Marville, France

Historical Narrative
1 December 1956 to 31 May 1957
National Archives of Canada


LIST OF SENIOR OFFICERS 1 (F) WING

Commanding OfficerG/C DJ Williams DSO, DFC, CD
Chief Administration OfficerW/C WE Edser CD
Chief Operations OfficerW/C DG Laidler CD
Wing Operations OfficerF/L MG Miller CD
Chief Technical Services OfficerW/C WH Quinn CD
Senior Accounts OfficerW/C WL Hodgson CD
Officer Commanding 445 SqnW/C EG Ireland DFC, CD
Officer Commanding 441 SqnS/L LJ Hill CD
Officer Commanding 439 SqnS/L AW Fisher CD
Senior Supply OfficerS/L LEA Fallis
Senior Medical OfficerS/L PEA Blake-Knox
Wing Armament OfficerS/L JR Tache
Officer Commanding Wing MaintenanceS/L RH Pook
Wing Weather OfficerS/L GB Kennedy

S/L AW Fisher took over command of 439 (F) Squadron vice S/L DJ Bullock effective 31 January 1957.

F/L MG Miller took over as Wing Operations Officer vice S/L AW Fisher effective 28 February 1957.

December 1956

ARRIVALS

DEPARTURES

70026 F/O Abbott
80135 F/O LM Bigg
15156W F/O DA Freeman

STATION STRENGTH

OfficersOther Ranks
1451067

CHRISTMAS

Special Christmas Church Services were held in both the Protestant and Catholic Churches. During Christmas week the Protestant Choir gave a Carol Service which was so well attended that every available space was taken in the church with all the extra chairs.

A White Gift Service was held by the Protestant Sunday School. This occurred during the Sunday School Xmas play when gifts wrapped in white were given by each child of the Protestant Sunday Schoo. The gifts consisted of mainly food items along with $70.00 in cash. These were all presented to the Protestant Orphanage in Sedan. The RCAF also presented the Sedan Orphanage and the St. Maur Catholic Orphanage in Verdun with a complete Christmas dinner.


January 1957

ARRIVALS

235720 F/L RH O'Brien
210482W F/O MD Keenan

DEPARTURES

30811 F/L RR Waters

STATION STRENGTH

OfficersOther Ranks
1471060

21 - 25 Jan - 28 Flying Officers wrote qualifying examinations. Also 14 F/Ls wrote their qualifying examinations.

VISITORS

31 Jan 57 - Monsieur de Beauchamp the French Cultural Attache from Paris arrived for a one day visit at 1 (F) Wing. During this visit he toured the station and later proceeded to the PMQ and DND School in Longuyon. He was escorted by Commandant Gallivan of Air Division HQ.


February 1957

ARRIVALS

233441 F/O FG Kincaid
753222 F/O LR Sutton
130900 F/O RG Hayman
All Air Pilots from Chatham

DEPARTURES

29604 F/O CE Drake to St. Johns Newfoundland
205172 F/O RJ Cockburn to the Empire Test Pilot School in Farnborough, England.

STATION STRENGTH

OfficersOther Ranks
1371016

VISITORS

12 Feb 57 - General Lee visited 1 (F) Wing and presented the Distinguished Flying Cross to F/L LE Spurr and F/L C Lefrance, both officers were awarded the DFC in the Korean War while attached to the USAF. After the parade a cocktail party was held in the Officers Mess.

14 Feb 57- A group of Officers from "the Zone de Defense Aerienne No. 9001, Versailles France" visited the Wing for the day.


March 1957

ARRIVALS

DEPARTURES

3003 F/L JC Lafrance to Air Div HQ
33097 DJ Misselbrook
28690 F/L RT Sinyard

STATION STRENGTH

OfficersOther Ranks
1461020

VISITORS

14 Mar 57 - Mr John Fricker and Mr AE Long of Aeroplane Magazine arrived to write an article on the CF-100. During their visit they also took a number of Air-Air photographs.

21 Mar 57 -
W/C GW Erichsen
W/C KW Walton
S/L P Patrick
F/L AL Perry
Mr BF Deshaw

These Officers arrived on a visit from Canada to discuss Technical Armament problems pertaining to 1 (F) Wing. During their visit they were escorted by W/C JA Gordon and S/L Botton for Air Div HQ.

24 Mar 57 -
G/C WR Franks
W/C RJ Powell

Both of these Officers from IAM Toronto stayed at the Wing for a 2 day visit to discuss medical problems.

31 Mar 57 - The Pipe Band of 1 (F) Wing was in attendance at Mid-Lent Celebrations at Florenville, Belgium

DIED - On the 17th of March 13014 LAC S Korobko was killed in an automobile accident near Verdun France. He was survived at the Wing by his wife and daughter.

