DAILY DIARY
11 RADIO DETACHMENT - FERRER POINT, BC.
September 30, 1943 to December 31, 1943
30 Sep 43
SUMMARY:-
Formation of the detachment authorized by Org. Order No. 91 effective 23/July/42. Building and general construction were undertaken by Marwell Construction Company of Vancouver, work commencing 12/Sept/42 and reaching completion May, 1943. The detachment is an RDF unit. Installation of technical apparatus commenced 20/March/43. Necessary documents and maps were brought in by aircraft on 10/June/43 on which date the detachment became operational. On this same date the detachment was visited by S/L Ness, F/L McGee and F/L Whiting and an inspection carried out.
The operation site is removed from the main detachment - a distance of approximately 1 1/2 miles. On the actual operations site are situated a guard house, operations building, winch house and inclined railway, 380 feet long. Generating equipment supplying power for the entire detachment is situated 500 feet from the bottom of this inclined railway. Operations site and main camp are connected by a plank road terminating at the dock. The main camp consists of four (4) barrack blocks, the administration building, (housing offices, WT Section, Officers quarters), recreation hall, mess hall, MT Section and hospital. The detachment is served by marine craft carrying supplies and rations from Zeballos, a distance of approximately 20 miles. Officer Commanding the detachment is F/O JAR Cann.On June 14th a sanitary inspection of the station was carried out by F/L Dick - senior medical officer at RCAF Station Ucluelet, the visit being made in a Stranraer aircraft. The station was inspected on the 29th of July by W/C Winny, OBE DSO - C/O RCAF Station, Ucluelet, BC, at which time a pay parade was held and a sanitary inspection again carried out by F/L Wellwood. A medical inspection and pay parade were held Aug. 16th by F/L Wellwood and F/O Dickson respectively. Another sanitary inspection and sick parade were carried out on Sept. 15th, paymaster and educational officer also visited the detachment. All these trips were effected by Stranraer aircraft from No. 4 BR Squadron, Ucluelet, BC.
On 21st of September, the detachment was visited by two civilian radio engineers siting the installation of new communications equipment. On 23rd of September, the Principal Medical Officer from Command, Auxiliary Services Officer, Deputy Senior Air Staff Officer, and the Senior Medical Officer from Ucluelet, BC were flown from RCAF Station, Ucluelet by W/C Winny, OBE DSO at which time another sanitary inspection was made.
Daily Diary entries commenced on 1st of October, 1943.
(JAR Cann) F/O,
OC #11 Detachment,
Ferrer Point, BC.
1 Oct 43
Weather fine, temperature 62º. Routine normal.
2 Oct 43
Weather fine, temperature 62º. Routine normal.
3 Oct 43
Heavy winds and intermittent rain. Routine normal.
4 Oct 43
Naval Vessel FY08 visited the detachment at 1000 hrs. Heavy winds and intermittent rain continue. Routine normal.
5 Oct 43
Weather foggy, temperature 66º. Routine normal.
6 Oct 43
Stranraer aircraft arrived from Ucluelet, BC, bringing F/O ME Dickson Accountant Officer and F/O CH Bryce Educational Officer. A pay parade was held and all personnel were interviewed by the Educational Officer. The aircraft was scheduled to arrive on the 4th of Oct, but was unable to do so due to unfavourable weather.
7 Oct 43
Stranraer aircraft departed for Ucluelet, BC at 1000 hrs. Weather fine, routine normal.
8 Oct 43
Weather foggy, temperature 58º. Routine normal.
9 Oct 43
Weather cloudy, temperature 58º. Routine normal.
10 Oct 43
Weather rainy and foggy, temperature 58º. Routine normal.
11 Oct 43
Weather fair and warm. Routine normal.
12 Oct 43
Weather heavy winds and rain, temperature 58º. Routine normal.
13 Oct 43
Weather cool, sky overcast, temperature 58º. Routine normal.
14 Oct 43
Weather intermittent rain. Routine normal.
15 Oct 43
Weather heavy winds, intermittent rain, routine normal.
16 Oct 43
Weather extremely heavy winds and some rain. Routine normal.
17 Oct 43
Weather fair and warm. Routine normal.
18 Oct 43
Weather fair and warm. Routine normal.
