JUNE 1955
VISITORS
| 3 Jun 55 | W/C LA Hillgartner | Air Div |
| 6 Jun 55 | W/C WW Gilmour | RCAF Staff College |
| 8 Jun 55 | Major General RM Lee | 4 ATAF |
| 8 Jun 55 | S/L JA Eloiss | Air Div |
| 16 Jun 55 | S/L B Dale | AFHQ |
| 19 Jun 55 | A/L BR Simpson | 3 (F) Wing |
| 19 Jun 55 | S/L Sansoucy | 2 (F) Wing |
STRENGTH OF STATION ON 30 JUN 55
| Officers | Other Ranks |
|---|---|
| 128 | 828 |
EDUCATION
Professor JA Gibson of Carleton College gave a lecture on "Canada's Foreign Policy" to officers and airmen 16 Jun 55.
16 Jun 55 -Quarterly trade examinations were held. 198 candidates wrote.
OPERATIONS
20 - 27 Jun - Operation "Carte Blanche" was carried out in conjunction with the USAF, RAF, FAF, and ---
CASUALTIES
7 Jun 55 - 205148 F/O SR Easson was injured in a Sabre Jet crash.
23 Jun 55 - 44104 F/O JH Johnson received minor injuries on a crash landing of a Sabre Jet.
FATALITIES
25 Jun 55 - 48364 F/O AG McCallum was killed in a Sabre Jet crash while participating in operation "Carte Blanche".
28 Jun 55 - Funeral was held for F/O AG McCallum at the Station Chapel.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
26 Jun 55 - The Station Pipe Band participated in parade at Verdun.
JULY 1955
VISITORS
| 5 Jul 55 | S/L GF McLaughlin | AMCHQ |
| 12 Jul 55 | W Harold Young, United Church | Canada |
| 12 Jul 55 | Bishop Ivor Brandon, Anglican Church | Canada |
| 14 Jul 55 | S/L Herbertson | Air Div |
| 25 Jul 55 | S/L Grayson | Air Div |
| 27 Jul 55 | Right Reverend Bishop TA Norris | Canada |
| 27 Jul 55 | Reverend John G Murdock, Cdn Presbyterian Church | Canada |
| 27 Jul 55 | Reverend WH Young, Cdn United Church | Canada |
| 27 Jul 55 | G/C McLean, DRA (P) | Ottawa |
| 28 Jul 55 | W/C Scott, SORA (P) | Air Div |
| 28 Jul 55 | S/L B Gilmour, SOTel | Air Div |
| 28 Jul 55 | S/L Greensword | Air Div |
| 28 Jul 55 | W/C JA Gordon | Air Div |
| 29 Jul 55 | Parliamentary Group | Ottawa |
| 29 Jul 55 | W/C W Smith, SOSup | Air Div |
POSTINGS
Effective 18 Jul 55 - S/L JLA Roussell transferred from Air Div to 1 (F) Wing.
Effective 9 Jul 55 - S/L D Warren (COpsO) posted to Staff College, Toronto from 1 (F) Wing.
STRENGTH OF STATION ON 31 JUL 55
| Officers | Other Ranks |
|---|---|
| 140 | 997 |
GENERAL
30 Jul 55 - G/C MacLean, Ottawa, officiated at the opening services of the Protestant Chapel.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
29 Jul 55 - 1 (F) Wing was visited by 21 members of Parliament. A complete tour of the station and historic spots in the surrounding area was arranged. Mess dinner was held in the Officers' Mess at 1900 hrs.
AUGUST 1955
STRENGTH OF STATION ON 31 AUG 55
| Officers | Other Ranks |
|---|---|
| 142 | 989 |
VISITORS
| 9 Aug 55 | W Dean Kaye & George Bawden | These visitors were from CFCF, Montreal. They made records of personnel at 1 (F) Wing for rebroadcast in Montreal |
| 9 Aug 55 | A/V/M HB Goodwin | 1 Air Div |
| 9 Aug 55 | F/L K Lewis | EA |
| 18 Aug 55 | S/L RA Stubbs | CJS (L) |
EXCHANGE VISIT
28 Aug 55 - No. 1 Fighter Sqn, Belgian Air Force arrived from Florrenes, Belgium. 441 Sqn departed on the same date for aerodrome de et Florrenes, Belgium
