Senneterre, QC

1961 – Narrative Report – National Archives of Canada


Secret
S71-04-01(CO)
Appendix "A"
to AFAO 71.00/01

Narrative Report
RCAF Station Senneterre, PQ
1 December 1961 to 31 May 1962

7 Dec 61

S/L JAO Levesque, on supernumerary strength of the Unit, was transferred to Station Falconbridge as COpsO, effective 14 Jan 62.

9 Dec 61

F/L EN Krahn SOS on transfer to Station Ramore.

12 Dec 61

A Board of Inquiry for the Oct Trade Board Examinations failures was held with S/L ND Cairns, COpsO, president.

18 – 19 Dec 61

Captain R Roy, Dental Officer, conducted dental health lectures (in the Station Theatre) for service personnel and dependents.

25 – 26 Dec 61

Observed as statutory holidays.

1 – 2 Jan 62

Observed as statutory holidays.

4 Jan 62

F/O Halajian, the new SCEO, arrived from 5 SD, Moncton.

5 Jan 62

F/L B Wooding commenced Staff School, Toronto.

8 Jan 62

F/L JA Archibald, CTSO began the Telecommunications Officers Advanced Course at Station Clinton. F/O DA Dobie, STelO, assumed the duties of CTSO during F/L Archibald’s two month absence.

9 Jan 62

F/L EH Albrough of AFHQ arrived on a CE visit. F/L K Jacobs, ASWelO, arrived for a periodic visit to the Unit. F/O DIF MacKay was promoted to Flight Lieutenant effective 1 Jan 62.

15 Jan 62

W/C Gallagher, SPRA (RC) for ADC, visited the Unit.

16 Jan 62

F/L DR Page was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration.

22 Jan 62

Officer’s Qualifying Examinations began.

26 Jan 62

F/L JJH Maxwell SOS on transfer to Station Kamloops.

29 Jan 62

S/L Thompson and S/L Corrigan from SOMS office at ADCHQ visited the unit.

30 Jan 62

F/L Wilcox and Mrs. MacKay from CBC Montreal visited the Unit to discuss operation of the Unit radio station. G/C Cameron, SCESO of ADC, arrived for a briefing. Station Senneterre received honorable mention in fire prevention. Station Senneterre won first prize in the ADC Safe Driving campaign.

18 – 24 Feb 62

S/L ND Cairns, COpsO, assumed command of the Station in the absence on quarterly flying of W/C Underhill.

19 Feb 62

S/L Hobb, Mr. Vernon, Mr. Shepherd, Mr. Shirtani arrived for a telecommunications staff visit, 19 – 21 Feb.

21 Feb 62

Dr. J Patton of the National Research Council arrived on the Unit.

22 Feb 62

S/L Brunger, S/L McConnell and F/L Higgins arrived for a telecommunications briefing.

23 Feb 62

F/L SM Deane SOS on posting to 4 OUT Trenton.

26 Feb 62

F/L K Jacobs, ASWelO, arrived on a periodic visit.

1 Mar 62

Section heads held a dinner in the Officer’s Mess for retiring CO, W/C CC Underhill.

3 Mar 62

Four Flying Officers were promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant, effective 1 Jan 62. F/O Barnett, F/O Cann, F/O Henderson, F/O Webster.

5 Mar 62

F/O Comptois, Med/Nur, arrived for duty 5-19 Mar while F/O BM Towle was on leave.

9 Mar 62

Civilian personnel of the station held a going away party for W/C Underhill.

17 Mar 62

The Officer’s Mess held a farewell dinner and dance for retiring W/C Underhill. Guests included G/C Grant, the AOC’s representative; G/C and Mrs. Hockney from Station Edgar; W/C and Mrs Tugruell from Station Parent; W/C and Mrs. Dempster; S/L and Mrs. King.

23 Mar 62

F/L K Harvey departed the Unit on transfer to ADCHQ.

24 Mar 64

A farewell dinner for W/C Underhill was held in the NCO’s Mess.

28 Mar 62

W/C JE Goldsmith, former CAdO of Station St. Hubert and the new CO of Station Senneterre arrived. F/O DA Klein, the new PAdO, arrived from Central Officer’s School, Centralia.

29 Mar 62

W/C JE Goldsmith took command of Station Senneterre from W/C CC Underhill. W/C Underhill departed for Montreal.

30 Mar 62

Cpl. Kohn and Cpl. Oswald were promoted to Sergeant, and LAV Savard was promoted to Corporal.

16 Apr 62

F/L W Cann was transferred to Site PIN, effective 9 Jul.

17 Apr 62

F/L K Jacobs, ASWelO, arrived for a periodic visit.