19 Oct 43
Weather fair and warm. Routine normal.
20 Oct 43
Weather cloudy and cool. Routine normal.
21 Oct 43
Weather cloudy and dull, temperature 55º. Routine normal.
22 Oct 43
Weather fair and mild. Routine normal.
23 Oct 43
Weatherfair and mild. Routine normal.
24 Oct 43
Weather heavy winds, rain and fog. Routine normal.
25 Oct 43
Weather cloudy and cool with some fog. Routine normal.
26 Oct 43
Weather fair and warm. Routine normal.
27 Oct 43
Weather fair and warm. Routine normal.
28 Oct 43
Weather unsettled and cloudy. Routine normal.
29 Oct 43
Weather fair and warm. Routine normal.
30 Oct 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
31 Oct 43
Weather cloudy and windy. Routine normal.
STATION STRENGTH
RDF Officers - 2,
RDF Mechanics - 11,
RDF Operators - 26,
Works and Buildings Personnel - 5,
Wireless electric mechanics - 2,
Wireless Operators (Grd) - 3,
Security Guards - 10,
General Duties - 8,
Chefs - 3,
Clerks general - 1,
Equipment Assistant - 1,
Hospital assistant - 1,
MMMT - 1.
TOTAL - 79
(JAR Cann) F/O
Officer Commanding,
#11 Detachment, Ferrer Point, BC.
1 Nov 43
Weather rain and high winds. Routine normal.
2 Nov 43
Weather Heavy rain and extremely high winds. Routine normal.
3 Nov 43
Weather heavy rain and high winds. Routine normal.
4 Nov 43
Weather clearing with moderate winds. Routine normal.
5 Nov 43
Weather fair and warm. The Detachment was visited by F/L Cowan and F/O Dickson from RCAF Station, Ucluelet, BC. A Pay Parade and Sick Parade were held.
6 Nov 43
Weather cloudy and cool.Routine normal.
7 Nov 43
Weather overcast and windy, temperature 60º. Routine normal.
8 Nov 43
Weather fair and warm. Routine normal.
9 Nov 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
10 Nov 43
Weather fair and warm. Temperature 56º. Routine normal.
11 Nov 43
Weather fair and cool. The Detachment was visited by F/L Wellwood and F/L Cowan, Medical Officers, RCAF Station, Ucluelet, BC by Stranraer aircraft and partial aircrew medical examinations were carried out for all elibible personnel on the station. An emergency operation was performed on R163954 AC1 Kostick, WJ, who had severely lacerated his left thumb while cutting wood.
12 Nov 43
Weather foggy with rain. F/L Wellwood and F/L Cowan departed at 1600 hrs for Zeballos after holding a sanitary inspection of the station.
13 Nov 43
Weather cloudy and cool with intermittent rain. Routine normal.
14 Nov 43
Weather fair and cool. F/O WA Craig, Trade Test Officer, visited the Detachment in Stranraer aircraft from RCAF Station, Ucluelet, BC, departing Nov 15, 1943.
15 Nov 43
Weather fair and cool. F/L Crown, Medical Officer from RCAF Station Ucluelet, BC, made an emergency visit to the Detachment by Stranraer aircraft and R211943 AC1 Pope suspected of having a case of acute appendicitis was taken back to the hospital at RCAF Station, Ucluelet, BC, in the aircraft.
16 Nov 43
Weather heavy south-east winds accompanied by rain squalls. Routine normal.
17 Nov 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
18 Nov 43
Weather cloudy and cool with light rain. Routine normal.
19 Nov 43
Weather - cloudy with light rain. Routine normal.
20 Nov 43
Weather - Heavy south-east winds with light rain, clearing in the afternoon. Temperature 52º. Routine normal.
21 Nov 43
Weather - heavy south-east gales with intermittent rain. Routine normal.
22 Nov 43
Weather - extremely heavy seas running - moderate south-east winds - cloudy. Routine normal.
23 Nov 43
Weather - cloudy and dull - moderate south-east winds. Routine normal.
24 Nov 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
25 Nov 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
26 Nov 43
Weather - fair and cool. Detachment was visited by naval vessel FY 38.
