Holberg, BC

The principal events and developments for this period are as follows:

On 30 Nov 60, F/L FL Conn of ADCHQ arrived for a routine inspection of station security administration.

Four station defence alerts were sounded during this period. "Infiltration" attempted on 9 Sep 60 to blow up the power house in conjunction with "Sky Shield". All the infiltrators were unsuccessful.

No land searches were undertaken during this time.

The enlargements to the Officers, Sergeants and Airmen’s Messes were completed in Aug. The resultant modifications to messing facilities were also completed.

A special luncheon was prepared for the AOC’s visit on 26 Aug. In addition an Officers Mess Dinner was catered to for the visit of Brigadier Gillespie on 5 Oct 60.

FS CR West arrived on 6 Jul to take over as NCO i/c Food Services.

The new X-Ray equipment, which has been in storage at this unit since last year, is now awaiting installation. The X-Ray Department has now been completed and made ready to receive this equipment in accordance with AFAO 36.01/03 para 4. Our MD 241 10 Nov requested AFHQ to raise the contract for installation by the appropriate specialists.

Other renovations and alterations to the Station Infirmary are nearing completion. Changes to the various wards, X-Ray Department, Laboratory, Dark Room, and MO’s office and examination room are now at a stage where some have in fact been taken over and are in use.

The new Obstetrical, Delivery and Case Ward was taken over on a Saturday (29 Oct 60) and the first child to be born therein, occurred the following day, 30 Oct 60. It was a boy.

Births during the period 1 Jun 60 to date of this memorandum, are as follows: Boys born in Station Infirmary 2, Girls 7. Fortunately no deaths occurred during this period, nor was it necessary to air evacuate any dangerously ill patients.

Changes in key personnel during this period are as follows: 56916W F/O Dussault, Hospital Matron, was SOS on 26 Oct 60, and 69557W F/O Boone took over these duties on that date.

55165 F/L MJ Cote was transferred in on 5 Sep 60, and will take over as Senior Medical Officer on the departure of the present SMO, F/L VP Smith, expected early in Jan 61.

Operation of the Recreation Centre was carried out with approximately 300 persons utilizing the facilities daily. For part of Jul the gym was closed and converted to emergency accommodation for construction and technical personnel. The following sports were offered: broomball, badminton, swimming, children’s PT, basketball, table tennis, volleyball, softball, square dancing, ladies 10-BX programme, and 5-BX for overweight personnel. In addition, Scouts, Cubs and Brownies were offered for dependent children.

Special recreational activities included an East-West softball game, bicycle races, the annual "Ladies softball game" which was called because of rain. A Station dance and a Halloween Dance which featured a Variety show from Victoria. Monthly bingos were also featured.

The Scout house project is still not completed. It is now expected to be ready for operation early in the new year.

The temporary school was used to complete the 1959-1960 school term. In Sept 60 the new 6 room school was accepted and used for the new term. Administration and teachers were provided by the Quatsino School District Board.

Grades 1 – 10 are offered, with some grade 9 and 10 subjects being taught through correspondence courses in conjunction with classroom coaching.

The new chapel building was completed in November. Protestant church services were held for Remembrance Day and RC Sunday masses commenced early in December.

F/L RH Howson assumed the duties of Protestant Chaplain in Aug and F/L NG Beaulieu assumed the RC Chaplain position in Sep.

There was a change of SCEO. F/O JR Beaupre being replaced by F/O HR Bailey.

During the above mentioned period there were three main phases of work involved, construction by 2 CMU, by DCL and by the CE Squadron.

Projects completed and started by 2 CMU –

The contract for widening the road between the Power Plant and the Radar Site was completed. This involved blasting of rock to widen the road at narrow corners, widening and increasing the visibility at switch back #2, installing several culverts, adding guard rails and depositing four to five inches of top dressing. This took place on 28 Jul 60, the same day the new SAGE Annex was begun. At the present time approximately 60% of the latter project is completed.

The extension to the Power Plant also began. This involves adding an additional twenty-four feet and two new engines being installed.

Approval was received from Air Defence Command on 7 Nov to begin the evacuation of the basement in the Recreation Centre. This project is expected to begin early in the new year.

