Beaverbank, NS

Section IV – Senior Controller

The following is an outline of the activities of the Senior Controller section for this period.

Received UFO report from Bagpipe. Passed to Mohawk. Navy a/c under control for practice intercepts for radar and radio contact. Passed to Mohawk.

Received report Super Constellation flying low with one engine on fire. Contact AF 55119. Negative engine on fire.

Mechanical Jamming experienced this unit at 360/80. Aircraft dropping jamming. Aircraft AF 21755.

Bagpipe report a/c circled their position and fire red flares.

Air Defence Warning Test by COC.

Permission granted to Jam Redtape given to Fricassee 3. Jamming condition is 3 Electronic. Ceased jamming by Fricassee 3.

Redtape had pair of Navy a/c for practice intercepts. ECM strobes at 342 degrees. Mohawk informed.

Speedbird 686 has declared an emergency with a fire in one engine. Air France a/c is escorting him into Sydney.

All land lines out for 45 minutes due to fire in Springhill.

Air Defence Warning Test originated by ADC COC.

Clipper 6 given flight following on 121.5, handed over to Pepper.

Experienced "E" and "N" ECM from ECM a/c working with Founder. "E" ECM condition 1 only. Little effect on our operational capability.

Sector ordered this unit only to "Cocked Pistol" at 1650Z. The Navy had three Banshees airborne at 1716Z available for tactical action. Released from "Cocked Pistol" at 0050Z 10 Jan 58.

Two Banshees, BD 12 and 3 committed against unknown YB 65. Fighters handed over to Pepper who completed the intercept. YB 65 identified as FR.

Auxiliary controller #52, completed two intercepts with two F-86’s from Chatham before one a/c was forced to return due to inverter failure.

Six intercepts completed with two Banshees.

29 Intercepts completed with four pair of Banshees.

A MATS aircraft (AF 33285) was given assistance through the sub-sector. His compass and gyros were unserviceable. Lt. Commander Radford and Lt. Morrison from RCNS Shearwater visited Operations during the day.

Slant antenna tilt check (Using solar radiation measurement) attempted. Postponed because of equipment failure. 36 intercepts completed during evening shift with RCN aircraft.

Prime Minister’s aircraft landed at Halifax with no advance warning to this unit or Sector. Operations quiet. EW u/s at 0650Z.

EW Kit serviceable at 1055Z.

Four auxiliary officers up for weekend training. Two Flight Cadets, one member of the teaching staff (Professor of Engineering) and the resident Cadet Liaison Officer visited the Operations Building during the afternoon. These people were from Dalhousie University. Four synthetic intercepts completed.

Auxiliary controllers completed 17 synthetic intercepts.

One unknown detected. Reason - No flight plan.

Two unknowns detected. Reason - No flight plans. Received interference on EW which Techs said was external. Checks produced negative results. Source remained unknown. Cameras recorded interference at 2314-2321Z.

GE Techs commenced annual peaking of FPS-502 and TPS-502. Heavy external interference received during period caused by P2V from Greenwood. Navigation assistance given to one SAC and one MATS a/c. Solar radiation recorded on slant beams, first of three days.

TU-104 passed through our area in the afternoon. Solid coverage from QA 52 to HP 41.

Solar radiation recorded on slant beams. Last of three days.

Auxiliary personnel up for weekend training.

One Auxiliary controller reported in due to others writing promotion exams. One unknown during period. Re-identified as a probable weather balloon.

TU-104 passed through our area on return trip. Scope photographs and Spotted Dog sent to Command.

MAC made available one P2V for approximately one hour during afternoon to test check effects of the P2V radar against ours. Scope photos taken. Monitored frequencies of picket ship and AEW&C aircraft stationed closest to us to obtain information on the feasibility of plotting traffic passed to them. Commenced photographing PE presentation on VL & VC every four hours for three days at 11 2200Z. 10 intercepts completed on the afternoon shift.

