Narrative Report
RCAF Station St. Sylvestre
1 Jun 59 to 30 Nov 59
1 Jun 59 to 30 Nov 59
During the period 1 Jun 59 to 30 Nov 59 RCAF Station St. Sylvestre maintained its primary role as a GCI site and participated in the majority of exercises carried out in #1 Sector. There were a greater number of exercises with the 26th Air Division and a slight increase in the number of USAF fighters under our control.
There were no operational equipment changes although the one floor plan and the vertical plexiglass tote boards were incorporated. These changes alleviated some of the existent control and surveillance problems and the surveillance picture has speeded up considerably. There were few operational staff changes. The COpsO, S/L AG Brunet was transferred to RCAF position 26 Syracuse Sector, Syracuse, NY. The duties of COpsO were assumed by F/L McLachlan until the return of S/L Stacey from the Weapons Controllers Course at Tyndall AFB. There were also a few of the older controllers transferred but no new controllers were transferred in.
Work began in October on the ADCOM II project which when finished should increase our telecommunications capabilities considerably. During the period 1 Jun 50 to 30 Nov 59, the number of practice intercepts carried out by both St. Hubert and Bagotville fighters increased. A list of planned exercises participated in, the results and the reasons for missed intercepts are attached as Appendix "A" to this report.
1 Jun 59
The Deputy Minister’s Auditors arrived on 28 May 59 and conducted a 3 week audit on this unit.
4 Jun 59
51845W AW1 Zarn, AFP 1, proceeded on TD to Ottawa in connection with the ceremonies at which the Queen unveiled the memorial dedicated to the Commonwealth Airmen. AW1 Zarn presented the wreath to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at the unveiling ceremony.
28 Jun 59
Air Force Day 59 - More than 500 cars arrived on the station to enjoy the exhibits and take a look at the station and it’s routine.
1 Jul 59
F/Os Palmer and Pratt promoted to F/L effective 1 Jul 59. F/O Piitz promoted to F/L effective 1 Jul 59. F/O Bowden granted a Permanent Commission effective 1 Jul 59. F/O Neeve granted a 3 year extension. F/Os Rytter and Henderson granted one year extensions.
16 Jul 59
F/L Lord, Protestant Chaplain, arrived on his last visit prior to transfer to Station Greenwood.
29 Jul 59
URTP Flight Cadets wrote final exams and all were successful.
4 Aug 59
S/L Traxler arrived to become CTSO on the retirement of S/L Rapp.
6 Aug 59
Station Stand down. All personnel retired to the Falls at St. Agathe for Operation Big Swim followed in the evening by a corn boil at the Chalet.
26 Aug 59
F/L TA Marshall arrived to replace F/L Berube, SAO, who was transferred to Station Foymount.
27 Oct 59
Work was commenced on the ADCOM II project by strengthening the building for its installation.
17 Nov 59
F/O Wentzell the new SCEO arrived to replace F/L Piitz who was transferred to Station Comox.
21 Nov 59
S/L AG Brunet, COpsO, transferred to RCAF position, 26 Syracuse Sector, Syracuse, NY. F/L McLachlan acting COpsO until the return of S/L Stacey from Weapons Controller Course at Tyndall AFB, Florida.
Appendix "A"
1 Jun 59
Exercise "Chainshot" with 1 MA and 1 MI. 1 Safety.
5 Jun 59
Exercise "Chainshot" with 3 MAs and 7 MIs. 1 AEF and 6 CE.
8 Jun 59
Exercise "Chainshot" with 1 MA and 7 MIs. Nil reason given for MIs.
15 Jun 59
Exercise "Chainshot" with no MAs and 4 MIs. 4 ACP. Target turned putting all fighters out of position..
18 Jun 59
Exercise "Cueball" with 3 MAs and 6 MIs. 2 ACP, 2 CE and 2 IPI.
23 Jun 59
Exercise "Coldwind" with 1 MA and 5 MIs. 3 ACE. Late scramble.
25 Jun 59
Exercise "Flashlight" with 2 MAs.
8 Jul 59
Exercise "Big Blast" with no MAs and 5 MIs. 5 CE.
9 Jul 59
Exercise "Chainshot" with no MAs and 8 MIs. 4 FPI and 4 late pickup. Poor tracking due to weather and other A/C in vicinity.
13 Jul 59
Exercise "Chainshot" with 2 MAs and 6 MIs. 2 AEF, 1 Safety and 3 CE.
14 Jul 59
Exercise "Cold Wind" with 4 MAs and 8 MIs. No reasons given for MIs.
16 Jul 59
Exercise "Strawboss" with 2 MAs and 6 MIs. 2 AEF, 2 ACE, 2 CE.
Exercise "Chainshot" with 1 MA and 4 MIs. 1 AEF and 3 CE.
20 Jul 59
Exercise "Chainshot" with 1 MA and 1 MI. 1 CE.
22 Jul 59
Exercise "Big Blast" with 6 MAs.
23 Jul 59
Exercise "Strawboss" with 6 MAs and 1 MI. 1 AEF.
12 Aug 59
Exercise "Cueball" with 3 MAs and 5 MIs. 2 GEF, 2 Safety and 1 AEF.
13 Aug 59
Exercise "Chainshot" with 3 MAs and 3 MIs. 1 CE and 2 TD.
21 Aug 59
Exercise "Cold Wind" with 4 MAs and 4 MIs. 2 FPI and 2 TD.
26 Aug 59
Exercise "Flashlight" with 2 MAs and 4 MIs. 4 ECM.
27 Aug 59
Exercise "Strawboss" with 6 MAs and 2 MIs. 2 AEF.
3 Sep 59
Exercise "Big Blast" with 3 MAs and 2 MIs. 2 ECM.
9 Sep 59
Exercise Cueball" with 2 MAs and 12 MIs. 12 ECM. Locally jammed.
8 Oct 59
Exercise "Big Blast" with 2 MAs and 3 MIs. 1 Safety and 2 ECM.
13 Oct 59
Exercise "Fast Move" with 45 MAs and 28 MIs. 10 CE, 5 AEF and 13 ECM.
16 Oct 59
Exercises "Cold Wind" and "Strawboss" combined with 7 MAs and 4 MIs. 4 AEF.
27 Oct 59
Exercise "Chainshot" with no MAs and 8 MIs. 8 ACP. Target turned prior to intercept.
30 Oct 59
Exercise "Big Blast" with 3 MAs and 1 MI. 1 CE.
2 Nov 59
Exercise "Chainshot" with 5 MAs and 6 MIs. 4 AEF, 1 Safety and 1 CE.
10 Nov 59
Exercise "Chainshot" with 2 MAs and 2 MIs. 2 AEF.
12 Nov 59
Exercise "Cold Wind" and "Big Blast" combined with 2 MAs and 4 MIs. 2 ACP and 2 CE.
20 Nov 59
Exercise "Strawboss" with 2 MAs and 6 MIs. 3 FPI, 2 ACP and 1 ACE.
24 Nov 59
Exercise "Chainshot" with 5 MAs and 3 MIs. 1 AEF and 2 air aborts.
Signed by:
(JHL Lecomte) W/C
CO RCAF Station St. Sylvestre