January, 1967
The year of 1967 was a most eventful one for 1 Wing, primarily contingent upon its relocation from Marville, France to Lahr, Germany on 1 April. In essence, the move and its disruptions are the story for the year in that preparations for the impending move were begun prior to January and the renovation programme of the Lahr airbase had not been completed by the end of the year. The final posture of the Wing was not to be realized until well into 1968. The following record is as faithful as possible, but will necesarily be found lacking in some areas because so much is owing to the individuals involved. Immediate decisions of incalculable importance had to be made by all servicemen at every level, hence, much of the background for the achievement is lost by the necessity to decentralize to a great extent the decision-making processes. Many of these decisions were not reported at the time due to the attitude that there was too much work to be done to allow time for something so mundane as keeping a historical record. Many others were not reported because, compared to the magnamity of the move, they just appeared too insignificant. Nor can this report reveal the sacrifices made by the individual, the level of confusion and frustration under which he maintained his commitments, and many additional, subnormal living and working conditions he experienced, or the extra effort he made to ensure the eventual success that has become so evident.
Air Division Support Unit Supply, ultimately incorporated into 1 Wing Supply, initiated a stock reduction effort at Metz. It is to be remembered that at the time, early January, nobody at the Unit level knew what was to actually occur with regard to the move. In mid-January, a small detachment of 1 Wing personnel, purely on speculation, paid a visit to Lahr for the purpose of making some rather important estimates and measurements. Included in this group were Food Services personnel whose estimates alone for renovations of the existing facilities were to total $240,000.00. Every major section, in fact, was represented on this detachment and it was upon the calculations of these servicemen that the move was finally accomplished.
An organization change was accomplished when the Food Services branches of Metz and Marville were combined rendering 25 civilian positions unnecessary.
February, 1967
In early February, another detachment made is way to Lahr consisting in the main of supply personnel. They completed surveys of building availability and a survey of the transport material and personnel required for the actual move. In addition, a German-speaking officer carried out a survey in the area surrounding to determine the availability of accommodation including camping and trailer-parking facilities.
Then, on 15 February, the long awaited word was received that firstly, 1 Wing was to move and not disband, and secondly, that the new location of 1 Wing would be Lahr. This was the signal that released the machinery the last two months had created, and released the tension that had been building up in every serviceman. 15 February, advance parties of the Photo Section and the Aircraft Repair Section departed from Marville to prepare the way for the maintenance organization. Above all, this organization must continue its operation with as little disruption as possible, for three factors became most apparent at this juncture. The target date remained 1 April, the fact that a mere six weeks remained was to have no mitigating effect at all; secondly, it became painfully apparent that the French Forces in Lahr were loath to, and in fact, incapable of moving within the period the Canadians had planned for.
On 17 February, a temporary kitchen was established in Lahr in a 50-man mess that was one of four buildings in the domestic area put at 1 Wing's disposal by the French. Three days later, it was opened with a ration strength of 10. On 22 February, a wet canteen for all ranks was opened in another of the four buildings, and a third was annexed the next day as additional dining facilities. The fourth building eventually became a catch-all for administrative offices which had to be located on the Base.
Personnel began a period of gross misemployment. This was necessarily so. Resources had to be used and re-used and personnel was practically the only resource. For example, the Wing Recreation Officer assumed the responsibility for living-in accommodation for all ranks. The Wing Security Officer, by reason of his language capability, assumed the public relations duties. Ground Training and Nuclear Defence officers ran a specially-created relocation office, which was the nerve centre for all activities directly connected with moving men and material. Additional sections began sending advance parties. On 27 February, Ground Support Equipment, another maintenance group, arrived in Lahr, and the Wing Warrant Officer set up his office on the 26th. The same day, shelving and other housekeeping items, particularly those of the maintenance side departed Marville by semi-trailer. Three days later, the Supply Advance party arrived and spent the next three days erecting, shelving and binning the aircraft and avionics spares that were arriving at the same time by aircraft.
