17 Radio Detachment - Torbay, Newfoundland

1943 - Appendix "A" - Daily Diary - National Archives of Canada

SECRET

INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT
No. 17 Detachment
R.C.A.F. STATION TORBAY

16 September 1943

1. COMMANDING OFFICER, ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTRATION AND DISCIPLINE

(this section blank)

2. AIRCRAFT AND EQUIPMENT: (TO APPLY TO STATION MATTERS ONLY)

  1. NA
  2. Service of properly equipped calibration machine requested but not yet available. In the meantime, preliminary calibration is being done with Lysander aircraft from No. 1 Composite Detachment.
  3. Until properly equipped Fighter Aircraft are available, this Detachment cannot work on a fully operational basis.
  4. NA.
  5. Single seater fighters are available but fully equipped two seater fighters are also required to operate with this type of detachment.

3. WORKS AND BUILDINGS:

  1. Contractors' shed is used as Guard House.

    1. This requires re-allocation, wiring, two new windows, heating stove and extra flooring. This work is in hand.
    2. Mounds cause technical interference and part of them are to be levelled out by bull-dozer, but ditch will require to have tile drain covered over with crushed rock before remainder are levelled.
    3. Road from highway to Detachment requires to be dragged and surfaced with gravel and dirt.
    4. Water and consequently heat are not available. Well has been dug and it is understood that pump has been available for installation for over one month. It seems doubtful if water will ever be fit for drinking.
    5. Gas Storage Tank
    6. See separate report regarding Combined Quarters, Nos. 14 and 17 Detachments.
    7. Communications
  2. Fuel Oil Storage Tank needed.

  3. NA.

  4. NA.

  5. NA.

4. STORES (TECHNICAL, CLOTHING AND BARRACK)

  1. Clothing is drawn from Equipment Section, RCAF Station, Torbay.
  2. Arms and Ammunition are drawn from Armament Section, Torbay.
  3. NA.
  4. NA.

5. MOTOR TRANSPORT

This is handled in Combined Quarters Nos. 14 and 17 Detachment Report.

6. MARINE CRAFT

  1. NA.
  2. .A.

7. MESSES, CANTEENS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

See Combined Quarters Nos. 14 and 17 Detachments Report

8. PERSONNEL

  1. Parade State - Appendix "A" attached.
  2. Personnel strength by trades - Appendix "B" attached.
  3. Officers - Nil report attached
  4. WO's, NCO's - Nil report attached.

9. DISCIPLINE

Courts-martial (a) Officers - Nil, (b) Airmen - Nil

10. MEDICAL AND DENTAL ARRANGEMENTS

See Combined Quarters Report

11. GRIEVANCES

12. MESSES AND REGIMENTAL INSTITUTES

NA.

13. LOCAL DEFENSE

  1. Police and other forces for local defense against :-

    Service Police

    Establishment

    Strength

    Sabotage and Ground Defence

    1 Sgt, 2 Cpls, 6 AC Total 9

    Nil

    Air Attack

    Nil

    Nil

  2. General plan of defense. The above establishment covers Operations Site and half the protection of the Combined Quarters which are over two miles apart. The establishment has recently been changed and was previously:-

    Security Guard

    Sergeant

    Corporal

    Acting Cpl

    Total

     

    1

    2

    12

    15

    Security regulations require a roving patrol at the Operations Site at all hours. It is strongly recommended that the minimum strength to protect both Operations Site and furnish half the protection for the Combined Quarters should be:-

    Security Guard

    Sergeant

    Corporal

    Acting Cpl

    Total

     

    1

    3

    8

    12

    1. Three Sten guns at Operations Site.
    2. Three rifles for Combined Quarters protection
  4. In the absence of regular guards and Service Police and non-operational personnel, operations personnel are instructed in use of fire arms at Armament Section, Torbay, and act as guards. As the stations are small, these guards are under constanct supervision of the Officer Commanding and his subordinates.
  5. NA.

14. FIRE HALL AND EQUIPMENT

  1. Fire fighting organization under Fire Fighting Section, Torbay.
  2. Trained fire fighters - Nil
  3. Fire Drill. Three small buildings only in use and equipment not available for regular fire drill.
  4. Hand Equipment installed by Fire Fighting Section, Torbay, and personnel instructed in its use.
  5. Equipment required for small Diesel Building and being installed.
  6. See Combined Quarters report.

15. MANUALS AND PUBLICATIONS

  1. Certificate in duplicate attached.
  2. Statement in duplicate in accordance with Appendix "C" attached.
  3. Summary in duplicate attached
  4. See Combined Quarters report.

16. INSPECTIONS

Kit inspections at RCAF Station, Torbay.
Commanding Officer's Inspection Parade - As continuous watches are maintained, personnel are inspected by watches on reporting for duty.

17. AERODROME CONTROL AND FLYING REGULATIONS

N.A.

18. OPERATIONS AND OPERATIONS ROOM

  1. Detachment is not operational on account of lack of communications and calibration aircraft. Personnel are being trained, instructions and exercises being given to two of the four watches each day. See Para. 2 (b) regarding preliminary calibration being made with Lysander aircraft from No. 1 Composite Detachment.
  2. Organization of sources and channels of information and subsequent action, not applicable at present.
  3. Security. The gate of compound is padlocked and personnel with proper credentials only are permitted to pass through by the roving patrol. The latter conducts properly accredited visitors to operations building where credentials are again checked by senior person on duty. Doors of operations buildings are kept locked. The roving patrol carries Sten gun and there are 2 more Sten guns in Operations building. When regular guard arrives, one of these guns will be transferred to Guard Room. All personnel are being trained to handle them.
    Deviations from establishment. Operations personnel share guard duties with mechanics at this Detachment and flat Rock Combined Quarters. Establishment is 20, Strength 19. One is on farm leave.

19. SERVICE TRAINING

Armament and Anti-gas Training.

  1. Musketry.
    Rifles are not available but men have been instructed to handle them and have fired at RCAF Station, Torbay.
    Revolvers - not available.
  2. Personnel have received instructions from Officer Commanding and NCO's. Training at RCAF Station, Torbay, has been arranged for this month.
  3. Anti-Gas.
    Defense plan - Qualified Anti-gas instructors. Personnel are under RCAF Station, Torbay organization at present.

20. SIGNALS

  1. Yes.
  2. Not yet installed

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