The following article is from RCAF Radar 1941-1945 (Royal Canadian Air Force Personnel on Radar in Canada During World War II) and is used with permission of the author, WW McLachlan
This station was one of a number first established by the USA in Newfoundland and taken over by the RCAF in 1944.
Jack Bradley was part of a group which arrived in St John's in September, 1944, and was billeted at Cape Spear, which became No. 42 RD. After a two week wait, they left for Fogo on a US Coast Guard ship commanded by an American Captain. Let Jack relate his story:
"When leaving and after sailing through the narrows of the entrance to St John's harbour, extremely rough seas were encountered. Many of the passengers, as well as the Captain who had enjoyed a party the previous night, became sea-sick. After less than an hour out, the Captain could stand no more and ordered the ship to return to port, much to the delight of everyone.
The next day the sea and our stomachs had settled somewhat and the trip was made. When reaching Fogo, the again rough seas prevented the small boats from reaching the mother ship and so we remained on board until the next day. Even then the seas were too rough for the American personnel to leave, so the two crews were required to exist together in limited accommodation until the next day when the Yanks departed and station life returned to normal.
This account was disaster #1. More to come. Normally the station was supplied with mail, food and other necessities by a boat from Louisport, where the items arrived on the Newfie Bullet from St. John's. Later in the season, when the pack-ice moved out, there was no link by water with the mainland. Consequently much of our food supplies for the winter was shipped in the Fall and stored in a walk-in refrigerator. All our meat and perishable food was kept there until required.
When the pack-ice settled in for the winter, the refrigerator motor burnt out and all our winter supplies quickly spoiled. It was not possible to obtain a replacement motor while our island was locked in by ice. We had to survive on non-refrigerated food, except for a limited amount of meat dropped in by air. It was a meagre winter on the food front.
As if to rub it in, Headquarters advised that the weather was not conducive to low-flying Cansos to bring us some food or mail for days on end and meanwhile the American planes would be flying over our heads to practice with their machine guns on icebergs that drifted by just offshore.
When the group of replacements for the East Coast radar stations gathered in St. John's to be briefed on where our postings would be, the briefing officer broke the news to us that Fogo Island was our fate. He acknowledged that it wasn't the most desirable location, especially isolated in winter. However, he made a promise that he would personally see that we were not forgotten at Christmas. He would arrange that a Canso would bring us Christmas dinner - turkey with all the trimmings plus a supply of beer and liquor and, in addition, parcels from family and friends addressed to us woud also be dropped."
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Updated: August 29, 2003