DAILY DIARY
1 RADIO DETACHMENT - PRESTON, NOVA SCOTIA
Jun 17, 1942 to June 30, 1942
17 Jun 42
Flying Officer CH Clow (SR)(ADM) arrives on Detachment and takes over Administrative Duties from Pilot Officer OA Smith (Radio Officer).
18 Jun 42
Cold down pour of rain lasting through out the day. All work by Contractors on grounds suspended. Station grounds are a quagmire, necessitating the wearing of knee rubber boots.
19 Jun 42
Personnel at this Detachment consists of one (1) Officer, Administrative, one (1) Officer, Radio, seven (7) Radio Mechanics, two (2) Motor Transport Drivers, two (2) Cooks and fifteen (15) Security Guards, a total of twenty-eight. The orderly room is still not functioning, as no clerks have yet been posted, and there is no office equipment. The chief inconvenience is lack of water. The deep well pump has not been received, and consequently there is no water supply as the well has been drilled to a depth of over four hundred feet. The supply of drinking water is obtained from a near by spring, and water for general purposes is hauled in barrels from a stream adjacent to the Detachment. No hot water is available, and today, the airmen were despatched by truck to Dartmouth Air Station to avail themselves of a shower at the station there. The side road from the Station to the main highway is improving fast. The Contractor was able to start the levelling of the grounds this afternoon. With clear weather it is promised that the grading of the grounds will be completed within two weeks.
20 Jun 42
Heavy rains this morning prohibited all work by Contractors. The side road is impassable. Flight Lieutenant Manders from Eastern Air Command arrived this afternoon and is working in installation work on the Towers.
21 Jun 42
Good progress is being made on Tower installation work.
22 Jun 42
The Bull Dozer used in grading the grounds has broken down bringing all work in this connection to a stand still. A single cyclinder gasoline pump has been installed in the well and is filling the storage tank at the rate of approximately one inch per hour. When the water system has been chlorinated, it is hoped to have a limited water supply. No postings and no additional equipment has arrived.
23 Jun 42
The Radio Equipment attained an operation condition today.
24 Jun 42
NIL
25 Jun 42
NIL
26 Jun 42
Wing Commander Leggett, Senior Medical Officer from Dartmouth, Squadron Leader Cleveland, Administrative Officer, Flying Officer Foggo, Works & Buildings, and Flying Officer Brown made an inspection of the Detachment today. The Senior Medical Officer has arranged for a Medical Officer from Dartmouth Station to visit this Detachment three times each week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
27 Jun 42
One (1) Wireless Electrical Mechanic and one (1) Wireless Operator (Ground) posted to this Detachment today.
28 Jun 42
NIL
29 Jun 42
Eighteen (18) Radio Operators and Mechanics arrived today from No. 31 Radio School, Clinton. Two (2) Flight Sergeants, two (2) Corporals and one (1) LAC (Installation Party) arrived today from Eastern Air Command, on Temporary Duty. Two (2) Clerks posted this day.
30 Jun 42
Two (2) Radio Mechanics, one (1) Diesel Fitter and one (1) Oiler posted here this day. Work on the Station is progressing satisfactorily. The Contractors are levelling the ground and putting the finishing touches on the buildings. The water supply is still very limited, as the deep well pump has not arrived.
(CHClow) Flying Officer,
Officer Commanding,
#1 Radio Detachment,
PRESTON, Nova Scotia.
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