Gander, NF

Name of Unit in Full: 226 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Gander, Nfld.

Name of Command: Air Defence Command

Location of Unit Headquarters: RCAF Station Gander, Nfld.

Strength as at 31 Dec

Total all ranks – 175

Total Civilian Personnel – 85

Nominal Roll of key personnel showing appointment held and date TOS.

Appendices

Appendix A – Historical Summary

Appendix B – Monthly Record of Activities

Appendix C – Photographs of officers who assumed key positions during period 1 Jun – 31 Dec 63

Appendix D – Photographs of Air Force Day activities

Appendix E – Photographs of special parades

Signed by:
(CN Stanley) S/L
CO, RCAF Station Gander

Appendix A to
Historical Report 1963

Introduction

No changes were made to the role of this unit which is:

1. to collect, display and relay to higher echelons up-to-date information on the air situation within its area of responsibility;
2. provide support services of supply, materiel accounting and unit liaison for four air cadet squadrons, 512 Bishop Falls, 537 Gander, 617 Lewisporte and 727 Glovertown.

New incumbents assumed the key positions of CO, CTSO, COpsO, SAO and SGTO.

A successful Air Force Day was held and the unit participated in Memorial Day, Remembrance Day and Battle of Britain Day celebrations.

Various sections were inspected by ADCHQ staff officers and the unit was host at a luncheon to the Chief of Naval Personnel and his party who were conducting an annual inspection of Northern Naval Radio Units.

This was a normal operational period for this unit. Thirty-eight Systems Training Programs were conducted and four live exercises were participated in. Seven of the Operations Section Officers were transferred out and replaced during this period.

Personnel were provided NDef Training by Station Chatham NDef Team. All personnel who required first aid training were given the appropriate training by the unit Nursing Sister and MedA. The unit EDP was tested by ADCHQ and one unit vulnerability test was conducted.

There were no major equipment or technical changes during this six month period.

There were no significant administrative incidents during this period.

No changed were made to the unit organization.

ADCHQ Specialists conducted FSv, Supply, Recreation, Medical, Telecom, and SOPA inspections. HQ Eastern Army Command carried out a postal inspection.

Appendix B to
Historical Report 1963

1 Jun 63

F/L JE Fenwick assumed the position of SGTO on the departure of F/L JR Vickers.

Systems Training Program (STP) 665 Category II conducted.

Air Force Day was held with the flying and static displays at the Gander International Terminal. The flying program consisted of the Golden Hawks air display, water bombing and forest fire fighting by the Nfld. Forest Service, a skit by the local flying club and a flypast of F-102 aircraft by the 59^th FIS from Harmon Air Force Base. On static display were a C-119, C-109, North Star and USAF F-102A. A recruiting unit booth, message centre, radar equipment and USAF flying and safety equipment displays were located inside the terminal building. The RCAF Central Band gave a band concert in the morning at the Gander Arena for the school children. The Golden Hawks were present and received the key to the Town from His Worship Mayor Robertson. Another concert was given at the air terminal in the afternoon prior to the flying display. Following activities at the terminal, a reception was held at the Officer’s Mess for invited dignitaries and guests. The day was concluded with a station dance in the Unit Recreation Centre for all ranks and their guests with music provided by the Central Band. A crowd of approximately 6,000 were present at the terminal and were very impressed with all activities. This was the first air display that most people in this area had ever seen, even though Gander, since its conception, has been associated with aviation and the military.

STP 14 Category II was held.

STP 14 Category II was held.

STP 401 Category IV was held.

F/L WD Boulding Tech/Tel assumed the position of CTSO on the departure of F/L CA Mason.

The unit participated in the Memorial Day Parade and the placing of wreaths at the Gander War Memorial.

STP 17 Category II was conducted.

F/O FR Yorke Acc assumed the position of SAO on the departure of F/L OJ Mallalieu.

STP 664 Category III was held.

A total of 58 air cadets, from the four squadrons under the control of this unit, attended summer camp at RCAF Station Greenwood. The annual sports award for the best squadron was awarded to 537 Gander Squadron.

