The 922nd is located three miles from the village of Cartwright, Labrador, which is approximately 135 miles east of Goose Bay, Labrador. Cartwright has a population of 400. There is a Hudsons Bay store, churches and a Grenfell Mission in the village. Residents of Cartwright are dependent upon fishing for their livelihood.
Climate and Clothing
Weather conditions encountered in this area are quite variable. The average yearly temperature is 30 degrees F, with the temperature dropping to 20 degrees below zero during winter months and rising to 75 degrees during the summer months.
A considerable amount of snow falls in this area each year and the winters are extremely long.
The year round duty uniforms are either summer 505s or fatigues. Off duty, civilian clothing is authorized for wear. NCO Dine-Ins are conducted at least once a quarter. A blue uniform, white shirt and bow tie are required items. It is advisable to have a good supply of washable civilian clothing as there are no dry cleaning facilities at this station, and procurement of civilian clothing here is very difficult. The facilities for cleaning washable items are adequate. There are washing machines, ironing boards and irons available to all personnel.
Hold baggage takes about ninety days to arrive here from stateside bases, and it is recommended you ship any hold baggage at the earliest possible date so that it will arrive here shortly after you do.
Morale, Welfare and Recreational Activities
1 Personnel Services Activities
2. Base Exchange The Exchange System operates a small retail sales store at this station. While the store is rather small it carries a complete line of toiletries, tobacco and personal items. From time to time the Exchange receives various gift type items which of course are reasonable in price.
3. Officers and NCO Open Messes:
|
Meals (with waiter service) |
Weekdays |
Dinner |
|
Supper |
Saturday |
Supper only |
Sunday |
Supper only |
All other meals are offered in the Squadron Dining Hall.
(b) NCO Open Mess The NCO Open Mess is open for membership to all NCOs as active members. Considering the lack of local civilian entertainment facilities at the NCO Open Mess have also been opened for membership to lower grade airmen over 21 years of age as associate members. A free dinner is served once a month for all active members and everyone in this category is urged to attend these functions. Snacks are served in the evening from time to time.
4. Religious Facilities Catholic and Protestant services are held periodically on station and are conducted by Chaplains on temporary duty from Goose Air Base. The village of Cartwright offers religious coverage for those of Anglican, Pentecostal, or congregational denominations. A schedule of services is posted on the Squadron Bulletin Board. Jewish personnel may, in accordance with AFR 165-5, obtain permission to attend the High Holidays at Goose Air Base. Bible study groups meet once a week and are conducted by base personnel.
5. Telephone Service Telephone calls may be made to the United States on a collect basis only. Calls are placed with the unit telephone operator, who will in turn place the call with the Canadian Bell Telephone operator at Goose Bay Air Base. A telephone booth is provided for these calls and is located in the main corridor near the Unit Bulletin Board. These calls can be made after duty hours only. If your family should desire to call you at some time during your tour this may be done. All incoming calls should be made Person to Person to lessen the expense of the call. The charges on a person to person call begin when you are connected to the calling party. Charges on a station to station call begin when the operator is first contacted and this may lead to excessive expense if the operator finds it difficult to locate you. When your family places a call to you they should inform the operator that they are calling you at Cartwright, Labrador and that the call foes through Goose Air Base, Labrador. If an emergency should arise, your family should be reminded that they should first call the nearest Chapter of the American Red Cross if there is a possibility that the emergency will involve an emergency leave. Calling you first in case of such an emergency will only lead to a longer period between notification and the time you may leave the unit for home.
6. Amateur Radio Station The squadron presently has a radio station which is available to all licenses amateurs who have applied for and have obtained a license from the Canadian government.
7. Information Services The main function of the Information Services Office at this Station is operating the closed circuit radio affiliate of the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service WNTS. The station operates fourteen hours daily except Friday and Saturday when it is operated for fifteen hours. Broadcasting at WNTS begins each day at 0900 hours, and various live, transcribed, and network programs are offered each day. News is broadcast eight times each day from AFRS New York, atmospheric conditions permitting. These newscasts are aired over WNTS and live broadcasts are also presented from time to time. WNTS means Wonderful Nine Twenty Second. It is a closed circuit radio station and therefore can only be heard here at the 922 ACWRON and at our three Detachments. We have approximately twelve airmen who have the privilege of being Disc-Jockeys at WNTS. Upon arriving at the station anyone interested in working may contact the NCOIC of the Radio Station. Anyone who works there for a period of six months will have their picture permanently posted in the Radio Station.
8. Education Services The Education Centre at this station provides most educational opportunities that can be found at stateside bases.
9. Mail and Postal Service:
Example:
A/1C John C Smith, AF13275905
922nd AC&W Squadron, Box 147,
APO 433, New York, New York
All outgoing mail must bear the return address of the sender.
10. Administration It is suggested that arrangements be made by individuals being assigned to this station since possible delays may be encountered in making routine payments on existing obligations. This unit is scheduled to be paid on the last day of each month. However, weather conditions sometimes prevents chopper services therefore delaying receipt of pay and further delaying your prompt payment to creditors. It is suggested you clear any outstanding accounts or at least change the paying date to the 15th or so of the month.