EDUCATION
5 Aug 55 - S/L McLaren and F/O Turner from AFHQ visited this wing to lecture on safe driving.
8 Aug 55 - Dr. Newman, lecturer from the University of London gave a current events lecture in the Station Theatre
27 Aug 55 - FS Simpson reported in to the section to undertake the work as Trade Advancement Co-ordinator.
FATALITIES
19 Aug 55 - 12516 LAC E Willocks killed in an automobile accident.
23 Aug 55 - Service Funeral held in Stn. Chapel (P).
POSTINGS
1 Aug - S/L L Hodgson, SAO, transferred in from Staff College
5 Aug - F/O J Morris, Welfare Officer, arrived from AMCHQ
10 Aug - F/O FA Isaacs, Pilot, transferred from OTU Chatham
16 Aug - S/L Blake-Knox, SMO, transferred from 4 (F) Wing.
27 Aug - F/O CV McCaffery, Pers/Adm, transferred from Stn Lac St Denis to take up duties as A/CAdO
31 Aug - S/L Bullock transferred from 3 Wing as Deputy OC 439 Sqn.
POSTINGS IN
13 Sep 55 - F/O A Gunn, AS/GDef, from Trenton
16 Sep 55 - F/L JV Bisset, MO, from North Bay
16 Sep 55 - F/L R Charbonneau, Pers/Mess, from St. Johns
30 Sep 55 - F/O J Shaw, Sup, from Air Div
VISITORS
| 7 Sep 55 | S/L Stewart | Air Div |
"BATTLE OF BRITAIN" Sunday Service was held at 1 (F) Wing on 18 Sep 55
30 Sep 55 - Air Div Golf Tournament was held in Luxembourg. Members of 1 (F) Wing were the winners of the Golf Trophy.
EDUCATION
15 Sep 55 - The Quarterly Trade Examinations were held in the Recreation Hall with 233 candidates writing.
20 Sep 55 - F/L Fine reported in to the Section and was briefed in the duties of WEdO - the position he is filling during the absence of F/L Brunton.
27 Sep 55 - F/L Brunton departed by air for Canada to attend a course at the Officers' School at London, Ontario.
30 Sep 55 - A total of 65 copies of Cpl/FS Qualifying Precis were despatched to 1 Air Divison, Metz and an additional 150 copies were also sent to each of the Wings.
POLIO EPIDEMIC
During the period 16 Aug - 10 Sep 55, No. 1 (F) Wing was hit by a virulent attack of poliomyelitis. During the two weeks, there were 2 cases per week and after that the cases came more rapidly to reach a peak of four cases in one day. After this the epidemic subsided as rapidly and mysteriously as it had originated. The hospital staff was fortunate in having the facilities of the 7100th USAF Hospital at Weisbaden Germany. The first ten cases were transferred there to be cared for in the isolation unit. The first four cases were all children under the age of ten and these children were all the cases of that age group affected. It may be noted that no children that had Salk Vaccine developed polio. Precautionary measures were taken at station level and these included the closing of the swimming pool, restricting the theatre to adults and postponing the opening of school - other measures of an intercommand nature were originated at No. 1 Air Division Headaquarters.
4000 5cc vials of gamma globulin were requested from the DGMS (Air ) Ottawa and the full consignment arrived within four days of the demand. Consequently it was possible to innoculate all service personnel, their dependents and civilians from the age of one year upwards. Close on 2000 people were given injections in a total time of approximately 9 hours.
Twenty seven cases, and of these, in all there were some eleven had paralysis (including 2 cases of bulbar polio) and in two the paralysis was only transient. Six adults - five service personnel and one dependent - have had to be repatriated to Canada. Two of these, were airlifted in "iron lungs" to Vancouver, B.C. This was carried out by a special USAF team who flew from the USA in suitably equipped aircraft.
In retrospect, it may be said that the morale of 1 (F) Wing was magnicificent. There was no panic and this was largely due to an excellent leaflet prepared and distributed by the HQ staff. The hospital was most fortunate in having utter and complete co-operation from everyone concerned.
(JD Somerville)G/C,
CO, 1 (F) Wing, RCAF.
OCTOBER 1955
ARRIVALS
F/O JE Shaw, Sup, from Air Div
F/O RD McKelvie, AS/FC, from Stn Centralia
F/O JE McCann, Air/P, from 1 (F) OTU Chatham
F/O DL Redmond, Air/P, from 1 (F) OTU Chatham
F/O JWE Crane, AS/FC, from Stn Torbay.
DEPARTURES
F/L RG Morgan, Air/P, to FIS Trenton
F/L EL Fine, Air/P, to FIS Trenton
F/O JB Steward, Air/P, to Stn Rockcliffe
F/O RE Beer, AS/FC, to Stn Torbay
F/O GR Howson, Spec/Sec, to Stn Torbay
F/O DG Hackett, Air/P, to 442 Sqn Vancouver
F/O SR Easson, Air/P, to Stn Toronto
F/O JCAV Chartrand, Sup, to Stn Bagotville.