STP 665 Category II was held.

STP 12 Category II was held.

STP 14 Category II was held.

Modified NE611/612 telephone system was installed.

STP 604 Category IV was held.

S/L EH McCaffery of ADCHQ conducted a FSv inspection.

STP 8 Category II was held. USN radar picket aircraft crashed. Vehicle and photographic support was provided to the USA.

S/L CN Stanley, Air/P, assumed command from S/L KS Patterson, Air/P. A handing over parade was held followed by a reception in the Officers Mess for invited dignitaries and guests. F/L JE Fenwick, AS/FtrC, assumed the position of COpsO on the departure of F/L JOP Chevalier. F/L JW Blumenschein, Air/P, assumed the position of SGTO from F/L JE Fenwick.

Eight cadets from 617 and 727 Squadrons attended the drill course held at Station Torbay. WO2 N French of 537 Gander Squadron was awarded a Flying Training Scholarship, successfully completed the training at the Avalon Flying Club at Torbay and received his Air Cadet Pilot Wings. Two cadets from 537 and 617 squadrons attended the Senior Leader’s Course at RCAF Station Camp Borden.

STP 14 Category II conducted.

S/L GD Hines of ADCHQ conducted a supply inspection.

STP 725 Category II conducted.

STP 17 Category II conducted.

STP 725 Category II conducted.

STP 17 Category III conducted.

STP 13 Category II conducted.

STP 664 Category II conducted.

Rear Admiral MG Stirling, Chief of Naval Personnel, and party of 11, who were conducting the annual inspection of Northern Naval Radio Units, were entertained at a luncheon in the Officer’s Mess.

STP 12 Category II was held. STP 106 Category IV was held.

STP 13 Category II was held.

F/L AA Jagoe of ADCHQ conducted a test of the unit EDP.

STP 106 Category IV.

A Battle of Britain Church Parade was held followed by the placing of wreaths on the Gander War Memorial. His Worship Mayor Robertson took the salute.

F/L G Geary of ADCHQ conducted a Recreation Inspection.

Participated in live exercise "Little Echo Orange".

STP 106 Category IV was held.

STP 605 Category II was held.

STP 664 Category II was held.

STP 17 Category II was held.

STP 666 Category IV conducted.

STP 725 Category II conducted.

S/L MJ Fitzgerald of ADCHQ conducted an inspection of the medical section.

STP 15 Category II conducted.

Participated in live exercise "Top Rung One".

Thirteen candidates attempted the Oct 63 Trade Examinations. Nine were successful and four failed.

Captain MacKenzie of HQ Eastern Command conducted a postal inspection.

STP 666 Category II conducted.

STP 605 Category IV conducted. Recorders, RD142A/UN, for monitoring operational voice lines were installed. 537 Gander Squadron moved from unsatisfactory quarters in an old hangar at the Air Terminal to accommodation on Station Gander.

F/L JA Legare assumed the position of SGTO on the departure of F/L JW Blumenschein.

Station Chatham NDef Team conducted nuclear defence training courses in monitoring and decontamination.

STP 275 Category II was held.

STP 401 Category III was held.

Participated in live exercise "Mute VII".

The unit participated in the Remembrance Day Parade and the placing of wreaths at the Gander War Memorial.

F/O D Battye of ADCHQ carried out an inspection of the Telecom Section.

Thirty-six sten guns were received to supplement the station security force equipment; however, training cannot be given as there is no firing range available.

F/L EW Gaffray of ADCHQ visited the Telecom Section.

STP 666 Category IV was held. Station Armament Section was moved from the new Annex to the station guardhouse. The installation of omni-antenna for 0A2325A/FPS-6 was carried out by a USAF team.

STP 665 Category II conducted.

All personnel who had not received first aid training within the past three years were trained.

F/L FA Golding and F/O J Heffel of ADCHQ carried out the annual SOPA inspection.

STP 306 Category III conducted.

STP 606 Category V conducted.

STP 664 Category II conducted. Participated in live exercise "Shock Wave X". A unit vulnerability test was conducted in conjunction with this exercise.