Secret
Appendix "A"
to AFAO 71.00/01
Narrative Report
RCAF Station Senneterre, PQ
1 Dec 58
One wall remains to be taken out for one floor operation.
The annual overhaul of the AN/FPS-3C Search Radar, the AN/GPX-7 IFF set, the AN/GPA-3 Video Mapper and all associated test equipment, was carried out by a team from the Field Maintenance Department of the Northern Electric Company of Belleville, Ontario, during the month of Dec 58.
6 Dec 58
F/O VL Andrews Pers/Admin posted to Supernumerary strength Station St. Hubert.
7 Dec 58
Operations briefing and tour for 27 Val d’Or Chamber of Commerce guests.
11 Dec 58
Held a very interesting exercise. "Heads Up" in support of SAC Bombing Missions. Exercise began at 1230 a.m. and concluded at 0645 a.m. A point in our sub sector was target for a 1000 mile astral navigation run.
15 Dec 58
One week course conducted on the AN/GPS-T2.
16 – 17 Dec 58
Increased Readiness at 1800Z for Exercise "Full Force", a 36 hour exercise. Crews on 12 hour shifts. We were assigned only 4 pair and these should have been to either Foymount or Falconbridge considering target geographical position. S/L T Cook Sector STP Officer and Dr. JA Patton 3 Sector SOC representative held a two-day STP liaison visit.
18 Dec 58
Bog Blast exercise this date did not turn out too well. Fighters were scrambled too late and were handed over for completion of mission.
22 Dec 58
Exercise "Cue Ball" began at 1900Z. Assigned 5 pair of fighters of which three were USAF. Results were 50 percent MA. A good score considering some very poor weather.
3 Jan 59
A team consisting of a Nursing Sister, Sergeant, and Corporal were flown to a train wreck some 80 miles from Senneterre by Fecto Airlines where their help was greatly appreciated.
5 Jan 59
F/O JA Sutherland proceeded to 3 ADCC for cross training for 30 days. An overfly of ten B-52’s took place from James Bay directly over the nest; however, we were only assigned two pair of which 3 aircraft aborted.
6 Jan 59
F/L OH Hack, Pers/Edu, and F/L AM Proud, AS/FtrC, from ADCHQ visited Senneterre for two days to discuss Ground Training Problems.
7 Jan 59
F/L RK Harvey, Air/P, posted from Station Portage La Prairie.
13 Jan 59
Cats Eye III, a very poor exercise – surveillance wise, was excellent in control. Twelve commitments with CF-100’s, F-89’s and F-102’s resulted in 8 MA and 4 MI.
14 Jan 59
S/L GF Sansoucy, Comm/G-2, ADCHQ, was here on a Staff Inspection Visit.
15 Jan 59
Mobile FM transceiver was fitted in the Service Police vehicle. A remote unit was installed in Main Guard Room to operate fixed station located in UHF transmitter site.
22 Jan 59
104 (K) Flight on tow line today with Electrical, Mechanical and spoof jamming. Another "Heads Up" exercise conducted for 6 B-52’s and 10 B-47’s.
23 Jan 59
F/O SJ DesBrisay promoted to substantive rank of F/L effective 1 Oct 58. FS JPH Taschereau Sup Tech attended transportation course at St. Hubert.
26 Jan 59
Low level Cue Ball exercise with four pair assignment. Considerable trouble experienced in maintaining lock on due to ground clutter.
27 Jan 59
F/O FW Carroll Tech/Tel proceeded to ADCHQ for two-day Senior Telecom Officers Conference.
30 Jan 59
Big Blast exercise took place between 0315Z and 0600Z. Very little ECM experienced except chaff and AI jamming.
6 Feb 59
W/C Yarnell, CO Station Parent, visited this unit for a one-day Operational Liaison Visit. F/L FA Creelman from Station Parent proceeded on TD to our Supply Section.
8 Feb 59
One week course conducted on the AN/FPS-6.
9 Feb 59
F/L Conn from ADCHQ arrived for Security and Inspection visit. F/L RWC Tate, AS/FtrC, attended CPU Course 37 Cold Lake.
13 Feb 59
Major Davis and WO Payette from RCASC Val Cartier, Quebec visited Senneterre for Food Services Liaison.
16 Feb 59
F/L LWF Beasleigh AS/FtrC proceeded on six weeks TD to Station Centralia for Junior Officers Admin Course 27. Squadrons from RCAF Station Uplands came down at RCAF Detachment Val d’Or. Two VHF Channels set up for their use.
17 Feb 59
In order to counteract the difficulties normally encountered in PE’s a Chess Match was designed to fly all targets through our area within 50 miles of the unit. Object of the exercise was to see if handovers could be effected with Redskin. Of the assignment of 4 pairs, 2 pair were successfully handed over, and one pair was employed by the unit while one pair aborted. Completion of handovers with Redskin is difficult with only one line, however, Battle Commander’s circuit could solve this problem.
