Holberg, BC

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

On 18 Jul 61, W/C RL Fullerton officially assumed command of RCAF Station Holberg from W/C JR Austin.

Births during the period 1 Jun 61 to 30 Nov 61 are as follows: Male infants born in the Station Infirmary 7 living, female infants 2 living.

There were no air evacuations during this period.

The Dental Corps visited the unit twice during this period.

Personnel visiting the Infirmary were as follows: P/O P Olson (Med Student UBC), A/Sub Lt. R Raine (Med Student U of A), W/C McCarthur (Matron in Chief), Lt. Commander Russell (Med Nur), Sub/Lt. A Dubois (HMCS Naden), Captain R McLeod (RCAMC), Captain Laudan (RCAMC).

The bowling alleys were re-located in the basement of the Recreation Hall and two additional alleys were installed bringing the total to four lanes.

Station dances were held monthly, and once a month bingo games were conducted commencing in September.

Operation of the Recreation Centre was carried out with approximately 300 persons utilizing the facilities daily. The following sports were offered: broomball, basketball, badminton, volleyball, softball, bowling, swimming, children’s PT, and judo. Scouts, Cubs, Guides and Brownies were offered as well to dependent children in the Scouthouse.

On 6 Nov an Aquatic show was held in the station swimming pool. Participants were members of the swimming classes.

F/L JY Bourgeois assumed duties of the RC Chaplain from F/L NG Beaulieu departing Chaplain.

During this period, construction and maintenance was carried out by 2 CMU and the CE Section.

Projects completed by 2 CMU –

The construction of the SAGE Annex, Telecom Building, Sports Field and the tennis court and excavation of the Recreation Hall basement was completed. Installation of the second engine in the power plant is expected in Feb 62.

With the completed Recreation basement, two new bowling alleys were installed and the two existing alleys were moved into the new bowling alley. A games room and social centre are located in the basement.

The GATR building is 99% completed. The bridge footings are poured and 60% of the project is finished. The poles for the antenna farm have arrived and erection is expected to commence in early January.

Projects completed by the CE Section –

There were several small projects completed which included ventilation on the 2^nd floor No. 1 tower, by-passing an old septic tank and an addition on the CE Shops, and the installation of new oil filters in the Power Plant.

Regular maintenance of station roads and grounds and buildings was carried on by the project flights of the CE Section.

Fire Prevention Week, 8 – 14 Oct. During this period a vigorous campaign was launched to make all station personnel and dependents more fire conscious. Fire Prevention literature was distributed, posters and signs were exhibited in various locations throughout the camp and an invitation was extended to all to visit the fire hall during the week and see the fire equipment on display.

Personnel Jun – Dec 61. There was an almost complete changeover of personnel during this period including the Fire Chief, Sgt. Traer leaving Holberg for Uplands, and being replaced by FS Hill from 30 AMB Langar on 24 Aug.

The unit was visited by the Command Fire Marshall, WO1 MacDougall, in September.

The marine craft Nimpkish II was in Vancouver undergoing refit from 1 – 30 Jun and returned on 5 Jul to Holberg.

A survey of area roads to determine traffic control requirements was completed 15 Jul.

A special area was prepared for the purpose of holding a Unit Safe and Skilled driving competition. This was prepared by seven personnel of the MSE Section who contributed approximately 300 hours of labour on their own time. Area was graded and ready for use on 21 Aug.

Road-eo competition run-offs were held 26 Aug. A total of seven contestants competed. LAC SD Robertson won with a score of 376 points and later won the Western Area competition at Sea Island to bring a large trophy and much credit to RCAF Station Holberg’s MSE section.

There was an SOMSE Staff Visit from AFHQ in Sep for the annual inspection of Unit MSE Section. The ADCHQ representatives were F/L Sear and FS Griffith.

A new MSE Safety Committee was formed 15 Oct comprising of four MSE personnel and representatives of user sections.

On 20 Jun one HF transmitter (1730 kcs) was installed at the HF Site for operational use on "Limited Control". In conjunction with this, a system of divided control has been provided at the operational position, to facilitate "Limited Control" among four controller positions.

A land line telephone system was provided by 21 Aug for Search and Rescue activity between the Station guard house and Mr. Ronning’s residence at San Josef Bay.

Due to excessive adjacent channel blocking and interference on VHF receivers it was decided on 30 Aug to move all tactical channel VHF receivers to the UHF site.

By 21 Sep all VHF tactical receivers were installed at the VHF site. All interference and blocking seems to have been eliminated.

