Foymount, ON

1953 – Daily Diary – National Archives of Canada


DAILY DIARY
32 AC&W SQUADRON, FOYMOUNT, ONTARIO
1 DEC 53 to 31 MAY 54

9 Dec 53

9724 F/L MJ Hoffart Tech/Tel, 59804 F/O EW Fox Tech/Tel, 121052 F/O GM Hill, left to attend a Telecom conference at ADCHQ. 26155 S/L DC Bullock proceeded to RCAF Station Uplands to conduct Board of Enquiry re Fire at Sgts. Mess and Station Hospital, RCAF Uplands.

14 Dec 53

A snow storm caused all GCI work with 445 (Aux) Squadron Uplands to be cancelled.

15 Dec 53

35141W F/O MBM Dompierre N/S reported to take over duties at Station Hospital.

16 Dec 53

A Comet flight today provided some interest as it was tracked for a considerable distance. Later a "Cannon Ball" no warning Comet flew right through the system. The results were less encouraging.

17 Dec 53

A high level evaluation flight was carried out to determine the high level tracking capability of the AN/FPS-3C search radar in accordance with ADC Ops Order #34/53. The Comet flew two four hour trips at altitudes of 30, 35 and 40,000 feet. The results were very encouraging.

18 Dec 53

A very good day for GCI work. The Radar and the CF100’s enjoyed better than average serviceability and the result was 13 completed A1 interceptions.

19 Dec 53

The Station Christmas Dance was put on by the Telecom section was most successful. A presentation of luggage was made to N/S Mary Doody prior to her leaving the unit. Sister Doody had been on the Unit since it opened and had done a wonderful job caring for both Service and dependent personnel, much of the time when a civilian doctor was not available.

25 Dec 53

The Officers and Senior NCOs served Christmas dinner to the airmen and airwomen. The Officers entertained the Sgts. Prior to this.

1 Jan 54

The Officers and Senior NCOs served New Years dinner to the airmen and airwomen. Prior to this the Officers were entertained by the Senior NCOs.

4 Jan 54

Sections resumed normal routine after holidays. F/O Green and F/O Wilson, Dalton II and Crew visited Squadron. This is first crew to visit under new schedule whereby crews of 445 Squadron Uplands will visit Squadron and Controllers and FtrCops will visit Uplands.

6 Jan 54

Project Toastmaster commenced this date. This is an American Exercise lasting two days and involves the tracking of experimental balloons. Canadian AC&W System only involved if the balloons should drift over Canadian territory.

7 Jan 54

Uplands notified this Unit of CHF check with Expeditor 2321 carrying A/C Hendricks. Lac St. Denis and this Unit to carry out test. Very successful. S/L Bacscom, Security Officer ADCHQ visited the Unit to discuss security aspects at this site. Routine GCI work carried out with 445 Squadron.

8 Jan 54

Coldest day this winter - -21 degrees. Air clear. Routine GCI with Dalton aircraft. One officer and eighteen FtrCops had four hour flight in Comet.

11 Jan 54

121052 F/O GM Hill assumes duties as A/CTechO and 59804 F/O EW Fox assumes duties as RadO on departure of F/L M Hoffart, CTechO.

12 Jan 54

Visit from S/L Futer OC 445 (AW) F Squadron Uplands. Installation begun on facsimile.

13 Jan 54

Reports of everything from Flying Saucers to crashing aircraft. Turned out to be a meteor. Received Operations Order detailing High Level Evaluation of FPS-3 using Comet aircraft. Evaluation to be conducted in phases. Phase I to take place on 14th and 15th Jan.

14 Jan 54

Comet evaluation cancelled due to a/c unserviceability. Routine GCI with Dalton. Condensation in main dome caused damage to telephone plant in frame room. Dried by heat lamps.

15 Jan 54

More leakage in frame room. CE unable to determine exact cause. Comet exercise again cancelled. Facsimile test broadcasts received and equipment appears to be good. Approval received to proceed with arrangements with Nite Cap (655 AC&W Squadron, NY) to send first team to US for Cross Training.

16 Jan 54

F/O King from 2416 Squadron arrived with 8 Controllers and 8 FtrCops to carry out first Auxiliary training in the New Year. Two Beechcraft made available from 104 K Flight for training. Todays flying cancelled due to weather.

18 Jan 54

EW state due to Flying Officers’ qualifying exams being written.

