The following detail has been extracted from the 2 Wing Historical Records:
6 Nov 58
Weather scattered condition. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker arrived at 2 (F) Wing at 1115 hours and was greeted by a flypast of 20 jet aircraft, 8 CF-100s and 12 F-86s from 2 Wing. 109 Comm Flight ferried in the aircrew from other wings to fly out their aircraft. They took off immediately after the Prime Minister finished his tour of the station. Take-offs were completed in 11 minutes.
A/C Wray and G/C Searle greeted the Prime Minister and Mrs. Diefenbaker on their arrival and introduced them to the CO's and their wives of all the Wings and 30 AMB Langar. The composite band was under the direction of Sgt Tipple and the Guard of Honour under F/L Osler. The school children together with many of our dependents and Service personnel were on hand to greet the Prime Minister. The camera fans had a real field day today. The PM was taken on an extensive tour of the station and in the afternoon had tea in the Sgts Mess to which the SWOs and their wives from the other Wings had been invited. In the evening a formal dinner was held in the Officers' Mess. Attached is the Itinerary for the PM's visit and also a list of guests attending the formal dinner. The Prime Minister expressed his pleasure at the termination of his visit and he said he was particularly impressed with the school children. It was felt that the day was a complete success.
ITINERARY
2 (F) Wing, GROSTENQUIN
6 - 7 Nov 1958
THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA
6 Nov 58
0945 hrs
Depart Paris, RCAF C5 aircraft.
The Prime Minister
Mrs. JD Diefenbaker
Mr. Elmer Diefenbaker
Mr. Basil Robinson
Dr. Rynard MP
Mr. JR Nelson (PM's press secretary)
Insp. CJ Sweeney, RCMP
Mr. JR Barker (Adm. Off., External Affairs)
Mr. Guest (PM's private secretary)
Mrs. Marian Wagner (PM's personal secretary)
G/C DL MacWilliam (RCAF escort off.)
Mr. Donald Longchamps (PM's personal steward)
Mr. Donnelly (Canadian Press)
Mr. William Neville (press)
Mr. James Thompson (photographer)
1045 hrs
DAKOTA with press representatives arrives from Paris
DRESS FOR THE DAY: Civilians - business suit (except for dinner) Service - No. 5 Service dress (winter)
1115 hrs
PM's party arrives at 2 (F) Wing, Grostenquin
Met by:
A/V/M Wray (AOC, 1 Air Division)
Mrs. Wray
G/C Searle (CO, 2 Wing)
Mrs. Searle
Mr. Weir (PM's son-in-law)
Mrs. Weir (PM's daughter)
Guard of Honour
Accompanied by: AOC; CO, 2 Wing
Fly Past - RCAF aircraft
1120 hrs
PM and Mrs. Diefenbaker to meet:
Rep. Of Prefect of Moselle
Rep. Comdr. 6 Military Region, French Army
Capt. De Malglaive (French Liaison Officer, French Air Force)
G/C and Mrs. MacDonald (CO, 3 Wing)
G/C and Mrs. Cowan (CO, 30 AMB)
G/C and Mrs. McNair (CO, 4 Wing)
G/C and Mrs. Williams (CO, 1 Wing)
(above introductions by AOC, 1 Air Div)
(Dress: Service officers to wear medals)
Presentation to Mrs. Diefenbaker by Cpl Jean Ober
In attendance: 2 Wing school children and families
PM and Mrs. Diefenbaker to pass in front of school children.
1125 hrs
PM to proceed to Briefing in Ops. Bldg. (Mrs. Diefenbaker to proceed to suite accompanied in same car by Mr and Mrs. Weir and Mrs. Searle)
Remainder of party proceed for refreshments in Station Library where Mrs. Searle will be Hostess assisted by W/C Donning, or to BB 40, per their desires.
(Dress: Service officers to remove medals before briefing)
Cars to Briefing Room
Car No 1
The Prime Minister
A/V/M Wray
G/C Searle
Car No. 2
Mr. Robinson
G/C Williams
G/C MacDonald
Car No. 3
G/C McNair
G/C Cowan
G/C MacWilliam
Cars to Quarters or Library
Car No. 4
Ambassador to France and Mme Dupuy
2 Wing Officer (S/L Bourque)
Car No. 5 (Mercury)
Mrs. Diefenbaker
Mr. and Mrs. Weir
Mrs. Searle
Car No. 6
Mr. E Diefenbaker
Mrs. Wray
2 Wing Officer (W/C Murray)
Car No. 7
Dr. Rynard
Mr. Barker
2 Wing Officer (S/L Campbell)
Car No. 8
Inspector Sweeney
Mr. Nelson
2 Wing Officer (S/L Virr)
Car No. 9
Mr. Guest
Mrs. Wagner
2 Wing Officer (F/L Horton)
Car No. 10
Mrs. MacDonald
Mrs. McNair
2 Wing Officer (F/L Orser)
Car No. 11
Mrs. Williams
Mrs. Cowan
2 Wing Officer (F/L Gleddie)
Press bus
Mr. Nelson
W/C Dodds
Press representatives
1130 hrs
Briefing of PM by Air Div HQ Team
Present:
PM
CO 2 Wing
Mr. Robinson
AOC
G/C MacDonald
G/C Cowan
G/C McNair
G/C Williams
G/C MacWilliam
CO 2 Wing to outline programme for the day to PM at end of Briefing
1200 hrs
PM proceeds to suite (CO 2 Wing to accompany)
AOC, Mr. Robinson and visiting COs proceed to Mess (Allocations of persons to cars will be the same as proceeding to Briefing)
1200 hrs
Briefing of Press Representatives in Ops. Bldg. By Air Div Briefing Team
Present:
Press Representatives
W/C Dodds
1230 hrs
PM's party and other visitors proceed to Officers' Mess
Cocktails
Buffet Luncheon
1300 hrs
Private luncheon for PM and family in suite
1420 hrs
PM to meet F/L Field (4 Wing) and family in suite or nearby.