3 Oct 55
DND School opened in Longuyon.
5 Oct 55
AOC Conference was held at 1 (F) Wing - people attending were:
| A/V/M Godwin | AOC (F/L EA Lewis) |
| A/C Clements | CStaffO |
| G/C Cowan | CO 30 AMB |
| G/C Turnbull | SASO |
| G/C Bray | STSO |
| G/C Randall | SPSO |
| G/C Hull | CO 3 (F) Wing |
| G/C Christmas | CO 4 (F) Wing |
| W/C Currie | CO 2 (F) Wing |
| W/C Stewart | SOOrg |
| W/C Atherton | CC AU Air Div |
| W/C McNab | CTechO 3 (F) Wing |
| W/C Stabler | 4 (F) Wing |
| S/L McKenzie | SOAF |
| S/L Lett | 416 Sqn 2 (F) Wing |
| S/L Dickson | Langar |
| W/C Lewis | Air Div |
| F/L Fallis | Air Div |
After the conference a Mess Dinner was held for the attending officers.
6 Oct 55
Officers were the winners of the "Hale" Softball Trophy.
7 Oct 55
Brigadier General Bazillon, French Army, Commanding Officer of the Sub Division of Nancy, visited 1 (F) Wing.
10 Oct 55
Statutory Holiday - Thanksgiving.
10 Oct 55
Cpt Truscott, RADC, arrived on TD from 30 AMB to replace Major Jackson while on annual leave.
14 Oct 55
Air Commodore Blaine - DMTS
Mr. RG McNeill - Treasury
Mr. HA Davies - Deputy Minister Staff
visited re construction plans and dependents housing facilities.
17 Oct 55
Mr. Colin Jackson, lecturer from the University of London, gave a current affairs lecture on "Asia in 1955" in the Station Theatre.
18 Oct 55
W/C Bright, MO, and S/L Stewart, MO arrived on TD from Air Div.
20 Oct 55
Mr. Harry Low, Director of Education for DND Schools overseas paid a visit to 1 (F) Wing also including a visit to the new Longuyon School.
28 Oct 55
W/C Muir and S/L Neff of Training Command, S/L Fair of AFHQ, S/L Evans of Air Division, F/L Farrel of Aylmer and F/L Lloyd of Trenton visited the Education Office to discuss trade advancement, trade tests and current affairs programmes. They gave a lecture in the station theatre to officers and airmen of 1 (F) Wing on "Training Command and How They Arrange Trade Examinations".
NOVEMBER 1955
ARRIVALS
F/O WM Watkins, Pers/Sec, from Stn Torbay
F/L HM Lepard, Air/P, from 1 (F) OTU, Chatham
F/O WG Hollingshead, Air/P, from 1 (F) OTU, Chatham.
DEPARTURES
F/O DD Mills, Air/P, to FIS Trenton
F/O GK Casselman, Sup, AMCHQ, to Rockcliffe
F/L JT West, Sup, to AMCHQ, Rockcliffe
VISITORS
| 7 Nov 55 | F/L Croften | Air Div |
| 8 Nov 55 | F/L Curtin | Air Div |
| 8 Nov 55 | A/V/M KM Guthrie | National President, RCAF Association visited on a liaison visit. He was guest of honour at an Officers' Mess Dinner |
| 14 Nov 55 | F/L French | Air Div |
| 18 Nov 55 | Mr. RV Dodds | DPR/RCAF - public relations visit |
| 18 Nov 55 | F/L Walker | public relations visit |
| 21 Nov 55 | F/O AE Graham | Air Div |
| 21 Nov 55 | S/L WA McCallum | AFHQ |
| 21 Nov 55 | G/C Stepheson, | SASO, TCHQ |
| 21 Nov 55 | G/C Martyn | CStaffO, CJS, London |
| 23 Nov 55 | F/O JH LeCompte | Air Div |
REMEMBRANCE DAY
A Wing Parade was held on Armistice day, with services held in their respective churches. The Pipe Band lead the parade with a detachment of the French Army following.
1 (F) Wing was also represented in the Remembrance Day Parade in the Town of Montmedy.
AWARDS
On 11 November, 1955, during the Remembrance Day parade, Cpl Jacques Prior, GCA Operator, was presented with the French "Medaille Militaire".
This airman as Sgt/Chief Navigator served with th French Air Force during 1939-45. He was attached to the Free French "LORRAINE" Bomber group in Great Britain where he participated in a large number of operations for which he was mentioned in dispatches four times.
Cpl Prior was awarded the "Medaille Militaire" on 1 April 45, but due to his departure to Canada after the war, he could not be invested at that time.