3 Radio Unit - Tusket, Nova Scotia

1945 - Extracts from Daily Diary - National Archives of Canada


DAILY DIARY
3 RADIO UNIT - TUSKET, NOVA SCOTIA
29 Jan 1945 to 30 Sept 1945

29 Jan 45

Maintenance: Normal operation until 2230 hrs. when array was lashed because of high wind. Normal operation resumed at 0030 hrs. Maintenance performed from 2130 to 2230 hrs. Longest track 192 miles. Max. range: 146 miles.

30 Jan 45

Ceiling 1500'-3000' all day. Visibility unlimited all day. Surface winds: W 25-35 mph. Contact flying hrs. 24 Temp Max 33º Min 26º. A movie was held in the evening "To Have and Have Not" starring Humphrey Bogart, this was a really good movie and was enjoyed by all who attended. Maintenance: Normal operation until 1800 when array was lashed because of high wind. Resumed normal operations again at 0220 hrs. Maintenance performed from 2200 to 2300 hrs. Longest track 155 miles. Max. range: 120 miles.

31 Jan 45

Ceiling 3000'-4000' until 1700 hrs. ADT and generally 2000'-4000' thereafter except occasional snow, ceiling 1000'-2000'. Visibility 10 mi. or better until 1600 hrs ADT and after 1600 hrs. ADT reduced to 3-6 mi. in snow showers and frequently to 1 mi. in rain showers. Surface winds W to NW 20-30 mph, gusty decreasing to 15-20 mph. after 1430 hrs. ADT. Contact flying hrs. 20. Temp Max 28º Min 22º Maintenance: Operational conditions reported excellent. Equipment operating normally. Maintenance performed 2400 to 0100 hrs. Longest track 232 miles. Max range 131 miles.

HEALTH:- The health on the station for the month of January was very good, there being no cases of infectious disease.

Strength as at 31/Dec/44

Officers - 1
Airmen - 57
Total 58
On AD - NIL

Strength as at 31/Jan/45

Officers - 1
Airmen - 50
Total 51
On AD - NIL

(VJ Hawkeswood) F/L
Commanding Officer
No. 3 Radio Unit
Tusket, NS


5 May 45

Weather:- Ceiling generally 0-500'. Visibility mostly 0-1 mi. in rain, drizzle and fog, briefly 6-8 mi. 1700-1900 hrs. Surface wind: SW to SSE to South 15-30 mph. first half, 2-10 mph. second half. Contact flying hrs. 1. Temp Max 55º Min. 44º Quiet normal day. Maintenance: Daily maintenance 2200 to 2300 hrs. Restricted Operations windage 0405 hrs. to 0600 hrs. Max. range 110 miles. Longest track 210 miles.

6 May 45

Weather:- Ceiling near zero conditions in fog until 0810 hrs. becoming variable in low stratus 300-600' with visibility 3-10 mi. improving to unlimited after 1100 hrs. Conditions lowering gradually again to near zero after 2000 hrs. Surface wind light variable. Temp Max 60º Min 44º The regular church run was sent to Yarmouth at 1015 hrs for Roman Catholic and Protestant personnel. The movie in the evening was well attended by married personnel with their wives and friends. It was an enjoyable movie called "Having a Wonderful Crime" starring Pat O'Brien, Carole Landis and George Murphy. Daily maintenance: 1400-1500 hrs. Operations normal. Max. range 85 miles. Longest track 145 miles.

7 May 45

Weather:-Ceiling near zero in fog until noon, then rapidly improving to unlimited then lowering to zero last three hours. Visibility near zero until noon in fog, becoming 3-6 mi. in haze then lowering to near zero in fog last three hrs. Surface wind W 5-10 mph. becoming SW after 1700 hrs. Temp. Max. 50º Min. 39º The Tusket Bowling League continued with keen competition today between the two leading teams, the Sharks and the Lucky Strikes. Each team took 2 points which left the league standings the same with the Sharks in the lead. As the announcement was made that V-E Day would be 8th May, the final arrangements were made by the Committee for the celebration to take place at this unit. Maintenance: Daily maintenance 2300 hrs-2359 hrs. Operations normal. Max. range 103 miles. Longest track 186 miles.

8 May 45

Weather:- Ceiling 0 until 0730 hrs. improving to unlimited thereafter, lowering to 0-500' last three hours. Visibility generally 0 until sunrise. 2-5 mi. in haze until noon, lowering again in fog to 1/4 mi. by end of day. Surface wind S 5-10 mph. 15-20 mph., gusty afternoon and evening. Contact flying hours 13. Temp. Max. 59º Min. 39º A full program was arranged by the V-E Day committee here and with the announcement of VE Day being held on the 8th May, final plans were made. The program was set up to entertain all personnel on the station and maintain interest, and at the end of the day it proved out that all were happy about the program and pleased that they had remained on th station for the celebration. The days program began with a parade of all personnel at which time the remainder of the programs was announced and a short service of thanksgiving was held. A shooting contest was held immediately after the parade and prizes awarded to winners. At 1230 hrs. the big Victory Dinner was held in the mess. Tables were arranged in the shape of a V and a very delicious dinner was served consisting of mock duck, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, celery, olives, etc and apple pie. After dinner the camp was "Open House" to wives and friends. At about 1430 hrs. everyone paraded to a spot near camp where a dummy of Hitler was hanged with due ceremony.