21 Mar 57 - A Funeral service was held in the RC Chapel at 1 (F) Wing, with LAC Korobko later being buried at the Canadian Cemetary Toul, France.


April 1957

ARRIVALS

205650 F/O RJ Folkins
233234 F/O JGP Tremblay
18798 F/O WH MacLeod
233440 F/O EJ Johnson
10606 F/O CJ Tricker
19578 S/L CW Briggs

DEPARTURES

205253 F/O MAJ White
16708 F/L RW Fox
204903 F/O HG Littleton
19370 S/L DJ Bullock
204551 F/O JB Webber
27627 S/L PEA Blake-Knox
207677 F/O MB Tatton

STATION STRENGTH

OfficersOther Ranks
1431088

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Canadian Forces Decorations:

27792 F/L WT Krantz
16698 F/L RJ MacNeil
27836 F/L HM Lepard
16504 Sgt NA Bushell
25375 Sgt RS McEachern

VISITORS

3 Apr 57

A/C RB Whiting
W/C WW Abra
S/L DG Forest

Escorted by W/C Baker from Air Div HQ arrived at the Wing to discuss construction and engineering problems.

5 Apr 57 - Commonwealth journalists escorted by Lt Col Abbot of 4 (ATAF) visited 1 (F) Wing, the purpose of the visit being to inform the Press of the role Canada is playing in NATO, stressing the addition of the CF-100. During this visit they saw a CF-100 scramble, a quick turn around of a sabre section plus a flypast of both sabres and CF-100.

4 Apr 57 - On this day Sabres and CF-100s from 1 (F) Wing participated in a NATO flypast at Trier Germany to commemorate the eighth anniversary of NATO. The Pipe Band from 1 (F) Wing also played a part in the ground ceremony at Trier.

11 - 13 Apr 57 - The Pipe Band of 1 (F) Wing participated in the Canadian Embassy Commercial Drive at Brussels, Belgium


May 1957

ARRIVALS

240099 F/O JE Lambert
132109 F/L EJ Axton
75632 F/O ML Joy
42213 F/L BA Morris
28558 F/L JM Craig
210951 F/O FR Jefferson
222985 F/C JA McFarlane URTP
23492 F/C JH Geddes URTP
275211W P/O CLV Warren URTP
230705 F/C GE Mainman ROTP

DEPARTURES

7870 F/L RR Armstrong

STATION STRENGTH

OfficersOther Ranks
141962

VISITORS

3 May 57

G/C A Walmsley AFHQ
S/L MV Whitfield

Escorted by S/L DJ Heath of Air Div. These Officers arrived for a short security visit of 1 (F) Wing.

12 May 57 - The Pipe Band took part in the festivities on Joan of Arc Day at Bar-le-Duc, France.

21 May 57

Lt Col RV Hyde - Director of Armed Forces Services
Major FT Burgess - AD (Europe)

These Army Postal Officers arrived for a one day visit of the Wing, the purpose of the visit being to "Inspect all the CPC units and detachments in Europe". During their 1 Wing programme they were accompanied by Capt EA Wiens - the Commanding Officer of CAPO 5052.

21 May 57 - G/C FW MacLean - DRA(P) escorted by W/C ES Light - SORA (P) paid an annual Protestant Padre staff visit to 1 (F) Wing.

24 - 26 May 57 - The band participated in the NATO Band Festival at Radolfzell, Germany.

30 May 57

W/C NL Magnusson
S/L JT Mullen
S/L EM Butcher
S/L C Torontow

The above AFHQ Staff Officers arrived for a two-day visit at 1 (F) Wing. During this period they gave a number of lectures in the Station Theatre to all ranks re Postings and Careers.

31 May 57 - Mr M Nicola and a cameraman of "NATO Information Services" visited the Wing for the purpose of a photo feature story on working, living and social life at 1 Air Division at the request of the Department of External Affairs.

DEATH - 2 May 57

It was a deep shock to all the members of 1 (F) Wing when 206587 F/O Harvey A Davidson met with an aircraft accident, while attempting to eject from his Sabre after a flame out. The accident occurred very close to his own 441 Squadron dispersal.

F/O Davidson was one of the last of the original Sabre pilots who joined 1 (F) Wing at North Luffenham. He was engaged to be married to F/O Connie McCaffery also of this wing on 6 Jul 57.

A full military funeral service was conducted by S/L RP Condon in the Protestant Chapel on 7 May. Attending this service with his fiancee were Mr. WE Davidson and Bill Davidson, the father and brother of the late officer, who had flown over from Canada for the funeral. The funeral party consisted of the CO, the OC, pilots and members of 441 Sqn and numerous station personnel. The Station Pipe Band and the Wing Guard of Honour were also in attendance. After the completion of the station ceremony the funeral party proceeded to Choloy, where F/O Harvey Davidson was laid to rest at the Canadian Military Cemetery, Toul, France.