March, 1967
On 2 March, the 5 AMU advance party arrived in Lahr and with augmentation from the Brigade, began their operations from the single available hangar. The following day saw the commencement of the regular Hercules shuttle service between Lahr and Marville which during the month of March completed 90 round trips carrying 1,700 passengers and 1,727,398 lbs of freight. To supply the basic necessities for the unaccompanied men at Lahr, a dry canteen was opened 3 March.
The first CF-104, flown by the Commanding Officer, arrived in Lahr on 6 March, at the same time, the CO of 441 Squadron arrived to take over duties as advance party commander until 1 April at which time he simply changed places with the Commanding Officer and took over command of the Rear Party in Marville.
The problem of the month turned out to be "space". The space made available for us by the French was rapidly being filled. This consisted of one hangar which was destined for 5 AMU and 109KU, the North Marguerite, destined for the Squadrons, the CF-104 aircraft and the aircraft maintenance banch and the four buildings making up the compound of the former American Custodian detachment, already overfilled. In addition, the microwave towers for 4 ATAF and the Air Division were erected in the compound.
The Motor Transport Section, after some delay for protocol, moved into the French Motor compound carrying out all their despatch and administrative work from a small shack. The Fire Department was welcomed as an augmentation of the existing French service but were allowed to shift for themselves until they found three rooms in the barrack block for the duty night shift, and later, a suitable ready shack in the North Marguerite. Eventually, some quarters were made free for the enlisted men, who, until that time, were living in hotels and gasthauses in and around Lahr; however, these were not sufficient and there were absolutely none for the officer strength. Nor was there any space for the remainder and by far the greater part of Supply. The entire administrative organization had no office space as well as Accounts, Construction Engineering, the Military Police and their various offices and functions, the Postal Unit, the Chaplains, and even the Commanding Officer himself. Space was needed and space was found.
The first step in the solution of the space problem for the long interim period of co-location with the French was to rent space on the German Economy for storage of Supply stores. This was accomplished on 7 March when a warehouse, affectionately known as the "Banana Factory", was rented. A little later, office space was located in what was previously a thermostat factory and with the help of official German representation, the entire building was rented on 13 March. This was eventually to become the location of the entire administration organization mentioned previously and supply officers, clothing stores, and the entire Exchange organization.
Officers Quarters became available when the French made an entire apartment building that had already been vacated, available completely furnished. In the 54 apartments, all 1 Wing Officers were quartered up to four per apartment. No Married Quarters were made available and some enterprising people began to seek private dwellings, others, if no problem of schooling existed, moved their famiies to the Lahr vicinity in trailers and tents in anticipation of the eventual availability of quarters. Some stayed six months or more under these conditions.
The influx of advance parties and personnel in March continued. Early in the month, the Military Police Advance Party arrived and were, for a short time, obliged to operate out of the mid-town offices until they were provided with one office for their entire needs on the Base. On 9 March, a notable first for Lahr, the first CF-104 inspection was completed. During the period 1-20 March, the entire Avionics Section relocated in Lahr. In the second week of March, further storage, this time for MSE Supply was located in the Caserne, the eventual site of the Air Division Headquarters.
On 13 March, an advance party of the Wing Intelligence Section arrived in Lahr. They, the entire Operations complex and the Meteorological Section were to occupy crowded but adequate working space with their French counterparts. On the same day, the advance party of the Fire Department arrived with 15 fire fighters and one G-13 vehicle. The Met party arrived on the 14th and the Photo Orderly Room was established on the 15th. Fortunately for the Met Section, 4 Wing temporarily assumed the duties of duty Met Station for the Air Division on 15 March. 16 March saw the arrival of the Snag Rectification advance party to augment the maintenance branch.
In the third week of March, convoys of Army trucks left Marville for Lahr at the rate of 23 trucks per day, carrying supply and office materials. On the 18 March, the last VIP SF-161/162 was processed in Marville before the flight began terminating in Gatwick, a procedure continued for the remainder of the year. 20 March, the second wave of Photo Intelligence arrived in Lahr, and on 21 March, with practically all the aircraft maintenance branch relocated, maintenance inventories and records began packing their wares. The entire Maintenance Banch completed their move with the last of their personnel leaving Marville on 28 March. The Motor Transport advance party had arrived the previous day. The Squadrons formed complete formations and flew the CF-104 aircraft to Lahr, 439 Sqn departing 23 March and 441 Sqn departing 30 March.
