Parent, QC

1961 – Narrative Report – National Archives of Canada


Narrative Report
RCAF Station Parent
1 Jun 61 to 30 Nov 61

1 Jun 61

Construction of SAGE Annex, GATR and Telco Building started. During Jun and Jul, Tri-Bec Company carried out extensive work on the ADCOM II air conditioning system which had been unsatisfactory since installation.
Casting commenced for the Summer Carnival.
Cpl. LD Brown chosen "Airman of the Month" for Jun 61.

2 Jun 61

The fishing season opened in earnest with regulations published in our weekly "Chronicle".

6 Jun 61

Meeting held to plan construction and financing of the new golf course.

9 Jun 61

Annual Sports Banquet was held in the Rec. Centre to honour the winners of the Fall & Winter Sports Program.

16 Jun 61

Baby Spurr, son of F/L Spurr, SSupO, was air evacuated to Children’s Hospital in Montreal.

21 Jun 61

Veteran 28 passenger bus 102 A30-1042 was returned to 6 RD and replaced with another from Winnipeg. It was received originally from St. Margarets on 4 Feb 58. There it had already put in 188,690 miles and had "used up" two engines since 1956. While in service at this station since Feb 58, it had put in another rugged 76,745 rugged miles - mostly on snow, ice or dusty gravel washboard on steep grades; had carried another 72,130 passengers, very seldom making more than an 8 mile round trip. Over a quarter million miles and the last 70,000 were the worst!

3 Jul 61

Cpl. JGS Rossingol chosen "Airman of the Month" for Jul 61.

4 Jul 61

S/L A Harvey assumed duties of COpsO vice S/L Wallis who was transferred to NNR/CC, St. Hubert.

5 Jul 61

F/L SH Coombs summer replacement for the Protestant Padre visited the Station from Station Senneterre.

6 Jul 61

The tour expired unit MSEO, FS Martens was replaced by FS WC Tolmie.
Cpl. PE Hogan was installed as NCO i/c MSE inspections in accordance with revised MSE policy and administration.

9 Jul 61

The new well was completed and producing water for the campsite system thus terminating a precarious water situation which began with the failure of the old well in mid May.

17 Jul 61

F/O JH Allison assumed the duties of SAO on transfer of F/L Gifford.
The contractor commenced the installation of two heavier diesel electric units to help carry the additional SAGE loading.

20 Jul 61

The Electrical Power Panel at 100,000 gallon reservoir was blown up by lightning. Causative installation deficiencies in the outdoor power distribution plant were discovered one day prior to expiry of the installation contractor’s warranty.

25 Jul 61

Float organization for Summer Carnival got underway.

31 Jul 61

Carnival Queen’s submission of candidates was started.

1 Aug 61

The Message Centre hours of operations were reduced from 16 hours to 12 hours daily.
Cpl. MG Terrant chosen "Airman of the Month" for Aug 61.

2 Aug 61

Organization began for the Airwomen’s Anniversary Marathon Swim. 29 Airwomen took part round-the-clock.

5 - 13 Aug 61

Operations underwent a 9 day conversion to COIN procedures under the supervision of ADCHQ staff officers.

10 Aug 61

Contractor arrived to commence a paved road repair programme. In this connection Mr. A Smith of CCD AFHQ paid a survey and investigation visit 23 Sep.

11 Aug 61

F/O Rene Serrao won third place in the World Sailing Championships.

12 Aug 61

Airwomen’s Marathon Swim ended. Station Parent won the Trophy. (Annex 2)

15 Aug 61

Exercise "Desk Top IV" - NORAD wide STM.

19 Aug 61

Junior Carnival Queen chosen - Miss Susan Harvey, daughter of S/L Harvey, COpsO.

23 - 25 Aug 61

Summer Carnival held, with parade, floats, sports competition and crowning of Carnival Queen - LAW Wengzynowski. G/C KC Cameron of ADCHQ attended as the AOC’s representative. (Annex 1)

24 Aug 61

F/L TH Collins of ADCHQ and F/L HG Meinert from Station Senneterre attended the Carnival.

25 Aug 61

Unit Truck Rodeo took place with LAC JAR Roy and Cpl. GN Snider placing first and second respectively. These airmen later represented the Station at Greenwood but failed to place.

27 Aug 61

F/L BH Ackers Med./MO took over as SMO replacing F/L Bilodeau.

30 Aug 61

F/L J Cline of ADCHQ visited Operations.

31 Aug 61

F/L MG Vallance Pers/Adm. commenced duties as PAdO replacing F/L Vaughan.

1 Sep 61

LAC JR Goyette chosen "Airman of the Month" for Sep 61.

2 Sep 61

F/L PR Spurr relinquished duties of SSupO to Sgt. ECS Johnson.

