DAILY DIARY
43 RADIO UNIT - ELLISTON, NEWFOUNDLAND
January 1, 1945 to December 6, 1945
1 Jan 45
Weather: Clear with rising temperature from 15 degrees F at 0001 hours to 41 degrees F at 1600 hours. Peak wind velocity SE 8 miles per hour. Operations: Hours of operation 21:15. Maintenance 1 hour. Restricted operations 1 hour and 45 minutes due to shorted lead in conduit from transmitter to keyer unit. No of tracks 10. No of plots 53. Max range 142 miles. Longest continuous track 130 miles. Excellent New Year's Dinner was enjoyed by all.
2 Jan 45
Weather: Overcast, high winds. Peak wind 40 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00 of which 4:48 were restricted due to high winds. Maintenance 1 hour. No of tracks 5. No of plots 44. Max range 150. Longest continuous track 131 miles. 6096 chocolate bars arrived - out of cokes and beer.
3 Jan 45
Weather: Light rain from 0001 to 0300 hours. Clear remainder of the day. Average temperature 32 degrees F. Peak W/V 12 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. No of tracks 23. No of plots 169. Max range 146 miles. Longest continuous track 135 miles. Station dance which was arranged by the ladies of Bonavista and Elliston, was enjoyed by all present.
4 Jan 45
Weather: Clear throughout day, with a rise in temperature from 28 degrees F at 1200 hours to 40 degrees F at 1600 hours. W/V W 8 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. No of tracks 41. No of plots 276. Max range 143 miles. Longest continuous track 148 miles. Requested by filter room at 16:18 hours to shut down all equipment in order a check on interference at Cape Spear be made. Weekly clean up of camp held in evening.
4 Feb 45
Weather: Overcast throughout the day. Low temp. 21 degrees F. High temp. 30 degrees F. W/V NW 30 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 24:00. No of tracks 37. No of plots 255. Max range 142. Longest track 200 miles. Spent about 3 hours shovelling snow. Almost reached the top of the ridge, about 2 miles from camp. Turned off road and reached a point within two miles of Bonavista. Considerable shovelling lies ahead.
5 Feb 45
Weather: Clear and cold. Low temp. 11 degrees F. High temp. 15 degrees F. W/V W 15 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. Equipment operating very satisfactorily. No of tracks 90. No of plots 543. Max range 150 miles. Longest track 147 miles. Continued clearing the road in the morning. Worked all afternoon shovelling a distance of 3/4 of a mile from cemetary to town. Took short cut with "Jeep" across the hill, pond and down the railway track. Reached the bank in town in time to cash monthly cheques. Pay parade held at 7 PM. Train in - no mail, no film.
6 Feb 45
Weather: Clear and cold. Low temp. 11 degrees F. High temp. 24 degrees F. W/V W 15 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. No of tracks 26. No of plots 183. Max range 150 miles. Longest track 186 miles. Commencing at 1730 hours this unit began a sweep of 360 degrees instead of the previously assigned sweep of 325 degrees - 190 degrees.
7 Feb 45
Weather: Clear with damp cold air. Low temp. 14 degrees F. High temp. 24 degrees F. W/V W 30 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. No of tracks 102. No of plots 623. Max range 150 miles. Longest track 245 miles. Station Funds Committee meeting.
8 Feb 45
Weather: Clear, scattered clouds, cold. Low temp. 5 degrees F. High temp. 14 degrees F. W/V W 22 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. No of tracks 80. No of plots 567. Max range 139 mile. Longest track 210 miles. Train in - mail and film. First showing of the movie "The Heavenly Body".
22 Mar 45
Weather: Clear and fine throughout the day. Low temp. 24 degrees F. High temp. 43 degrees F. Estimated peak W/V WNW 20 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 0830. Off the air at 0830 hours for installation of modifications and conversion of SCR-271 - BA to SCR-271 - BB. The old antenna and counterweight lowered. No of tracks 20. No of plots 267. Max range 150 miles. Longest track 456 miles. R86781 Sgt Jobson, F, member of the installation party, arrived from Cape Spear. Some mail and film came in. "Nights of Tahiti" shown for the first time.
23 Mar 45
Weather: Overcast throughout the day. Strong winds during latter part of the afternoon and evening, followed by a light snow fall, sleet and eventually rain during the remainder of the day. Estimated W/V SW 40 plus mph. Operations: Hours of operation Nil. Modification continued - antenna AN118 disassembled. Second showing of "Nights of Tahiti". Clean-up night.
24 Mar 45
Weather: Overcast throughout the day. Rained during early part of the day caused icing conditions during forenoon and early part of the afternoon, when high temp. eliminated icing. W/V moderate winds. Operations: Hours of operation Nil. Bays fitted on new frame, converting antenna AN-118 to AN-140. Started wiring up receiver - indicator console. Matching network put up, gear box stripped for overhaul. Another showing of "Nights of Tahiti" for the benefit of the people of the town of Elliston.
25 Mar 45
Weather: Partly cloudy, strong winds. Operations: Nil hours of operations. New concrete counter weights arrived. Taken up hill by horse and sleigh. Train in - some freight, no mail, one film.
