1 AIR DIVISION HEADQUARTERS
ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT
NARRATIVE REPORT
Period From 1 June 1955 to 30 November 1955
1 Jun 55
The second phase of PMQs at this unit was opened for the families of Warrant Officers and below.
6 Jun 55
W/C WW Gilmour, AFC, CD – RAF Staff College – visited 1 Air Division HQ to discuss Operations and Plans.
7 Jun 55
Dr. James Gibson – Dean of Arts and Science Carleton College – Ottawa, overseas for Current Affairs Lectures, toured 1 Air Division HQ and met the AOC.
8 Jun 55
S/L B Dale – DAFS 3 – arrived to discuss Security Administration, and met the Administrative Unit Commandant.
11 Jun 55
Air Force Day – 1 Tactical Air Command Band played for an afternoon concert at 1 Air Division HQ and at the dance held during the evening.
13 Jun 55
Mr. TD Anderson – Dominion Secretary – Canadian Legion – visited for discussions on Legion Services, books and correspondence courses. He met the AOC and Staff Officers and carried out a tour of the station.
16 Jun 55
Air Vice Marshal JG Kerr – CBE, AFC, CD – Air Officer Commanding – Training Command – arrived to represent the CAS at Exercise "Carte Blanche" and present the Wing Efficiency Trophy. He was met by the AOC and inspected a Guard of Honour. A luncheon was held attended by the Staff heads and late he toured the station, 61 AC&W Squadron and PMQs.
20 Jun 55
Group Captain EB Hale, DFC, CD – Director of Armament, Air, and Wing Commander G Sutherland, CD, Director of Fighter Operation – arrived to observe "Exercise Carte Blanche", as AFHQ representatives.
Exercise "Carte Blanche"
This exercise was held between 20 Jun and 27 Jun. For approximately one month before this exercise became a reality all sections had been working at a peak to prepare for the largest major exercise held by NATO forces in Europe up to this time. Some three thousand aircraft participated in this exercise in which 4 ATAF in conjunction with Strategic Air Command were pitted against 2nd Tactical Air Force. 1 Air Division HQ’s undertook the additional task of deploying its entire service personnel strength into the field where they lived under canvas and worked in abandoned fortifications of the Maginot Line Type dating back to the 1870’s. It marked the first time that Canadian airwomen took part in field exercises in Europe. Exercise Carte Blanche was rated by the European Press as being fifth in the list of most significant events in Europe during 1955. Photographs of this exercise are attached as Appendix "A" to this historical record.
24 Jun 55
Forty Aircent Press correspondents accompanied by F/L JD Palmer CJS PRO arrived to observe Exercise "Carte Blanche". Twenty-five Aircent Press correspondents accompanied by Major Urban, USAF, arrived to observe and report on Exercise "Carte Blanche".
1 Jul 55
The undermentioned officers were promoted effective 1 Jul 55.
20401 W/C ER Baker
12646 S/L JWD Pudney
42013 F/L DRME Winchester
30735 F/L CM Ferguson
7 Jul 55
F/O EME Boye visited from TCHQ to conduct talks to airwomen. She met the AOC, the AUC and SOPA/PA2.
8 Jul 55
Group Captain D Gooderham, OBE, of AFHQ arrived from AFHQ to discuss 1 Air Division HQ Communications and visit 61 AC&W Squadron.
11 Jul 55
The following members of the Canadian Delegation to NATO paid a familiarization visit to 1 Air Division HQ’s, toured this unit and 61 AC&W Squadron.
Mr. KJ Burbridge – Minister – Counsellor
Mr. CL Read – Dept of Finance
Mr. P Sally-Hood – Dept of Defence Production
G/C LJ Birchall – Deputy Military Advisor
Miss D Burwash – Member of the Delegation for Economics
Col. A Perron – Military Attaché – Canadian Embassy
The AOC met these visitors and a luncheon was held in their honour.
