DAILY DIARY
14 RADIO DETACHMENT - TORBAY (ST. JOHN'S), NEWFOUNDLAND.
March 1, 1944 TO October 5, 1944
1 Mar 44
Weather - Fog and rain. Moderate Northerly winds. The pre-amplifier unit was installed as directed by SRO. E.2/17 dated 6 Dec 43. It increased the reception of the permanent echoes by almost 100% but there was not sufficient activity to properly compare it on aircraft reception. Only 15 aircraft tracks with an avreage maximum range of 84.6 miles.
2 Mar 44
Weather - Fog and sleet. Moderate N to NE winds becoming strong at night. The bad weather prevented any flying. Icing conditions on the aerials was severe all day. It was necessary to remove ice from the aerial dipoles and reflector screens three times during the day. At 1530 hrs. the power line to the domestic site snapped under the weight of the accumulation of ice and broke about 1/2 miles from the camp site. At 1930 repairs had been completed and the third Diesel was restarted to supply the Domestic site. Also, due to the weight of the ice, the aerial feeders of the AT3 transmitter broke but repairs were effected immediately. There were no aircraft all day.
3 Mar 44
Weather - Fog and rain. High NE winds shifting to W with snow. The aerials became iced twice during the day and this was removed. A broken feeder clip on the lower array was repaired. Valve 49 in the Receiver (Unit #17) was replaced when the percent meter reading dropped from 120 to 8. Reception was greatly improved. Three aircraft tracks, with an average maximum range of 77.6 miles.
4 Mar 44
Weather - Snow and sleet. Very strong N to NW winds. While on restricted operation due to high winds, with the aerial drifting between 80º and 100º, an aircraft was picked up at 40 miles at a bearing of 92º. This is directly out to sea and the aircraft was plotted to 244 miles on approximately the same bearing as when it was picked up. There were 46 plots passed in to Filter during the 53 minutes of plotting on it. The length of track was 210 miles. The range of 244 miles set a new record for this station and it is believed, for all Canadian C.H.L. Stations. The Station was on restricted operations for 5 hrs. and 15 min. The upper transmitter and receiver spark-gaps were replaced and also one Thyratron wall fuse. The high tension on the AT3 transmitter tripped at intervals due to the change in aerial loading caused by the ice, but R/T reception was fair. Radar reception wa excellent, although there was little activity. Aircraft tracks - 6. Maximum range - 244 miles. Average maximum range - 102.7 miles.
27 May 44
Oscillator valves in transmitter changed to improve operation. After Transmitter, Receiver and Pre amp. tuned, decided improvement noticed. However only 15 KV would trip overload relays. Spark Gaps and hold contacts were examined but at 2100 hours 18KV was maximum plate voltage attainable.
28 May 44
Weather - Cloudy with rain all day. Light W to SW winds. Fair amount of activity - 49 tracks plotted, maximum range of 153 miles, average maximum of 101.9 miles. Still some trouble with Transmitter due to arcing at base of Oscillator valves. However, when cured, H/T was then run up to 25 KV with no trouble. During Daily Maintenance 3 dielectric windows were replaced. R/T reception fair, with heavy interference at nite.
29 May 44
Weather - Cloudy and dull in morning, clearing for midday, and clouding up towards evening. Moderate N to W winds. Activity fair - 81 tracks plotted, maximum range of 153 miles, average maximum of 74.4 miles. Daily maintenance satisfactorily carried out. R/T reception good, heavy interference at night.
30 May 44
Weather - Clear with moderate NW winds. Activity good, with long tracks from NW to SE during early morning, local tracks increasing during day. 74 tracks were plotted with one track of 282 miles length. Both R/T and Radar reception good. From 1430 - 1445 telephone crew from 1 LMU were working in Receiver Room, with equipment covered.
31 May 44
Weather - Cloudy, with rain. Moderate W winds. Activity heavy during early morning and late evening shifts, not so much during day. 79 tracks were plotted with average maximum of 106.9 miles, highest since 1 April. Radar and R/T reception both good, considering weather. For past 10 days a total of 722 tracks were plotted and for May a total of 1946, by far the largest number of tracks ever plotted for one month by this station. On the whole,operation very good, perhaps consistent with excellent weather.
1 Oct 44
Weather - Overcast, light fog and occasional showers. F/L Jones, Protestant Padre, conducted service at the Detachment. The civilian barber does a brisk trade in the canteen. Signals in informing us that #4 DPO will dismantle #17 Det. equipment, and that F/L JF Macmillan (C6541), F/O RE Brooks (C29951) and F/O FA Allum (C28425) are members of a board to recommend disposal of #17 Det. documents. Radar reception good all day but activity very slight.
2 Oct 44
Weather - Overcast with heavy mist. Five chefs, four GD's, one MMMT and one PT&DI posted from #17 to #14 Det. to maintain domestic site when #17 closes. Sgt Pfeifer J and LAC Milligan, JE visited the Detachment from Torbay Station on fire inspection. Amendment to establishment changes name of Detachment to #17 Radio Unit. Radar Operations normal, reception good, fuses blowing due to extra load imposed by the RH Equipment.
3 Oct 44
Weather - Still overcast with scattered showers. #17 RU officially off the air since 30 Sept., guard watch maintained and power house operating. F/O RE Brooks checking #14 RU secret inventory preparatory to taking it over, as indications are that F/O R.W. Gush (C29955) will not return. Quarterly overhaul party due soon, #17 RU to be omitted from their schedule. Heavy winds cause #14 RU to go on restricted operations for most of the day. Some trouble with rain entering the coupling unit. Caulking is attempted but results will not be known until next rainstorm.
4 Oct 44
Weather - Clear with strong winds. EAC signal requests names of all #17 personnel available for posting. Establishment of #17 RU cancelled entirely. No. 14 RU still on restricted operations due to high wind, reception poor, R/H equipment acting up with no definite fault located. Cold enlugh to start fire in furnace at the Operations Site.
5 Oct 44
Weather - Bright clear day. Advised by signal that all #17 Personnel except the officers are posted to #14 Radio Unit effective 30 September. Also advised that #17 Personnel are to pack up and prepare for shipment all radar equipment. F/O RW Gush (C29955) returns on a visit from Cape St. Brides. Radar reception poor until pre-amplifier is tuned. Extra maintenance taken to tighten ring gear bolts. A switch to automatically set the azimuth on the PPI is installed but results are not very satisfactory as yet. Extra operators from #17 now working shifts at #14 to allow overdue passes to be taken
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Updated: April 3, 2003