Received Mechanical ECM for approximately 35 minutes during the midnight shift. To TAC action taken. Monitored Picket Ship and AEW&C A/ConH/F.

One unknown - no flight plan.

Began 48 hour monitoring of Picket Ship and AEW&C a/c. Three Auxiliary controllers up for weekend training. Five unknowns during period.

No a/c from Chatham for auxiliary controllers during weekend. 15J1D u/s completely. Being shipped out. Electronic and Mechanical ECM received during day shift. Nil TACAN action.

Surveillance given to Navy 1306. U/S radio compass. H/F back to normal frequencies.

There were several unknowns during this period. The cause - EW IFF out of synchronization.

Scheduled ECM exercise cancelled. One unknown. No flight plan.

One Auxiliary controller present for weekend training. No a/c available from Chatham.

Two Auxiliary controllers present for weekend training.

Two surface vessels sighted by AEW&C a/c. Air Senior at 4360 degrees north, 5340 degrees west. These vessels remained unidentified.

20 surface vessels sighted at 4334 degrees north, 5000 degrees W identified as Russian trawlers. These ships have been under observation for some time. One unknown due to IFF out of synchronization.

Three unknowns during shift. No flight plans.

Four auxiliary controllers up for weekend training.

One unknown. No flight plan. Four auxiliary controllers present.

Three unknowns during shift period - no flight plans. Majority of the unknowns originated in the New York Oceanic Air Traffic Control area for which we do not receive flight plans.

ECM exercise with Fricassee 3 - one C-119 from St. Hubert. ECM (E) affected VL mainly. Little or no effect on other beams. Two Banshees scrambled from Shearwater successfully intercepted the ECM a/c under control of Redtape 6.

Unit Security Alert sounded when a stranger was found in the Operations building. The penetration team was organized by F/O Laurin by order of the Commanding Officer. Purpose - an internal check of Station Security measures. For the first time in this units history, Eagle Beak handed over 6 F-89’s for control to intercept a target consisting of two T-33’s. All aircraft were from Presque Isle. The fighters consisting of two sections of three a/c/ each. The a/c were under the control of controller #4 and #6. Results - 3 MA’s, 1 visual and 2 MI’s.

Three Auxiliary Controllers present for weekend training.

Four Auxiliary Controllers present for weekend training.

Nine day-fighter type intercepts attempted with two Banshees from 870 Squadron. 1 MI. Picket Station 12 A commenced a two week trial period in telling to this unit. One unknown which was re-identified FR by the Navy.

Combined RN, RCN and RCAF Exercise "Maple Royal" began at dawn. For the exercise the USAF provided one AEW&C a/c (RC 1210) whose mission was to provide early warning on the attacking fleets aircraft & to control land based fighters scrambled for intercept purposes. F/L Gatz of this unit was aboard the AEW&C a/c as an observer.

Small amount of Electrical & Mechanical ECM received from an ECM a/c in Midwife’s area. One unknown later re-identified as FR. Majority of tracks passed by Picket Ship is classified as unknown initially due to no flight plan information on their tracks.

One unknown which originated in New York Oceanic ATC area later re-identified as FR.

Commenced one week trial period which AEW&C a/c on Station 2 A will pass tracks to this unit.

Deputy AOC A/C Reyno visited Station on annual inspection. Considerable difficulty in maintaining H/F contact with picket ship and a/c. Two CF-100’s flew two missions over the combined RN/RCN fleet, 220-250 miles off shore. One unknown later re-identified as FR. No flight plan.

Seven PI’s with Navy Banshees. One unknown - later flight plan, re-identified FR.

Considerable difficulty in establishing two way contact with Seaward Extension units last few days.

Reasonable contact with Picket Ship. Poor contact with Picket a/c last few days. Seven intercepts with Navy Banshees.

One unknown, an MAC P2V, later re-identified FR. Seaward Extension test ended. H/F now on normal frequency.

One unknown re-identified FR. Aircraft beyond flight plan limits.

