Moisie, QC

1962 – Historical Narrative – National Archives of Canada


Historical Narrative
RCAF Station Moisie, PQ
1 Jun 62 to 30 Nov 62

13 Jun 62

56137 F/O GHO Damm Tech/CE assumed position of SCEO replacing F/L D Knowles. STM 306. Battle Staff exercise with heavy invader problem. NNR wide exercise.

19 Jun 62

2664 WO1 CM Smith, AFHQ visited CE Section.

20 Jun 62

STM 666. Bi-region exercise with FNS and MNS involved. Battle staff with heavy invader problem.

21 Jun 62

Tactical Evaluation (G). Eight intercepts with USAF fighters which are entered under "Practice Live" below, resulting in five MA, one cancelled and one MI due to poor target pick up. Two diesel engines in new power plant functioning. Installation carried out by Argo Construction Co.

7-8, 22 Jun 62

Drumstick exercises (synthetic) with the SIF simulator. Other ECM activity was included in Shock Wave 5/Big Blast Mission and Western Ranger.

27 Jun 62

STM 661. Bi-region exercise with FNS and MNS again. Battle staff with moderate invader problem.

28 – 29 Jun 62

Shock Wave 5/Big Blast Mission. Major live exercise with Battle Staff, involving tactical action on Big Blast Mission only, resulting in two MA and one MI due to air environment. ECM was moderate with condition two attained, mostly mechanical jamming. Surveillance picture was very good.

30 Jun 62

Western Ranger. Non-battle staff. RAE Valiant jamming FPS-502 proving quite effective as no pick up on this equipment was possible. Condition three on Sierra band for approximately 20 minutes. Summary of Operations for June: Total Intercepts were:

Practice live

14

Fakers

3

Synthetics

105

Surveillance activity: Total tracks identified were approximately 2950. Unknowns: Two tracks were detected in Scabbard’s area, E503 and E584, which they were carrying as unknowns, but were IDFR before entering Crowbar’s area.

1 Jul 62

Promotions of 13086 Sgt. HP Large, ClkEng, and 40368 Sgt. AH Abbott, Discip, to the rank of FS announced.

3 Jul 62

30207 S/L E Lee, ADCHQ/Telecom arrived on temporary duty for the purpose of discussing radar maintenance.

5 Jul 62

17244 F/O GR Taylor, Pers/Adm, assumed position of Personnel Administrative Officer, replacing 27795 F/O R Orieux, Pers/Adm.

4, 11, 18 Jul 62

STMs 22, 32, and 29 respectively. Primary battle staff exercises with FNS. Moderate invader problems.

4, 24 Jul 62

Western Ranger ECM exercise. Non-battle staff. RAF Valiant 216 completely obliterated FPS-502 with ECM. Tracing and reporting done mostly by DRs throughout jamming period. AJ circuits were employed on FPS-6 with good results as indicated on technical report.

6 Jul 62

Exercise Groundhog held at Station Moisie. Purpose of the 4 hour exercise was to test the PMQ shelter organization and to provide dependents an opportunity to participate and to become familiar with alert procedures.

9 Jul 62

ADCHQ advised that final painting of 211 AC&W Squadron crest being prepared. This signalled the end of 3 years work in producing a suitable unit emblem. Unit motto is "Si Invisum, non Invisum" meaning, if it is an enemy, it won’t (or musn’t) go unspotted. 76479 F/O R Kellet, ADCHQ SOAF, visited unit to carry out SOAF cash count. 47124 WO2 HR Gibbon, ADCHQ SOMS, visited unit on inspection of sanitation services.

11, 18, 20, 27 Jul 62

SIF simulator exercises with Drumstick. Provided good training of personnel with Drumstick procedures.

13 Jul 62

Shock Wave 6 – one of two major live exercises during month. Battle Staff involving tactical action from this unit, resulting in two MAs and one MI due to target tactics – target changed heading in unit’s PEs which put Ftr 30º cold (ground environment). Surveillance picture was clear and good.

20 Jul 62

FPS-27 tower accepted by RCAF. Red Cross Blood bank at Unit. 106 station personnel gave donations.

27 Jul 62

52747W F/O MM Munn, Med/Nurs, Stn Bagotville, reported on TD. F/O Munn was replacement for F/O D Janega, as Matron, who was hospitalized in St. Hubert.