The last three days of March saw the mass exodus of all the men, sections, and equipment that were not destined to remain with the Rear Party. That meant, as already stated, the entire Maintenance Branch, Operations, Intelligence, Meteorology, 5 AMU, 109 KU, and the Supply, Ground Training, Nuclear Defence, the Postal Depot, and the Commanding Officer moved into the factory in mid-town. The T-33 flight was located in 4 Wing until place could be cleared for them in Lahr.
On 31 March, the AN/MPN 501(V) equipment of Air Traffic Control was decommissioned in Marville and serviced before re-installation in Lahr in the fall. Operationally, 1 Wing had left France.
April, 1967
As the last squadron formed up and flew the CF-104s to Lahr, the sole remaining Maintenance Sections, Line Servicing, and Photo Operations, still in Marville, packed their equipment and arrived in Lahr on 1 April. This was to be an eventful day, as it was the first operational day in Lahr and this presupposed the operational status of the squadrons, Operations, Intelligence, and Maintenance. It also saw the combination of Pay Accounts and Supply of SU Metz and Marville into one at Lahr. Chaplains of both denominations moved to Lahr permanently, and the Hospital staff commenced a period of co-location in the same building with the French Medical staff that lasted until October. The same day, the Regional Surgeon took direct personal control of the distribution of Medical Staff and services throughout the Air Division. He continued in this capacity until the end of July. On 6 April, out-patient medical care was initiated for servicemen only at Lahr.
On 1 April, a small organizational change was made when 109 KU aircraft strength was reduced by one as Dakota 661 went into Stored Reserve. A couple of days later, the Chateau, former site of Air Division Headquarters was cleared of all office equipment by 11 semi-trailers from the 37th Transport Group of the US Army. On 4 April, the first SF-151 was processed in Lahr. The first Roman Catholic Mass was celebrated in Lahr on 8 April. On 11 April, semi-annual Trade Examinations were held in Lahr with 116 candidates writing and about this time, In-Flight Feeding was established in the temporary kitchen. On 16 April, the first United Church Confirmation was held in Lahr by the Senior Protestant Chaplain, and the entire Dental Clinic relocated to Lahr, taking up residence in what was destined to be their final posture, the first section to do so in Lahr. The 18 April saw the arrival of the first transient explosive shipment in Lahr, which was handled despite the lack of facilities.
The month of April was a month of anti-climax. The move had been made and the CF-104 was operating out of Lahr. The raised flying commitment was met with three days left in the month. Ground and Aircrew alike took a deep breath of relief. The weather was kind, and servicing the aircraft out-of-doors did not prove to be too much of a problem. The sharp end was functional and the build-up for Royal Flush had begun. Support services, however, were suffering from the lack of sufficient personnel. The need to maintain a Rear Party in Marville was sapping that extra strength that was needed to complete the myriad of extra duties that presented themselves. All personnel, unquestionably, put in untold extra hours to make up for this lack. Almost all the personnel left behind were, wisely, personnel scheduled for repatriation, which could be carried out, if early, directly from Marville, removing the necessity for staging them through Lahr, which would have been too much of a burden for the already overcrowded hotels and gasthauses. But until the new summer transfers arrived, there would be no alleviation of the personnel shortage.
Overcrowding was the rule of the day on the Base. All of the Maintenance Branch was operating out of space that was barely sufficient for Airframe and Engine workshops, let alone the entire organization, and to this was added the two Squadrons. 5 AMU and 109 KU were co-located in one hangar on the domestic side which was insufficient for 5 AMU alone. Luggage and freight, lockers and pallets were piled to the ceiling wherever space could be found.
May, 1967
The situation remained static for the first two weeks of May. Training and the build-up for Royal Flush continued. The space problem saw the first rays of hope when the French made available two small pre-war hangars, affectionately named "Snoopies Hangars". They were located in the Motor Compound and eventually housed MT Supply, Fire Hall stores, staff cars, fire trucks, and ambulances. The last load of explosives and the complete Armament Section left Marville on 10 May. On 15 May, an all ranks bar was opened on the Base and the day after, a small PX and Grocery Store was opened in the Thermostat Factory. These two facilities alone improved morale of both the servicemen and the ever-increasing number of families who had already moved to the Lahr area, whether in camping sites or economy housing. On 17 May, Annual Corporals' Qualifying Exams were written with 334 candidates.
