DAILY DIARY
34 RADIO DETACHMENT - NAVAN, ONTARIO
March 1, 1944 to September 30, 1944
1 Mar 44
The formation of No 34 Radio Detachment as an AFHQ AMAE was first discussed at AFHQ in the early spring of 1942. It was decided that the Unit be operated as an experimental field station for radar and in the event of Ottawa being attacked by air that the station be turned over to AMAS for operational use. The station was intended to provide facilities for radar experimental work, both engineering and operational. A fairly good GCI site was chosen by personnel from AMAE DRE AFHQ at lat. 45º 27' N., 75º 27' 15" West, a location indicated on the map as Chartrand, (this name was finally changed to Navan) about three miles north north west of Navan, Ont. After many disappointments and one rejection by the treasury board, the Unit was finally approved and Secret Organization Order No 91 promulgated authorizing formation of the Unit in April, 1943. Various delays including the rejection by the treasury board, delayed letting of the contract until August, 1943. The control was let to the Hill, Clark, Francis Co of New Lisgard, Ont. Construction was difficult due to flooding and cold weather. Contract for water and sewer services was not let until January, 1944, to the Sulphar Company of Renfrew, Ontario. S/L CB Limbrick (C3151) (Radio), was posted to the Detachment as Officer Commanding, effective 17th October, 1943. He was given use of a desk in AMAE DRE AFHQ and directed the compilation of CAP 399 "War Equipment Schedule for No 34 Radio Detachment", and generally supervised the technical details connected with the construction and equipping of the Unit. Considerable delay was caused by inability of the contractor of the contractor to supply water and sewer facilities.
2 - 3 Mar 44
Nil
4 Mar 44
Between February 23rd and March 3rd, the advance party consisting of the following personnel arrived.
R83789 Cpl Dutton, TJE - Equipment Assistant
R73691 Cpl Thompson, JL - Motor Transport Mech
R142686 LAC Sharpe, WD - Radar Mechanic
R50255 Cpl Appleby, JB - Machinist
R145474 LAC Brusseau, JB Clerk Stenographer
R114091 Cpl Rol, M - Service Police
R265390 LAC Kidd, DW - General Duties
R.51981 Sgt Rankin, I. - Electrician
R83994 LAC Jackson, RW - Chef
R150337 LAC Shapiro, S - Radar Mech.
R57832 Sgt Thomas, EA - Service Police
R68247 Cpl Hale, JFM - Service Police
R19366 LAC Maguire, J - General Duties
5 - 7 Mar 44
Nil
5 May 44
A temporary wooden barrier has been built across the roadway immediately in front of the Guard House. The aerial GCI system is being connected up. The OC visited DRE at AFHQ The OC inspected all ranks at 0830 hours. S/L D Kinnear, DRE, AFHQ, advised that new low frequency communications transmitter would be tested here. Weather hot and fine.
6 May 44
The Officer Commanding conducted a general inspection of buildings and equipment. F/O FC Jewett (SR)(Adm), (C24687), arrived from No 2 ANS, Charlotettown to take over the duties of Detachment Administrative Officer from P/O LJ Bishop, (SR)(Adm), (C40110). The well diggers in the Technical Compound are down over 100 feet, and just commencing to obtain water. Mk III, IFF Tower and some test gear arrived from No 17 Equipment Depot. Weather is fair and mild; rain during the night.
7 May 44
F/O J Gray, (C27950), of W&B Section, Rockcliffe, paid a brief visit to the Detachment regarding minor maintenance. Weather: rainy and cool.
8 May 44
Work is progressing on waterproofing the cable ducts in the Operations Building. The erection of the Mark III, IFF Tower is being commenced. Tower parts do not fit very well, and are badly warped. Some hardware is missing. Work is proceeding on trough for the GCI cables. The Bell Telephone Co personnel have completed the installation of the telephone system. It has been found most satisfactory having the telephone line for this Detachment on the Ottawa switchboard. Weather: fair and cool.
9 May 44
Assembling of the Mk III, IFF Tower is continuing. F/S Jolly from No 3 CMU paid the Detachment a visit in connection with concrete work on the Operations Building. A party of engineers spent a short time on the Detachment conducting a survey in order that the location of the fence may be established. Weather is cool and dull with showers.
10 May 44
The C&MU crew completed waterproofing of concrete ducts in the Operations Building. The Operations Room plotting table is progressing satisfactory. The OC visited DAPS, D/DRE, and Rockcliffe Station to introduce new Administration Officer, F/O FC Jewett.
30 May 44
S/L D Kinnear visited to carry out experimental work on GT 14 transmitter. First tests carried out with Mark III, IFF Visit by F/L Black and F/S Pinke with regard to refrigeration. Full inventory checked against CAP 399. F/O Wright visited the Detachment and issued the end of the month pay. A grader from RCAF Station, Rockcliffe spent several hours on the roads of the Detachment and affected a considerable improvement in their condition. Weather is cloudy and hot. The Detachment softball team suffered another defeat, 23 to 2, this time at the hands of No 12 Communications Squadron team.
31 May 44
Completing installation and adjusting of Mk III, IFF, first results obtained were quite good. Work on GT 14 transmitter being carried out by S/L D Kinnear. Work on the flower borders outside the Administrative Building has been commenced under the direction of R169480 LAC Foley, WE. The Detachment was visited in the afternoon by Major VS Sololov, Military Attache of the USSR, Mr AB Stepushkin, Russian Army Engineer, S/L WS Kendall (C3406), and F/L FC Delaney (C20694) who displayed considerable interest in the operation of the Detachment. Following their visit to the Technical Compound, they were entertained in the Officer's Mess. Weather: bright and very hot.
