Metz, France

1966 – Annex D to Historical Record
National Archives of Canada

ANNEX D TO HISTORICAL RECORD
1 AIR DIVISION HQ
For the period 1 Jan 66 to 31 Dec 66

OPERATIONS

PART I - POLICY

1966

1 Air Division units at 3 Wing Zweibrucken and 4 Wing Baden Soellingen maintained an operational strike posture and increased their flexibility with the addition of an attack capability. 1 Wing Marville was assigned as a fully operational reconnaisance Wing.

PART II - TACTICAL EVALUATIONS

Tactical Evaluations were completed within the Air Division as follows: 4 Wing, 2 - 4 May; 3 Wing, 9 - 11 May; and 1 Wing, 7 - 8 Jun. All Wings received "1" ratings on these Tac Evals.

PART III - EXERCISES

10 - 24 Jun 66

Tactical Weapons Meet. Selected CF-104 strike aircrew participated in the CINCENT sponsored 5th Tactical Weapons Meet at Chaumont Air Base. The competition is designed to test the proficiency of Fighter Bomber Squadrons in 2 and 4 ATAFs. The Meet was won by 2ATAF this year with a total of 3639 points compared to 3629 for 4 ATAF. F/L Marion RCAF was awarded the trophy for the highest individual score in the strike competition

10 - 12 May 66

Royal Flush XI. The Reconnaisance Wing at Marville participated for the first time in the annual AIRCENT sponsored Reconnaissance competition between 2 and 4 ATAFs. This competition is designed to test the proficiency of Reconnaissance Squadrons. 2 ATAF won this competition with a percentage score of 71.02% compared to 68.95% for 4 ATAF. The outstanding day squadron trophy was won by 3/33 Squadron (EAF).

3 Oct 66

Top Guns. The exercise sponsored by Air Division is designed to provide a bombing competition between the Strike Wings, Squadrons, and individual pilots. The competition was won by 4 Wing with 421 Sqn achieving top points and S/L White 430 Sqn achieving top individual score. Participating pilots were enthusiastic about this competition and future "Top Guns" exercises are planned.

PART IV - RELOCATION

1966

In March of 1966 the French Government announced the withdrawal of their forces from NATO Command effective 1 Jul 66 and requested the removal of other NATO forces from French soil effective 1 Apr 67. This meant the relocation of Air Division Forces at Marville and Metz with a dateline of 1 Apr 67.

20 Jul 66

The Canadian Cabinet made a decision on 20 Jul as to relocation and future posture of the Division. That decision stated:

  1. That 1 Air Division CF-104 operations would be based on the Division's two German bases of Zweibrucken and Baden Soellingen.
  2. That the total squadron CF-104 establishment would be from 105 to 108 aircraft.
  3. That these aircraft would be divided into 6 squadrons.

The above government decision was clarified by CFHQ Direction that the 6 Sqns would be 2 Sqns of 18 a/c in the Recce role and 4 Sqns of 18 a/c in the Strike/Attack role. Following this direction Air Division carried out a survey to determine the feasibility and cost of the two base posture. The results of this survey indicated that the cost would be extremely high and that the FAF base of Lahr might become available as a third German Base for the Division.

Further detailed study of the 3 base plan was carried out and on 29 Aug 66 the Comd 1 Air Division briefed Defence Council on the advantage of this plan. The MND accepted the proposed 3 base posture and received approval from the Cabinet to change the original Cabinet Decision of July.

Planning and preparation for the move were accelerated with the following being the planned new posture and locations effective 1 Apr 67.

  1. 2 Strike/Attack Sqns at 3 Wing
  2. 2 Strike/Attack Sqns at 4 Wing
  3. 2 Recce Sqns at Lahr
  4. 1 ADHQ at Lahr
  5. Transport Airhead at Lahr
  6. Total aircraft UE's to be 108 committed CF-104s with 12 CF-104D's and 10 T-33s for training. 109KU to remain at 7 Dakotas and 1 C130E on continuous deployment from ATC.

Although no physical moves or reductions in the Division's NATO commitment took place in 1966, this decision had a great effect on the activity within the Division in 1966.

PART V - AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

1966

Personnel. SOATC and SOATC-2 positions were occupied by S/L DJ MacLean and F/L JH Hulme respectively throughout the period.