The last two weeks saw a concerted effort being made by many sections to do something positive about the space problem. The Wing Food Services Officer secured sufficent storage in the city to house all his emergency and non-perishable rations. The Wing Supply Officer rented an empty flour mill of six storeys five miles from the base, which was ultimately filled to overflowing with PMQ inventories from Metz and Marville. The French Air Force provided a large hangar in Bremgarten, some 40 miles away, which also was filled with PMQ furnishings. Construction was started on the Ratcon site on 19 May and on 31 May, the first Anglican Confirmation, performed by visiting Bishop Lewis, was completed in Lahr.
Exercise Royal Flush commenced with the rising sun on Monday, 22 May, and was to continue for the next four days. But this, which could have been outstandingly successful event, was marred by an event which took place the day before. Sunday, 21 May, while taking off on a test flight, CF-104 #12748 suffered engine failure and crashed on the end of the runway. The pilot ejected safely, with minor injuries. The aircraft and photo pod #1030 were written off.
The competition continued undaunted, and the four days of intense flying tested to the utmost the complete maintenance side, all of operations, and indeed the entire support services as well as the aircrew, who had to operate under the close scrutiny of judges from all NATO nations. The build-up, the training, and the professionalism of all concerned paid off. In its second year of competition, the RCAF secured both second and third place for the two Squadrons for overall marks, and placed pilots in the 2nd, 4th, and 10th positions of the top 10 for individual ratings. The two Squadrons, who completed in total, met and defeated picked pilots of other units and were beaten by less than one percentage point by the perennial winners.
June, 1967
June was probably the most difficult month of the entire move. It certainly was the most frustrating and was a month in which little constructive was accomplished in Lahr itself. All the resources were directed toward one objective, namely, "get out of Marville PMQs".
Late in May, it became apparent that negotiations to secure an extension for RCAF occupancy of the Marville PMQs were to prove fruitless. Further, if the RCAF did not vacate the premises by the agreed date of 1 July, the Canadian government could be in line for an extremely expensive lawsuit. This was of course, easier said than done.
Aside from the problem of clearing the 419 units of their furnishings, transporting these furnishings to storage in the Lahr area, and securing them in storage with as little damage as possible, the units themselves had to be empty of occupants. Several related measures were taken. Temporary PMQs were secured in Kehl, 50 kilometers north of Lahr, and Rottweil, 80 kilometers east of Lahr. All the empty units at Metz were refilled. The apartment used as officers quarters was filled with families and a new apartment block, recently rented in entirety rendered another 48 units available. Occupants were canvassed to determine who were willing to relieve the RCAF of the responsibility for them, and a surprising number chose to move into camping sites or secure a house on the local economy for themselves.
School had to be closed sooner than normal, permitting the occupants to vacate the premises in sufficient time for furniture removal. The entire resources of three large trucking firms from the Lahr area were contracted to make the physical move. The first truckload of Marville PMQ furniture crossed the French/German border at Strasboug in the evening of 1 June. It is sufficient to say that the measures taken were adequate. The PMQ complex in Marville was returned to the owners on 28 June, 1967.
Despite the concentration of all resources towards the one objective, it was accomplished without impairing the operational capability. Several events, worthy of note took place during the month. On 5 June, 439(R) Squadron left for the Annual NATO Tiger Squadron Meet, this time held in Leck, North Germany. In mid-month, the Dental Clinic at Metz, disbanded and amalgamated with the already established Unit at 1 Wing Lahr. On 9 June, the Lahr Tacan was commissioned.
That brought to a close the most frustrating month of the year. In some ways, it was also the most successful. Witnessed was a devotion to duty and a sacrifice of personal comfort that is worthy of the highest praise the RCAF can muster. The common concensus of the opinion at the end of the month was, "well, that was the worse of it, it's all downhill from here." In retrospect, this sentiment can be truthfully answered "almost, but not quite".