19 Feb 59
Three pair of fighters assigned for runs against C-119 Boneyard 3. Completed 14 runs.
Tried another hand over exercise, this time with Battleaxe. Out of 4 pair assigned, one aircraft from each of three sections aborted. One single aircraft was kept under Puritan control.
Alerted for maximum intercept action against Oiltank SAC aircraft. Intercepts were to begin at midnight with an assignment of 11 pairs. This did not materialize due to a decontamination exercise at Ottawa. Four aircraft were scrambled every half hour beginning at 2000 until exercise was completed. Twenty-one missions completed by Puritan resulting in 31 LCC and 8BCC intercepts.
20 Feb 59
Major General Rockingham paid a visit to this Unit (Val Hiver Exercise – Val d’Or).
21 Feb 59
First maintenance team from Lac St. Denis arrived for teletype maintenance, initiating the new monthly maintenance program.
22 Feb 59
F/O WA Sage AS/FtrC posted to Supernumerary strength ADCHQ for duty at DEW Line site.
23 Feb 59
Rigid radome installation for our FPS-6.
24 Feb 59
Low level Cue Ball exercise held with targets at 3,000 feet and 300 knots. Very successful with 6 MA’s out of six single aircraft commitments.
F/O HF Hull CEO, F/O OJ Mallalieu SAO, WO2 BA Campbell PPop, and Mr. M Mireault ClkEng attended briefing at ADCHQ for new CE system.
26 Feb 59
S/L HJ Tennant acting Commanding Officer Station Senneterre for period 26 Feb to 1 Mar inclusive during the absence of W/C EJW Higgin.
Conducted two successful Chess Match exercises with VO aircraft. Purpose of exercise was to see how much further north our VO bas fighters could be used on CCP considering fuel requirements at Val d’Or, Ottawa and North Bay. Unfortunately, target turned too soon. Results from first exercise were 7 MA’s, 1 MI-PE, and of the second 5 MA’s, 3 MI’s. Reason for MI’s in the second was lack of time for fighters to get to altitude.
2 Mar 59
Shut-down for transition to one floor operation.
4 Mar 59
F/L AM Einarson CTSO Station Parent and F/O EW Goffary Tech/Tel arrived Senneterre for two days to discuss technical aspects of one floor operations modification.
The single remaining AN/TPS-501 height-finder was removed from the left tower and put in storage on the Unit.
9 Mar 59
Colonel Marsh and Captain Jacob visited this unit for Dental Inspection.
10 Mar 59
Cats Eye V – assigned 1 pair of F-102’s, 1 pair of F-89’s, and 3 pairs of CF-100’s. One of each of two sections of CF-100’s aborted. Results were 8 MA’s and 4 MI’s.
11 Mar 59
Annual overhaul of the 15-J-1D Synthetic Trainer was carried out by a field technician of the RCA Victor Company’s field division during the period 11 to 16 Mar. Assistance was given by Unit Technicians.
16 Mar 59
Sgt. H Pratt detached to CE Section to help set up cost inventory system.
17 Mar 59
Blast Off exercise lasted for 34 hours. Out of 67 commitments, 40 MA’s and 27 MI’s.
18 Mar 59
AW and ECM exercise with C-119 on tow line and employing OW fighters/ Out of 37 commitments, 17 MA’s, 17 MI’s, and 3 MI’s AEF.
23 Mar 59
F/O PH Russell Tech/Tel transferred to Station Trenton. F/O MF Clark, Air/Obs on transfer from Station Uplands. F/O RL Bushell, ADHQ Construction Engineer, visited Senneterre for CCE Inspection.
24 Mar 59
F/L JMG Morin, Med/MO returned off TD from Officers School, Centralia.
29 Mar 59
F/O EA Carson, AS/FtrC, transferred to ADCHQ COC.
30 Mar 59
F/O CE Taylor proceeded on TD to 73rd Air Div WPNS HQ Tyndall AFB, Florida, for period 30 Mar to 25 Apr inclusive to control 438th Fighter Interceptor Squadron while on weapons practice training.
31 Mar 59
F/O HS Moore and FS CW Emms reported for one day Ground Defence Liaison.
1 Apr 59
Bell Telephone contract terminated. A new contract was raised with Northern Telephone. Airmen’s promotions: six to substantive rank of Cpl., three to substantive rank of Sgt., and one to substantive rank of FS.
2 Apr 59
F/O KH Derick, AS/FtrC (2401 Aux.) SOS Station Senneterre on completion of period of Special Duty with Regular Force.