24 Apr 62

F/O JFM Ouellet transferred to Sit Dye, effective 7 Jul.

1 May 62

F/L MR MacGregor, CAdO to be trained on CF-104 aircraft.

2 May 62

As a replacement for F/L MacGregor, F/L T Fiedosiewich from CEPE to arrive on 9 Jul.

5 May 62

The Officer’s Mess held a cocktail party in honour of the new CO, W/C JE Goldsmith, and Mrs. Goldsmith.

7 May 62

F/L Cady and WO2 Chalk arrived for Auditing in the Accounts Section. F/L Winchester arrived from ADCHQ, and a surprise nuclear defence exercise was carried out. This included ground defence and security aspects.

8 May 62

W/C JE Goldsmith departed for Station Edgar for a briefing with the Ottawa NORAD Sector Commander. F/O E Quinn, Med/Nur, departed on transfer to Station Cold Lake.

9 May 62

S/L S Evans, Assistant for Women Personnel, AFHQ arrived for a two day visit. The visit included a tour of all sections where airwomen were employed, talks with section heads, padres, the SMO, and a meeting with airwomen.

13 May 62

F/O MM Lukacs departed the Unit on transfer to Station Bagotville, where she was to assume duties as SSvO.

14 May 62

The first broadcast by the Unit radio station, CFSE, was made today. The grand opening included a speech by the CO, and recorded welcomes from other RCAF radio stations in Canada and Europe.

17 May 62

The first CO’s parade was held. F/O PG Harrod arrived from CFMST, Camp Borden to assume duties as a nursing sister.

28 May 62

S/L E McCaffrey, from SOFSv office, arrived on a two day visit.

Appendix "A" – Operations report

Submitted in accordance with AFAO 71.00/01.

Signed by:
(JE Goldsmith) W/C
CO RCAF Station Senneterre PQ

 

 

Appendix "A"
to S71.00/01

34 AC&W
Controller Organization
31 May 62

W/C Goldsmith - Commanding Officer

S/L Cairns - Chief Operations Officer

F/L Brewer - Operations Officer

F/L Webster - Control Standard Officer

F/L Henderson - Surveillance Standard Officer

F/O Cowan - Station Ground Training Officer/
Systems Training Programs Officer

 

Crew 1

Crew 2

Crew 3

Flt Commander

F/L Paige

F/L Wooding

F/L Shorey

D/Flt Commander

F/L MacKay

F/L Emmerson

F/L Cann

Intercept Director

F/O Youzwa

F/O Stewart

F/O Ouellet

Intercept Director

F/O Hills

F/O Kurash

F/O Lovegrove

Intercept Director

F/O Crawford

F/L Hennell

F/O Enns

Intercept Director

 

F/O Edge

 

1 Dec 61

1618Z – Unknown VC525, unknown because Battleaxe had neglected to pass flight plan.

4 Dec 61

Flight Lieutenants entrance exams commence.

5 Dec 61

1735Z – Weather down – Val d’Or Detachment on "Mandatory Scramble" for 1 ½ hours.

6 Dec 61

1801Z – Unit placed on Double Take "D" for NORAD Exercise. 1910Z – All Val d’Or aircraft on 10 minutes alert. 1916Z – One aircraft scrambled from North Bay. 2000Z – Fade out for unit (appears to have been a check on NORAD reaction time). 2240Z – Night flying cancelled from Val d’Or as both fuel "Bowsers" unserviceable leaving Val d’Or with no refuelling capabilities.

8 Dec 61

0017Z – Unit on "Cocked Pistol B" for exercise "Mute". 0650Z – 0751Z – Three pairs CF-100’s scrambled from Val d’Or for Puritan. Results 11 attempts – 3 MA’s – 8 MI’s due to (a) Director Error, (b) Ground Environment, (c) ECM. 1800Z – Officers manning for period covering Christmas and New Years released by Ops Officer.

9 Dec 61

0315Z – NORAD declares "Fadeout" for exercise "Mute".

27 Dec 61

1630Z – Quebec Provincial Police were admitted to the Ops Building. They had requested the use of our photo-lab facilities to help their investigation of a murder which took place in the Town of Senneterre, last night (no Air Force people involved). 2130Z - F/L John Maxwell "off duty" on completion of his last shift prior to departing on transfer to RCAF Station Kamloops, BC.

29 Dec 61

1955Z – VC424 reported 45 minutes overdue, by Eskimo on a flight from Quebec City to Trenton. We conducted a VHF check just in case – but "no joy".

Month of December (in general)

Total intercepts 121. Flying comprised, mainly, of CF-100’s from the last remaining CF-100 Squadron 414, plus their detachment at Val d’Or. The weather, generally poor, as should be expected for this time of year.

