1 Air Division Headquarters

Paris, France - 1 January to 9 April
Metz, France - 13 April onwards


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  1. Christmas dinner at Laurier and Lois Gendron's place. Jack Couillard (far left) and Don Legere (striped tie) - 25 December 1953.
    Courtesy Laurier Gendron.

  2. Christmas dinner at Laurier and Lois Gendron's place. (L-R) Laurier Gendron, Don Leger, unknown, Louise (landlady), Mr Odenthal (Landlord - standing), Rene Lasalle - December 1953.
    Courtesy Laurier Gendron.

  3. Front cover of the Sergeant's Mess Christmas Card - December 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  4. Inside of the Sergeant's Mess Christmas Card - December 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  5. Inside of the Sergeant's Mess Christmas Card - December 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  6. Members of the Sgts Mess. This photo was used for the Sgts Mess Christmas card - December 1953.
    The rest of the story.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  7. Closer image of Sgts Mess Christmas photo - December 1953.
    The rest of the story.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  8. Sgts Mess Christmas dinner. WO2 Johnstone (standing) and WO1 Sandy Carter (to the left of WO2 Johnstone) - December 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  9. Sgts Mess Christmas dinner. (L-R) unknown, unknown, WO1 Carter, WO2 Johnstone, unknown - December 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  10. Sgts Mess Christmas dinner. (L-R) unknown, unknown, WO1 Carter, WO2 Johnstone, unknown - December 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  11. Sgts Mess Christmas dinner. Sgt Fred Ward (right front looking down) - December 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  12. RCAF personnel in front of the Chateau departing with a ladder to pick mistletoe - December 1953.
    (L-R) Al Basque, Audrey Ditmars, Dorothy Lavigne, Stretch MacDonald.
    Courtesy Dorothy Lavigne (now Berry).

  13. RCAF personnel picking misletoe - December 1953.
    (L-R) Al Basque, Dorothy Lavigne, Stretch MacDonald, Audrey Ditmars.
    Courtesy Dorothy Lavigne (now Berry).

  14. RCAF personnel picking misletoe - December 1953.
    (L-R) Al Basque and Dorothy Lavigne.
    Courtesy Dorothy Lavigne (now Berry).

  15. One of these airmen is Sgt Salmon - November 1953.
    Courtesy Dorothy Berry.

  16. The makings of another party - November 1953.
    (L-R) Russ, Dorothy Berry, Dick McLean, Rosalee Spiers.
    Courtesy Dorothy Berry.

  17. (L-R) Norm Caulfield, unknown, Don Dobbie - November 1953.
    Courtesy Dorothy Berry.

  18. Halloween Dance - October 1953.
    Care to try and count the empty bottles?
    Courtesy Dorothy Berry.

  19. MP "Max Marx" at an unidentified location - October 1953.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  20. An evening party on the balcony at the Chateau - September 1953.
    (L-R) George R, unidentified girl, Al Pigeon, unidentified girl.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  21. (L-R) LAC Gil Gaudry, unknown - September 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  22. LAC Gil Gaudry - September 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  23. (L-R) unknown, Ross, Rae Buttler, Rick Young, Bob Massicotte, Sgt Fred Ward, Evelyn Johnstone, Diane Johnstone, "Gabby" - September 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  24. (L-R) unknown, Diane Johnstone, Norm Caulfield, Evelyn Johnstone - September 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  25. Aerial view of 1 Air Division - 26 August 1953.
    Courtesy Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre PL-134327.

  26. RCAF airwomen posted to Europe - 26 August 1953.
    Newspaper clipping from the Ottawa Journal.
    Courtesy Lois Nesbitt (now Buchanan).

  27. We're on our way - August 1953.
    (L-R) Mac, Dusty, Ruth and I at Lachine on the morning we left Canada for Europe.
    Courtesy Lois Nesbitt (now Buchanan).

  28. Pete Broda looking out from inside the Chateau where we worked - August 1953.
    The Communications section, switchboard, message centre and crypto room were all located in the basement of the Chateau at this time. The relay received messages from 2, 3, and 4 Wings which were then passed on to Stanbridge England, and in turn relayed to Canada.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  29. Looking from inside the Chateau towards the ball field - August 1953.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  30. Looking from inside the Chateau towards the ball field - August 1953.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  31. Ball game in progress - August 1953.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  32. Ball game in progress - August 1953.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  33. (L-R) Diane Johnstone and Norm Caulfield - August 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  34. LAC Gabby was a champion diver - August 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  35. (L-R) LAC Bob Massicotte, LAC Rick Young, WO2 Jim Johnstone - August 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  36. (L-R) The Johnstones: Diane, Evelyn and Jim with Rick Young - August 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  37. Our 1951 green Nash. (L-R) LAC Bob Massicottie, Rae Butler, Diane Johnstone and Jack Penner - August 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  38. Unidentified personnel from the STSO Section - July 1953.
    Courtesy Dorothy Berry.

  39. Fun at the beach. (L-R) LAC Gil Gaudry, Diane Johnstone, "Dobbins" - July 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  40. Front view of the 1 Air Division Heaadquarters building - 9 June 1953.
    Courtesy Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre PL-80856.

  41. LAC Rick Young worked in the ME Section - June 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  42. WO2 Jim Johnstone with wife Evelyn and daughter Diane - June 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  43. The barrier at the front gate to Air Divison HQ. Note that the connecting road to the highway (Route D955) is still gravel - June 1953.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  44. Reg ? by the barrier at the main gate - June 1953.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  45. Unidentified airman standing by the barrier at the main gate - June 1953.
    Courtesy Skip McKimm.

  46. (L-R) LAC Gabby ?, LAC Rick Young - June 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  47. The "guard house" at the main gate - May 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  48. Front view of the Chateau de Mercy - May 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  49. View of the front of the Chateau de Mercy as seen from the ME Section - May 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  50. View of the back of the Chateau de Mercy as seen from the perimeter road - May 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  51. Minister of National Defence Brooke Claxton - 22 April 1953.
    Standing on the steps of the 1 Air Division Headquarters building.
    Courtesy Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre PL-80152A.

  52. Front cover of an International Drivers Licence - 10 April 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  53. International Drivers Licence, page 2 - 10 April 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  54. International Drivers Licence, page 3 - 10 April 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  55. International Drivers Licence, page 36 - 10 April 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  56. Sgts wives at an Easter Bonnet Parade. (L-R) unknown, unknown, Wanda Fraser, Evelyne Johnstone, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown - April 1953.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  57. Assorted photos of Metz and the local area - 1953.
    Courtesy As Indicated.


Photographic Credits

All photos are used with permission.

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Updated: January 20, 2005