SECRET
Narrative Report
RCAF Station Beaverbank
1 Jun 58 to 30 Nov 58
Section IV – Senior Controller
The following is an outline of the activities of the Senior Controller section for this period.
1 Jun 58
One unknown - no flight plan. No further information available. Track remained unknown. Two GCI let downs with Navy Trackers.
3 Jun 58
Received H/O of 3 F-89’s to intercept a T-33 acting as a target. Missed interception due to faulty height information. One unknown re-identified as friendly as a Pan-American Clipper 66 returning to IDL with one engine U/S.
13 Jun 58
Carried Russian TU-104 for approximately 175 miles.
17 Jun 58
Received H/O of three F-89’s from Eagle Beak to intercept "Shake-Up" target. One F-89 aborted prior to intercept. Two MA’s. Two Banshees scrambled from Shearwater to intercept same target - two MA’s. F-89’s diverted to XL to re-fuel.
23 Jun 58
10 intercepts completed with Banshees.
26 Jun 58
Commenced yearly maintenance. Will be on secondary for eight days.
3 Jul 58
ECM exercise with Fricassie 1. ECM received on IFF only. Fricassie 1 intercepted twice with one Banshee. Yearly maintenance completed. Back on main radar.
4 Jul 58
ECM exercise with Fricassie 1 continued. One scramble and one intercept completed with one Banshee.
5 Jul 58
Submarine sighting 12 N.M. SE Sable Island reported by two men in small boat. MAC Operations advise it is probably one of ours.
9 Jul 58
Received H/O of three F-89’s to intercept two "Shake-Up" targets. One MA, two MI’s on first target. One abort, one MA and one MI against second target.
11 Jul 58
Unidentified Flying Object report received from QM. ATC passed to Mohawk.
12 Jul 58
Main radar U/S due to no replacement immediately available for an arcing tube.
13 Jul 58
Main radar serviceable.
15 Jul 58
Three USAF fighters approximately 150 miles south of Halifax report one of the flight is in a state of emergency due to fuel shortage. Intermittent radio and radar contact until the a/c approached the 120 mile range. Flight given vector to Yarmouth, then to Greenwood. Pilot in state of emergency had flame out at 6530W 4410 N and bailed out successfully. The other two a/c landed safely at Greenwood. Pilot who bailed out landed safely and walked out of bush at Caledonia NS next morning.
31 Jul 58
ECM exercise with Fricassie 3. No interceptors available for intercept action.
1 Aug 58
AC&W Station Barrington on the air at 0001Z. Barrington will pass surveillance information via H/F and be responsible for H/F net control. ECM exercise with Fricassie 3. No fighters available for intercept action.
6 Aug 58
Secondary radar on annual maintenance.
7 Aug 58
Surfaced submarine reported by Captain of a fishing trawler at 4438N 5643W. MAC Operations classified submarine as friendly.
8 Aug 58
Flying Tiger 19C upon request given steers around weather.
16 Aug 58
Eight intercepts with Banshees completed by an Auxiliary controller.
19 Aug 58
Radar re-oriented to Magnetic North.
20 Aug 58
Eight intercepts with Banshees completed by an Auxiliary controller.
28 Aug 58
Six intercepts with Banshees completed.
3 Sep 58
Nine intercepts with Banshees completed.
5 Sep 58
Six intercepts with Banshees completed.
6 Sep 58
This unit assumed identification responsibility for Pepper while telephone lines between Pepper and Midwife were out. Nine intercepts with Banshees completed.
9 Sep 58
Two intercepts completed with Banshees.
12 Sep 58
Three intercepts with Banshees completed.
15 Sep 58
Twenty intercepts with Banshees completed.
16 Sep 58
Thirteen intercepts completed with Banshees.
17 Sep 58
Six intercepts completed with Banshees.
20 Sep 58
SAC penetration exercise Top Hand took place between 0422Z and 2245Z. A report on this exercise is contained in file S55.01.13.
26 Sep 58
ADC mobile ECM truck visiting station for several days for "Jamming" demonstration.
6 Oct 58
S/L Reid assumed duties of COpsO.
7 Oct 58
Two sections of three F-89’s each handed over from Founder to intercept "Shake-Up" target. One MA and five MI’s. A/V/M MacBrien’s aircraft given surveillance to Halifax.