Projects completed by DCL –

On 15 Nov the last apartment block built by A and B Construction Ltd., was accepted by the Air Force from DCL. This completed all the new construction supervised by DCL. This construction was comprised of seven apartment blocks, one six room school, a combined chapel, septic tank and a new drainage system.

Projects completed by the CE Squadron –

An APU unit was installed on 31 Aug to provide emergency power for the Message Centre. This now provides emergency power for all emergencies at the Message Centre.

The renovations to convert the old school to a Female Officers Quarters was completed on 13 Sep. This involved changing the school into a seven room barrack block complete with two living rooms and a kitchen. At the present time it is occupied by the nursing sisters and the teachers.

The Radome Hold Down Rings were modified to fit the Radomes. This involved welding plates to the existing ring to give it correct diameter and elevation.

The hospital alterations were completed on 28 Nov. This provides a new X-Ray room, new labs, a new delivery room and a new ward call system.

Besides this construction the regular maintenance of station roads and grounds was carried on. This also involved the clearing of large slides on the road and removal of the collapsed portion of the old dock.

Daily routine of the Fire Hall was carried out during this period, with all new building and annexes being scaled with fire extinguishers.

Fire Prevention Week was held from 9 – 15 Oct with various displays and demonstrations being held on the unit. The Fire Prevention Week Contest entry form and Year Book were submitted to AFHQ for onward transmission to NFPA headquarters in Boston, Mass., USA.

A concerted forest fire prevention campaign was held during the summer months with gratifying result – No forest or bush fires during the entire fire season.

One fire was reported from 1 Jun 60 to 30 Nov 60. On 22 Oct 60 the prime mover of a 28 passenger bus caught fire when the carburetor flooded during a run up. Total financial loss by fire during this period was fifty dollars.

The main project completed by the supply section over this period was the furnishing of 70 new PMQs. The last apartments were furnished during the week 27 Nov – 5 Dec 60.

In July, F/O CN Minty took over the duties of SSupO.

The highlight of the period for the MSE section was the visit of S/L Bjorndahl and F/O Smalley in November.

In Nov the MV Nimpkish II arrived to take over the Coal Harbour – Holberg run. In the interim period from the departure of Nimpkish I, the YFP 306, on loan from the RCN, was used.

The installation of the FPS-507 was completed in Sep 60. It has proven to be a most useful addition to this units equipment.

Construction of the SAGE Annex progressed favourably. The Advance Party team from Burroughs Ltd. Arrived in November for preliminary talks regarding the installation of the SAGE equipment.

The Radome on #1 height finder was installed in Nov, though extremely high winds damaged the Radome during construction. Construction of the second Radome was delayed until more favourable weather conditions are present.

Frequency maintenance visits were made to the unit by civilian and service personnel. Personnel were rotated and a gradual buildup of strength has taken place.

F/O HM Langtry, Tech/Tel, assumed the position of Communications Officer. F/L CA Lepine, Tech/Tel, arrived in Jul to be CTSO.

Exercise Desk Top III was a NORAD wide synthetic exercise in which this unit took part.

S/L H Spector assumed position of COpsO vice S/L KCA Smith who was transferred to RCAF Station St. Hubert.

This unit took part in Exercise Sky Shield, a live SAC/NORAD exercise.

FPS-507 Height Finding equipment installed and operational.

The Air Staff Visiting Team arrived for a three day visit and departed on 23 Sep 60.

Brigadier General Gillespie, 25^th NORAD Sector Commander visited 53 AC&W Squadron and discussed operational problems with the Operations Staff.

A total of 8,743 tracks were recorded from 1 Jun 60 to 30 Nov 60. Included in this total were 16 which were classified as unknown. Scramble action was taken against 10 of the unknowns and the period closed with 1 remaining unknown.

There were 17 practice or simulated alerts during this period. Battle Staff manning was instituted as necessary as well as 12 hour shifts for personnel. STP and SSTM training progressed favourably.

During the period 1 Jun 60 to 30 Nov 60 the controller strength averaged 19 with a result that manning was only complicated by the inclusion of "green" controllers in the crew. However, "on the job training" was successfully carried so that the overall operational efficiency was not impaired.

FtrCop strength was at a minimum acceptable low during the summer months. However, a steady build up in strength has taken place in the last months of the period so that the situation by the new year will be satisfactory.