31 Jul 62

Coldwind 39. Major live exercise. Battle staff exercise with very limited tactical action at this unit. Only two fighters allotted to XC, F-101B from Bangor which was not committed and one F-106 from Bangor committed, which resulted in one MI due to pilot error according to XC, although FIS claims MI due to GCI personnel error. (Full narrative report given on Stats 2060 for Jul). Although tracking continuity was good, pick up was poor, and some tracks were DRd practically throughout the sub-sector. Summary of Operations for July:

Practice live

6

Fakers

4

Synthetics

78

Surveillance activity: Total tracks identified were approximately 3374. Unknowns: One unknown was carried by XC this month. X412 on 16 Jul initially picked up in Scabbards area. Aircraft was one T-33 on routine flight. Pilot claims DVFR flight plans was filed out of BG, Crowbar did not have light plan at time of identification. Aircraft was IDRd by controller with SIF and Identification turns.

1, 2, 14, 22, 24, 29 Aug 62

SIF Simulator exercises with Drumstick. Provided good training of personnel with Drumstick procedures.

1, 28 Aug 62

STM and 23 respectively. Primary Battle Staff exercises with FNS. Fairly heavy invader problems.

4 Aug 62

Favoured with excellent weather, RCAF Station Moisie hosted some 12,000 local residents at the annual Air Force Day display at the Seven Islands airport. Flying displays were carried out by MAC patrol and rescue aircraft, ADC fighters, and ATC transports. Highlights of the day was the precision flying of the Golden Hawks. Several static displays were also provided. Invited guests were entertained later in the evening in the various institutes and messes on the station.

8 Aug 62

33483 F/L PB Apperley, COpsO, assumed temporary command of the unit during the absence of 12265 S/L LG McAllister.

10 Aug 62

Apache Jewel/BBM. Major live exercise. Battle staff involving tactical action, resulting in three MAs on three attempts employing CF-101Bs from Bagotville as fighters. Very good training exercise. Surveillance picture was clear and good.

15, 23 Aug 62

Bone Yard demonstration. Very good training exercises involving different types of jamming. Condition 3 on Lima band and Sierra band throughout most of the exercises.

16 Aug 62

Mr. Grieco, AMC tech representative, arrived for handover/acceptance of FPS-6.

21 Aug 62

STM 605. Desk Top 5 with primary Battle Staff. NORAD Wide with very heavy invader problem (due to the overlay presentation on all new problems, i.e. 605, 664, 665, etc, has been found very difficult to construct and present a proper TOR debriefing).

23 Aug 62

Team comprised of US officers from Bangor Sector visited Station Moisie. The group was headed by Col. Doss, USAF, Sector Commander.

25 Aug 62

Western Ranger – ECM exercise. Effectively jamming FPS-502. Tracking done mostly by Dr. RAF Valiant was not seen at "Traffic Available Time" as indicated on Stats 2065.

28 Aug 62

Coldwind 40 – Major live exercise. Battle staff with tactical action at this unit. Four MAs and one MI attributed to air environment/safety. Surveillance picture was clear and good. 38992 F/L AN Hammond, 25236 FS JG Mayer, ADCHQ arrived for Supply inspection.

29 Aug 62

STM 666. Bi-region exercise with battle staff. Heavy invader problems.

30 Aug 62

12265 S/L LG McAllister resumes command of station.

31 Aug 62

26128 FS Theroux Seng, 17136 Sgt. G Simmons, PPOp, and 14832 Cpl. DK Quesnel Radar Tech, awarded Canadian Forces Decoration. Summary of Operations for August: Total intercepts:

Practice live

11

Fakers

9

Synthetics

46

Surveillance activity: Total tracks identified were approximately 3040. Unknowns: Two unknowns during exercise Cold Wind 40 X 426 and E589 with no flight plans. X426 originating SW of ZV and tracked into Midwife’s area where it was then identified IDFR. E589 was IDFR by Scabbard.

2 Sep 62

Skyshield III, Major live exercise. NORAD wide exercise with Senior Battle Staff involving no tactical action at this unit since all desirable targets were declared unsafe. Surveillance picture was moderately good. Although tracking continuity was up to par, identification criteria was not met on three tracks. Ident section exceeded the two minute limit on these due to poor correlation with overlays. Tracks were off in correlation just enough to raise some doubts as to their identity creating a situation where double checking, communication wise, was necessary.

