Fox Harbour, Labrador

Documentation pertaining to Gap filler sites has proven to be extremely difficult to locate or obtain. All of the AC&W Squadrons which formed the 64^th Air Division (Defense), NEAC, were expected to provide Historical Reports on a quarterly basis. We have not been able to locate any Historical Reports which originated at the Gap Filler Detachments. As a result, we focused our attention to the AC&W Squadron Historical Reports, and in some cases, we were able to find some mention of Gap Filler(s).

The 922^nd AC&W Squadron was located at Cartwright, Labrador. This squadron had three Gap Filler Detachments within its overall area of responsibility. One of these units was:

Detachment # 3 – Fox Harbour, Newfoundland

The following detail pertaining to these Gap Filler sites has been extracted from the 922^nd AC&W Squadron Historical Reports – and provides some detail of interest to the reader.

Housing (at Cartwright) has proven to be a large problem during this period. We were required to house the gap filler personnel on their way to remote sites. Because of early arrivals of replacement personnel, there were no rooms available to accommodate these people. Recreation Hall #2 was cleared of its equipment and some twelve double deck beds were constructed out of single frame metal cots.

Detachment # 3 became operational during this period.

Supply functions have been varied for this period, with the shipping season in full swing. The Magga Dan arrived at this detachment in July, supplying dry storage and frozen storage food supplies. The Wang Pioneer also visited with supplies of a general nature. The USNS Chattahootchie supplied the annual bulk fuel supplies.

On 20 March 1959, Lt. Langley relieved Captain Neuendorf of Command of Detachment # 3 to allow Captain Neuendorf to fulfill his flying requirements. Supply ordering, stocking and recording for this detachment was turned over to the unit from the 922^nd AC&W Squadron on 15^th January. At a preliminary meeting in Cartwright, personnel from this detachment were briefed on supply responsibility and accountability in addition to the difficulties to supply organizations in this area. Although the detachment has been given the supply function, Staff and Command responsibility remains with the 922^nd AC&W Squadron.

Change of command at the detachment during this period consisted of Captain Neuendorf resumed command of Detachment # 3 from Captain Langley on 5 May. General detail from the 922^nd AC&W Squadron Historical Record: A five piece band, the Pastels, from Harmon Air Force Base, arrived here from Goose Bay on the 6^th of May. They performed both on the site and in the village. The following day they moved to Fox Harbour for a repeat of their sellout one night stands. Their appearance at Fox Harbour did a great deal to aid morale and spread good cheer both to the airmen and the citizens of the two communities.

Change of command at this detachment included: Captain Charles G Walker replaced Captain Charles Neuendorf at Detachment #3.

Communications equipment identified as follows: BC-639 Single Channel VHF Transmitter (1ea), and BC-640 Single Channel Transmitter, (1ea)

The 921^st AC&W Squadron located at St. Anthony has reported a general increase in communications traffic, especially in relaying messages which originate from the 922^nd AC&W Squadron at Cartwright, Labrador – destined for this Detachment.

Change of command at the detachment during this period consisted of: Captain Jack K Allen relieved Captain Charles G Walker at Detachment #3. The message center at the 921^st AC&W Squadron in St. Anthony acts as a relay for messages between Cartwright and this Detachment. Total messages relayed per month averages 70-80, and results in a considerable additional workload particularly when shortages have been experienced in the message center at St. Anthony. Consideration is being given to eliminate St. Anthony from the teletype loop and reengineering a direct circuit between Cartwright and Fox Harbor. An alternate consideration is the procurement of a TC-16 for the message center at St. Anthony. The teletype reperferator is used for tape receiving and relaying. This equipment would reduce the additional workload of cutting tapes for each relayed message at St. Anthony.

A local modification by the Philco Technician and a Radar Maintenance man at the 922^nd AC&W Squadron at Cartwright, eliminated an inherent internal interference which was quite disturbing when high voltage was being applied during maintenance on the 0A-99 PPI scope. The modification was submitted to Philco Canada and reproduced for use at other Gap Filler stations.

A mobile maintenance team consisting of a plumber, one electrician, two carpenters and one laborer arrived on 26 November 1960 at this Detachment. They departed on the fifth of December after completing all programmed projects.

Word was officially received to discontinue operations at Fox Harbour, Gap Filler, as of 28 June 1961.

After 1 August, the only means of contact with this Detachment was HF Radio. Approximately 200 messages were received from and sent to the 922^nd AC&W Squadron at Cartwright monthly. The 922^nd AC&W Squadron advised that in addition to receiving their SUNEC 1961 shipment, they also received the majority of supplies and equipment from Fox Harbor.

We are aware that the Detachment #3 Gap Filler Site at Fox Harbour was only operational between 1957 and 1961. It is unfortunate that we do not have very many quarterly Historical Records for Cartwright during this four year period. It is, however, somewhat unlikely that there would be a great deal of additional detail pertaining to the Gap Filler Detachment in the missing Cartwright Historical Records.

The only recurring detail which was found in all appropriate Historical Records for Cartwright was found in Section 7, as follows:

Equipment
AN/FPS-14 Search Radar (3 ea)