One unknown re-identified FR as a Navy Banshee on 100 NM local.

One intercept attempted & completed by Auxiliary Controller with 4 F-86’s from Chatham.

One unknown due to FSP.

One unknown later re-identified as part of a SAC overfly.

One unknown re-identified FR by authentication.

Two unknowns. No flight plan, later re-identified FR. One unknown beyond flight plan correlation limits re-identified FR.

Eagle Beak handed over three F-89’s to intercept a T-33 on a round robin trip from PQI-CW-QM-FC-PQI. Two multiple intercepts attempted against the target. F/L Hall at Eagle Beak advises an attempt will be made to hand over fighters for an exercise of this type more often. All concerned were very satisfied with the exercise.

15 practice intercepts with Navy Banshees.

Eight CF-100’s from 413 (AW) Squadron now at Chatham. These a/c will be based at Chatham for the next two weeks for the purpose of giving controllers in #2 Sector intercept practice. Eight intercepts with CF-100’s. Received H/O of three F-89’s from Eagle Beak. One multiple intercept attempted and completed. IFF modified in order that Mode 3 presentation be received on the normal position and interrogation on Modes 1 & 2 on the spring-loaded positions. One Auxiliary Controller here two weeks for summer camp completed nine intercepts with Banshees. One unknown - no flight plan.

Received H/O from Eagle Beak of three F-89’s to intercept a Faker target? One multiple intercept attempted and completed. Eight intercepts with CF-100’s. Seven intercepts with Banshees by Auxiliary controller. One unknown due to faulty surveillance.

19 intercepts with CF-100’s.

One unknown - no flight plan.

Received UFOB from Bagpipe. Unable to obtain information as to possible identification. One unknown - no flight plan. Two intercepts with CF-100’s.

One unknown - no flight plan.

12 intercepts with CF-100’s. Two unknowns - late and incorrect flight plans.

Four unknowns - no flight plans. Four intercepts with CF-100’s.

Six intercepts with CF-100’s.

Six intercepts with CF-100’s. This is the last mission with the CF-100’s as they return to BG tomorrow.

One unknown - no flight plan.

Four unknowns - no flight plans.

Five unknowns - no flight plans.

One unknown - no flight plan.

One unknown - no flight plan.

One unknown - no flight plan. Majority of these unknowns are re-identified FR by Wild Bill within 30 to 45 minutes.

One unknown - no flight plan.

Four intercepts by Auxiliary Controller with two F-89’s from Chatham.

Simulated Air Defence Readiness called at 1300Z - released at 1500Z. Navy ordered 3 a/c to 10 minutes at 1324Z - released to one hour at 1449Z. There was no further action. Two unknowns - no flight plans.

Received H/O of two F-89’s from Eagle Beak to intercept Faker aircraft - two MA’s.

Two unknowns - no flight plans.

One unknown - no flight plan.

Seven unknowns - no flight plans.

Three unknowns - no flight plans. Received H/O of three F-89’s from Eagle Beak to intercept a Faker target. Two MA’s, one MI. Two Banshees scrambled from Shearwater after same target. Both aircraft passed beneath while still climbing unable to make altitude in time. Four unknowns - three no flight plans, one late flight plan.

104 "K" Flight a/c Fricassee 1 in area for ECM exercise today and tomorrow. Electronic ECM received on EW Kit only. Condition one. Small amount of chaff received on b-B and EW beams. Navy unable to provide Banshees for intercept purposes.

Fricassee 1 more effective on 6-B and EW Kit beams today than yesterday. Navy Banshees cancelled due to weather.

Three unknowns - no flight plans.

Four unknowns - no flight plans.

One unknown - no flight plan. AF 64390 given navigational assistance around weather.

Two unknowns - no flight plans. Emergency squawk picked up in Midwife’s area under Midwife’s control.

One unknown - no flight plan.

Signed by:

(RD Forbes-Roberts) W/C
Commanding Officer,
RCAF Station Beaverbank, NS