Senneterre, QC

1956 – Narrative Report – National Archives of Canada


Secret
Appendix "A"
to AFAO 71.00/01

Narrative Report
RCAF Station Senneterre, PQ
1 December 1956 to 31 May 1957

4 Dec 56

F/O RS Park from ADCHQ and Mr. Moore from AFHQ arrived for a study of installations. F/O JJ Tracy from ADCHQ arrived on TD.

5 Dec 56

Fire broke out in air lock, left tower, at 1350 hours, extinguished 1430 hours.

11 Dec 56

F/O Atwood, F/O Lyons, F/O Wylie and F/O Lepine reported in from North Bay for a familiarization visit.

25 Dec 56

The normal Christmas festivities were celebrated. The Senior NCOs were entertained by the Officer in the Officer’s Mess, after which the Officers and NCOs served dinner to the airmen. 215324 AC1 Hogan, the youngest airman on the unit was honorary CO for the day.

31 Dec 56

Formal dances were held in the Officers and Senior NCOs Messes in honour of New Year’s Eve. A formal dance was held in the Rec. Centre for the Airmen.

1 Jan 57

Promotions – F/O to F/L: F/L WM Crooks, F/L RK Wolff, F/L RK Metheral. The Officers were entertained by the Senior NCOs from 1000 – 100 New Year’s Day. An "At Home" was held for local dignitaries in the evening. Facsimile Transceiver TT1E/TXC-1 and Facsimile Recorder TSC were installed for reception of weather maps from St. Hubert.

14 Jan 57

Annual overhaul of FPS-3. FPS-6 employed as a limited search gear for the first time in ADC. Results were good. Only the north quadrant from 315 degrees to 045 degrees was scanned.

21 Jan 57

S/L VP Grant reported in from 17 Wing HQ for a period of Special Duty.

30 Jan 57

Exercise Caveman C3. We controlled six pair of fighters. Results – 8 missions accomplished, 1 missed intercept because of airborne equipment failure and 3 missed intercepts because of personnel error.

5 Feb 57

Debriefing for exercise Cavemen C3. Sector Commanders of 1 & 3 Sectors and A/C Gilchrist in attendance. A/C PA Gilchrist, D/Ops, ADCHQ, and G/C RW McNair, Commander 1 ADCC arrived for an inspection of the station.

8 Feb 57

"Cocked Pistol".

9 Feb 57

Twenty civilian members of GObC arrived for a tour of the station.

20 Feb 57

Northern Electric overhaul party arrived for maintenance of communications equipment – departed on 6 Mar 57.

2 Mar 57

Station Senneterre entertained Station Parent at the annual winter sports week-end. Twenty personnel from Parent were entered in the competition. In the events, Parent won the bowling trophy which was presented by W/C Duncan. The Lawrence trophy for winter sports was presented to W/C Duncan by W/C Lawrence. The "Immovable Finger" trophy was presented to the losers by W/C Duncan.

4 Mar 56

Antenna of FPS-6 found to be damaged, replacement required.

22 Mar 57

The Officer’s Mess which had been renovated was officially opened with a Mess Dinner. G/C DA Willis, SPSO, ADCHQ; S/L EL Dalton, A/WP, AFHQ; and S/L H Cochrane, representing the Commander 3 ADCC, were guests in attendance. Also in attendance were F/L MacLachlen, F/O B Montgomery, F/O D Montgomery, and F/O Mortimer from 433 Squadron, North Bay.

26 Mar 57

Exercise Caveman DR21. We controlled six pairs of aircraft.

3 Apr 57

CGE personnel arrived on unit to install new FPS-6 antenna screen.

8 Apr 57

F/O’s DG Stuart, AA Living, GW Machem and R Wilson from 428 Squadron, Ottawa, reported in for four days cross training.

8 – 12 Apr 57

First experience of carcinatron jamming.

10 Apr 57

G/C RL Dennison, Sector Commander, and F/L M Nielson from 3 ADCC arrived in Val d’Or by service aircraft to inspect the unit.

11 Apr 57

Two Stromberg Carlson Intercom systems were installed in the new Admin building.

20 Apr 57

V3 line amplifiers were installed in VHF and UHF transmitter lines.

23 Apr 57

F/O VL Andrews reported in to assume duties as PAdO.

25 Apr 57

238135 LAC JV Michetti reported missing and presumed drowned during a Search & Rescue exercise.

26 Apr 57

The annual station sports banquet for winter activities was held in the Recreation Hall. W/C Duncan presented trophies to the winners of the various leagues.

27 Apr 57

F/L LWF Beasleigh, AS/FtrC, was taken on strength.

28 Apr 57

The body of LAC Michetti was recovered.

1 May 57

F/O AAV Cherkowski, AS/FtrC, was taken on strength.

3 May 57

The newly renovated Airmen’s Lounge was officially opened by S/L AJ Simpson, Acting CO, who made a short speech praising the design by F/O WJ Cunningham, and the quality of work done by volunteer members of the Mess.

8 May 57

W/C Duncan, F/L Abercrombie and F/L Martin attended the Airmen’s Mess Dinner which marked the opening of the new Mess.

10 May 57

S/L Simmonds, Chaplain (P), reported in for six weeks special duty from Brandon College, Brandon, Manitoba.

13 May 57

This unit controlling fighters who are evaluating the R Theta computer.

22 May 57

Mr. Nicholson of Bell Telephone arrived on unit to give course on basic inside and outside installations.

24 May 57

A formal dining-in night with wives of the members, and honorary members in attendance, was held in the Officers Mess.

27 May 57

W/C NJ Gallagher and W/C W Rodger arrived on TD for a review of station chapel facilities.

28 May 57

S/L L McKergow, ADCHQ, arrived on TD for an inspection of messing facilities.

29 May 57

W/C Labelle, ADCHQ, arrived on TD to inspect station supply facilities.

May 57

Construction of Fire Hall completed. Construction of Administration Building completed.

Submitted in accordance with AFAO 71.00/01

(JA Duncan) W/C
CO RCAF Station Senneterre