Moosonee, ON

1994 - General History - Paul Ozorak

In the early 1960s, the Royal Canadian Air Force built five new long-range radar sites as part of the Pinetree system to close certain gaps in radar coverage, RCAF Station Moosonee being one of them. The station opened in July 1962 with the 15 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (later re-designated 15 Radar Squadron) as its main operating entity. The Squadron began operations with an FPS-20 Search and two FPS-6B Height Finder radars.

In October 1967, RCAF Station Moosonee became Canadian Forces Station Moosonee. In 1970, station strength stood at approximately 140 service personnel and 60 civilians. Compared to those radar stations that opened in 1952 and closed in the mid-1980s, CFS Moosonee had a brief existence as operations were terminated in April 1975 and the station was disbanded the following August as a cost-saving measure.

Apparently, most of the station remains although it wasn't visited by the author. One can still find the radar towers, less their domes, along with half the residences. (Every second one was destroyed or moved to make the adjacent property larger). These residences are now used as quarters for teachers employed at Northern Lights Secondary School James Bay Campus. CFS Moosonee was located at the northern end of town.

-- Paul Ozorak