20 Jan 54

Advised by CMHC that APU at receiver site is almost fully installed and ready to be connected within a few days.

23 Jan 54

Personnel from 2416 Squadron arrived. Two Harvard’s made available from practice flight Rockcliffe for GCI work. A02228732 1st Lt. TE Furrey and 3 NCOs arrived from 655 AC&W Squadron Watertown, NY, USA for Cross Training. 209520 F/O WE Vine FtrC and team proceeded to Watertown for Cross Training.

24 Jan 54

A state of simulated Air Defence Readiness was called at 0530 local this morning. Squadron was manned and a state of limited GCI by 0630. Dalton a/c unable to take off due to runway unserviceability at Uplands. Exercise was routine.

30 Jan 54

Square dance held. Very successful.

1 Feb 54

Very little flying, Ottawa runways unserviceable, Dalton ROG. F/L Nichols and F/O Ralston reported to Picton to commence AAA Course.

2 Feb 54

F/L Etienne and F/L Baxter (Dalton 3) arrived for indoctrination visit. Dalton a/c still ROG due runways and weather. 40650 S/L WW Abra, CE/AFHQ arrived for CE Inspection.

3 Feb 53

F/L Baxter gave a 2 hour lecture on radar capabilities of the AI in the CF100. A very enthusiastic "bull session" ensued and a great deal of benefit was derived.

5 Feb 54

CGI with Dalton, 20 SAC B-26 overflew at 2300 EST. Dalton at North Bay for intercept.

6 Feb 54

20 B-26 overflew between 1201 and 0400 this morning. Dalton a/c controlled by Hobart intercepted. Auxiliary training move of 400 Squadron from Downsview to Uplands. W/C DL Ramsay CD, CO, proceeded to Keesler AFB on Course. S/L DC Bullock DFC, CD, assumes temporary command of 32 AC&W Squadron Foymount during his absence.

7 Feb 54

400 Auxiliary Squadron returns to Downsview. A02250 2/Lt. JD Tedeschi reported from 655 AC&W Squadron Watertown, NY for Cross Training, accompanied by 3 airmen. 20099 F/L DR Jamieson, Air/P and team proceeded to Watertown from this unit.

10 Feb 54

Exercise "Heatwave" (ECM with B-36 and CF100’s to intercept) postponed 24 hours. Vulture assisted C45 with engine trouble into North Bay. Two CF100s escorted.

11 Feb 54

Exercise "Heatwave" commenced at 1700 local, CF100 a/c from Dalton scrambled to intercept under the control of Firefly. Vulture microwave, VHF and HF back-up US. Internal functioning of the building worked very well.

13 Feb 54

Six FtrCops from 2416 Aux Squadron arrived for week-end training. W/L DL Ramsay, CD, CO, resumes command vice S/L DC Bullock.

17 Feb 54

Upper Beam US.

18 Feb 54

80 B-47 passing through this Sector, commencing today and terminating Sunday. Upper Beam still US, Dalton being controlled by Firefly.

19 Feb 54

B-47 continue through our Sector. Upper beam still US.

20 Feb 54

Six officers and six airmen arrived from 2416 Aux Squadron. Two Harvard’s from Trenton provided interception practice.

22 Feb 54

Lt. Kierman and party arrive from 655th AC&W Squadron Watertown for Cross Training.

23 Feb 54

W/C T Anderson Sector Commander, and S/L RF Hattan, CO 445 Squadron visited the Unit. Dalton a/c flew night CGI.

24 Feb 54

Exercise "Cold Sweat" cancelled due to bad weather.

25 Feb 54

Exercise "Soft Step" on between 0700 and 2000 hours local. Radar did not function too well, telling lines plugged up, not too successful all around.

26 - 27 Feb 54

S/L DC Bullock DFC, CD, Senior Controller proceeded to ADC for two day Senior Controller’s Conference.

4 Mar 54

CPX Blue Ice, a Command Post exercise originating in the USA was very successful.

8 Mar 54

F/O’s Swetman and Bartlett from 445 Squadron visited the Squadron. Dalton still very active until 2300 local.

11 Mar 54

Communications ECM (VHF) exercise with Dakota utilizing two CF100s from 445 Squadron as Fighters. Seven completed interceptions during the morning and 3 successful out of 4 attempts in the afternoon.

