired Typist for CE Section.

12 Jan 54

S/L Brecken from ADC visited the station and inspected all buildings. He stated he would forward plan for layout of CE Section.

18 Jan 54

F/O KH Wheatley CE officer arrived as Engineering officer.

This section did not keep a regular diary from the 18 Jan to 8th of April.

8 Apr 54

Bryant Electric Company on station making repairs to cracked electric light poles. Maritime Telephone personnel on Base installing wire to Operations building.

14 Apr 54

Bremner Company on Base making repairs to steam line.

20 Apr 54

Connor Tyle Company making repairs to broken and loose tile in No 1 and No 2 Barrack Blocks. S/L Duncan assumes the duties of CTechO of the station, from F/O HA Little CAdO.

21 Apr 54

The Halifax Tile Company inspecting tile in PMQs.

23 Apr 54

Dickey Electric Co. started installing poles at RX and TX sites. Bremner Co. replacing zcrete on steam lines.

26 Apr 54

Donahue Roofers making repairs on combined mess.

30 Apr 54

Mr. Thomas and Mr. Negus in conference with F/O Wheatley re water softener unit for the station.

4 May 54

Marguson-Babcock making combined test of Operations building.

6 May 54

Domestic Water Tank drained and cleaned. Professor Foran in conference with F/O Wheatley regarding Iron contents in water.

7 May 54

FS Purcell and FS Bystaff arrived on base to make modification to Blackstone Diesel Engines.

12 May 54

Murney and Lively Contractors on station grading roads.

13 May 54

Operations building roof inspected by Mr. Conrad and Bond Roofers.

16 May 54

Hillis and Sons making stand pipes for the station.

27 May 54

Laying out School Playground.

Supply Section

The following is an outline of the activities of the Supply Section for this period.

  1. During the period of 1 Dec 53 to 31 Dec 53, there was no actual Diary maintained by the Supply Section.
  2. Equipment of phase one and two continued to arrive at the station, and due to a lack of storage space, a large amount of this equipment had to be stored in Barrack Blocks. May it be noted that this Equipment arrived in an excellent condition and service from 5 Supply Depot.
  3. As there were only one Sgt. and one Cpl., plus a packer helper in the Supply Section for some considerable time, the required Voucher action had to be curtailed to a large extent, thus presenting a large back log of Voucher work. This condition has now been remedied. The Binning and Partitioning of the Supply was halted, awaiting the standard layout plan from ADC HQ.
  4. F/O GL Calver, Supply Officer, reported to the station on 26 Mar 54.
  5. The Binning of spaces and running equipment at the Operations Building was started on 8 May 54.

Mobile Equipment Section

The following is an outline of the activities of the ME Section for this period.

1-31 Dec 53

The ME section was busily engaged in receiving and servicing new vehicles, removing snow from station and main roads as well as sanding same.

1 Jan-28 Feb 54

The period of the month of Jan 1 to Feb 28 was extremely busy plowing and sanding station roads and Beaverbank Highway. The vehicles required constant repair such as shocks, etc. due to the bad condition of the highway. ME personnel coming in steadily, thus lighting the large amount of work and runs. Personnel Tool lockup set up during this period.

18 Mar 54

Sgt. Rankin NCO i/c attending ME conference at St. Hubert.

20 Mar 54

G/C Inglis and W/C Martin and party picked up in Halifax.

21 Mar 54

Sgt. Rankin returned from St. Hubert.

22 Mar 54

W/C Martin to airport at Dartmouth to catch air life to St. Hubert.

3 Apr 54

AVM Waite and party visited unit.

6 Apr 54

First Safety Council meeting held this date.

13 Apr 54

New Fire Truck arrived this date, unloaded by Cpl. Brown, Fire Chief and LAC McKenna ME Section.

19 Apr 54

Easter Monday LAC Webb driving Commanding Officer at funeral of Premier of Nova Scotia Angus L MacDonald.

23 Apr 54

CO inspection of the section. Safety Council meeting held.

28 Apr 54

Several personnel on projectionist course on station.

16 May 54

Picked up women personnel at CNR station.

19 May 54

Bulldozer TD 14 picked up at CNR freight shed.

25 May 54

New steering assembly installed in panel truck.

