2400 AC&W Unit (Res)
TORONTO, ONT

National Archives of Canada

Commanding Officer
2400 AC&W Unit (Res)

1,2 & 3 Dec 50

Newcastle Convoy (Abraham 1)

1 Dec 50

Personnel assembled at Station Toronto at 0600 hrs and proceeded without incident to Scarboro in the following vehicles.

Briefing of convoy drivers was carried out by F/O Haid. Parkas, coveralls and work gloves were issued to personnel, and convoy became mobile at 0730 hrs. (ETD 0700 hrs). Proceeding to main highway, No 5 truck (Diesel Generator driven by FS Graham) suffered a fan belt breakage. This truck stopped, and accompanied by No 4 truck and station remained to effect running road repair. Remainder of convoy proceeded via No 2 highway to Oshawa, at which point a late breakfast stop was effected. No 8 truck (DND vehicle #56 K68 A43) reported nearly empty gas tanks. Vehicle was gassed up at adjacent service station and only required 4.8 gallons (at .42 per gallon = $1.92) to fill tank - thus establishing fact that fuel gauges are u/s. (This applies now to all vehicles of convoy.)

Motor trouble was experienced by No 1 truck as well as fuel line trouble but vehicle remained semi serviceable for trip, but it slowed down convoy speed to about 20 mph average.

Convoy arrived at Denby farm at approximately 10:30 hrs. Trucks were spotted on site by F/O Haid and FS Graham, and when trucks No 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 were in approximate locations, detachment proceeded to Bowmanville for lunch. Personnel billeted at Newcastle Hotel proceeded to Newcastle (private car operated by F/O Middleton). (F/O Middleton and F/O Marriott arrived at site approximately 11:30 hrs in private car operated by F/O Middleton.)

Personnel returned to site at 13:30 hrs and proceeded to layout station according to plan. This work was accomplished with the utmost dispatch, and at 15:30 hrs assembly of antennae was completed and ready for testing. Work on the station was directed by the following:

Antenna assembly and overall checking by FS Graham; Power supplied by F/O O'Leary; while telephone communication was handled by F/O Haid.

CommOps vehicle (with HF and VHF equipment) with one CommOp and one ME Tech (LAC Carter and AC1 Binnie) arrived on site at approximately 13:30 hrs, and by 14:30 equipment operating at peak efficiency.

Land-line had been connected as far as Denby Farmhouse by Bell Telephone Personnel. From this point the line was extended to the tech site by RCAF personnel. Insufficient telephone cable (D-8) was held by convoy to complete the line from No 1 truck to the CommOps vehicle, and this difficulty was overcome by borrowing a reel of cable from Bell Telephone, and laying this cable with their assistance from No 2 truck to CommOps vehicle. 2400 AC&W Unit is indebted to Bell Telephone Co. for their part and whole hearted assistance which made the operation possible. It is recommended that a letter of thanks be sent to the Bell Telephone Co for their part in this operation.

At 16:15 hrs landline communication was established as far as Toronto Test Board (Bell Telephone Office).

At 16:30 hrs the first aircraft was picked up by Abraham 1 AMES II Convoy. By 1700 hrs the radar was declared fully operational, and only landline troubles (Toronto) prevented the station from being placed 100% serviceable. At 17:30 hrs landline communication was established to Abraham Control at Scarboro, but line at Scarboro was not manned until 1945 hrs at which time Abraham 1 was reported fully operational.

From 1630 to 2000 hrs operator personnel plotted aircraft on runs from Toronto to Montreal, plus local flying in Trenton area.

Maximum ranges of plots was 65 miles at 190º bearing. Arrangements were made with Abraham Control to begin operations at 0730 hrs 2 Dec 50, and after further testing, convoy was shut down for the night at 2200 hrs, and all personnel returned to quarters for a well deserved and well earned rest.

2 Dec 50

Reveille on 2 Dec was 0600 hrs,and at 0715 convoy was once again operational. Some difficulty was established in resuming landline communication with Scarboro. Weather appeared to be closing in, but still satisfactory for flying. By 0900 weather was thickening. Sleet and rain were interspersed, and at 0912 Abraham control informed Abraham 1 that Operation "Round-Up" was cancelled due to weather.

In view of this fact, it was decided to dismantle the antennae, pack it up and return to Scarboro ETD 1400 hrs ETA 1630 hrs.

At 1000 hrs rain had settled in, but all personnel worked like beavers to dismantle the station preparatory for the return trip to base. Landline communication was maintained with Abraham control until 1200 hrs at which time power was shut down and communication with base was severed.

Personnel had lunch and then returned to the site for final packing up of equipment. Minor difficulties were experienced in moving No 5 Truck (Diesel Generator) from the field to the highway as snow was being converted to a slippery mess of slush and mud by the rain. The party billeted in Newcastle, in private car operated by F/O Middleton, reported a minor accident when car slipped into a rut and thence into a fence post. Estimate cost of repairing damage was assessed at $15.00. It is recommended that 2400 AC&WU assume responsibility for this amount for repair of this vehicle.

By 1415 hrs convoy was lined up ready for movement. Inspection of site occupied by convoy showed negligible damage to grounds, and when thanks were tendered to Denby Farm for their whole-hearted co-operation , convoy became mobile at 1430 hrs.

Proceeding via No 2 Highway to Bowmanville, convoy was detoured to avoid road construction, and in the vicinity of a service station truck No 1 ran out of gas. This truck was towed by truck No 4 to nearest service station and gassed up (ECPO #44245). 12.4 gallons @ .42=$5.18. DND vehicle 56K61-A44.

Remainder of convoy proceeded slowly towards Oshawa, and awaited the last two trucks and station wagon. Convoy regrouped outside Oshawa and proceeded into thickening weather towards Scarboro. Weather closed in to visibility zero and convoy reduced speed. Navigation became an acute problem, and average speed was 5 - 10 mph. Fog closed in completely rendering driving hazards, but proceeded to destination, and touched down at 1740 hrs. Only the utmost skill of the convoy drivers was responsible for the safe arrival of the convoy.

Truck No 2 (driven by F/O Welch) suffered a minor fender scratch in scrape with Grey Coach "Silver Sides" bus at approximately 1730 hrs at about stop 30 on Kingston Road. This accident reported to Grey Coach Lines by F/O Lawrence, and to RCAF by F/O Haid at 1800 hrs.

Trucks were then parked in dispersal area at Scarboro, and personnel disbanded and returned to their respective homes. FS Graham volunteered to return to Scarboro site on 3 Dec 50 and move the trucks to their alloted spaces in daylight, because no one could see where to put them at the time.

Operation "Round-Up" as far as Newcastle Detachment was concerned was now complete. Renamed Operation "Flop".

Do not recommend further operational exercises until all deficiencies of convoy, "ESPECIALLY TOOLS", are made good. Am submitting further report on tool situation.

TOOL SITUATION

2400 AC&W Unit does not have enough tools for one man let alone a crew.

Some tools were loaned by F/O Haid to unit to enable operation to be more efficient, of tools loaned, two items have not as yet been returned (presumed lost in action).

1 - 8" crescent

1 - 12 point 1/2" shank 7/8"size socket

Everyone complained about lack of tools and spares, and I do not recommend any further work until more tools have been supplied, and all deficiencies made good.

For example, truck No 1 has no tow ropes, and when about to pull the station wagon from the ditch, was forced to use tire chains.

FS Graham should be consulted in this matter of tools

Signed by HR Haid F/O
OC Abraham 1
2400 AC&W Unit (Res)