3 Apr 59
F/L JA Hardy reported to Station Senneterre on TD Camp Training from 2402 AC&W Squadron Winnipeg for period of 3 to 12 Apr inclusive.
6 Apr 59
One week course conducted on the AN/FPS-3(C).
7 Apr 59
F/L Simpson SAO from Station Parent visited this Unit for Cash Verification Check. Cats Eye VI – Assigned four pair for exercise with 50 percent MA results.
8 Apr 59
Big Blast exercise – assigned four pair for 6 MA’s and 2 MI’s.
10 Apr 59
Three RAF Vulcan overflies of the sub sector with one hour separation. Had difficulty in receiving warning tell as we had to scramble almost the same time they were airborne from Goose Bay. Out of five pair we had 10 MA’s.
13 Apr 59
W/C EJW Higgin absent from unit for a week for purpose of attending CO’s Conference at ADCHQ. S/L HJ Tennant assumed Command for period.
20 Apr 59
F/O HR Wolff transferred from 428 Squadron Uplands. F/O NB Danson Med/Nur proceeded on TD to attend course at Joint Medical Training Center Toronto for period 20 Apr to 15 May.
21 Apr 59
Infiltration Team from CHQ arrived and a successful exercise was carried out throughout the night.
22 Apr 59
Third annual overhaul of AN/FPS-6 height finder was carried out by radar service personnel of the Canadian General Electric Company, Ltd., between 22 and 30 Apr. Six unit technicians worked full time with the civilian technicians. During this overhaul, both RHI’s of the FPS-6 were modified for an increased height indication of 75,000 feet and long range scale indication of 0 to 200 nm.
23 Apr 59
Big Blast exercise at 2330 local. Only three pair assigned. This turned out very unsatisfactory as far as plotting, telling and tac action, plus the results of 2 MA’s, 4 MI’s AEF.
24 Apr 59
Three VHF channels were installed to enable use of three new frequencies.
25 Apr 59
Exercise Eye Washer – Our participation in co-operation with ENR. Two waves were expected; however, the second did not develop. Three tracks originated in our area, one on sub sector boundary nest to Ramore, which was neutralized by Ramore, one veered into Parent’s area. We had 3 MA out of 2 pair committed. Two MA’s were required to neutralize a track. Ten aircraft were scrambled for our control, however, just the two pair were committed. Alert went at 0900 local and lasted until 0400 on the 26th.
29 Apr 59
Dr. J Patton, 3 Sector SDC representative arrived for two day STP Coordination visit.
1 May 59
An extension of the HF net was installed at the Forward Tellers position.
3 May 59
Twenty GObC volunteers from 50 Det North Bay paid a visit to our Unit.
4 May 59
Large SAC overfly expected with 10 minute separation. Planned for 2330 local. It did not materialize. We had maximum manning, but when the SAC aircraft came through at 0100 we employed 1 ½ pair.
5 May 59
Cats Eye VII simulated MCL at 1330 local time. Up to maximum control capacity.
6 May 59
S/L HJ Tennant and F/L RWC Tate proceeded on TD to 3 ADCC for 3 days for purpose of STP Feedback and Problem Design Meeting.
7 May 59
F/O AS Reaside, F/O R Hamilton, F/O RW Patrick, and F/O GE Turner arrived this Unit from Station Uplands for two day cross training.
8 May 59
Big Blast MCL took place at 1045 local. Chaff stream 100 miles long and 50 miles wide was very effective. Four pair committed by ourselves plus fighters under Ramore control in stream area made the situation a little dangerous.
10 May 59
Ops briefing and tour for Malartic Junior Chamber of Commerce guests.
12 May 59
AC EC Poole ADCHQ and W/C EJ Gauthier STelSO ADC visited Senneterre.
13 May 59
Big Blast at 1045 local. Of the four pair assigned for our control none could commit prior to reaching minimum fuel requirements for recovery. Considerable difficulty experienced in tracking the loan track in our area due to ECM. Scrambled on three unknowns today.
18 May 59
F/O JC Dumond Air/Obs proceeded to Cold Lake to attend three week CPU Course 43.
19 May 59
F/O FAW Jurgensen proceeded to 3 ADCC for cross training Sector Operations Officer Duties for period 19 May to 21 Jun inclusive.
25 May 59
Eight pairs assigned for AW and AI ECM. Fourteen MA’s and seven MI’s were results.
28 May 59
Only 2 pair assigned for Big Blast exercise. No difficulty encountered in pick up or tracking of targets as ECM caused little or no difficulty. Fighters were held well south until targets fanned out and were firmly established. R/T was minimized to counteract spot jamming.
29 May 59
Station Infiltration Team carried out a successful exercise throughout the night.
Submitted in accordance with AFAO 71.00/01
(EJW Higgin) W/C
CO RCAF Station Senneterre