26 Mar 45
Weather: Clear during forenoon. Scattered clouds during afternoon becoming overast for remainder of day. Low temp 34 degrees F. High temp 43 degrees F. Estimated peak W/V SW 25 mph. Operations: Hours of operation nil. Installed new roller on turning table of tower. Modifications of antenna AN-118 to AN-140 continued. Modification to adapt IFF to new receiver-indicator in progress. Console wiring continued. Bingo night held followed by movie.
27 Apr 45
Weather: Overcast, fog, light rain. Low temp 32 degrees F. High temp 35 degrees F. Peak W/V NW 22 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. On restricted operations from 00:00 to 11:30 hours - repaired reduction unit during this period. Oil seal was repaired and unit was refulled with oil. Antenna was iced up very badly again from 04:00 to 11:00 hours, reception reduced practically to nil due to the above. Had considerable trouble with landline from 15:30 to 20:00 hours, went on W/T telling frequency at 17:15 hours, landline used again at approx. 20:30 hours. No of tracks 18. No of plots 188. Max range 133 miles. Longest track 260 miles. Today is pay day. Salvation Army Appeal received $300.00 from the personnel of this unit.
28 Apr 45
Weather: Overcast, fog. Low temp 30 degrees F. High temp 36 degrees F. Peak W/V W 20 mph Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. Antenna iced up very badly, reception thus decreased considerably. No of tracks 35. No of plots 417. Max range 150 miles. Longest track 257 miles. One weather balloon track 7 plots, Max. range 68 miles - 4 mile track.
29 Apr 45
Weather: Overcast, fog, drizzle, icing. Low temp 31 degrees F. High temp 35 degrees F. Peak W/V NW 20 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 24:00. No of tracks 51. No of plots 187. Max range 170 miles. Longest track 265 miles. 12:53 (local) Q for Queery 280 plotted. 7 plots - Max. range 89 miles. Length of track 17 miles. Believed to be a weather balloon released from Gander.
30 Apr 45
Weather: Overcast, rain, fog. Low temp 30.5 degrees F. High temp 32 degrees F. Peak W/V NW 25 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. On restricted operations from 08:05 to 23:59 hours due to icing of antenna which reduced reception practically to zero and also made it impossible to rotate gantry.
4 Jun 45
Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. No of tracks 44. No of plots 499. Max range 173 miles. Longest track 278 miles.
5 Jun 45
Weather: Overcast, fog, partly cloudy during evening. Low temp 37 degrees F. High temp 43 degrees F. Peak W/V NNE 15 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. No of tracks 58. No of plots 571. Max range 160 miles. Longest track 281 miles. At 20:00 this unit was requested by F/R to be on the lookout with respect to an incoming a/c reported in distress. (One engine dead, another weak). This a/c was carrying 24 stretcher cases. First located by Cape Spear and Flatrock at RJ4797 showing broad BIFF then was picked up by this unit at RB6595. A/C proceeded to Gander with relative ease plotted affectively from three sectors. General: Train in with mail. R168466 Cpl Bridgewater, EB, Radar Mechanic posted.
6 Jun 45
Weather: Overcast, fog. Low temp 32 degrees F. High temp 39 degrees F. Peak W/V NNW 15 mph. Operations: No of tracks 92. No of plots 593. Max range 162 miles. Longest track 291 miles. Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour.
7 Jun 45
Weather: Overcast, with rain and fog during latter part of day. Low temp 32 degrees F. High temp 37 degrees F. Peak W/V NE 15 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. No of tracks 48. No of plots 520. Max range 150 miles. Longest track 281 miles.
8 Jun 45
Weather: Ovecast, fog, light rain. Low temp 36 degrees F. High temp 38 degrees F. Peak W/V NNW 18 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. No of tracks 78. No of plots 695. Max range 162 miles. Longest track 240 miles. General: Train in with mail and film. Station dance held.
9 Jun 45
Weather: Overcast, rain, strong winds. Low temp 36 degrees F. High temp 38 degrees F. Peak W/V N 30 - 35 mph. Operations: Hours of operation 23:00. Maintenance 1 hour. No of tracks 78. No of plots 509. Max range 160 miles. Longest track 250 miles.
10 Jun 45
Weather: Clear and fine throughout the day,warm. Low temp 33 degrees F. High temp 72 degrees F. Peak W/V SW 18 mph.
1 Dec 45
Check of American Inventory commenced under supervision of Capt Gundlach.
2 Dec 45
Inventory check continuing.
3 Dec 45
Inventory check progressing.
4 Dec 45
Personnel still engaged in inventory check.
5 Dec 45
Inventory check still in progress.
6 Dec 45
Inventory check completed. Inventories signed over for the RCAF by F/L JMG Dorais to the US Army, signed by Capt R Gundlach. Personnel preparing to depart to Torbay by next train Dec 8, 1945.
(JMG DORAIS) F/L
Officer Commanding
No 43 RU
Elliston, Nfld
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Updated: April 6, 2003