Visits and Conferences. SOATC attended many meetings as the representative of the RCAF during the period. Some of the more important meetings were: Committee European Airspace Co-ordination (NATO), Military Agency for Standardization ATC (NATO), Aviation Co-ordination Commission (Germany), Permanent Military Working Group (Germany). Additional individual meetings were held with French, German, Italian, Greek, Turkish and Belgium National authorities to negotiate bilateral agreements on overflight authorizations and/or airspace delegation.

19 - 22 Nov 66

In later Nov, OSS/Air, W/C French and DOSS/Air 3-2, F/L Stregstra visited 1 Air Division Headquarters and the Wings.

ATC Movements. Air Traffic statistics for the 1 Air Dvision were:

Radar Approaches (GCA)67,399
Total Take-offs and Landings121,181

Projects. A poposal for Air Division ATC officers to attend the radar controller course at RAF Shawburry was staffed with final approval received in Sep. Six officers received training in 1966 with a further 14 slated for 1967.

19 Dec 66

A proposal that the position of SOATC be elevated to that of Wing Commander was staffed and approved.

31 Dec 66

Moselle Control. This unique three nation ATC control organization disbanded on 31 Dec. During its operational tenure, Moselle Control became a model of true NATO co-operation and its forced demise was regretted by all the participants.

PART VI METEOROLOGICAL

1966

Personnel. SOMet position occupied by 97316 W/C W Lewis thru period.

Met-2 position occupied by 77174 F/L P Dillisone thru period.

Visits and Conferences. SOMet attended annual meetings of the AIRCENT and SHAPE Meteorological Committees on 29-31 Mar and 11-13 May. Sub-committee meetings of these groups were attended by SOMet on 18-22 Apr and 12-16 Dec. SOMet attended a conference of all SO's Met at CFHQ on 14-18 Nov.

16 May 66

A conference of Wing Senior Met Officers was held at 1 ADHQ on 16 May.

25 - 29 Sep 66

SOMet visited 4CIBG to discuss Met Support to Canadian Army pilots and arrange for refresher lectures.

Normal staff visits and TAC EVAL visits were conducted to the Wings during the year.

PART VII - NUCLEAR DEFENCE

Jul 66

Personel. In Jul 66, F/L RW Hutton received a List Branch transfer from AS/NDef to Air/P and in Oct was transferred to 109 KU 1 Wing.

F/L CE Taylor was transferred from SU Metz to 1 ADHQ to fill this vacancy.

Oct 66

The Airmen's Trade name was changed to Personnel and Defence Co-ordinator.

May 66

Visits and Conferences. Staff visits were made to all 1 Air Division Units and 4ATAF during the year.

SONucDef attended the NBC Working Party to Military Agency for Standardization (MAS) Conference as the Canadian Forces representative.

Jan 66

An 1 Air Division Nuclear Defence Officers Conference was held at Metz on 20 - 21 Jan 66.

May - Jun 66

Operations. TAC EVALS were held at 1, 3 and 4 Wings during this year. All Wings received a "1" rating.

SONucDef or his representative acted as a NBC Evaluator during 4ATAF TAC EVALS at Bentwater AB, Bitburg AB and a USA Missile Battery.

Jul 66

The 1 Air Division area of responsibility for NBC Reporting was reduced when the DOBs at Rocroi and St Hubert were closed in Jul.

The 1 ADHQ NBCC (RADIC) took part in various exercises throughout the year. These included FALLEX 66 and SLIDERULES.

Training. Spaces on the NATO Weapons and CW/BW Courses at Oberammergau were obtained for 1 Air Division.

Mar 66

Projects. The formation, equipping and training of Ground Search Parties within 1 Air Division was given to SONucDef.

Oct 66

The 1 Air Division Nuclear Defence Policy Manual was rewritten.

Jul 66

Establishment. The establishment of SONucDef was changed as follows:

From: 1 S/L, 1 F/L, 1 Sgt, 1 Cpl
To: 1 S/L, 1 F/L.

Jul 66

Equipment. Steps were taken to have all radioactive sources removed from Air Division and returned to Canada.

User trials on three different types of Gas Masks for Flight Line personnel at the Wings. The trials were conducted at 4 Wing.

Sep 66

The M17(US) Mask was considered most suitable and CFHQ advised that these would be procured.