July, 1967
Centennial Day of Centennial Year dawned bright and sunny for the Canadians in Lahr, Germany, who, like their brothers across the sea, were to take time out from work and celebrate their Nation's hundredth birthday. One small distinction, however, if the celebrations were not as gala, at least they were first, because the Canadians in Lahr enjoyed a 4 1/2 hour advantage over Newfoundland. 1 Wing combined forces with the Air Division and staged a large Garden Party on the lawn of the Black Forest Officers Mess. All available officers of both 1 Wing and the Air Division and their wives were in attendance as well as some 200 honoured guests. The receiving line was headed on altenate occasions by the Commander of 1 Air Division and his wife, the Chief of Staff and his wife, the Commanding Officer 1 Wing and his wife, and Chief Administrative Officer and his wife. The heat was so intense during mid-afternoon that the five to six hundred people crowded themselves into the shade of the large trees and the numerous lawn umbrellas.
The month saw the continuation of the trend of expansion that had been evident in May but had to be arrested so sharply in June. On 2 July, Sunday masses were said at the Holy Ghost Church, a German Church, thereby establishing a practice of co-location with the German populace that still exists. Co-operation between the clergymen of both denominations is superlative. The same day, Food Services ceased at Metz, completing the amalgamation of another Metz/Marville service. The exchange facility expanded, moving the Grocery Store complex into larger facilities in the basement of the Thermostat Factory.
More buildings were made free by the French and Wing Ground Training moved from the Factory into permanent quarters on the Base on 5 July. 6 July, the Senior Protestant Chaplain moved to Lahr and thereby completed his section's relocation. On 11 July, 441 (R) Squadron effected an exchange of 5 aircraft with a Danish Squadron from Karup, Denmark. The success of the exchange was marred by the loss of CF-104 #12734 over the North Sea. The pilot, flying low over the water on final approach, was witness to the ingestion of a seagull which caused immediate engine failure. He ejected safely, without injury, into the cold waters and was rescued after twenty-five minutes by a Danish Search-and-Rescue helicopter. The aircraft and photo pod #1042 were written off. On 14 July, the last shuttle run of Spl 9600 was completed between Marville and Lahr.
Little remained of what was once a proud Marville. With the official closing of the Rear Party on 20 July, there remained but a little cleaning up. On this day, the Senior RC Chaplain departed for Lahr, effecting the complete relocation of his Section. The OFTT, its modifications programme complete, was removed from Marville, for installation at Lahr, a contract not complete by the end of the year. On 30 July, the 1 Wing Library was officially closed. This clean-up was not complete before two bed fires occurred, causing minor damage and injuries.
The month drew to a close with a growing discontent. The source of the discontent - Housing. The summer was turning into the longest and hottest and dryest in the history of Lahr going back for a very long time. It was unfortunate for the 200 families living in camping places for they were subjected to what at times was intolerable heat and camping, normally a pleasurable pasttime, became a labourious chore. The most distrupting factor, that heighened the discontent, was that no end was in sight. The French families, contrary to expectations, were simply not moving out of the Married Quarters, and the small number that were becoming available each week required extensive renovation and paint work before they could meet a minimum Canadian standard. Therefore, weeks would pass before those units would become available for occupancy.
In recognition of the gravity of the situation, the Housing Office staff was enlarged from what had been previously established for one Flying Officer and one Corporal to a massive organization headed by a Senior Wing Commander on loan from Command, with up to twenty personnel employed from various other sections.
July also saw the introduction of a new organizational posture for the Wing Technical Services. Basically, the duties of the Chief Technical Officer were split and given to two Wing Commanders. The two positions thus created were named Chief Technical Services Officer, as before, and the new Chief Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Officer (CAMEO). As the name indicates, the CAMEO's functions embrace all phases of aircraft maintenance, in the case of 1 Wing, including T-33 but excluding 109KU. The CTSO on the other hand, has in his organization all technical services not directly involved in Aircraft Maintenance. Included are Construction Engineering, Supply, Motor Transport, etc. A detailed chart of the new CAMEO organization and CTSO organization is included as Annex A and Annex B to this report.
