Metz, France

1965 –Appendix D to Historical Record
National Archives of Canada

PART I - POLICY

1 Air Division units based in Germany, 3 Wing Zweibrucken and 4 Wing Soellingen, maintained an operational posture in the Strike role and increased their flexibility with the addition of a limited Attack capability. 1 Wing Marville supported a limited operational capability in the Photo/Reconnaissance role and continued to build towards a fully operational posture.

PART II - TACTICAL EVALUATIONS

The 1 Air Division Tactical Evaluations Team conducted annual evaluations at 3 and 4 Wings, supported by Tactical Evaluation members from 4ATAF. Both units demonstrated a high state of readiness and mission knowledge and were awarded SHAPE's highest rating. 1 Wing is programmed to receive an initial evaluation during the second quarter of calendar year 1966.

PART III - EXERCISES

15 Mar, 19 Oct 65

Fast Strike exercises were held 15 Mar and 19 Oct. These exercises are Aircent sponsored CPX designed to practice implementation of the Nuclear Strike Plan and provide staff procedural training.

5 - 7 May 65

Front Centre V.This procedural exercise provided training for senior staffs in the operation of a War Headquarters and in procedures associated with implementation of Emergency Defence Plans. This exercise was played down to 1 ADHQ level only.

11 - 25 Jun 65

Tactical Weapons Meet. Selected CF-104 aircrew participated in the Aircent sponsored Tactical Weapons Meet at Chaumont Air Base. This competition is designed to test the proficiency of Fighter Bomber squadrons in 2 and 4ATAFs. The meet was won by 4 ATAF this year, with a total of 1,753 points compared to 1,630 points for 2 ATAF. RCAF pilots competing in the strike event placed eighth in the first 15 in the individual scoring. The RCAF were national winners in the Strike role and a member of the RCAF won the high individual trophy in the Strike role.

27 Apr 65

Max Effort. A 4 ATAF sponsored CPX exercise was held. This exercise tested Wing capability to survive and continue operations effectively under conditions simulating a reasonably successful enemy nuclear attack.

1 - 3 Jan, 5 - 7 Oct 65

CO-OP. A large scale live flying exercise designed to test the Aircent and National Defence Systems. 1 Air Division provided low level targets for these two exercises.

Hostage Indigo. This was Aircent's Annual Small Scale Indoor Study in which major subjects (including implementation of the Forward Mobile Defence Force) were studied by senior commanders.

Recurring Exercises

Sardinia Salvo - semi-annual - Strike Squadrons continued to utilize the Capo Della Frasco range in Sardinia for live bombing practice and to carry out weapons qualification.

Simplex - twice weekly - this exercise provided procedural training for operations room personnel at Wing and CHQ level in the execution of duties associated with the implementation of the LSP and subsequent Strike Operations.

Soft Sand - a live flying execise combining Combat Profile Missions with practice weapons deliveries, was carried out on a continuous basis at Vliehors range.

Round Robin - CF-104 a/c participated in this exercise during the period at the rate of one mission per squadron per month. Round Robin missions entail turn-arounds to test cross-servicing at other bases in 2 and 4 ATAFs.

Photo Site - this exercise is a small scale live flying exercise. It provides training for recce aircrews and PIs in reconnaissance of missile type targets and provides a 7th US Army and 1st French Army with tests of their camouflage techniques.

Hawkeye - Hawk missile batteries were exercised in their Air Defence role and at the same time low level training was provided for 1 Air Division Strike and Recce Sqns.

Weak Eyes - An Air Division sponsored exercise to develop standard tasking, in-flight reporting and mission reporting procedures between the Recce WOC and 1 ADHQ COC. Weak Eyes is held every Wednesday; one exercise per month programmed to necessitate photography at last light, recovery after dark.

PART IV - AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (Restricted)

Air Traffic Control statistics for 1 Air Division are as follows:

PART V - METEOROLOGICAL (Unclassified)

Personnel

SOMet position occupied by W/C W Lewis throughout the period.

Met/2 position occupied by F/L NL Dressler 1 Jan to 19 Jul 65. F/L Dressler promoted to S/L and transferred to 4 Wing as SMetO 19 Jul 65. Replaced by F/L P Dillistone, transferred from 4 Wing 19 Jul 65, who filled position remainder of 1965.

Visits and Conference

SOMet attended annual meetings of Aircent and SHAPE Met Committees 3 - 5 Mar and 24 - 26 May 65. Met sub-committees of the above groups held three other meetings during the year which SOMet attended at HQ RAF Germany 5 - 9 Apr, 5 ATAF 14 - 16 Jul, and HQ 2 Weather Wing USAF 25 - 29 Oct.

Visits were conducted for Met personnel from CFHQ, Mr WF Ganong - 12 Feb, Mr DB Kennedy 12 - 19 June. In addition, Air Division was visited by Mr FW Benun, Chief of the Forecast Division of DOT Met Branch, 4 - 5 Oct 65. A conference of the Senior Meteorological Officers from the Wings was held at Air Division HQ on 7 Oct 65.

Projects

A proposal to establish a representative Observing Site at 3 Wing was staffed with final approval for commencement of construction being given 2 Nov 65.

As an interim measure to solve the 3 Wing observing problem, an establishment increase of one MetOb was obtained, and Tower Controllers were accredited to take tower visibilities following a short course.

Electowriters to expediate the dissemination of weather reports to RATCON and Tower were procured and installed on a temporary basis at all Wings late in December pending final inspection early in Jan 66.

PART VI - NUCLEAR DEFENCE (Restricted)

Personnel

During 1965 both SOND and ND/2 positions rotated. S/L RR Lunn and F/L HE Moore were replaced by S/L AA Kinchen and F/L RW Hutton, respectively.

Visits and Conferences

Sep 65

In Sep 65, S/L Kinchen attended the NBC Working Party meeting of the Military Agency for Standardization, held in London, England. Attendance was as CFHQ representative.

Nov 65

An orientation staff visit was made to HQ 4 ATAF by S/L Kinchen and F/L Hutton to discuss NBC reporting requirements to Supreme Headquarters Operations Centre and to 4 ATAF HQ.

Nov/Dec 65

S/L Kinchen observed the semi-annual inspections (CIs) conducted by the CFHQ/USAFE team at 3 and 4 Wings.

Dec 65

A conference of Nuclear Defence Officers of 1 Air Division was planned for Dec 65, but was subsequently delayed until Jan 66.

Projects

During the year, the physical re-organization of Radic was accomplished in two phases. The objective was to promote better NBC reporting efficiency upwards to Allied HQs and outward to 1 Air Division installations. Rooms 14, A and B, of D'Ars were allocated for this purpose.

A submission for an increase in quantities of radiac equipment required on the Wings was proposed and approved in part by CFHQ. The increase was necessitated by increased numbers of personnel on the change of operational roles.

A submission for replacement of AN/PRC510 portable radios was submitted to CFHQ. This was substantiated by the age of present equipment, its incompatibility with other portable equipment held, and its requirements for increased quantities of radios.

Remote reading radiacmeters were installed in DCCs on the Wings and in D'Ars and Jury, in the Metz area.