447 Squadron
La Macaza, Quebec



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  1. IM-99B Certificate of Training - 14 September 1962.
    Courtesy Don Norrie

  2. 447 SAM Squadron at Hurlburt Field (Elgin AFB) - August 1962.
    Front row (L-R) LAC Fournier, Sgt Lloyd Scharfe, Cpl Ted Johnson, F/L Terry Lyons, F/O Al Massey, S/L Stacey, W/C Art LaFlamme, F/O Merv Eagleson, F/O Bob Merrick, F/O Herb Karras, F/O Jim Washington, F/O Peter Berry, F/O MacGuire, Cpl Barter and LAC Charlton. Others in the photo are Sgt Sonny Aumais, LAC Wayne Becker, LAC Boulagner, F/L Calver, LAC Ted Chapman, LAC Chruney, LAC Costin, LAC Jack Craik, Cpl Stu Crites, Cpl Daly, LAC Donahue, FS Dunford, LAC Empey, LAC Ferebee, LAC Gahlen, Cpl Gilhen, Sgt Len Goertzen, LAC Grey, LAC Hamel, FS Don Hynes, LAC Dan Jones, Cpl Peter Koesiag, LAC Kofed, LAC Ley, LAC Lindblad, LAC MacDonald, Cpl Martens, LAC Patterson, LAC Reed, LAC Reese, LAC Richard, FS Robichaud, Cpl Royer, FS Runchey, Sgt Slater, Sgt Floyd Smith, Cpl Harry Turpin, Cpl Norm Weston, LAC Wright. Others on the course but missing from the photo are LAC Casault, Sgt Tom Murison, Cpl Bernie Nault, LAC Don Norrie, LAC Jake Rivard, LAC Ron Ringrose and Sgt Cliff Wood.
    Courtesy Don Norrie

  3. Armourers at a TGIF function at the USAF beach - August 1962.
    (L-R) around the table - Jacques Rivard, Tom Murison, Stu Crites (deceased), Cliff Wood (deceased), Ron Ringrose, unidentified USAF Armourer.
    Courtesy Don Norrie

  4. This photo shows the bridge leading from the mainland to Santa Rose Island where we conducted operational launches of the IM99B missiles - August 1962.
    Courtesy Don Norrie.

  5. 447 Squadron Armourers at Hurlburt Field - August 1962.
    This is, to the best of my knowledge, the only photo of the original eight armourers trained in handling the Bomarc nuclear weapon. Originally a loading/unloading crew consisted of a Sgt, a Cpl and two LACs. Hence we have two loading crews trained for the job. (L-R) - LAC Ernie Grasdal, Sgt Cliff Wood (deceased), LAC Jacques Rivard, Sgt Tom Murison, LAC Ron Ringrose, Cpl Bernie Nault, Cpl Stu Crites (deceased), LAC Don Norrie. The Bomarc maintenance area was a "hard hat" environment due to the extremely sharp leading and trailing edges of the wings as well as the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. A close look at the photo will show a bandage on Norrie's forehead. He ihnored regulations, took off his hard hat (as they were so hot to wear) and eventually made contact with the port wing leading edge with his forehead, and four stitches later, he was back at work - a much more humbled airman, with one hell of a headache.
    Courtesy Don Norrie.

  6. Don Norrie in the "jaws of the dragon" at the amusement park in Fort Walton Beach, Florida - August 1962.
    Courtesy Don Norrie.

  7. Cpl Harry Turpin taps a beer from the Schlitz "beer wagon" during a TGIF session on the USAF beach picnic area - August 1962.
    Sgt Cliff Wood (wearing sunglasses - deceased) is behind Harry Turpin.
    Courtesy Don Norrie.

  8. TGIF at Hurlburt Field USAF beach picnic area - August 1962.
    FS Dunford, foreground, in sunglasses.
    Courtesy Don Norrie.

  9. The snake was 5 feet, 9.50 inches in length - August 1962.
    Newspaper article about the largest Diamond Back rattlesnake ever to invade Hurlburt Field.
    Courtesy Don Norrie.

  10. The "rattler corpse" was hung beneath the sign which identified the building as the Guard House - August 1962.
    Courtesy Don Norrie.

  11. IM99B pedestal missile at the entrance to the Bomarc compound at Hurlburt Field which was a division of Elgin AFB - July 1962.
    Courtesy Don Norrie.

  12. Egg-Toss at a USAF Beach TGIF gathering - July 1962.
    Jim Lawrence (immediate left). Right side is from foreground - Churney, Chapman, unknown, Weston, remainder unknown.
    Courtesy Don Norrie.

  13. Cpl "Norm" Weston practicing his water skiing - July 1962.
    The rest of the story.
    Courtesy Don Norrie.



Photographic Credits

All photos are used with permission.


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Updated: February 24, 2005