Puntzi Mountain, BC

1964 – Historical Summary – National Archives of Canada

APPENDIX "A"

HISTORICAL SUMMARY
RCAF Station Puntzi Mountain, BC
1 Jan 64 - 31 Dec 64

Introduction

Morale at this unit is very high as evidenced by the number of personnel requesting extensions, particularly in view of the isolation of the unit and the lack of station facilities. In order to maintain this high level of morale, a large amount of our M&I monies are used to provide entertainment for personnel. Action has been taken to secure loans from the IAAC for renovations to the Airmen’s Club and Sergeant’s Mess. An excellent start was made on a nine-hole golf course and this course was used extensively by unit personnel during the summer and fall months. It is planned to complete this golf course in the Spring of 1965. An aluminum boat and two motors were purchased through Station Fund and added to those already at Puntzi Lake for the use of station personnel on a rental basis.
Medical and Dental - This unit has a small MIR, a one-bed emergency ward and a dental clinic. The medical staff consists of a Sgt. MedA and an AC MedA. There are no doctors or dentists on the unit. A medical officer from Station Comox visits this unit on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. A dental team from Camp Chilliwack visits the unit approximately every three months. Personnel requiring medicals are sent to Jericho Beach in Vancouver.
Chaplain Services - Reverend FM Patterson of Hanceville BC provides RC Chaplain services to the unit which he visits every Sunday except the first Sunday of the month. He conducts a service in the Station Theatre on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. Father Patterson is provided with transportation to and from Hanceville by MSE. This unit has no Protestant officiating clergyman. However, the Protestant Chaplain from Station Comox visits the unit on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month and holds a service in the Station Theatre on the same evening.
Accommodation - Station accommodation consists of four airmen’s barracks, one Senior NCOs quarters, one officers quarters plus one general purpose hut to house civilian employees. The buildings were left in a below average condition on take over from the USAF; however, proper care and a judicious expenditure of money for repair have brought them up to a much more acceptable standard. The general purpose hut is strictly a temporary building. There are 126 men living in barracks in space designated for 118.
Civilian Personnel - There has been little difficulty in filling our established civilian positions to date. However, many of those who do not have their families with them are of the "drifter" type and this creates a rapid turnover in some sections.
Food Services - The standard of messing is outstanding. Service personnel in the Food Services section, especially those in the supervisory positions, are above average. There has been the usual turnover in civilian kitchen help but replacements have been obtained from Vancouver or from local dependents. Rations including milk, are shipped by truck from Vancouver to Williams Lake and trans-shipped by a local trucking firm to this unit. To date, this arrangement has proven satisfactory. However, delays enroute due to truck breakdowns, poor road conditions, etc., could prove serious and expensive during the summer months as none of the trucks transporting these rations area refrigerated.
Security Services - Immediate security of the unit rests on one Senior NCO, two Corporals, and eight airmen AFP who are responsible for both the upper and lower sites. Some difficulty is experienced in keeping the strength up to establishment due to the rapid turnover in the AFP trade. There are no Commissionaires on the unit. In times of alert, the Security Defence Force consisting of three officers, three Senior NCOs, and 31 airmen from the lower site are called out.

Major Functions of the Unit

The functions of this unit changed when the unit became operationally "SAGE TIED" on 23 Mar 64.
The current role of the unit is as follows:

provides air surveillance information to Commander, Seattle NORAD Sector during Mode I and to Commander, appropriate NCC, during Mode III;
provides autonomous Mode IV control; and
is listed as an emergency recovery base.

Numerous operational and training exercises were carried out in accordance with NORAD Regulations and requirements. Regular on-the-job training was carried out continuously during the period.
Turnover of key personnel are as follows:

F/O A Stratychuk replaced F/O JAG Gelinas as SLogO

F/O AA Binnie replaced F/O Ramsden as STelO

F/O GC Slavinski replaced F/L Wallman as SCOO

F/L TR Drinkwater replaced F/L FT Butler as SCEO

F/L JA Emon replaced F/L WC Short as CAdO

A total of eleven staff visits and inspections were carried out by various ADCHQ branches. The Deputy Minister’s Audit Team carried out the unit’s first audit during the period 22 Sep to 8 Oct 64. General Elder, Commander of 25^th NORAD Region, accompanied by G/C Elms, G/C Turnbull, and Colonel Praul, carried out a familiarization visit on 27 Jul. Colonel WR Neavitt, Commander Seattle NORAD Sector, accompanied by G/C Turnbull, Commander McHugh, and F/L Broadbent, paid a visit to the unit on 26 Aug. Brigadier F Danby, BC Area Commander, paid a courtesy visit on 8 Oct in the course of inspecting local Army Detachments.

One civilian employee lost his life in a boating accident on 26 Sep. A collection among station personnel and various benefit functions on the unit raised a total of $753.00 which was presented to this employee’s widow and children.

The Otter aircraft and MSE from the unit were called upon on twelve occasions to assist in evacuation of ill or injured persons other than DND employees. Seven of these twelve were evacuated by air.

The Otter aircraft flew a total of 332 hours, carried 950 passengers, and 23,000 pounds of mail and freight to and from the station. On two occasions the aircraft was called upon by RCMP to remove bodies from isolated locations. On four occasions searched were carried out using the station Otter.