8 Oct 58
A/V/M MacBrien, AOC/ADC, visited Operations building. Synthetic exercise "Desk Top" began at 0700Z. This unit played a very minor role in this exercise. No tactical action required. 12 intercepts completed with Banshees.
22 Oct 58
Cocked Pistol called at 1800Z. No warning. SAC penetration exercise "Big Jump" in progress. Eight CF-100’s from Bagotville were dispatched to Chatham and four F-86’s made available for intercept purposes. Six CF-100’s and four F-86’s were received on handovers resulting in four MIs and seven MAs. One CF-100 intercepted two targets. Electrical and Mechanical ECM was experienced during the exercise but had little effect on the intercepts. Fade out was passed at 23/1951Z.
25 Oct 58
Two F-86’s from Chatham flew two missions for Auxiliary controllers intercept training.
26 Oct 58
Two F-86’s from Chatham flew one mission for Auxiliary controllers intercept training.
2 Nov 58
GObC exercise "Common Cause" in effect 1/1200, 1/2130, 2/1200, 2/2100Z. This unit plotted and identified tracks passed by 70 GObC detachment.
5 Nov 58
First "Big Blast" mission occurred at 0446Z. In this type of mission the GCI scores the ECM effectiveness of the SAC crews.
6 Nov 58
Two F-89s handed over from Founder for practice intercepts. ECM exercise with Fricassie 3. No interceptors available.
9 Nov 58
ECM exercise with Fricassie 3. No interceptors available.
10 Nov 58
Big Blast sweep jamming run occurred. More effective than the first Big Blast mission.
11 Nov 58
Six hour Security Penetration Warning given at 1740Z. Alert siren sounded at 1815Z. Penetration team bombed transmitter site. Midwife and Dartmouth Navy will transmit for us if necessary. Penetration exercise over at 12/0756Z. Operations building not penetrated.
12 Nov 58
2 Sector put on Dutch Treat at 2130Z. SAC exercise of unknown duration to start at any time. RCNAS Shearwater was called immediately for naval fighter participation and responded by having four a/c on 30 minute and four a/c on one hour by 2121Z. The exercise terminated at 14/1400Z and during this period 27 F2Hs were scrambled resulting in 20 MAs, one visual and eight MIs. The missed intercepts were due to ECM, target evasive action and U/S AI equipment. 10 of the fighters scrambled were handovers to Pepper for control.
14 Nov 58
Three practice intercepts completed with Banshees.
15 Nov 58
Exercise "Wray Day" in effect from 2030 hours 15 Nov to 2030 hours 16 Nov. This was an exercise in which 2405 (Aux) AC&W Squadron personnel took over complete control for a 24 hour period. One regular force controller and five qualified regular force FtrCops were standing by during each shift with the remainder of the regular crew on call. During the exercise there were 22 successful and six unsuccessful intercepts with CF-100 a/c provided by Bagotville.
17 Nov 58
Nine practice intercepts completed with Banshees. VG6343, an RCN F2H, had a flame out over Halifax, re-lighted at 17,000 feet and landed safely. The a/c was under Navy control.
18 Nov 58
36 practice intercepts. Two tactical intercepts completed with Banshees.
20 Nov 58
Electronic and Mechanical ECM from SAC a/c that penetrated our area. Anti-jamming measures proved quite effective. SAC a/c part of "All Star" mission. Two interceptions against SAC a/c and 16 practice intercepts completed with Banshees. First STP exercise held. These exercises to be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for an indefinite period.
25 Nov 58
20 practice intercepts completed with Banshees.
26 Nov 58
Selective IFF trial conducted.
27 Nov 58
35 practice intercepts completed with Banshees.
29 Nov 58
AF50516 given navigational assistance.
Section VII – Telecommunications Section
The following is an outline of the activities of the Telecommunications Section for this period.
2 Jun 58
Mr. B Abel of AFHQ visited this unit to inspect new construction.
4 Jun 58
WO2 W Marsh of ADCHQ arrived for a two day Telecom liaison and inspection visit.
5 Jun 58
Mr. HG Cousins of Canadian General Electric Co. arrived for a pre-inspection of the antenna farm. The antennae to be overhauled and modified in July.
7 Jul 58
WO1 JS Ogston of the telecommunication branch at AFHQ arrived for a telecommunications familiarization visit.
12 Jun 58
A Michigan overhead loader (30 H34-1737) was received by the VME section on loan for the summer period. This loader is to be used on the construction of VME garages and CE extension.
