DAILY DIARY
12 RADIO DETACHMENT - BAGOTVILLE, QC.
June 21, 1944 to October 31, 1944
21 Jun 44
Liberator arrived safely at base at 11:45 hours. Passed plots to Sector during PM on Dorval to Goose Bay traffic. Aided CPA to base.
22 Jun 44
Flying washed out at 08:00 hours due to poor weather. Flying washed in at 09:25 hours. Plotted outgoing CPA to 44 miles. Hurricane landed with wheels up, no one hurt. A lot of local flying during PM. Liberator took off to Quebec by way of Saguenay River. Four Hurricanes went out as escort but turned back to base at a range of 12 miles due to poor visibility. Lost Liberator in PE's at 17 miles as it was flying low.
23 Jun 44
Picked up Bolingbroke from Halifax at 43 miles. Radar reception very good. Sector tried an interception but R/T via VHF very poor.
24 Jun 44
Plotted aircraft going from Goose to Dorval, maximum range 86 miles, length of track 103 miles. Sector ran two interceptions, this detachment also ran two controlled by F/L AH MacCarthy, C815, one being successful.
25 Jun 44
Construction gang from Dominion Bridge Co. arrived to erect MEW tower. Received five flight plans on aircraft bound for Goose Bay from Dorval. Picked up all these aircraft with good signal strength on each. Maximum range 80 miles, longest track 80 miles. No local aircraft activity. No. ADC reports.
26 Jun 44
Lot of local activity. Sector and 12 RD each tried an interception which were unsuccessful due to the fact that we were unable to identify fighters from numerous other aircraft in vicinity. Plotted CPA out to 53 miles at 12.00 hours. Only local circuits and bumps during PM. Flying washed out at 19.50 hours.
27 Jun 44
Plotted incoming CPA from range of 41 miles. Interceptions washed out because of VHF trouble. Plotted incoming Grumman Goose coming from Presque Isle. Night interception carried out be C4284 S/L R Canning. The two sections consisted of 6 to 8 aircraft each. One section sighted target but rest of fighter aircraft did not see target consequently missed interception.
28 Jun 44
Only local flying carried out, VHF checks with aircraft. A lot of local activity during PM. Eleven cases of IFF equipment arrived under guard. Signal dispatchd to Eastern Air Command repeat #4 Repair Depot, Scoudouc to the effect that IFF. equipment is ready for installation. MEW tower is now complete and equipment including 3 diesels awaiting installation. C21523 F/O GC Frith came down to detachment at 19.00 hour to check that everything was in good shape for passing plots to sector for a night interception controlled by them.
1 Jul 44
Four tracks ploted travelling northeast along the St. Lawrence. One aircraft turned south west in the direction of Dorval. On contracting Sector it was confirmed that an aircraft bound for Goose Bay had returned to Dorval.
2 Jul 44
Air Minster, The Rt. Hon. CG Power arrived by air landing at 14.00 hours. No flight plan received and no plots obtained. During the afternoon plots were obtained on some aircraft leaving the station proceeding to Lake St. John and return. It was later learned that this flight consisted of the Air Minister's Beechcraft and three Rocket carrying Hurricanes proceeding on an RP demonstration to the range. The Air Minister's Beechcraft was plotted out to 53 miles at 19.00 hours.
3 Jul 44
Just local aircraft plotted during the day. Preparations got under way for a "wiener roast" to be held on 4 July. R153560 LAC Boyd, DL and R154631 LAC Hoyt AH posted as MT drivers to Pennfield Ridge. Effective 3 July 44 R169565 LAC Powell, J remustered to aircrew and posted to Manning Depot, Toronto, the best of luck to these boys.
4 Jul 44
No unusual occurances during the day. Arrangements were completed for the "weiner roast". All unit personnel with the exception of those on duty departed by MT at 20.00 hours complete with the necessary quantity of beer and wieners. In attendance were 4 officers and 40 airmen. The site was chosen by F/L MacCarthy and proved to be ideal. We arrived just before dusk. The Baie de Ha Ha is beautiful at sunset, with sun sinking behind the hills, leaving the sky with a false light. After all the wieners and marshmallows had been unloaded by a crew of 20, another Joe was despatched to carry over the ale. Soon the sky was again red, this wasn't any false light. It was real pulpwood, rescued just before entering the last leg on its long journey from tree to tissue; rescued from the frying pan to redden our fire. It was at this stage that the singing began, Command has done well in providing all the various detachments with tenors and 12 RD is not under establishment in this respect. Close to our location some of the beachcombers discovered people in a summer cottage, they had seen our fire and had now begun to enjoy our music. As they were English speaking they greeted our boys and invited them and all the rest of the party to their home. At S/L Cannings insistence they joined us instead. The songs at this stage more or less died out.
28 Aug 44
MEW equipment which has a wonderful display system might prove very good here if the ranges can be obtained, much is hoped for in that respect. The Staff Officers beat our boys tonight in a league softball game. The ball team is having good success this year but slipped badly tonight to the tune of 18 - 8.
29 Aug 44
The quarterly overhaul crew left today for Scoudouc after completing maintenance on the GCI and aligning the IFF equipment. The MEW equipment is showing improvement daily under the guidance of Mr. Clarence Fuller, Radio engineer from National Research Council, Ottawa. A range of 75 miles was obtained on the MEW which upon checking was further than the GCI was able to plot this aircraft. At 14.50 hours Sector called and told us particulars on two interceptions, the target aircraft was equipped with IFF tuned to "G" band. With IFF we obtained a range of 58 miles at 6000 feet, actually though the echo was weak, perhaps some minor tuning adjustment will be the answer to this. We passed plots to Sector who controlled both interceptions which were unsuccessful. A signal was received advising us of the posting of C21523 F/O GC Frith to No. 16 Detachment Dartmouth, NS effective August 31st, reporting September 4th. to replace C10934 F/L PF Peter who is posted to this Unit effective Septmber 4th.