5, 6, 12, 19, 21, 26 Sep 62

SIF simulator exercises with Drumstick. Very little comment can be made other than these provided good familiarization of personnel with Drumstick procedures. Training value - nil.

8 Sep 62

Western Ranger. ECM exercise. Involved no ECM as jammer was unserviceable.

15 Sep 62

211 AC&W Squadron Moisie now under operational control of Bangor NORAD Sector vice Fredericton Sector.

16 Sep 62

Battle of Britain parade held in Seven Islands. Brief wreath laying ceremony followed by parade of RCAF personnel to church services.

21 Sep 62

STM 604. Battle Staff exercise with Bangor NORAD Sector. Heavy invader problem.

22 Sep 62

Station Moisie Soccer team won Quebec regional play downs. The team is to represent region in Tri-Service Dominion wide finals at Esquimalt.

24 Sep 62

13214 FS LR Bowie, 21404 WO1 JA McDougall, 13450 WO2 FW Churcott, 20581 WO2 VCM Hooker, 12643 F/O J Beattie, ADCHQ made annual inspection of CE facilities.

25 Sep 62

STM 605. Battle staff bi-regional exercise with heavy invader problem. For short period during exercise, complete loss of communications with Bangor occurred resulting in delayed handover of fighters at the time. Direct line from duty director to Bangor senior weapons director not being used effectively as in comparison with previous STPs under Fredericton Sector.

27 Sep 62

Boneyard demonstration. Good training exercise providing condition 3 on spot and sweep jamming covering both Lima and Sierra band. Nil ECCM measures taken on FPS-3, FPS-6 ECCM fixes were taken giving good results as shown on technical reports. Summary of Operations for September: Total intercepts:

Practice live

29

Faker

Nil

Surveillance activity: Total tracks identified were approximately 2682. Unknowns: One unknown affected this unit for Sep. M621E although carried in Scabbard’s area involved this unit since it was initially detected by Crowbar. Cross relay of information with Scabbard in conjunction with Bangor resulted in track IDFR as one CF-100 (BY52). No flight plan data was available at the time of initial ident.

1 Oct 62

13086 FS HP Large assumes position of Mayor of Massey Park, elected after strenuous and of times humorous campaign. Unit establishment amended by the deletion of the CAdO position. PAdO position upgraded to F/L from F/O. Station Moisie Soccer Team winners of QRA finals, travelled to HMCS Esquimalt to participate in Tri-Service Playoffs for Pearkes Trophy. Team was knocked out in first round. Also defeated in consolation round. Promotions announced for following: 49477 LAC AA Poikkamaki MSEOp to Cpl., 16920 Cpl. JM Pickard, Photo, to Sgt., 17136 Sgt. G Simmons to FS.

2 Oct 62

Work on relocation of Tower 4 (FPS-6) started.

4, 5 Oct 62

Big Blast Kilo. The only major live exercise in Oct. A NNR wide exercise with primary battle staff. Successful tactical action at this unit with three MAs out of four attempts. One MI attributed to air environment (AEF). Surveillance picture was very good. No difficulties encountered in tracking, reporting or identification.

3, 10 Oct 62

ECM Exercises – Boneyard demonstration. Exercises "Big Blast Kilo" and Tac Eval (G) (17 Oct ) presented no ECM at this unit other than occasional chaffed drops. Boneyard exercises provided ECM on Sierra band only, which was strictly for training of personnel with ECCM techniques on the HRI.

3, 4, 10, 24, 25 Oct 62

SIF Simulator Exercises with Drumstick. These provided familiarization with Drumstick procedures. No other comments.

12 Oct 62

STM 605. Primary battle staff exercise with heavy invader problem. NNR wide.

14 Oct 62

Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps "Jacques Cartier" from Seven Islands visited unit. Given tour of station, including the operations, and had explained to them the role of the unit. They later took part in sports activities in the Station swimming pool and gymnasium.

15 Oct 62

202363 F/L J Birch, 201511 F/L AD McLeod, 24291 F/L J Jewitt and 10109 S/L HA Pattinson ADCHQ, arrived to carry out tactical evaluation of 211 AC&W Squadron. Unit passed, with the honour of having achieved the best results that have ever been recorded during an evaluation of this nature.