August, 1967
August saw a rapid quickening of the pace at which buldings came available on the Base. These were now coming so rapidly, that the responsible acceptance agencies were hard put to keep up with the rate of turn-over, and the CE Section found it impossible to keep up with the renovation programme. While in Marville, things left to do were dwindling to nil. On 2 August, the Marville Beacon and the Quad Radar were decommissioned. The next day, the Met Observing Officer closed. Marville, for the RCAF was a dead issue. The books were closed.
In Lahr, new things were afoot. On 8 August, the Wing Supply Officer was designated to head a study group that would work up an entirely new concept in the organization of Air Division Supply.
Although the findings of this group were not implemented until the start of the new year, because the ground-work was laid in 1967 and it was accepted in principle during this year, it will find a place in this report. Stated simply, Lahr, as the air head for the Air Division and by far the largest of the three Wings, would be the site of the new Air Division Central Supply. Responsible to SO Supply for policy, it would be a lodger unit of 1 Wing and draw logistic and administrative support from the Wing. It would become the primary ordering agency for the entire Air Division as a whole, and relieving the necessity for individual Wings to carry their stock and order directly from Canada, would provide for a drastic saving of manpower at each Wing and result in a establishment reduction at 1 Wing of 39 men and an overall saving of 54 positions in the Air Division. Appropriate charts depicting the organization, its chains of command, and ordering channels are included as Annex C. In this month also, 601 Telecommunications Squadron merged with 1 Wing Telecommunications.
On 13 August, the Protestant Chapel, too, took up co-existence with a German Church. On this day, services commenced in the Christus Church. In mid-August, the Chateau in Metz was finally vacated. On August 19, the new radar equipment was installed in Lahr. It was tested on Runway 21 and precision minimums of 200 ft and half mile were achieved. The Hospital renovations were commenced in this month, and storage space for Central Warehouse was opened in the Caserne, destined to be the permanent location of the Warehouse. The first storage found on the German economy for supply items was emptied and the contract terminated.
During this month, 441(R) Squadron carried out its second exchange, this time with the USAF from Upper Heyford, England.
The month ended with the RCAF taking over meteorological responsibility from the French. The last implementation of the CAMEO scheme was brought into effect with the establishment of a position and section for the Engine Repair Officer (ERO) and the Engine Bay moved to its permanent location on the domestic side of the Base. 109 KU also ceased its co-location with 5 AMU and took occupation of their permanent hangar.
The last ten days of August had seen a mass exodus of French families and married quarters were being turned over to the RCAF at an overwhelming rate. A number of these were immediately occupyable and went a long way to relieving the acute housing problem. Another break in the situation occurred when the French Army donated 60 complete quarters from their complex in Freiburg, 45 kilometers south of Lahr. With the ever-increasing number of private dwellings rented and these suddenly available quarters, every family still living in tents and trailers was able to move into dry, warm quarters before the onset of the colder, wet weather.
September, 1967
On 1 September, a number of duties were assumed from the French. Safety Systems took over the drag chute packing facilities they had been sharing and were automatically in their final posture. Control Tower duties were assumed by the RCAF, however, because the permanent tower was scheduled for renovation and entire re-equipment, the controllers were destined to operate from a mobile establishment for the remainder of the year. The low frequency beacon went into operation, RCAF maintained. The Met Office reassumed the duties of Duty Met Station for the Air Division surrendered earlier in the year to 4 Wing. Ground Training began an intensified programme of Trade Advancement Studies for Avionics, Telecom, and Clerk Admin personnel. Also begun on 4 September were weekly courses on Litton Navigation Mark III and Aircraft Flight Control System to last for 8 weeks for a total of 70 students. On the same day, fire duties were ceased in Marville as were Food Services.
The Exchange began its expansion with the opening of an Auto Parts Store in the Caserne, followed by the exchange warehouse in the same location. On 5 September, the Nuclear Defence Section was re-activated its personnel having been misemployed since February.
