Metz, France

It has been determined that 61 AC&W Squadron became operational on 1 July 1955. With this in mind, it is not difficult to envision 105 RCAF personnel travelling on a cruise ship between Quebec City and Le Harve, France on 11 May 1955. One can only guess as to how many of these military personnel were FCO’s enroute to being the first wave of personnel to staff the radar complex.

Richard Smith was one of these initial FCOs. He indicated that he departed Quebec City on the SS Homeric on 11 May 1955 and he arrived at Le Harve on 17 May 1955.

Those were the days. First you get a transfer to Europe, and then you spend close to a week on a brand new cruise ship (the maiden voyage had taken place on 24 January 1955) traveling to France. It is interesting to note that there are no officer status personnel listed as passengers. Could this indicate that officer status personnel did not travel as "tourist class", or was it a simple case of no officers being shipped to France at that particular time?

It would be five years later (September 1960) before I found myself heading for a five year tour in France. I was young, single, and I was one of the lucky ones that flew to Europe on an RCAF Comet. Then again, when you consider the safety record of the Comet in those days, perhaps I wasn’t so lucky after all. I recall the trip originating in Ottawa, to Gander, to Prestwick and onwards to Marville. Yes indeed – those were the days.