Goose Bay, Labrador

1953 - Assorted Photos – Allan Banfill

During the summer of 1953, Allan Banfill was 22 years old and employed as an Installer with the Bell Telphone Company of Canada. According to Allan, Bell Telephone officials began searching for volunteers within their organization. They were looking for volunteers but would accept only from a select group that fitted into a certain profile. It was under these circumstances that Allan applied, and was accepted for his skills in what eventually became known as Pine Tree Construction Project Job #2. This project was very "hush hush" and even for civilians, the basic handout was clasified as SECRET. Things were obviously quite secretive in those days - as the last paragraph in the project handout stated "Finally anyone arriving at point of departure for the job under the influence of liquor will be taken off the project and returned to their headquarters immediately. Any forbidden articles such as liquor, guns, cameras etc., found in luggage at the time of departure for the job will be confiscated".

Initially, the selected few knew nothing, and they were told even less. They were apparently being sent to remote locations to install communications lines and networks. They had no indication as to how long project would last or the locations where they would ultimately be working.

Allan and his group left Montreal's Dorval airport on July 13, 1953 - destination Goose Bay, Labrador. He recalls that he only spent a few days in Goose Bay. Allan and his group were then placed on a Canso and they departed Goose Bay for Hopedale - where they worked for a period of some 5 weeks. The work being completed at Hopedale - it was back to Goose Bay for a few days, and then north to Frobisher Bay for about a month and a half. There were three teams in all, and the other two handled the initial installations at Resolution Island, Saglek, Cartwright and St. Anthony.

Allan has kept some of the initial communication and detail (all these years) and he has shared this with us - so we can get some idea as to what took place back in 1953 - at the time when Pinetree Line radar stations at Frobisher Bay, Hopedale and even Goose Bay, were still under construction - and at the best, providing limited facilites and amenities.

Allan wrote "We were only in Goose Bay for a few days on each occasion. The initial flight in - where we stayed until we departed for work in Hopedale. On completion of the wrok in Hopedale, it was back to Goose Bay for a few days - pening our departure for Frobisher Bay. Finally, on completion of the project at Frobisher Bay, we were heading back to Goose for a days reast - and eventual return to Montreal.

While in Goose, Allan (dutiful child) wrote a letter to his mother. This could have been typed out for input into the web site, but somehow or other - looking at the original, written on August 23, 1953, it just felt better scanning it, and presenting the letter as it looks today. Allan was also able to provide a group photo of Bell Telephone employees which was taken in Goose Bay.