21 Sep 45

Weather:- Ceiling 2-700 lowering to near zero in fog 1830-2030 ADT becoming unlimited thereafter. Vis. 2-6 mi. Surface wind SW 4-12 increasing to W18, by midnight. Contact flying hrs. 6. Temp Max 59º. Min. 48º. Word was received of discharges re Cpl Nicholson (Hosp Asst') and LAC Pomerleau (GD), they will be leaving on clearances tomorrow. A bingo game was held in the evening, the final game on the station.

22 Sep 45

Weather:- Ceiling 1,000 to 2,000 ft. from 0230 to 0530 hrs. ADT after that unlimited. Vis. unlimited. Winds NW to N at 12-22 mph, gusty to 1630 ADT thereafter N at 12 mph. Temp. Max. 58º Min. 50º Normal day today, very little activity on the station, personnel busy clearing airmen's barracks and are now situated in the NCO's quarters, there being only 16 airmen left on strength this unit.

23 Sep 45

Weather: Ceiling and visibility unlimited, Surface winds light variable becoming westerly 10 to 15 mph. then SW 5 mph. Temp. Max. 55º Min. 38º Normal routine, quiet day, a movie was shown in the evening in the Rec. Hall, it was "Barbary Coast Gent" starring Wallace Beery. It was a good show and was enjoyed by all who attended.

24 Sep 45

Weather: Ceiling generally unlimited until 1700 ADT then lowering from 2,000 to 4,000 ft. Vis. 10 mi. or better, Surface winds SSW to SW 5-10 mph. until noon, then 10-20 mph. during afternoon. Temp. Max. 60º Min. 46º Another load of equipment was shipped to Yarmouth station today, the load consisted of small tools, etc. Most of the personnel are busy crating various big items of equipment in order to ship them to Yarmouth tomorrow.

25 Sep 45

Weather: Ceiling 2000 ft. till 0430 going to near 0 and fog by 0700 ADT with temp. improvements from 200 to 300 ft. Vis. 15 miles until 0430 hrs. lowering thereafter. Cont. flying hrs. 7. Temp. Max. 56º Min. 53º Another load of equipment was shipped to Yarmouth today. A movie was held in the evening "Music for Millions" with Jose Iturbi, it was a good classic and was very much enjoyed by personnel who attended. This fine show marked the last to be shown at No. 3 RU as tomorrow the personnel are being posted to RCAF Yarmouth, but will be attached to Tusket for work until closing day. Those personnel leaving will have pleasant memories of their days while stationed here.

26 Sep 45

Weather: Ceiling 0-500 till 2000 ADT thereafter becoming unlimited. Visibility 0-2 miles in fog occasionally 4-8 miles in light fog. Weather fog, light rain around 1600. Surface winds WSW to WNW 20-14 mph. decreasing after 1630 ADT to 8-4 mph. Contact flying hrs. 7. Temp. Max. 65º Min 57º Two more loads of equipment were shipped to Yarmouth today. All the beds have been taken down early this morning and were shipped to Yarmouth. The personnel left this evening on posting to Yarmouth, where they will be quartered and draw rations until further postings and discharges.

27 Sep 45

Weather: Ceiling unlimited becoming zero after 2100 ADT. Visibility near zero in ground fog until 0800 hrs. Surface winds light variable, favouring westerly. Temp. Max. 72º Min. 48º Two more loads of equipment were shipped to Yarmouth today. The range in the airmen's mess was dismantled and parts and spares oiled in order that it may be shipped tomorrow. Most of the crockery and kitchen utensils were shipped this morning, leaving only a few items remaining to be shipped.

28 Sep 45

Weather:-Ceiling near zero until 0700 ADT then from 600 to 800 until 1100 ADt then unlimited. Visibility generally less than 2 miles until 0800 ADT then 10 miles. Surface winds S. Temp. Max. 65º Min. 28º With more shipments of equipment to Yarmouth today, there is very little left at this unit now which should be cleaned up with one more truck load. The unit should be completely closed very shortly.

29 Sep 45

Weather:-Ceiling 1000 ft till 0530 ADT lowering to near zero in fog. Surface winds SW 10-20 bearing to N at 1630 ADT. Contact flying hours 7. Temp. max. 62º Min 46º. Names of two civilians who are willing to act as civilian caretaker after this unit is disbanded, were submitted to the SAO at Yarmouth as instructed by EAC The civilian appointed will check buildings here regularly and report any trouble to EAC headquarters. After the shipment of equipment today there is very little remaining to be shipped from this unit.

30 Sep 45

Weather:-Ceiling 1-2000 ft. till 0230 ADT. thereafter unlimited. Visibility unlimited except for 7 miles, in light rain. Surface wind N 10-20 becoming calm after 2030 ADT. Contact flying hrs. 24. Temp. Max. 51º Min. 36º All extra messing and rations remaining at this unit have been returned today to the airmen's mess at Yarmouth where they can still be used. There is no further use for them here since all personnel are living out at Yarmouth. The main boiler is now cleaned out and during the early part of this week the water system will be drained and all buildings closed as instructed in Command Instruction #242 with the exception of lines that have to be blown out by compressed air. This will be done by W&B section Yarmouth.

Health: The general health of the personnel for the past month has been very good.

Strength as at 30/Sept/45, Nil. Personnel have been posted to Yarmouth awaiting release.

(V Hawkeswood) F/L
Officer Commanding
No. 3 Radio Unit
Tusket, NS


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