Puntzi Mountain, BC

Organization

1. AFHQ Organization Order 2.56 issued on 5 Oct 62 states that the RCAF will assume responsibility for the manning, operations and maintenance of radar site C-19, subject to the provisions of paragraph II(B)(3) of the Memorandum of Understanding, dated 12 Jan 61, for the Group III radar sites. The RCAF will form 55 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron to operate and maintain radar site C-19 located at Puntzi Mountain, BC, which at present is operated by the 917^th AC&W Squadron of the United States Air Force.
2. The RCAF establishment will be effective 1 Nov 62 for administrative purposes, and 1 Feb 63 for operations. Thus, personnel will be transferred to the unit from 1 Nov onwards, and the base will be handed over to the RCAF as of 1 Feb 63. (A copy of the relevant Org Order is attached).

Location

3. The site is located 117 road miles west of Williams Lake on the Chilcotin Highway which runs from Williams Lake to Bella Coola on the Pacific coast. The main gate is about one mile from the highway. The settlement known as "Puntziville" lies between the main gate and the highway. It is a collection of small homes constructed by civilian personnel employed at the base – approximately 40 families live there.
4. The operations area is seven miles from the lower area, and the flight line is two miles west of the lower area.
5. The site is located in the Chilcotin area of the Cariboo, a vacation land paradise.
6. This area was opened up by prospectors who packed all supplies from rail lines by pack horse, mules and camels. The roadway to the unit from Williams Lake is actually a rebuilt pack trail. When mining became unprofitable, the people who remained behind started a cattle industry. Ranches in the surrounding area are generally quite small, running about 250 head of cattle on average. The Gang Ranch, largest in BC, and the Chilco Ranch, third largest, run in excess of one million acres and have over 8,000 head each. The Chilcotin is still considered a frontier area; only about fifty ranchers occupy the area, excluding the Indians.
7. Mount Waddington (13,104 feet) highlights the snow covered mountains of this area.

Description of Unit

8. A description of the unit and its facilities is attached.

Unit History

9. Construction of the site was begun in March 1950 by Canadian contractors utilizing funds supplied by the US government. The site was accepted by the USAF in May 1952 and it became operational in July of the same year. It is one of the three US-manned radar squadrons in British Columbia and is an integral part of the Pinetree Line.

Phase Over

10. Puntzi Mountain will be the seventh of eleven Group III radar sites to be transferred from the USAF to the RCAF Control since 1 Oct 61.
11. In preparation for the phase over, or turn over of the site, a comprehensive plan has been published jointly by USAF and RCAF staff planners in the form of a master plan for all Group III sites. This plan covers all of the items of interest to station personnel and higher agencies and details specific tasks which are to be accomplished by certain dates prior to the phase over (D-Day). Some of the functions which will be taken over by the RCAF are: