DAILY DIARY
23 RADIO DETACHMENT - SAINT JOHN, NB
January 1, 1944 to September 30, 1944
1 Jan 44
The station commenced restricted operations at 0001 GMT, when personnel were instructed to pass all plots to GOR via a private direct line. During the day, 92 plots were passed on the track. A maximum range of 41 miles and longest track of 25 miles were recorded. Flight Lieutenant JM Redding is still away on New Year's leave and Sgt. Hanson is in acting charge. Weather: Conditions generally below flying limits until 1500 hours, then improving somewhat as the light snow ceased to fall.
2 Jan 44
A noticeable increase in plots is observed and 78 miles is the new record for maximum track length. Weather: Ceiling and visibility unlimited all day with light variable winds.
3 Jan 44
A new maximum in ranges is shown at 47 miles while 83 miles is the new record for the longest track. Flight Lieutenant JM Redding went to No 24 Radio Detachment, Tignish, PEI on temporary duty. Weather: Conditions unlimited all day with very light and variable winds and smoke over the city.
4 Jan 44
Range is still improving with an aircraft plotted at 52 miles. Cpl Pritchard of the Photographic Section of No 1 (CAC) Flight visited the station during the morning. Weather: Unlimited conditions prevailed all day with a light variable wind.
5 Jan 44
Operations proceeded as usual, but no records broken. Proper gates were installed at the entrance to the Detachment by Works and Buildings personnel from RCAF Detachment. Weather: Ceiling improved from 2000 feet at 1000 hours to unlimited for remainder of the day. The visibility was unlimited all day.
6 Jan 44
Equipment functioning well but nothing strange or startling in the way of plots to record. Flight Lieutenant Arrowsmith and Flying Officer Campbell, commanding officer and adjutant from RCAF Detachment accompanied by Squadron Leader Shakespeare from EAC HQ carried out an inspection of this detachment during the afternoon. Works and Building personnel inspected heating equipment at about 1830 hours. Flight Lieutenant Redding returned from temporary duty at No 24 Radio Detachment in the early evening. Weather: Light snow with ceilings of 800 to 1200 feet, and visibility of 4 to 6 miles.
7 Jan 44
A new maximum range of 58 miles was established by the operators. W/T equipment checked by Officer Commanding who contacted RCAF Detachment.
1 Mar 44
87 plots, longest range 37 miles and longest track 21 miles. Weather: Overcast with increasing winds during the day.
2 Mar 44
326 plots, longest range 44 miles and longest track 139 miles. Weather: CAVU and very windy.
3 Mar 44
13 plots, longest range 27 miles, longest track 15 miles. Quarterly overhaul started by a party from No 4 Repair Depot. Weather: CAVU, cold and high winds decreasing toward night.
4 Mar 44 353 plots, longest range 39 miles, longest track 232 miles. Quarterly overhaul carried out during the day but equipment operational again at night. Weather: CAVU, cold. 5 Mar 44
6 Mar 44
163 plots, longest range 49 miles and longest track 97 miles. Quarterly overhaul continuing during the day and the station operational again at night. Weather: CAVU.
7 Mar 44
54 plots, longest range 53 miles and longest track 22 miles. Quarterly overhaul continuing during the day and station operational again at night. Weather: Overcast with hevy snowfall during the day.
8 Mar 44
105 plots, longest range 45 miles and longest track 70 miles. Quarterly overhaul continuing during the day and the station operational again at night. Weather: Rain in the early morning, but cleared up later on.
9 Mar 44
67 plots, longest range 44 miles and longest track 70 miles. WO1 Clark of the RCAF Detatchment at Millidgeville brought new W and B Foreman, Sgt Trusdale, to this detachment on an inspection tour of the grounds and buildings. Quarterly overhaul crew still on the job. Weather: Partly cloudy, clearing in the evening.
18 Apr 44
76 plots, longest range 51 miles, longest track 48 miles. Modification party from No 4 RD Scoudouc carrying out modifications on Radar receiver and turntable of GCI steel gantry during day, but equipment operational at night. Weather: Snow in morning, clearing at noon, CAVU remainder of day.
19 Apr 44
471 plots, longest range 52 miles, longest track 100 miles. Modification party completed work at noon and returned to No. 4 Repair Depot. Weather: CAVU all day, with scatterered clouds in early evening and clearing afterwards.
20 Apr 44
734 plots, longest range 52 miles, longest track 85 miles. Dept of Transport Radio Inspector called at Detachment concerning severe interference in locality, and arrangements were made with him to carry out field tests with their radio car on the following day. Weather: CAVU all day with scattered clouds in early evening and clearing later.
21 Apr 44
405 plots, longest range 57 miles, longest track 93 miles. The Officer Commanding of 23 R Det made a field test for interference with Inspector from Dept of Transport to determine the extent of noise produced in radios of this vicinity. Results show that objectionable interference was created along the local power lines for a distance of two miles from the Detachment compound towards both Saint John and Rothesay. This interference is apparently created by the Thyratron Unit, which operates from the local power company's lines. A reduction of noise of approx. 50% was affected when the Thyratron was operated entirely from diesel generators. The Inspector left noise reducing equipment to be installed in an effort to eliminate the interference. Weather: CAVU all day with slight wind, and clouds in late afternoon, but clearing again at night.