27 Nov 43
Weather - cloudy and dull. Detachment was visited at 1100 hrs. by Air Commodore McLeod the AOC of No 2 Grp Headquarters and F/O Beckett from #2 Grp HQ, Victoria, BC in Grumman Goose Aircraft. The detachment was inspected and the visitors departed at 1300 hrs.
28 Nov 43
Weather - heavy rains and fog. Routine normal.
29 Nov 43
Weather - heavy rains and fog. Routine normal.
30 Nov 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
STATION STRENGTH
RDF Officers - 2,
RDF Mechanics - 11,
RDF Operators - 26,
Security Guards - 11,
General Duties - 8,
Fitters diesel - 3,
Wireless Operators (Grd) - 3,
Wireless electric mechanics - 2,
Chefs - 2,
Carpenter - 1,
Clerks general - 1,
Equipment Assistant - 1,
Hospital assistant - 1,
MMMT - 1.
ON ATTACHMENT:
Seamen - 2,
Wireless Operator (Grd) - 1.
TOTAL - 76
(JAR Cann) F/O
Officer Commanding,
#11 Detachment, Ferrer Point, BC.
1 Dec 43
Weather south-east gales with heavy rain. Routine normal.
2 Dec 43
Weather South-east winds with heavy rain. Routine normal.
3 Dec 43
Weather clearing and cool with light rain. Routine normal.
4 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
5 Dec 43
Weather cloudy and cool. Routine normal.
6 Dec 43
Weather cloudy and cool with light rain. Routine normal.
7 Dec 43
Weather cloudy and cool with rain. Routine normal.
8 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
9 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
10 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
11 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. The Detachment was visited by the Imperial Oil Tanker Bee-Cee lite for delivery of oil supplies.
12 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
13 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
14 Dec 43
Weather cloudy and cool. Routine normal.
15 Dec 43
Weather cloudy with rain and strong south-east winds. Routine normal.
16 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
17 Dec 43
Weather foggy with rain. Routine normal.
18 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Splashes in sea resembling shell spashes seen from the Operations Bldg observed at 1600 hrs and appropriate action taken. F/O Cann, Officer Commanding No 11 Detachment, posted to #14 AID Ottawa, On. Present OC, P/O McIntosh, HD.
19 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Detachment was visited by S/L Miner and F/L Anderson from RCAF Station Ucluelet, BC, and also F/L Thomas from Pat Bay Station and #2 Grp HQs respectively. The incident that occurred on Dec 18th was dicussed with F/L Thomas and a pay parade was held by F/L Anderson. The aircraft (a Norseman) departed at 1630 hrs.
20 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
21 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
22 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool with light rain. Routine normal.
23 Dec 43
Weather strong south-easterly winds with heavy rain. Routine normal.
24 Dec 43
Weather cloudy with rain. Routine normal.
25 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. The Detachment was visited by Group Captain Bennett, Senior Air Staff Officer of WAC HQ and Commander Marshall of Navy HQ and Captain Perham of Army HQ for the purpose of holding Court of Inquiry into incident of Dec 18, 1943.
26 Dec 43
Weather cloudy and windy with rain. Court of Inquiry in session.
27 Dec 43
Weather heavy south-east winds with rain. Court of Inquiry in session. The Detachment was visited by F/L McKinty, RO, from #2 Group.
28 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Canso aircraft from RCAF Station, Ucluelet landed at 1530 hrs and emplaned G/C Bennett, Commander Marshall and Captain Perham and F/L McMinty for #2 Grp HQ.
29 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
30 Dec 43
Weather raining with fog. Routine normal.
31 Dec 43
Weather fair and cool. Routine normal.
STATION STRENGTH
Radar Officers - 1,
Radar Mechanics - 9,
Radar Operators - 20,
Security Guards - 10,
Service Police - 1,
General Duties - 8,
Fitters diesel - 2,
Wireless Operators (Grd) - 6,
Wireless electric mechanics - 2,
Carpenter - 1,
Chefs - 3,
Clerks general - 1,
Equipment Assistant - 1,
Hospital assistant - 1,
MMMT - 1.
ON ATTACHMENT:
Seamen - 2,
Wireless Operator (Grd) - 1.
TOTAL - 70
(HD McIntosh) P/O
Officer Commanding,
#11 Detachment, Ferrer Point, BC.