F/L Field and family to be on call in BB 40 from 1330 to 1430 hrs.
1430 hrs
Tour of station starts from Barrack Block 40
Car No. 1
The Prime Minister
A/V/M Wray
G/C Searle
Car No. 2
Mrs. Diefenbaker
Mrs. Wray
Mrs. Searle
2 Wing Officer (W/C McLeod)
(Car No. 2 will join tour at Mrs. Diefenbaker's wish)
Car No. 3
Ambassador to France and Mme Dupuy
2 Wing Officer (S/L Bourque)
Car No. 4
Mr. Robinson
Mr. Elmer Diefenbaker
2 Wing Officer (W/C Murray)
Car No. 5
Dr. Rynard
Mr. Guest
2 Wing Officer (S/L Campbell)
Car No. 6
Inspector Sweeney
Mr. Barker
2 Wing Officer (S/L Virr)
Press Bus
Mr. Nelson
W/C Dodds
Press Representatives
1435 hrs
Simulated Scramble (15 minutes) at Operational Readiness Point (ORP)
1450 hrs
Proceed to 430 Squadron and 423 Squadron
1505 hrs
PM to view take-off of a Wing of aircraft
1510 hrs
Visit aircraft servicing and Armament Hangar (Tour conducted by W/C Dunning)
1525 hrs
Mrs. Diefenbaker, Mrs. Wray and Mrs. Searle may join tour here.
1527 hrs
Visit High School (15 minutess) (Tour conducted by Principal, Dr. Arnason)
1540 hrs
Visit Wing Hospital (Tour conducted by SMO, F/L Dorman)
1600 hrs
Visit Sergeants' Barracks Block (Tour conducted by WO1 Furnell)
1607 hrs
Visit PX, Magazine Shop and Grocery Store (Tour conducted by F/L Osler)
1620 hrs
Visit Recreation Centre and Skating Rink (Tour conducted by F/O Hasselfelt)
1630 hrs
Tea in Sergeants' Mess
Present:
PM and Mrs. Diefenbaker
Persons on tour
Sgts Mess President and wife (WO2 and Mrs Wright)
Sgts Mess Members and wives
Station Warrant Officers and wives from 1, 2, 3, 4 Wings, 30 AMB and Air Div HQ
1700 hrs(approx)
PM and Mrs. Diefenbaker retire to suite
1845 hrs
Dinner Guests assemble in Officers' Mess Bar to await Receiving Line
(Dress: Civilians - Evening Dress or Dinner Jacket
Service - Mess Dress or Interim Mess Dress
Suggested Ladies' Dress - Evening Gown, long or short)
1850 hrs
CO 2 Wing proceeds to PM's suite
1900 hrs
PM and Mrs. Diefenbaker, Mr. and Mrs. Weir, and G/C Searle arrive at Officers's Mess
Receiving line of:
G/C and Mrs. Searle
PM and Mrs. Diefenbaker
A/V/M and Mrs. Wray
(in that order from door entrance. S/L Gagnon and S/L O'Callaghan to announce guests)
1945 hrs
Formal Dinner
Toasts:
Her Majesty the Queen
The President of the Republic of France
The President of the United States of America
2115 hrs(approx)
Formal Dance
(Mr. and Mrs. Weir depart for Metz)
7 Nov 1958
0700 hrs
Breakfast in Officers' Mess for Visitors
Hour of PM's and Mrs. Diefenbaker's breakfast in suite at their desire.
0810 hrs
Members of PM's party proceed to aircraft from BB 40
Car No. 1
Ambassador to France and Mme Dupuy
Car No. 2
Mr. E Diefenbaker
Mr. Robinson
Dr. Rynard
Car No. 3
Mr. Guest
Inspector Sweeney
Mr. Barker
Car No. 4
G/C MacWilliam
Mr. Donnelly
Mr. Neville
Car No. 5
Mr. Thompson
Mr. Nelson
Mrs. Wagner
Car No. 6
Mr. Longchamps
0835 hrs
AOC and CO 2 Wing, accompanied by Mrs. Wray and Mrs. Searle, proceed to BB 40 to await PM's departure from suite.
0840 hrs
PM and Mrs. Diefenbaker depart for aircraft
Car No. 7
The Prime Minister
Mrs. Diefenbaker
A/V/M Wray
Car No. 8
G/C Searle
Mrs. Wray
Mrs. Searle
0845 hrs
PM and Mrs. Diefenbaker arrive at aircraft (Walk to aircraft to be lined with airmen at the "present" when PM passes)0850 hrs
Depart for Bonn
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Updated: October 24, 2004