On 6 September, a mild but rainy day, the French Base Aerienne 139 ceased as an entity of the French Forces in Germany. At a ceremonial parade, witnessed by invited guests and officers, the former French Base Commander officially notified his superiors of the closure of his Base, accompanied by a final fly-past of Mirage Aircraft. At a Vin d'Honneur that followed, seven RCAF officers were presented medals in recognition of the role they played in ensuring a relatively smooth co-location period that had lasted almost six months. That afternoon, the French Flag was lowered and the Canadian Flag was raised in its place. The Canadians took over the Lahr Air Base and Canadian Military Police manned the Main Gate.
The weks that followed were taken up with locating offices and sections on the base in, hopefully, what would be their final location. In order to relieve the cramped conditions in the North Marguerite, the Aircraft Repair Officer moved to the Centre Marguerite on 15 September and on the same day, Supply vacated the mid-town offices for the Base. The next day the Wing Warrant Officer moved to the Base, and Accounts entered their new premises to find they must continue to work in temporary conditions until their required renovations were completed in November. On 17 September, Protestant services were moved to the Dinglinger Church where they were to stay. In mid-month, T-33 maintenance moved into the South Marguerite, their permanent home, to prepare the way for the return of the T-33s themselves on 20 September. The South Marguerite would house, in addition to the T-33 flight, transient flight services, and Dakota Stored Reserve. The Fire Department and the Postal Unit moved into their permanent quarters on the Base on 21 and 27 September respectively. On 23 September, the last load of PMQ furniture from Metz, a process that had been continuing through the summer, arrived from Metz. In this month, also, construction on the engine test cell was started, and on 25 September, Runway 03 was also tested and granted precision limits of 200 feet and half mile. About the end of the month, the CE Section moved into their permanent complex from the temporary quarters they had occupied since the previous June.
439(R) Squadron carried out an exchange with 417 Squadron of the Royal Norwegian Air Force in Rygge, Norway, for the last two weeks of September. This exchange too, was marred by an accident when a visiting F-84 took off from Lahr on a mission and collided with a civilian helicopter in the vicinity of 4 Wing. The pilot ejected safely, but the two civilian occupants of the helicopter were killed.
On 18 July, the Air Division Technical Training School from 3 Wing was relocated under 1 Wing Ground Training. Another staff increase on 15 September brought the overall increase of WGTO staff to five corporals.
October, 1967
In the summer, the 1 Wing Pipe Band had been strengthened by the establishment and subsequent arrival of a Pipe Major. The intervening months were spent in revitalizing its volunteers, recruiting new ones to replace those transferred to Canada, and carrying out practices. On 1 October, they commenced their programme of appearances by participating in the 3 Wing Centennial Parade. The same day, in Metz, the PMQs were returned and the Rear Party was closed. The RCAF was entirely out of France. On 6 October, a grocery warehouse was opened in the Caserne.
But 6 October was to be a memorable day for another important reason. The Air Division was officially established in Europe. 1 Wing played a major role in the parade, ceremonies, and fly-past of 36 CF-104 that accompanied the occasion. Music was supplied by both the Central Band on tour from Canada and the 1 Wing Pipe Band. Flanked by Lt Gen Steinhuf of the German Luftwaffe and Air Vice Marshall Lane, Commander, 1 Air Division, the Honorable Leo Cadieus, Minister of National Defence declared the Air Division established in Europe as 36 aircraft thundered overhead. Later, the Queen's colours were installled in the Black Forest Mess and 1 Wing Officers Mess was officially opened.
The opening of permanent facilities and establishment of Sections in their permanent posture continued. On 10 October, the new Grocery Store was opened and re-named the Economat. On 14 October, Station Workshops moved into their permanent location. Flight Feeding moved to their permanent location in the Sergeants Mess about this time. The Officers Mess kitchen opened with a staff of 29. The Exchange moved from the Thermostat Factory and re-opened in another temporary location in the Caserne. Their permanent store would not be finished until well into 1968. The Guardhouse of 1 Wing was designated Air Division Detention Barracks. Later in the month, the Auto Store and gas sales moved into their permanent location, also in the Caserne. A provisional Snack Bar was opened in 5 AMU on 30 October.
