Memories of L'Ouvrage d'Ars
Jones, Bill (Jonesy)
– (1961-1966) and Gariepy (now Jones), Marie – (1961-1963)When you entered the d'Ars bunker, there was a Pass Control area (located just inside the main door) which was operated by the Military Police. This was where you picked up your pass when you arrived at the bunker, and you were expected to return your pass to the Pass Control area when you departed the bunker.
You would then proceed down a corridor (approximately 30 feet) until you reached a location where you had to turn right. On the right were the Message Centre, COC Operations Centre and the COC Operations Orderly Room. The Ops Room and Orderly Room brewed their coffee in a little niche in the hallway across from the Ops Room. There were no designated coffee rooms per se. There was one bed in the back of the Ops Room for the Officer that was scheduled for the midnight shift. Across from the COC Operations Centre were the stairs to the lower level. The switchboard was one of the sections located on the lower level.
The Intelligence Section was "fenced-in" and had controlled access. You had to ring a "buzzer" for access, and someone came to open the door.
Across from the COC Operations Centre were the stairs to the lower level. The switchboard was one of the sections located on the lower level. At the left of the stairs were the Message Relay Centre, Technical Officer's Office, 601 Telecom Squadron sub unit (where they repaired telephones etc.) and further down was the Mess Hall.
The Mess Hall was used strictly for meals and it was not very big. There were only five or six tables and it was only open during daytime hours. Personnel working shift would pick up Box lunches at the Mess Hall on the station before going to the bunker.I do not recall where the bunker obtained their electricity, nor do I recall whether there were back-up Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) in the bunker. Some of the sections such as Intelligence and the Message Centre had additional doors for security reasons.
We used to play horseshoes on top of the bunker.
Legere, Ed
– (1961-1966)I worked in L'Ouvrage d'Ars for over three and a half years. I had been employed at 61 AC&W Squadron between July 1961 and December 1962. Following the closure of 61 AC&W Squadron on 31 December 1962, I found myself employed at the Combat Operations Centre (COC) which was located in the bunker. I was employed in the COC between December 1962 and August 1965. After two and a half years of working in the COC I was moved to the Switchboard where I was employed between August 1965 and July 1966. The switchboard was located directly below the COC in the bunker. It had been decided to rotate personnel between the COC and the Switchboard to give the FCOs that were working at the Switchboard a break. I was the first to do the rotation as I had been at COC the longest and I only had one year remaining in my tour - at least that's what they told me. There were about 10 people working at the Switchboard in those days - about 5-6 FCOs and 4-5 French (locals) women.
France gave notice in the Spring of 1966 that they were going to withdraw from NATO. This meant that the RCAF would have to depart from Metz. As a result, L'Ouvrage d'Ars along with SU Metz and the Chateau de Mercy were turned over to the French early in 1967.
Atkinson, Bob
– (1957-1960)I recall sleeping and eating in the bunker for a week during one of the many exercises that were held. 6 TACC was formed and located in the bunker at a later date.
Brant (now Mantha), Helen
– (1957-1960)If I remember correctly, the Combat Operations Center (COC) was originally located in the same building as the 61 AC&W Squadron Operations room. There was a big window and we (in COC) could look directly into the radar squadron Operations room. COC was moved into L'Ouvrage d'Ars in 1958 because there was a need for additional space in building that housed the radar squadron.
Fowers, Frank
– (1955-1958)Two groups of trucks were parked near L'Ouvrage d'Ars. One of these served as the Receiver site for 61 AC&W Squadron. The other group served as the microwave installation for the RCAF at Metz.
Updated: April 10, 2001