Strength: Officers - 3, Airmen - 59, Total - 62.
Temporary Duty at this Detachment: Officers - 2, Airmen - 1, Total - 3
(CB LIMBRICK) S/L,
Officer Commanding,
No 34 Detachment, RCAF
19 July 44
Weather: Dull and cool.
20 July 44
Investigation is being carried out of interference by the GCI equipment to IFF equipment. The experiment with compass edge lighting is proceeding satisfactory. A battery charger has been installed in the filter room. Weather: Warm with a thunder storm in the afternoon.
21 July 44
A visit by A/V/M WA Curtis (C317), AMAS, and several members of his staff scheduled for today was postponed for a few days. An exercise was carried out in the filter room with a Hudson aircraft from T&D, Rockcliffe. The first edge lighting compass rose and range scale on Mk III IFF equipment was installed. F/L LC Howell (37373), Protestant Padre at RCAF Station, Rockcliffe, paid a visit to the Unit. Weather: Overcast in the morning, clearing later.
22 July 44
Weather: Hot and fair.
23 July 44
Routine.
24 July 44
A/V/M WA Curtis (C317) AMAS, at AFHQ together with A/C HL Campbell (C312) A/CAS, and S/L WS Kendall (C3406) AMAE/DRE inspected the Detachment. A demonstration of the technical equipment was carried out. Weather: Hot and overcast.
25 July 44
S/L CB Limbrick (C3531), the Officer Commanding, was admitted to RCAF Station Hospital, Rockcliffe. In his absene F/O FC Jewett (C24687), assumed temporary command of the Detachment. F/O HH Matheson (C25111), against whom a charge of "Drunkenness" was preferred on the 15th June, 1944, appeared before A/V/M A Raymond (C621), AOC, 3 TC, and was awarded a reprimand. Weather: Fair and warm.
26 July 44
Complete maintenance carried out on GCI receiver. Weather: Scattered showers.
27 July 44
A new compass case rose completed for the PPI tube. Weather: Heavy rain during the night.
28 July 44
The Acting Officer Commanding inspected all ranks at 0830 hours. Forty-one officers and other ranks were on parade.
24 Aug 44
Flt/O MT Chandler (V30302), Messing Officer of RCAF Station Rockcliffe, visited the Detachment to inspect messing facilities. Complete blueprints and two sample units of edge lit H/R tube scales delivered to AFHQ D of S. Weather: Cool and windy.
25 Aug 44
The Acting Officer Commanding inspected all ranks at 0830 hours. 35 men were on parade. Weather: Cool.
26 Aug 44
Inspection of all buildings and grounds was carried out by the Acting Officer Commanding. Advice was received by telephone from AFHQ that the disbandment of No 34 Detachment was being carried out and that an effective date of September 1st had been tentatively set. Weather: Cool.
27 Aug 44
An "Open House" was held for the people of Navan and the district. 123 guests registered and all showed a keen interest in the living conditions enjoyed by the Service Personnel of the Detachment. Airmen were detailed for duty in all sections of the non-technical area and guests were directed from one point of interest to the next in such a manner that they covered the whole Detachment non-technical area and finished in the Mess Hall where light refreshments were served. Weather: Cool and bright.
28 Aug 44
F/O FC Jewett (C24687), visited AFHQ to obtain further information and instructions with respect to the closing of the Detachment. Weather: Cool.
29 Aug 44
A/C GS O'Brian AFC, (CanC593), Air Officer Commaning RCAF Station Rockcliffe, and F/L AL Meades BEM (C28419), Station Adjutant, paid a short visit to the Detachment to inspect the arrangements made to date in connection with the disbandment. Weather: Cool and cloudy.
30 Aug 44
The two diesel engines which composed the power plant of the Detachment were today shipped out. This is the first of the heavy equipment to be disposed of. Weather: Cool.
31 Aug 44
Blueprints and samples of completed edge-lit PPI compass rose mask being produced. A dance was held from 2100 hours to 0030 hours. A few officers from AFHQ attended. Music was provided by an orchestra from the RCAF Central Band, together with the Detachment's R169480 LAC Foley, WEA. Weather: Moderate.
24 Sep 44
Routine.
25 Sep 44
Advice was received from No 3 Training Command Headquarters to post all the personnel of No 34 Detachment to RCAF Station, Rockcliffe, Ontario effective 14 September, 1944 and to repost 55 airmen to other stations effective 30 September, 1944.
26 - 27 Sep 44
Routine.
28 Sep 44
Revised instructions were received from No. 3 Training Command Headquarters posting 43 airmen from Rockcliffe effective 30 September, 1944 and advising that 6 airmen were to remain at Rockcliffe. Posting action on the remainder is to be taken by DAPS.
29 Sep 44
An establishment amendment note was received advising the cancellation of the establishment of No 34 Detachment to be effective 15 September, 1944.
30 Sep 44
Posting instructions on the remainder of the personnel of No 34 Detachment, now on RCAF Station Rockcliffe strength, were received. The guarding of the premises, formerly composed of Detachment Service Police, was taken over by RCAF Station Rockcliffe Service Police at 2000 hours.
STRENGTH:
1 Sept/44 - Officers - 3 (1 TD), Airmen - 62, Total - 65
30 Sept/44 - Officers - 0, Airmen - 0, Total - 0.
(FC Jewett) Flying Officer,
OC, No. 34 Detachment, RCAF,
Via RCAF Station,
ROCKCLIFFE, Ottawa,
MPO 306, Ontario.
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Updated: June 26, 2004