Fire Section

The following is an outline of the activities of the Fire Section for this period:

  1. The fire section under the command of Cpl. PK Brown has operated in an excellent manner. When the station opened a power wagon had to be used as a fire truck. The months of Dec, Jan and Feb were utilized in setting up the Fire Section and placing fire equipment in all PMQs and buildings. An old fire truck was shipped to the station for use pending the delivery of a new fire truck.
  2. A visit was received from the AMC and ADC fire marshals and on both these visits the fire alarm system was considered inadequate. A new system was ordered but due to a freeze order at AFHQ level this equipment has not arrived to date.
  3. Fire piquets were set up and fire orders were issued.

22 Mar 54

Personnel in ME given lecture on use of First Aid and use of Fire Extinguishers.

23 Mar 54

Instructions given PMQ occupants on use of fire extinguishers.

29 Mar 54

Dump set on fire by CE personnel got out of control on account of high winds. Four pumper tanks of water used to extinguish this fire.

2 Apr 54

Lecture given Engineers in central heating and extinguishers in that particular section.

13 Apr 54

Received new 42G11-C54 Pierre Thibault Fire Truck.

1 May 54

On inspection of new fire truck it was found to be coming apart at the seam on the left side near the control panel also that there is a flaw in one of the chrome nozzles.

4 May 54

High pressure hose received and installed on new fire truck.

14 May 54

Stand pipe hose doors painted in hospital.

15 May 54

Received call from Orderly Officer at 1300 hours to go to fire at Kinsac. Fire was out on arrival returned to station at 1345 hours.

18 May 54

Command Fire Prevention Officer F/O Sinclair made inspection of station and checked Fire Fighters out on new G11 fire truck. Grass fire off station approximately one mile. Fire was extinguished by the use of brooms.

20 May 54

False alarm to Carrol property in back of station hospital.

Section IV – SPEC/FTR Controller

The following is an outline of the activities of the Spec/Ftr Controller section for this period.

  1. As this section was not in operation at all from the 1 Dec 53 to 31 Dec 53, no Diary was in order.

12 Apr 54

The Senior Controller reported in this date. The Senior Controller was F/L TE Wallis.

23 Apr 54

The Operations section appointed F/L Hill as Squadron Intelligence Officer.

26 Apr 54

F/O Roche and F/O Burrill returned from TD to Anti Aircraft Course at Picton.

26 Apr 54

F/O Roche appointed as operations training officer.

3 May 54

Lecture for all FtrCops on strength commenced course to last until 14th May.

10 May 54

F/O Prentice (ADCHQ) and crew arrived for flight trials and acceptance of radar.

11 May 54

Flight Trials carried out with Lancaster air craft from Greenwood, NS.

12 May 54

Flight trials completed using Sabres from Chatham, NB.

Section V – Accounts

  • The station was not completely self accounting until the 1 Apr 54. Pay accounting was carried out by #5 Equipment Depot Moncton till 15 Jan 54 and then transferred to MACHQ Halifax until 1 Apr 54 at which time the station became self accounting completely. Equipment accounting was carried out by this station throughout the entire period.
  • 29 Mar 54

    F/L WA Bradshaw Senior Accounts Officer arrived this date.

    1 Apr 54

    Station became self accounting.

    15 Apr 54

    First official pay parade held on the station.

    28 Apr 54

    Accountant office windows barred, safe installed in cement, Dutch door with spring lock installed.

    May 54

    Catching up on terrific back log of work and section starting to run in a normal manner.

    Section VI – Senior Administration Section

    The following is an outline of the activities of the Administrative Section for the period.

    2 Dec 53

    First PMQs occupied this date. Several extra officers arrived this date to assist in setting up the station.

    15 Dec 53

    AVM AL James AOC ADC HQ and party visited the station, depart same day.

    21 Dec 53

    Held children’s Xmas tree party had approximately 45 children.

    23 Dec 53

    Held civilian and services personnel staff Xmas party.

    1 Jan 54

    Station turned over from AMC Command to ADC Command. Pay accounting to be carried out by MACHQ Halifax.

    11 Jan 54

    W/C McBride and W/C Gordon and party from ADC discuss transfer and posting problems.

    23 Jan 54

    W/C DB Babineau, Commanding Officer; F/O HA Little CAdO and LAC Craig, typist departed on familiarization tour of St. Hubert, Lac St. Denis and Station Edgar.

    23 Jan 54

    F/O WD Hill assumes temporary command of the station.

    1 Feb 54

    Station school opened this date. Commanding Officer and party returned from tour this date.