8 Jan 62

We control our first 2 Canadian CF-101’s from 410 Squadron, Ottawa. 3 attempted runs – 3 MA’s.

16 Jan 62

1435Z – Unit cleared by Sector for 4 days "SAGE" Modifications.

19 Jan 62

1921Z – E331 – Unknown, possibly Pay 18. 1927Z – Halfback Zulu 1 scrambled from Val d’Or. 1935Z – Halfback Zulu 1 airborne – our control. 1955Z – Pay 18 position report – E331 identified friendly. 2022Z – Halfback Zulu 1 returned to Val d’Or tower.

23 Jan 62

4 CF-100’s from Val d’Or, for our control, attacking B-52’s. Results – 15 attempts – 11 MA’s, 4 MI’s – 3 for safety and 1 for Air equipment failure.

25 Jan 62

2020Z – E332 – Unknown – QE0030. 2022Z – Halfback X-ray 1 scrambled from Val d’Or. 2024Z – Scramble cancelled (before Halfback X off ground). Unknown identified as BOAC 591.

Month of January (General)

Total intercepts 311. Flying was split up between Ottawa CF-101’s and North Bay/Val d’Or CF-100’s. Weather – fair to good.

1 Feb 62

Henceforth reports of unserviceable light bulbs can be made only to the Ops Warrant Officer.

5 Feb 62

1400Z – Fecteau Airlines aircraft PHQ was found at Great Whale, however, there is no entry in the log to indicate that it had been lost.

14 Feb 62

1300Z – Unit’s search radar off the air for maintenance for a possible period of 4 days. Manning cut down to one Officer and six Fighter Cops. Height finders being used for limited search.

17 Feb 62

2135Z – Unit’s search radar now serviceable – Unit back to normal manning.

24 Feb 62

Trenton RCC called regarding an overdue Beaver HGU on flight from Great Whale to Amos, PQ. 2338Z – Track M363 carried from the north fades over Amos.

25 Feb 62

0025Z – Trenton RCC reports Beaver HGU landed at Amos at 2340Z.

Month of February (General)

Total intercepts 172. Mainly CF-101’s from Ottawa, however still a few CF-100’s floating around from North Bay. Weather good.

6 Mar 62

2118Z – Camera on – suspected emergency as an isolated chaff burst was observed to the south. 2122Z – Camera off – Chaff burst found to be a "test chaff drop" for Eskimo by Boneyard 51.

17 Mar 62

Farewell Dinner for Wing Commander and Mrs. Underhill. Slight obstruction to vision during the evening.

23 Mar 62

Mug Party for F/O Tony Barnett prior to his transfer to RCAF Station Barrington, NS.

30 Mar 62

1925Z – Two CF-101’s (AH Zulu 1 and 2) scrambled from Ottawa to intercept Unknown – track # E313. 1933Z – AH Zulu 1 and 2 airborne. 1954Z – Track E313 reclassified friendly (Flight Plan Revision) AH Zulu 1 and 2 return to base. Mug party in Mess this evening for Wing Commander Underhill our retiring Commanding Officer.

Month of March (General)

Total intercepts 215 mainly CF-101’s from Ottawa against Boneyard targets from St. Hubert. Weather – fair to poor.

11 Apr 62

1125Z – A power transformer on one of the scopes in the control cabin blew out, filling the area with smoke. No problems.

13 Apr 62

Mug party at Beer Call for F/O Bill Blanc who has been transferred to RCAF Station Barrington, NS.

25 Apr 62

Wing Commander Goldsmith, our new Commanding Officer, attends his first STM as our Battle Commander.

Month of April (General)

Very quiet – Total intercepts 168.

7 May 62

Unit submitted to an EDP exercise today. 0800Z – Controllers write semi-annual proficiency exam.

8 May 62

1815Z – Exercise "Swift Kick 1" instituted. 1835Z – Unit "Secure and Fully Manned". 1902Z – Fade Out for " Swift Kick 1".

12 May 62

Thirty Boy Scouts from local area tour Operations Building.

14 May 62

0425Z – Fire alarm sounded – from one of the Height Finder Towers. Trouble diagnosed as a short circuit.

15 May 62

414 AW(F) Squadron back with us – re-equipped with CF-101’s. They are now based at Ottawa and will remain there until runway repair is finished at North Bay.

17 May 62

1735Z – JH18 under our control, declares "PAN" for "fire warning light" – returned to Ottawa, safe and sound.

Month of May (General)

Total intercepts – 354. A relatively active month for flying and controlling. All interceptors were CF-101’s and most of the targets were Boneyard aircraft from St. Hubert. Weather – good and warm.