17 Oct 62

Tac Eval (G) exercise. Three Boneyard aircraft employed as fakers (CF-100) with two attempts resulting in two MAs. Surveillance picture was fair with ident criteria not met on one target (P456). Track was initially make unknown by ident section within the two minute limit from establishment, upon confirmation that it was off in lateral correlation. Later determined by the Tac Eval (G) personnel that P456 was the correct target (BY12) and was reclassified faker. No relevant explanation could be determined as to why target was off in the correlation check.

19 Oct 62

STM 604. Primary battle staff with heavy invader problem. Sector wide. No other problems encountered with either 605 or 604.

9, 23 Oct 62

45318 Cpl. L Dauphinee MSEOp, 48753 Sgt. BJ Hatcher AFP, and 220715 Cpl. HM Steeves, FtrCop awarded Canadian Forces Decoration. 21156 WO2 MOS Hill TelMSupt (G) awarded first clasp to CD.

24 Oct 62

STM 22. Non battle staff problem, surveillance problem with manual sites. No invaders or tactical action involved. Unit placed on Defence Condition Three. Measures taken to increase security vigilance. This advanced state of alert caused by Cuban crisis.

26 Oct 62

SAGE Annex and GATR buildings completed and accepted on behalf of the RCAF by Mr. JA MacPherson, AFHQ. Summary of Operations for October: Total intercepts were:

Practice live

13

Fakers

6

Synthetics

42

Surveillance activity: Total tracks identified were approximately 2465. Unknown: Four unknowns for this unit in Oct. P406 on 4 Oct. Track was off correlation according to original flight plan. Late revision was received which confirmed identity of track. P456 and P403 on 16 Oct. One occurred during Tac Eval (G) exercises which was off in lateral correlation. No reason given why the target was off its proper flight path. P433 on 29 Oct was also in lateral correlation. Emergencies: Y345 and Y406 on 17 Oct. Although no actual emergency was declared, first aircraft was low on fuel and developed fumes in cockpit. Second aircraft had no radio. Both were B-47s and requested escort back to home base at Loring AFB.

7 Nov 62

21156 WO2 MOS Hill was attacked by an owl as he was leaving the Sgts. Mess. The incident received much publicity, in newspapers across the country. AFP managed to trap the bird the following day in the woods near the PMQs and were able to shoot it. Injuries were received about the face and neck caused by the birds talons.

5 Nov 62

Captain W Sugars, RCDC, St Hubert arrived to carry out dental work at this unit.

8, 20 Nov 62

Boneyard demonstrations. These exercises were used primarily to evaluate the new OA 2325 installation on the FPS 6 height finder. The ECCM techniques used such as Dickie fix receiver proved very effective against sweep jamming, although the log receiver did not come up to expectations against CW spot jamming which it is designed to combat.

11 Nov 62

A squadron of two flights of RCAF personnel participated in Remembrance Day ceremonies in Seven Islands. The Commanding Officer laid a wreath at the cenotaph and also took the salute on the march past.

16, 21 Nov 62

STMs 605 and 402. Primary battle staff tri-region exercises with heavy invader problems. STM 402 was scripted from this unit since T2 was unserviceable at the time.

20 Nov 62

FST-2 equipment delivered on site.

21 Nov 62

S/L DV Kyle, S/L JJ Dent, F/L WA Johnston, F/O T Heinmaa and WO2 KJ Falconer of AFHQ, S/L JW Johnston, S/L EW McConnell, F/O LA Kaeding, F/O JL Beattie, and WO2 FN Churcott of ADCHQ visited the unit to evaluate CE responsibilities for electrical mechanical maintenance of telecom equipment.

28 Nov 62

STM 23. Surveillance problem only. Carried out with units within the sector. Unit returned to Defence Condition Five.

29 Nov 62

Apache Leader., Major live exercise. ADC/USAF Tri-Region exercise with primary battle staff. Tactical action at this unit was successful with four MAs out of six attempts. Remaining two were "break-off". Surveillance activity was very good with no problems encountered. Summary of Operations for November: Total intercepts were:

Practice live

89

Fakers

14

Synthetic

38

Surveillance activity: Total tracks identified were approximately 2998. Unknowns: NIL. Emergencies: NIL.