Beaverbank, NS

Commanding Officer W/C DB Babineau

Senior Accounts Officer F/L WA Bradshaw

CAdO F/O HA Little

Adjutant P/O ME MacMillan

REO F/O AS Atkinson

CTechO S/L IG Duncan

C&E Officer F/O KH Wheatley

Supply Officer F/O GL Calver

Senior Controller F/L TE Wallis

Spec/Ftr. Controller F/L WD Hill

Spec/Ftr. Controller F/O HJ Burrill

Spec/Ftr. Controller U/T F/O JA Quarmstrom

Spec/Ftr. Controller F/O RJ Recher

Spec/Ftr. Controller F/O HG Andrews

Spec/Ftr. Controller U/T F/O CM Robinson

Spec/Ftr. Controller F/O WG Standing

Spec/Ftr. Controller U/T F/O JJH Maxwell

Nursing Sister F/O H Needham

The following is an outline of the activities of the Commanding Officer for this period.

The CO moved to a station house this date.

The CO toured the station with AVM James and inspecting party this date.

The CO attended the station children’s Xmas tree party.

The CO was guest of honor at Civilian employee’s Xmas party.

The CO was in conference with W/C McBride and W/C Gordon and party re organization from ADC.

The CO and party proceeded on familiarization visit to ADC HQ, Lac St. Denis, and station Edgar.

The CO and party returned from visit to ADC HQ, Lac St. Denis, and station Edgar.

The CO officiated at the opening of the station grocery store.

CO in conference with G/C Inglis and party from AMC regarding unfinished contracts.

CO officiated at opening of Sunday School.

CO opened the first Protestant Church on the station.

CO departed for Tyndall, Florida, on course.

S/L Duncan assumes command of station during the absence of W/C Babineau.

The following is an outline of the activities of the sections under command of the CTechO.

15 Dec 53

AVM James and party visited the unit, WO1 Grover, foreman of works, was instructed to cease work on partitioning of the CE Section, pending arrival of standard Layout.

Chlorinator plant connected at Sewage Disposal plant.

Discovered leak in roof of No 2 Barrack Quarters. Bremners Ltd. Notified.

Hired Typist for CE Section.

S/L Brecken from ADC visited the station and inspected all buildings. He stated he would forward plan for layout of CE Section.

F/O KH Wheatley CE officer arrived as Engineering officer.

This section did not keep a regular diary from the 18 Jan to 8^th of April.

Bryant Electric Company on station making repairs to cracked electric light poles. Maritime Telephone personnel on Base installing wire to Operations building.

Bremner Company on Base making repairs to steam line.

Connor Tyle Company making repairs to broken and loose tile in No 1 and No 2 Barrack Blocks. S/L Duncan assumes the duties of CTechO of the station, from F/O HA Little CAdO.

The Halifax Tile Company inspecting tile in PMQs.

Dickey Electric Co. started installing poles at RX and TX sites. Bremner Co. replacing zcrete on steam lines.

Donahue Roofers making repairs on combined mess.

Mr. Thomas and Mr. Negus in conference with F/O Wheatley re water softener unit for the station.

Marguson-Babcock making combined test of Operations building.

Domestic Water Tank drained and cleaned. Professor Foran in conference with F/O Wheatley regarding Iron contents in water.

FS Purcell and FS Bystaff arrived on base to make modification to Blackstone Diesel Engines.

Murney and Lively Contractors on station grading roads.

Operations building roof inspected by Mr. Conrad and Bond Roofers.

Hillis and Sons making stand pipes for the station.

Laying out School Playground.

The following is an outline of the activities of the Supply Section for this period.

1. During the period of 1 Dec 53 to 31 Dec 53, there was no actual Diary maintained by the Supply Section.
2. Equipment of phase one and two continued to arrive at the station, and due to a lack of storage space, a large amount of this equipment had to be stored in Barrack Blocks. May it be noted that this Equipment arrived in an excellent condition and service from 5 Supply Depot.
3. As there were only one Sgt. and one Cpl., plus a packer helper in the Supply Section for some considerable time, the required Voucher action had to be curtailed to a large extent, thus presenting a large back log of Voucher work. This condition has now been remedied. The Binning and Partitioning of the Supply was halted, awaiting the standard layout plan from ADC HQ.
4. F/O GL Calver, Supply Officer, reported to the station on 26 Mar 54.
5. The Binning of spaces and running equipment at the Operations Building was started on 8 May 54.

