Gander, NF

1956 – Historical Narrative– National Archives of Canada


Secret
21-11-0 (CO)

RCAF Station Gander
Historical Narrative

RCAF Station Gander is one of the Radar Units of the Pinetree Project. It was constructed to United States Air Force Arctic Standards. The operational portion of the Unit is financed by the United States of America and is manned by the Royal Canadian Air Force. Operationally it is a Limited Ground Controlled Intercept Squadron operating 8 hours a day GCI and sixteen hours per day early warning with one half hour call up to CGI status. It is operationally responsible to 64th Air Division, USAF. 64th Air Division is part of the North East Air Command USAF at Fort Pepperrell AFB at St. John’s Nfld., who are in turn operationally responsible to Air Defence Command (RCAF). The unit is administratively responsible to Air Defence Command (RCAF).

Station Gander is located at Gander Airport. Its latitude and longitude position is:

48 degrees 56 minutes 42 seconds North

54 degrees 35 minutes 02 seconds West

and its Georef position is JKFD 3556.

The prime contractor of the site was Fraser Brace Terminal Construction Ltd., (USA). The United States Corps of Engineers supervised the standard of construction. Construction was commenced in the summer of 1951 and completed by 1 July 1953.

The electronic contractor was Canadian General Electric.