    1 Feb-25 Feb 54

    From Feb 1st to Feb 25th numerous projects were carried out in order to open station. Service personnel being posted in.

    26 Feb 54

    Opened Grocery store this date.

    1 Mar 54

    Opened second mess and canteen for Senior NCOs and Officers.

    20 Mar 54

    G/C Inglis and party from AMC arrived on the station in order to estimate cost of completion of unfinished contractor’s work.

    1 Apr 54

    Station became self accounting. S/L IG Duncan, Telecom, arrived on transfer to the station.

    12 Apr 54

    F/L TE Wallis, Senior Controller, transferred to the station.

    21 Apr 54

    Sunday School opened this date. Teachers from the Ladies Auxiliary.

    30 Apr 54

    Various service personnel posted to the station. Limited Operational date postponed.

    3 May 54

    P/O ME MacMillan Adjutant arrived this date.

    16 May 54

    Eight airwomen arrived this date. The first draft. First Church of England service was held in the School, a very good attendance. The Reverend BJ Davis of Sackville, Minister.

    18 May 54

    The Commanding Officer, W/C DB Babineau, departed on course at Tyndall, Florida. S/L IG Duncan assumes command of the station during the absence of W/C Babineau.

    20 May 54

    The Reverend BJ Davis visited the station to complete church matters.

    27 May 54

    The Reverend BJ Davis visited the wives of service personnel.

    30 May 54

    Church held at 3 p.m. this date in Station School.

    Section VII – Telecommunications Section

    The following is an outline of activities of the Telecommunications Section for the period.

    2 Jan 54

    Canadian Bridge Crew arrived to install roof panels, antenna, etc., on the tower. Panels above the base of the tower were installed by Robertson-Irwin and the remainder of the tower is to be finished by Canadian Bridge Company.

    5 Jan 54

    Had lengthy conference with Maritime Telephone & Telegraph Company engineers with regard to Outside Telephone Plant.

    21 Jan 54

    Having installed the roof panels, the Canadian Bridge crew began installation of the Azimuth Drive mechanism.

    23 Jan 54

    Because of good weather, the Bridge crew began the installation of the radar antenna.

    25 Jan 54

    Completed installation of Radar Antenna.

    8 Feb 54

    Northern Electric Company crew consisting of 10 men arrived today. They are here to install the NE 603 Internal Telephone System. Work on all phases of installation progressing.

    1 Mar 54

    T/T circuit to Maritime Air Command Minor Relay Centre officially open with Routing Indicator JCHFB assigned.

    19 Mar 54

    DND T/T Circuit No. 148 to Chatham installed and checked. Visit of G/C Inglis and party from AFHQ to discuss deficiencies.

    29 Mar 54

    Power was turned on certain components of the Radar installation for the first time with very satisfactory results.

    3 Apr 54

    A/V/M Waite’s visit.

    10 Apr 54

    4 FTR-502 VHF Transmitters and 4 URC-60 VHF Receivers were installed in room 316 of the Operations Building to provide temporary VHF communications during the Limited Operation period.

    20 Apr 54

    Mr. Wilson and party of Dickie Radio and Electric Company, Moncton, arrived on site to install Antenna poles, etc. at the TX and RX Sites. The radar antenna was rotated for the first time today for a few minutes by the peaking team of CGE who arrived on 19 Apr 54. This was our first radar picture of the surrounding area.

    27 Apr 54

    Erected the Radome today with everyone holding his breath. After about two hours of nerve-wracking labour the Radome was finally in place and bolted down. The blowers were switched on and the "Bag" soon took its present position and remained rigid.

    6 May 54

    A bit of difficulty arose today. The Azimuth Drive for the main radar antenna stopped suddenly, with the flight trials only a few days away. After stripping down the assembly the fault was found to be a seized bearing. The crew worked many hours over the weekend and on Monday, 10 May 54, the antenna was once again rotating.

    10 May 54

    The flight trials were started today. S/L Merrifield plus several technical personnel from AMC and CGE are here for the final tests. Lancaster aircraft from Greenwood and Sabre jets from Chatham were laid on for the trials which, incidentally, lasted the better part of a week and went off very well. The results of the tests were very encouraging and it is felt that the radar at this site will give a good picture of the surrounding area.

    Signed by:

    (DB Babineau) W/C
    CO 22 AC&W Sqn