The following is an outline of the activities of the ME Section for this period.

The ME section was busily engaged in receiving and servicing new vehicles, removing snow from station and main roads as well as sanding same.

The period of the month of Jan 1 to Feb 28 was extremely busy plowing and sanding station roads and Beaverbank Highway. The vehicles required constant repair such as shocks, etc. due to the bad condition of the highway. ME personnel coming in steadily, thus lighting the large amount of work and runs. Personnel Tool lockup set up during this period.

Sgt. Rankin NCO i/c attending ME conference at St. Hubert.

G/C Inglis and W/C Martin and party picked up in Halifax.

Sgt. Rankin returned from St. Hubert.

W/C Martin to airport at Dartmouth to catch air life to St. Hubert.

AVM Waite and party visited unit.

First Safety Council meeting held this date.

New Fire Truck arrived this date, unloaded by Cpl. Brown, Fire Chief and LAC McKenna ME Section.

Easter Monday LAC Webb driving Commanding Officer at funeral of Premier of Nova Scotia Angus L MacDonald.

CO inspection of the section. Safety Council meeting held.

Several personnel on projectionist course on station.

Picked up women personnel at CNR station.

Bulldozer TD 14 picked up at CNR freight shed.

New steering assembly installed in panel truck.

The following is an outline of the activities of the Fire Section for this period:

1. The fire section under the command of Cpl. PK Brown has operated in an excellent manner. When the station opened a power wagon had to be used as a fire truck. The months of Dec, Jan and Feb were utilized in setting up the Fire Section and placing fire equipment in all PMQs and buildings. An old fire truck was shipped to the station for use pending the delivery of a new fire truck.
2. A visit was received from the AMC and ADC fire marshals and on both these visits the fire alarm system was considered inadequate. A new system was ordered but due to a freeze order at AFHQ level this equipment has not arrived to date.
3. Fire piquets were set up and fire orders were issued.

Personnel in ME given lecture on use of First Aid and use of Fire Extinguishers.

Instructions given PMQ occupants on use of fire extinguishers.

Dump set on fire by CE personnel got out of control on account of high winds. Four pumper tanks of water used to extinguish this fire.

Lecture given Engineers in central heating and extinguishers in that particular section.

Received new 42G11-C54 Pierre Thibault Fire Truck.

On inspection of new fire truck it was found to be coming apart at the seam on the left side near the control panel also that there is a flaw in one of the chrome nozzles.

High pressure hose received and installed on new fire truck.

Stand pipe hose doors painted in hospital.

Received call from Orderly Officer at 1300 hours to go to fire at Kinsac. Fire was out on arrival returned to station at 1345 hours.

Command Fire Prevention Officer F/O Sinclair made inspection of station and checked Fire Fighters out on new G11 fire truck. Grass fire off station approximately one mile. Fire was extinguished by the use of brooms.

False alarm to Carrol property in back of station hospital.

The following is an outline of the activities of the Spec/Ftr Controller section for this period.

1. As this section was not in operation at all from the 1 Dec 53 to 31 Dec 53, no Diary was in order.

The Senior Controller reported in this date. The Senior Controller was F/L TE Wallis.

The Operations section appointed F/L Hill as Squadron Intelligence Officer.

F/O Roche and F/O Burrill returned from TD to Anti Aircraft Course at Picton.

F/O Roche appointed as operations training officer.

Lecture for all FtrCops on strength commenced course to last until 14^th May.

F/O Prentice (ADCHQ) and crew arrived for flight trials and acceptance of radar.

Flight Trials carried out with Lancaster air craft from Greenwood, NS.

Flight trials completed using Sabres from Chatham, NB.

F/L WA Bradshaw Senior Accounts Officer arrived this date.

Station became self accounting.

First official pay parade held on the station.

Accountant office windows barred, safe installed in cement, Dutch door with spring lock installed.

Catching up on terrific back log of work and section starting to run in a normal manner.

The following is an outline of the activities of the Administrative Section for the period.

First PMQs occupied this date. Several extra officers arrived this date to assist in setting up the station.