Personnel who had been misemployed for the period of relocation were finally allowed to pursue their normal duties. The Wing PerO was able to secure the use of the Freiburg ice rink for Hockey practice and games. This was an outdoor rink with artificial ice and served as a stop-gap until the Lahr rink could be built.
On 16 October, formal trade advancement training for tradesmen from all three Wings was commenced by Technical Training School for the Aeroengine, Airframe, Instrument Electrical, and Safety Systems trades for a total of 41 students. Three days later, a programme of intensified training for trade advancement was begun for Photo Technicians. On 24 October, the first periodic inspection of a T-33 was carried out at Lahr. On the 27th, the Pipe Band performed in Freiburg on the occasion of the University Students Ball. Three minor fires were set in Schick Apartment Block #2 on 28 October.
November, 1967
By November, through a process of paring-down which 109 KU had been undergoing all year, it had reached its ultimate strength of 19 officers and 73 men. On 2 November, Dakota 662 went into Stored Reserve. On 3 November, the Laundromat was opened in the Caserne. On 6 November, 1 Wing Armoury was broken into and 18 pistols were stolen, never to be retrieved. 7 November, Semi-Annual Trade Exams were written by 100 tradesmen candidates. A supplementary groceria was opened in the large PMQ area #31 on 10 November, and T-33 maintenance was named Central T-33 Maintenance for the Air Division.
On 11 November, there are two significant meanings to the German National. As with the Canadian, it is a Remembrance Day on which to honour the dead of the two World Wars, but it also signifies the official beginning of Fasching, the German equivalent of Carnival or Mardi Gras. The RCAF was on hand for both occasions. The CO and a small detachment laid a wreath at the official cenotaph in the Lahr Cemetary. That evening, the Pipe Band was featured at the Opening Festivities in Reichenback, a small village on the outskirts of Lahr.
A kitchen fire in PMQ 13-3 caused $100 damage on 14 November. On 16 November, an Anglican Confirmation performed by Bishop Lewis took place in the Dinglinger Church. Two pipers of the Pipe Band performed on 17 November in the Officers Mess of the USAF Base at Ramstein. In November, also, construction was commenced on the new Photo Building. This of course was only part of the complete programme of interior renovation and redecoration. Construction was also started on the new AMU.
December, 1967
1 Wing Hospital commenced out-patient medical care for all dependents on 1 December. From 1 to 3 December, the Pipe Band was engaged in Sardinia for the Grey Cup Festivities. A fire was set in the basement lockers of Schick Apartment Block #2, this time accounting for $2100 damage. The perpetrator was never identified. Removations for the new Other Ranks Kitchen were commenced in December.
The first realistic occasion for a Commanding Officer's parade presented itself on 8 December. The occasion was used to present to the Canadian Forces the decorations and clasps that had accumulated unpresented through the busy period of relocation. Also presented were the Centennial Medals awarded for outstanding service to the Nation for the Centennial Year. Recipients of the Centennial Medal from 1 Wing are listed in Annex D. The Pipe Band performed for this occasion.
They were also featured by the Protestant Women's Guild when they gave a party for the Protestant Orphange in Lahr on 10 December. The other orphanage in Lahr, the National County Orphanage, was hosted by the German Canadian Cub the day previous. The Pipe Band performed again on 12 December in Sardinia on the occasion of the Commander's inspection. The Pipe Band filled two more commitments in the year when, on 18 December, they performed for the Air Division Parade and on 25 December, when two pipers performed for a Christmas party on the Base.
Meanwhile, the base was still undergoing some minor changes. MT Supply, until now still in one of the unheated "Snoopies" hangars was moved in with Wing Supply when it was determined, on 12 December, that there was no suitable location in the MT Compound. The same day, a temporary snack bar was opened in the Caserne. By 15 December, all PMQ assets were cleared from storage, (Detail pertaining to the handover of housing is depicted in Annex E) and one final accident occurred on 15 December when a small explosion of a cooking stove caused minor damage in the combine mess.
And so ended the year 1967 for 1 Wing, now of Lahr, Germany. It ended quietly, about as quietly as it started, but that bore no relation to difficult, sometimes, exciting, but mostly frustrating and confusing period in between.
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Updated: April 11, 2005