The HF transmitter used for Limited Control operation was moved to the VHF site (Comm Site #2) in an effort to increase its effective range. Tests have not proved and marked improvement, only some 30 or 40 miles have been satisfactory.

On 30 Sep the new GATR building construction was completed and some equipment had arrived.

A party from AMCHQ arrived 20 Oct to site the Holberg vicinity with a view to possible future commitments.

An RCA representative began GATR site layout and antenna farm installation on 10 Nov.

On 10 Oct F/O WB Lange assumed duties of CommO.

On 14 Nov work began on the Telco building installation and microwave link.

Most of the GATR equipment had arrived on site by 30 Nov and was ready for installation.

Tower One Radome, over the Search Radar antenna, was painted 11 Aug.

The Field Projects Manager for RCA Montreal visited the GATR Site 15 Aug and surveyed the site for the installation of poles on which the antennas will be mounted.

Erection of a rigid radome on Tower Two, over height finder number one, commenced 15 Sep. Installation was carried out by a crew from RCA Montreal. Assistance was provided by RCAF personnel. Project was completed by 21 Sep.

FS Newman of AMCHQ/STelSO/TelDM staff arrived 10 Oct and supervised unit radar technicians in the installation of ECCM devices, to both the AN/FPS-507 height finding equipment’s.

Overhaul of the 15J1D and the AN/GPS-T2 training equipment’s was commenced 12 Oct by Canadian Aviation Electronics Company, Winnipeg. Completion date was 14 Oct.

Operations stated that all radar equipment was an unqualified success during exercise Skyshield II, 16 Oct.

The main power transfer switch required to incorporate the GATR Site was connected 14 Nov.

On 1 Jun F/O Newman SGTO was transferred and F/L Norenius was appointed SGTO.

There was a SGTO Staff Visit on 10 Sep.

A Cpls. Service Training Course was held in the Station Theatre 11 – 22 Sep. Ten Cpls. Attended the course, there were no failures and the course averages 75.1%.

F/L Norenius was transferred and F/L Deacon was appointed SGTO 7 Oct.

Seventy-six airmen wrote Trade Board Examination in the Rec. Hall 15 Oct. Seating plan, Trade Examinations etc was the responsibility of the Training Office.

On 10 Nov a visiting team from Seattle COC arrived for the purpose of evaluating each position FtrCops man during normal operations and exercises. The exercise began when the Team arrived and lasted for 2 days. A cross section of officers, NCO’s and airmen also wrote exams for the Visiting Team.

A three day indoctrination course for new FtrCop arrivals was conducted by F/L Deacon, SGTO, and held in the Training Office 12-14 Nov. Eleven FtrCops attended. W/C Fullerton, Commanding Officer of Station Holberg also attended the course.

Two Sgts. Wrote Group 4 Trade Examinations 20 Nov.

F/L Deacon, SGTO, attended the Ground Training Officers Conference held at ADCHQ 22-24 Nov.

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

Desk Top IV, 15 Aug. NORAD-wide synthetic exercise which tested this unit’s capability to operate under simulated war-time conditions. Stress was laid on surveillance, degraded communications, Battle-Staff reactions and NUDET reporting. The exercise was considered quite successful.

ADCHQ Visiting Team, 26 Sep. This unit was visited by representatives of SOCE/ADCHQ for the purpose of testing and evaluating the operations personnel prior to the annual NORAD exercise Sky Shield II. The team was on site for three days examining and observing various aspects of the operation. On their departure they held a critique with the Commanding Officer and Chief Operations Officer.

Sky Shield II, 14 Oct. Sky Shield II was the annual NORAD-wide live exercise with SAC forces participating on a large scale. The exercise lasted for 12 hours during which all commercial traffic in the US and Canada was grounded for the period. Activity in this particular area consisted of approximately 43 valid targets through Seattle Sector. The exercise was considered successful and provided a realistic test of this unit’s operational capability.

25 NORAD Region Tactical Evaluation of the Seattle Sector, 8 – 11 Nov. S/L Shore and FS Miles from 25^th NORAD Region HQ visited this unit on dates shown for the purpose of evaluating the complete operation in connection with our responsibility to Seattle Sector. They observed routine activity, examined and tested individual airmen and officers and assessed the unit’s performance during a prolonged live exercise period. Their final report rated this unit in the outstanding category.

Other than the above highlights, activity was considered to be of routine nature. Regular Sector and Region STPs and live exercises took place with Battle-Staffs participating at least once per week. Controller strength remained fairly constant throughout the period. However, FtrCop strength has been decreasing in order to meet a revised establishment.