AVM AL James AOC ADC HQ and party visited the station, depart same day.

Held children’s Xmas tree party had approximately 45 children.

Held civilian and services personnel staff Xmas party.

Station turned over from AMC Command to ADC Command. Pay accounting to be carried out by MACHQ Halifax.

W/C McBride and W/C Gordon and party from ADC discuss transfer and posting problems.

W/C DB Babineau, Commanding Officer; F/O HA Little CAdO and LAC Craig, typist departed on familiarization tour of St. Hubert, Lac St. Denis and Station Edgar.

F/O WD Hill assumes temporary command of the station.

Station school opened this date. Commanding Officer and party returned from tour this date.

From Feb 1^st to Feb 25^th numerous projects were carried out in order to open station. Service personnel being posted in.

Opened Grocery store this date.

Opened second mess and canteen for Senior NCOs and Officers.

G/C Inglis and party from AMC arrived on the station in order to estimate cost of completion of unfinished contractor’s work.

Station became self accounting. S/L IG Duncan, Telecom, arrived on transfer to the station.

F/L TE Wallis, Senior Controller, transferred to the station.

Sunday School opened this date. Teachers from the Ladies Auxiliary.

Various service personnel posted to the station. Limited Operational date postponed.

P/O ME MacMillan Adjutant arrived this date.

Eight airwomen arrived this date. The first draft. First Church of England service was held in the School, a very good attendance. The Reverend BJ Davis of Sackville, Minister.

The Commanding Officer, W/C DB Babineau, departed on course at Tyndall, Florida. S/L IG Duncan assumes command of the station during the absence of W/C Babineau.

The Reverend BJ Davis visited the station to complete church matters.

The Reverend BJ Davis visited the wives of service personnel.

Church held at 3 p.m. this date in Station School.

The following is an outline of activities of the Telecommunications Section for the period.

Canadian Bridge Crew arrived to install roof panels, antenna, etc., on the tower. Panels above the base of the tower were installed by Robertson-Irwin and the remainder of the tower is to be finished by Canadian Bridge Company.

Had lengthy conference with Maritime Telephone & Telegraph Company engineers with regard to Outside Telephone Plant.

Having installed the roof panels, the Canadian Bridge crew began installation of the Azimuth Drive mechanism.

Because of good weather, the Bridge crew began the installation of the radar antenna.

Completed installation of Radar Antenna.

Northern Electric Company crew consisting of 10 men arrived today. They are here to install the NE 603 Internal Telephone System. Work on all phases of installation progressing.

T/T circuit to Maritime Air Command Minor Relay Centre officially open with Routing Indicator JCHFB assigned.

DND T/T Circuit No. 148 to Chatham installed and checked. Visit of G/C Inglis and party from AFHQ to discuss deficiencies.

Power was turned on certain components of the Radar installation for the first time with very satisfactory results.

A/V/M Waite’s visit.

4 FTR-502 VHF Transmitters and 4 URC-60 VHF Receivers were installed in room 316 of the Operations Building to provide temporary VHF communications during the Limited Operation period.

Mr. Wilson and party of Dickie Radio and Electric Company, Moncton, arrived on site to install Antenna poles, etc. at the TX and RX Sites. The radar antenna was rotated for the first time today for a few minutes by the peaking team of CGE who arrived on 19 Apr 54. This was our first radar picture of the surrounding area.

Erected the Radome today with everyone holding his breath. After about two hours of nerve-wracking labour the Radome was finally in place and bolted down. The blowers were switched on and the "Bag" soon took its present position and remained rigid.

A bit of difficulty arose today. The Azimuth Drive for the main radar antenna stopped suddenly, with the flight trials only a few days away. After stripping down the assembly the fault was found to be a seized bearing. The crew worked many hours over the weekend and on Monday, 10 May 54, the antenna was once again rotating.

The flight trials were started today. S/L Merrifield plus several technical personnel from AMC and CGE are here for the final tests. Lancaster aircraft from Greenwood and Sabre jets from Chatham were laid on for the trials which, incidentally, lasted the better part of a week and went off very well. The results of the tests were very encouraging and it is felt that the radar at this site will give a good picture of the surrounding area.

Signed by:

(DB Babineau) W/C
CO 22 AC&W Sqn