15 Jul 55
Group Captain LA Costello, CD, Director of Religion Administration Roman Catholic paid a liaison visit to the CHQ. He met the AOC and toured the station.
25 Jul 55
Right Reverend Bishop IA Nomie, BABD, Bishop Ordinary to the Anglican in Canadian Forces, accompanied by two members of the Canadian Council of Churches and Group Captain FW MacLean, CD, paid a liaison visit. A Guard of Honour was inspected and he toured the station. Later he visited Choloy Cemetery.
1 Aug 55
Phase three of PMQ’s was opened for Officers and airman. Thirty-two families moved into their new homes. Miss Betty Tomlinson of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation visited 1 Air Division HQ. The purpose of the visit, to collect material for CBC Broadcasts. She toured the station accompanied by S/L WM Lee, SOPR.
4 Aug 55
Construction was started on the airwomen’s barrack block.
5 Aug 55
Work commenced on the new Mess Hall and also the Officers’ Quarters.
22 Aug 55
The foundations were commenced for the Recreation Hall. Air Commodore JA Easton – C/Arm – AFHQ, W/C P Peters – D/Arm – Engineering AFHQ and Mr. G Watson (DRB) – Head of Armaments Branch – visited CHQ to discuss 1 Air Division Armament. They met the AOC, visited 61 AC&W Squadron and a lecture was given to Staff Heads, CO’s and Wing Armaments Officers.
12 Sep 55
The new school for children of dependents opened with 258 pupils. Pictures are attached as Appendix "B".
13 Sep 55
Dr. Alexander Murasieu, Chief Experimental Engineer – Orenda Engines visited CHQ to discuss technical and operational problems on Orenda 10 and 14 Engines. He met the AOC and toured 1 Air Division HQ.
14 Sep 55
Mr. Clive Baxter, of the Financial Post visited to collect material for future publication. Accompanied by DOPR he had lunch in the Officer's Mess and later met the AOC.
18 Sep 55
A special service of worship was conducted to commemorate the Battle of Britain. A/V/M Godwin read the Scripture lesson.
19 Sep 55
A/V/M MM Hendrich OBE, CD, Air Member for Technical Services arrived at Air Division HQ for a Staff visit. He met the AOC, toured the station, and 61 AC&W Squadron. During the evening a reception was held in the Officers’ Mess. A/C FS Carpenter, Chief of Air Operations AFHQ accompanied by W/C DJ Williams paid a staff visit to this CHQ. They toured the station and 61 AC&W Squadron. In the evening they attended a reception in the Officers’ Mess.
22 Sep 55
S/L EW Pierce and Mr JE Partridge AMCHQ/STel visited CHQ for Radar discussions at Air Division and 61 AC&W Squadron.
26 Sep 55
Mr. P Tremblay, Political Advisor – Canadian Delegation to NATO – Paris, carried out a liaison visit. He met the AOC and was given an Air Division briefing before touring the station and 61 AC&W Squadron. The new AU/Supply building was completed and this section began its long awaited move from its old situation in a bunker of the Marne fortification.
29 Sep 55
The Metz Fair or Foie do Metz which commenced 29 Sep and ended 10 Oct was visited by many service men and women. An international industrial exhibition, it featured an RCAF display with a Canadian built Sabre Jet and a cut away Orenda engine. Working in shifts three Canadian pilots were on hand to answer questions. These officers were of course bilingual. Also on exhibition was a dummy pilot fully attired in supersonic flying gear strapped to an ejecting seat. A black and chrome plastic Orenda jet-engine, and safety, telecommunication and armament equipment were another popular attraction of the display. Photographs of the Foie de Metz are attached as Appendix "C" to this Historical Record.
1 Oct 55
The final phase of PMQ’s were opened with a total of 147 families now living in these quarters.
5 Oct 55
The ADC, W/C ET Atherton attended the CO’s Conference held at 1 (F) Wing, Marville.