30 Aug 44
Local aircraft were plotted all morning. At 10.25 two Harvards enroute to quebec were plotted from 17 miles out to 38 miles. These plots were checked against MEW ranges and bearing on same aircraft. This was found to be quite satisfactory. In the afternoon a test was run for MEW calibration. The aircraft used was a visiting Canso. Some doubt as to the identity of the Canso was encountered as many other aircraft were showing at the same time. The Canso orbited the Station to attain 10,000 feet. The first plot at 28 mile. The MEW equipment also plotted it from that mileage. The GCI equipment were able to plot it to 64 miles on the outward run, whereas the MEW had it out to a range of 85 miles where it turned for base. It then faded for about 4 miles, probably caused by the different reflecting head on surface presented. From there in to 25 miles from base the MEW plots very good. At 25 miles it faded. The GCI by using their low aerials to plot it to within a mile of base. The test proved satisfactory to all concerned and the Radio Engineer, Mr. Fuller said it was encouraging but more yet should be hoped for by this new equipment even considering this hilly site.
31 Aug 44
While sweeping for an Anson enroute to Bagotville from Ottawa which was flight planned, the GCI was advised by MEW that they had an aircraft at 55 miles southeast of the station. The GCI was unable to pick up either the Anson or the other aircraft which MEW continued to follow out as far as 76 miles. In afternoon we advised MEW that we had a track on the St. Lawrence River. They had two tracks in that direction.
16 Sept 44
Picked up 3 aircraft on St. Lawrence run. Had ranges of 71, 78 and 80 miles respectively on the tracks. IFF showed on two of these but only one plot was taken on IFF alone, the IFF signal fading at the same time as of the GCI fade. All aircraft were travelling northeast. In the afternon CPA was plotted.
17 Sept 44
At 11.50 hours we picked up an aircraft signal at a range of 62 miles on the St. Lawrence run, and followed it to a range of 75 miles. This showed IFF. At 1210 hours another St. Lawrence run aircraft was picked up at a range of 71 miles, fading at 81.
18 Sept 44
MEW called in a plot from aircraft signal at 70 miles. Only one plot was attained. None by GCI. Later at 1030 hours MEW picked up another signal at 50 miles. GCI also picked it up and plotted it for 85 miles. MEW had a range of 64 miles and plotted it for 105 miles. Nothing further was noticed until the evening watch who plotted an aircraft on the St. Lawrence run with a maximum range of 61 miles and length of track of 17 miles. No IFF showed.
19 Sept 44
Very little aircraft activity from No. 1 OTU these days. MEW had two plots on aircraft at 52 miles. GCI only obtained one. No IFF showed. GCI had an aircraft from 35 miles to 55 miles heading to St. Hubert from Bagotville. MEW had two plots. MEW tracked CPA from 42 miles to 5 miles of the stations. It was plotted by GCI from a range of 37 miles direct to base.
20 Sept 44
Nothing unusual to report.
21 Sept 44
No activity throughout day with exception of CPA aircraft. CPA officer phoned and asked us to check for data when available, aircraft was picked up at 45 miles. Flying conditions were bad due to very low ceiling, ranges and bearing were given every minute till aircraft over aerodrome, length of track 48 miles. On evening shift CPA plotted out to 40 miles.
22 Sept 44
Weather still very bad. One track was obtained, that being on CPA No other activities.
23 Sept 44
Only one track plotted today. Weather not good for flying. Flying instructor in Hurricane towards Lake St. John. Two flight plans obtained but we were unable to pick up these aircraft.
28 Oct 44
At MEW - Somewhat cloudy and cool today, but we were able to plot CPA out from Station to a range of 41 miles. Twilight shift plotted an aircraft at 2200 hours along the St. Lawrence River for 105 miles, achieving a maximum range of 73 miles.
29 Oct 44
At GCI - In early AM spurious echoes were noticed. Two Hurricanes left from this base flight planned for Presque Isle, but no plots were obtained on them. Spurious echoes most likely are caused by RS Beacon as it shows a regular reading of 040º at 70 miles. No other activity.
At MEW - Quite cool today and only 6 plots recorded all day on an aircraft heading south at a maximum range of 38 miles.
30 Oct 44
No other aircraft activity except CPA which was plotted. Maximum range of this one track was 45 miles.
At MEW - Heavy winds up to 30 MPH blowing all day causing considerable drift on aerials. CPA was the only aircraft plotted, with a maximum range of 34 miles. Equipment in fine working order.
31 Oct 44
Nothing plotted. No activity. Our average maximum for month is good with 25 out of 82 tracks over 50 miles, 12 of these over 70 miles.
At MEW - Quite a heavy snowfall today and CPA was our only aircraft track with a maximum range of 34 miles. One spurious echo was tracked for 6 miles, but rate of speed was recorded at 84 miles per hour., believed to be cloud with a heavy moisture content.
General Health of the Unit's personnel was very good.
Strength:
Officers - 4
NCO's - 12
AC's - 36
Total - 52
(PF Peter) F/L
for CO #12 Radio Unit,
Bagotville, QC.
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Updated: April 3, 2003