6 Sep 61

School reopened. Protestant School had a staff of 6 teachers and enrollment of 75 pupils. RC School had 6 teachers and 82 pupils.

13 Sep 61

F/L PW Croswell of ADCHQ SOPA visited the Station on an inspection of Administrative Section.

15 Sep 61

F/L RC Gudgeon assumed position of SGTO on transfer of F/L Gillion to CEPE Cold Lake.

19 Sep 61

The AC&W visiting team arrived for a four day comprehensive evaluation of the operational efficiency of the unit.

25 Sep - 8 Oct 61

Commencement of a two week formal TA course for FtrCops. Cpls. Miller, Therriault, Hargraves and Bouvier were employees as instructors. Thirteen students attended the course, 2 Sgts and 1 Cpl. for trade improvement; 3 group ones and 7 group two. The course average was 78.3 per cent, the highest mark being 88 per cent and the lowest 62 percent.

2 Oct 61

Cpl. LE Miller chosen "Airman of the Month" for Oct 61.
A two day visit was paid to the unit by W/C Riddell from ADCHQ SOCE. Discussed were CE Accounting and Administration, and classification of outstanding projects.
F/O TG Cummings was installed as the new SSupO.

6 Oct 61

Mrs. Papineau, wife of LAC KW Papineau, was air evacuated to St. Lambert’s Hospital in Montreal. (Annex 2)

9 Oct 61

F/O C Lewis MED/NUR TOS Parent.

13 Oct 61

Exercise "Skyshield II" involved full participation of all operational and security forces.
Sgt. Hopkins of Station North Bay visited the unit Armament Officer.

16 -17 Oct 61

S/L DL Thompson ADCHQ Matron arrived on an inspection visit of medical facilities.

16 Oct - 10 Nov 61

A refresher course for Cpls. And Group 3 LACs was given by F/L Gudgeon, F/O Searl, FS Coulliard, Sgt. Ireland, Sgt. Stevenson, Cpls. Miller, Hargraves, and Therriault. A total of 120 hours of lectures was given to four courses of one week duration covering leadership, drill, Air Force law, communications, service writing and trade. Thirty-seven students completed the course averages were 77.4%, 83%, 82% and 83%.

18 Oct 61

F/L JW Cowell of ADCHQ visited the unit on an inspection of fire fighting facilities.

19 Oct 61

F/O P Searl joined the Ground Training Section as STPO.

20 Oct 61

The Firemen’s Ball was held in the Rec. Centre as part of the celebration of Fire Prevention week.

23 Oct 61

Rainbow Lake was restocked with speckled trout flown in by aircraft.

25 Oct 61

F/O AA Stuck left the Ground Training Section on transfer to Station Falconbridge. F/O Stuck was the organizer of the Station Orchestra and the Station Drum and Bugle Band.

26 Oct 61

Following an interim take-over period which commenced 3 Oct, Mr. Wright of AFHQ and Mr. Arcand DCL Branch Manager visited the station for final handover of the newly installed 650 KW Diesel electric units.

28 Oct 61

F/L AC Edmunds of ADCHQ visited the station on an inspection of Accounts Section.

31 Oct 61

Cpl. PE Hogan chosen "Airman of the Month" for Nov 61.

4 Nov 61

W/C W Rodger CHP/PROT ADCHQ made an inspection visit and conducted religious services.

6 Nov 61

F/O CRM Boyle Med./Nur arrived on TD from Station Cold Lake to replace temporarily F/O M Mitchell.

8 Nov 61

F/O DO Bly and F/O JJ Grogan both of ADCHQ visited the station on an inspection of security services.

21 Nov 61

Five additional tape recorders were installed for use in recording extra controller positions.

22 Nov 61

F/L SM Robinson Med./Nur was TOS to Station Parent to assume duties of matron.
WO2 HR Gibbon of ADCHQ visited the station on a sanitary inspection.

24 Nov 61

The Sports Dance was held in the Rec. Centre with the Central Command Band in attendance. A/C JB Harvey CStaffO of ADCHQ was to be guest of honour but was unable to attend due to weather conditions.

25 Nov 61

Band Concert to residents of Station Parent and the town of Parent by Central Command Band.

28 Nov 61

F/L GS Sephton of ADCHQ SCESO Branch paid an official visit to the Telecom Section.
Thirty-six automatic dryers were received for installation in the Steelox PMQs.
The conversion of both height finders to variable nod and 507A capability was completed.

1 Jun - 30 Nov 61

Station Operational Activity - 98 site centered exercises were run by flight personnel and 70 scheduled exercises were carried out during this period.

Signed by:
(SC Tugwell) W/C
CO RCAF Station Parent, Quebec