14 Jun 58
All station technical sections participated in the first Air Force Day held at this unit. There were technical static displays by Communications, Radar, Photo, Supply, and CE Sections. The fire hall also organized fire fighting demonstrations.
17 Jun 58
Two dump truck (219H9-1802 and 229H-1802) were received by VME section for use during summer construction work.
18 Jun 58
Mr. D Murray and a crew of 9 technicians from CGE arrived to carry out the annual overhaul of the prime radar equipment.
21 Jun 58
Mr. CV Lofgren of RCA, Montreal, arrived to install the re-conditioned 15J1D synthetic trainer.
27 Jun 58
Mr. Rea of Rand Systems Corporation, California, visited the station this date to discuss problems relative to the implementation of the T2 systems training program.
30 Jun 58
Cpl. JN McKinnon, station photographer, departed to Station Mont Apica for three weeks TD. Since he is the only photo tradesman on strength the station photo section was closed during his absence.
10 Jul 58
A party of ten RCN officers attending RCN Specialist Communications Officer’s Course in Halifax were given a tour of the radar and communications sections.
11 Jul 58
Mr. F Moore of Maritime Tel and Tel reported in to assume the duties of Wire Chief, as a replacement for Mr. M Burns who returned to MT&T.
15 Jul 58
The photo section was re-opened on the return of Cpl. JN McKinnon from Station Mont Apica. Mr. WA Parama of RCA, Montreal arrived on a pre-inspection visit concerning the overhaul of all secondary radar equipments.
6 Aug 58
Mr. WA Parama and ten technicians of RCA arrived to carry out the radar equipment overhaul.
8 Aug 58
S/L FP Boyczuk assumed temporary command of RCAF Station Beaverbank during the absence of A/W/C Forbes-Roberts on leave.
12 Aug 58
A 16 passenger bus (135A26-1035) was TOS from 6RD Trenton.
14 Aug 58
213377 F/O HW Causier, Tech/Tel was TOS from Clinton and assumed the duties of Communications Officer.
15 Aug 58
The electronic stores in the operations building were completely converted into a supply sub stores and appropriate procedures put into effect.
18 Aug 58
S/L FP Boyczuk relinquished temporary command of RCAF Station Beaverbank on the return from leave of A/W/C RD Forbes-Roberts.
23 Aug 58
S/L FP Boyczuk assumed temporary command of RCAF Station Beaverbank on the transfer of A/W/C Forbes-Roberts.
11 Sep 58
S/L GK Finnie, Camp Commandant, MACHQ and F/O NJ Zaine, SSO MACHQ arrived on a liaison visit and were given a tour through the supply and telecommunications sections.
15 Sep 58
S/L FP Boyczuk relinquished temporary command of RCAF Station Beaverbank on arrival of the new commanding officer, W/C RC Wilson.
19 Sep 58
Mr. RH Guile of the Bell Telephone Co. visited this unit to carry out an annual telephone section inspection.
22 Sep 58
F/L W Laakso of ADCHQ arrived to carry out a telecom inspection this date. FS RH Smith of ADCHQ SOCE branch arrived for an electrical inspection of the station.
2 Oct 58
The station fire truck was dispatched to the home of Mr. Lloyd Gilby to assist in fighting a fire. Mr. DR Wilson of AFHQ visited the station for an inspection of the Pump and Sewage installation.
3 Oct 58
Mr. B Abel of AFHQ, Mr. G Blackman and Mr. N Morrison of DCL Halifax visited the station for an inspection of new construction.
8 Oct 58
AVM McBrien AOC ADCHQ, visited the telecommunication section this date. He was accompanied by his aide de Camp S/L LJ Lomas.
9 Oct 58
An evacuation drill in the operations building was held in connection with Fire Prevention week.
25 Nov 58
S/L MF Lemke of ADCHQ arrived for a two day inspection of the telecommunications section. F/L G Ford of AFHQ, Mr. R Rogers and Mr. S Shepard of AMCHW, Mr. A Nobel, Mr. R Hawkins, Mr. P Covill of Cossar Ltd. Halifax arrived to test a prototype radar equipment.
26 Nov 58
S/L G MacConnell, S/L JK Perry and Mr. A Watson of AFHQ; S/L CF Grigg, F/L RF Maxon of ADCHQ spent two days at this unit discussing CE section establishment.