13 - 14 Mar 54

Adverse weather conditions precluded the Auxiliary personnel from 2416 AC&Q Squadron from gaining any training experience with the CF100s from 445 Squadron. The Ottawa weather was mostly 2 miles in rain and snow during the week-end.

16 Mar 54

No night GCI due to 445 Squadron cancelling out because of weather.

20 Mar 54

Phase I and II of Exercise Dust Devil II cancelled due to unfavourable weather. More blowing snow this date than all winter.

21 Mar 54

Phase III of Exercise Dust Devil II came off as scheduled from 1200Z until its extended termination at 2320Z. Although the tactical action which could be taken during the Exercise was limited by weather and primarily runway conditions at Ottawa, it was considered a very successful exercise from an "Air Surveillance" standpoint.

22 Mar 54

W/C DL Ramsay, CD, CO, proceeded on TD to Clinton and Edgar.

29 Mar 54

42924 F/L JN McAvany Chaplain (P) reported on TD from Station St. Hubert to conduct a three day Protestant Mission. Assisting search aircraft as much as possible in search for a civilian Cessna 120 CF-DNA which is missing on a flight from OW to CV.

7 Apr 54

Unknown penetrating a/c at 0715 local. Dalton unable to scramble due to weather. Aircraft proved to be civil enroute Reykjavik - New York.

9 Apr 54

Ten Auxiliary members from 2416 Squadron reporting in for week-end exercise with Dalton a/c.

11 Apr 54

F/L T Elton and F/O E Beland proceeding to Picton to take part in the 3rd AAA liaison course. Members from 2416 Aux Squadron arrived for week-end GCI training with 445 Squadron.

20 Apr 54

A02226944 2/Lt. RL Ramsay USAF, arrived from 655th AC&W Squadron, Watertown, NY for Cross Training. 25427 F/O G Cooper and party proceeded to Watertown from this Unit. 14080 F/L SW Nichols Air/P proceeded to George AFB, California, for 9 weeks course. S/L DC Bullock, DFC, CD, Senior Controller proceeded to 655th AC&Q Squadron.

28 Apr 54

19963 W/C DL Ramsay, CO, and 26155 S/L DC Bullock, Senior Controller, proceeded on TD to ADCHQ to discuss proposed visit of the Minister of National Defence.

1 May 54

ZB5878 Captain CJW Duesling and travelling Dental Team arrived for a 5 weeks visit.

12 May 54

Annual Inspection of the Air Officer Commanding A/V/M AL James, CBE, CD, accompanied by S/L C Allison PA, W/C DA Gwinn, CTechO, W/C EC Briese, WC Operations, and S/L WWJ David, SOSupl. The AOC was met at the Air Strip, Round Lake, by the CO and arrived at the Unit at 10030 hours. After a brief conference in the COs office he inspected the Squadron on parade. The remainder of the day was spent inspecting the Unit and was finalized with a buffet supper in the Officers Mess. The AOC and party then left by plane for ADCHQ. It was very much regretted that the AOC could not remain over for the originally planned Mess Dinner due to urgent business.

13 May 54

The Unit was honoured by a visit from the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Brooke Claxton, accompanied by 30 prominent citizens who are leaders in various fields. This was the first such visit and is known as the "Citizens" Armed Forces Visit". The Minister and party arrived at the Unit from the airport at 100 hours. After a short briefing by the CO in the Station Theatre the party toured the Rec. Hall, Airwomen’s Barracks, and then proceeded to the Operations Building where they were taken on a conducted tour and witnessed an actual interception. The party were entertained at a buffet luncheon in the Officer’s Mess and then left to tour Petawawa Military Camp. Before departing the Minister thanked the CO and officers for their hospitality and stated how pleased he had been with the tour. He commended the CO for what had been accomplished since the Unit’s activation.

18 May 54

35848 F/L T Elton and 48463 F/O LJ Lloyd proceeded on TD to 655 AC&W Squadron Watertown, NY, in connection with cross training programme.

21 May 54

59804 F/O EW Fox, Tech/Tel, proceeded on TF to inspect microwave sites.

26 May 54

20901 S/L FR Sarty, SOGT, ADCHQ, arrived on a liaison visit.

Signed by:

(DL Ramsay) W/C
CO, 32 AC&W SQUADRON,
FOYMOUNT, ONTARIO