12 Oct 55
A/C DS Blaine accompanied by Mr. RG MacNeill of the Treasury Board and Mr. HA Davis of the Deputy Minister’s Staff visited CHQ to discuss construction plans, dependents housing and AMTS Sphere of activity.
20 Oct 55
The contractor started work on the new extension for the Officers’ Mess.
25 Oct 55
The following officers from TCHQ visited the CHQ
S/L JHH Muir
S/L JOH Neff
F/L WH Farrell
F/L KB Boyd
The purpose of this visit was to discuss officers’ and airmen’s qualifying examinations. They met the STSO and were given an Air Division briefing.
29 Oct 55
A very successful bazaar was held by the Protestant Chapel Guild. The proceeds were given to assist the children of the St. Jean Orphanage at Borny.
31 Oct 55
W/C AL Bocking arrived to attend the Air Division Ground Defence Programme Conference.
2 Nov 55
A/V/M KN Guthrie, CB, CBE, CD, National President, Royal Canadian Air Force Association paid a liaison visit to 1 Air Division Headquarters. He met the AOC, was given an Air Division briefing and touring HQ’s and 61 AC&W Squadron.
5 Nov 55
"GREY CUP EUROPE"
Metz, France Nov. 5 – On a greasy gridiron, the East and West battled it out for 60 furious minutes here today and when the mud-spattered gridders walked off the field, neither could claim the Grey Cup (Europe) Championship. The score was 0-0 in the RCAF Air Division’s version of the Grey Cup classic.
The first annual Grey Cup (Europe) game lacked little of the colour of the Canadian football classic back home. Cheerleaders, hot dogs, cokes, programme, clowns, a band, ten-gallon hats, a chuck-wagon and a battling band of footballers were features of the day. Despite the early rain, the stands were packed with madly cheering fans, including hundreds of RCAF wives and children, and a considerable number of bewildered Frenchmen.
The night before the game, Miss Grey Cup (Europe) was selected on the basis of neatness, personality, poise and of course, beauty. From eight airwomen and one civilian nominee, pretty Cpl. Arlene Nadon, of Kapuskasing, Ont., was named Miss Grey Cup (Europe) while the other girls became her maids of honour during the pre-game and half-time ceremonies. Picture of Cpl Nadon attached as Appendix "D" to this record.
Air Vice Marshal HB Godwin, Air Officer Commanding the Air Division, made the official opening kickoff and belted a 30-yarder that was one of the longest of the day.
10 Nov 55
A military funeral was held for the late Major HS Lankin (Royal Canadian Dental Corps).
11 Nov 55
Armistice Day with a parade in the city of Metz. The AOC laid a wreath at the Memorial. F/L DeBagheera laid a wreath at Choloy Cemetery.
15 Nov 55
A Guard of Honour was held for the visit of Chief of French Liaison Mission from Paris, M dela Tour du Pin.
23 Nov 55
Mr. Davy Heal, Journalist from "The Vancouver Province" visited to obtain information for future news releases. He met the AOC and toured the station. Meetings were arranged for him with personnel from Vancouver.
29 Nov 55
The nominations for the office of Metz PMQ Mayor was held. All adult residents in PMQ’s were given the opportunity to select their initial choice for Mayor from male adult residents. Tradition was somewhat shattered in that the polls went to the people rather than vice versa. Ten attractive airwomen in uniform visited each apartment during a two hour period carrying with them large orange juice tins with a narrow slot opening to receive the ballots. The ballots were counted in the Commandant’s PMQ. 94% of all eligible voters exercised their franchise. Sgt. KA Kearne, WO2 LM Flewelling, WO2 JA Fraser, Captain LW Mank (Postal) and WO1 LR Cousins were nominated. Vigorous campaigns are expected prior to the election on 15 Dec.
(ET Atherton) W/C
Administrative Unit Commandant,
1 Air Division HQs.