22 Apr 44
696 plots, longest range 54 miles, longest track 125 miles. Weather: CAVU, cool, light wind.
23 Apr 44
298 plots, longest range 53 miles, longest track 90 miles. All personnel off duty during the afternoon were on Victory Loan Parade in Saint John. Weather: CAVU, cool, no wind.
24 Apr 44
224 plots, longest range 55 miles, longest track 81 miles. F/Lt GW Slee arrived at 20.00 hrs on posting to assume command. Weather: Fair and cool.
12 Jul 44
488 plots, greatest range 53 miles, longest track 68 miles. Assisted in search for aircraft long overdue. CO 502 Holding Unit inspected Detachment in PM. During night assisted in search for aircraft probably Fortress reported as lost. Weather: Overcast, fog, no wind, warm.
13 Jul 44
383 plots, greatest range 100 miles, longest track 65 miles. During night assisted in bringing a distressed aircraft back to base. Phone installations during the day. Weather: Clear, moderate winds, warm.
14 Jul 44
681 plots, greatest range 58 miles, longest track 145 miles. Weather: Clear, no wind, hot.
15 Jul 44
586 plots, greatest range 53 miles, longest track 83 miles. 38 minutes without phone contact with Filter Room, no W/T available, difficulty experienced securing contact with Filter Room via GOR. Weather: Clear, light winds, warm to cool.
16 Jul 44
431 plots, greatest range 69 miles, longest track 80 miles. Weather: Fog, no winds, stormy later.
17 Jul 44
508 plots, 491 A/C plots and 17 S/V plots. Longest track 158 miles, greatest range 58 miles. SV plot identified by NOR. Technical equipment loaned to F/O Pederson. Weather: Clear, moderate winds, warm.
18 Jul 44
703 plots, greatest range 62 miles, longest track 158 miles. Changed over at Filter Room and left landline unmanned for 9 minutes. Landline u/s for period of five hours thirty-two minutes. No W/T standby at this Detachment. Weather: Clear, moderate winds, warm to cool.
19 Jul 44
748 plots, greatest range 84 miles, longest track 142 miles. RCASC. telephone party visited station to check telephone terminations with GOR. Weather: Clear, light winds, warm.
20 Jul 44
506 plots, greatest range 68 miles, longest track 194 miles. Liaison visit from Army Fire Section. Weather: Cloudy to clear, light winds, cool to warm.
21 Jul 44
536 plots, greatest range 56 miles, longest track 94 miles. Weather: Clear, light winds, warm.
22 Jul 44
486 plots, greatest range 58 miles, longest track 93 miles. Weather: Fog to overcast, light winds, cool.
23 Jul 44
512 plots, greatest range 60 miles, longest track 103 miles. Weather: Clear, light winds, warm.
24 Jul 44
571 plots, greatest range 57 miles, longest track 96 miles. Weather: Clear, light winds, warm.
17 Sep 44
323 plots, greatest range 46 miles, longest track 60 miles. Weather: CAVU, light wind, cool to mod temp.
18 Sep 44
347 plots, greatest range 50 miles, longest track 75 miles. Weather: CAVU, light winds. mod. Temp
19 Sep 44
226 plots, greatest range 53 miles, longest track 56 miles. Weather: CAVU, mod temp.
20 Sep 44
236 plots, greatest range 49 miles, longest track 50 miles. Weather: Overcast, light wind, cool.
21 Sep 44
216 plots, greatest range 55 miles, longest track 90 miles. Weather: Low ceiling, fog, light wind, cool.
22 Sep 44
344 plots, greatest range 65 miles, longest track 86 miles. Weather: Low ceiling, light winds, rain, cool. Sgt. Powell arrived frm No 4 RD to test two turning motors.
23 Sep 44 328 plots, greatest range 47 miles, longest track 47 miles. Weather: CAVU, cool. W&B replaced worn linoleum in operations room. 24 Sep 44 408 plots, greatest range 42 miles, longest track 52 miles. Weather: CAVU, light wind, cool. 25 Sep 44 462 plots, greatest range 52 miles, longest track 101 miles. Weather: CAVU, light winds, cool. 26 Sep 44 227 plots, greatest range 52 miles, longest track 55 miles. Heating facilities put in shape for winter. Weather: Clear, changing to overcast in PM, light winds, cool. 27 Sep 44 314 plots, greatest range 50 miles, longest track 68 miles. Weather: CAVU, light winds, cool. 28 Sep 44 78 plots, greatest range 45 miles, longest track 66 miles. GOR telephone removed by Army. S/L Pope and Sgt visited station to install a suppressor choke in Thyratron. Signal received regarding closing of Unit. Weather: Low ceiling, rain, light winds, cool temperatures. 29 Sep 44 316 plots, greatest range 52 miles, longest track 83 miles. Weather: Overcast in AM, clearing in PM, mod. winds, cool. 30 Sep 44 260 plots, greatest range 51 miles, longest track 62 miles. Unit ceased operations for disbandment at 2359 hours this date. Weather: CAVU, light wind, cool. (GW Slee) F/L
This page is located at
http://www.pinetreeline.org/rds/detail/rds23-1.html
Updated: June 20, 2004
Officer Commanding,
No 23 Radio Unit, RCAF,
Saint John, NB
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