DAILY DIARY
17 RADIO DETACHMENT - TORBAY, NEWFOUNDLAND.
(Including Combined Quarters of Nos. 14 and 17 Radio Detachments)
September 1, 1943 to December 4, 1943
1 Sep 43
Operations: Although preparation of sites was started in the last week of December, 1942, and the first personel arrived early in May, 1943 and occupied the almost completed Operational Buildings in June, 1943, owing to complete lack of communications and calibration, Detachment was not operational prior to and during the month of September, so that any work was in the nature of installation, maintenance, training and practice exercises. Plumbing was not completed so that it was necessary to bring in water daily by truck, and use outside toilet. Heat was obtainable from a small portable electric heater although equipment gave some heat when operating. Personnel were quartered at RCAF Station, Torbay, which occasioned considerable delay and inconvenience in transporting them and also made it necessary to have longer watches (three each 24 hours). Each watch had one meal on duty, rations being brought from Torbay Station and cooked on small gasoline stove in contractor's shed that had been taken over for use as a guard house. In the absence of regular guards, guard duty had to be performed by operational personnel (mechanics and operators). These conditions continued throughout September. Turning motor became unserviceable on this date. Usual operator training classes and exercises this and every day throughout month, except Sundays.
Quarters: Usual guard at quarters. The contractors ceased construction work on 31st July as it had been decided that the RCAF would complete the work. As security guard and service police had not been available to guard the quarters, a guard of three men (operators and mechanics) from Nos. 17 and 14 Detachments had been maintained there throughout August and this continued throughout September. A Wardmaster, Sgt. Wilde, was placed in charge of the quarters and guard. All four men were quartered in the Contractors' building, which was the only one that had heat and water in it. The water was contained in a 200 gallon tank with a tap on it. This tank was filled at fairly regular intervals by an army water truck, through the courtesy of the local Canadian Army authorities. The guard was changed daily and both guard and quarters were inspected daily by the OC of No. 17 Detachment, F/L TM Webster C2668 or, in his absence, by the OC of No. 14 Detachment, P/O FG Ascah C26428 or the Radio Officer of No. 17 Detchment P/O KE Vavasour C10484.
2 Sep 43
Operations: Review of trade test questions by OC.
3 Sep 43
Operations: Review of trade test questions by OC.
Quarters: Party from Operations Site cleaning up grounds.
4 Sep 43
Quarters: Party from Operations Site cleaning up grounds.
5 Sep 43
Operations: Turning motor still unserviceable.
6 Sep 43
Construction work at site and quarters resumed by arrival of one civilian carpenter and helper.
7 Sep 43
Quarters: YMCA Secretaries, Herbert A Morton from St. Johns and Robert H Low from Torbay Station came to inspect facilities for outdoor sports. Phone call to Torbay Station on only available (party) line took one hour to complete.
Operations: F/O BE Leighton, Acting Group Radio Officer, visited Detachment.
8 Sep 43
Operations: General outside cleanup, including windows.
9 Sep 43
Operations: Turning Motor again serviceable, but high winds prevented operation.
10 Sep 43
Operations: First calibration flight, by Lysander from No. 1 Composite Detachment, Torbay. Bulldozer arrived to flatten mounds. No voltage from No. 2 Diesel - changed to No. 1 CHL plotting resumed.
11 Sep 43
Operations: R67135 Cpl. Abram DH Diesel Fitter reported from Scoudouc, NB to check Diesels.
12 Sep 43
Operations: 17 miles plot on SV.
13 Sep 43
Operations: One operator reported.
14Sep 43
Operations: Second calibration flight (Lysander)
15 Sep 43
Operations: Squadron Leader DF Manders, Command Radio Officer, accompanied by F/O DE Bunyan, new Acting Group Radio Officer, visited Detachment. Third calibration flight (Lysander).
16 Sep 43
Operations: One operator reported for duty.
17 Sep 43
Operations: Fourth calibration flight (Lysander).
18 Sep 43
Operations & Quarters: F/L LJ Bishop, C2963, Command Fire Marshall, visited both places. The two carpenters came from quarters to do some work at the Detachment and continued to work between the two places from this time on, also doing some work at No. 14 Detachment.
19 Sep 43 Operations: Carpenter and helper started to prepare guard house for removal to better (North) site in compound with aid of Detachment personnel. 20 Sep 43 Operations: P/O RW Huggett, RAF 145922, Personnel Officer from Command Headquarters, visited Detachment. 21 Sep 43 Quarters: F/S Parkinson from Works & Buildings, Torbay Station, inspected boilers and furnaces. 22 Sep 43 Quarters: Lumber arrived from Works & Buildings, Torbay Station. Operations: F/L CM Smith, RDF Officer and F/O GH Saunders, Signals Officer both from Torbay Station, accompanied by F/O Bunyan, Acting Group Radio Officer, visited Detachment. Cleaning grounds. A second controller, F/L WG Hughes, C6576, reported for duty. 23 Sep 43 Quarters: More lumber arrived from Torbay. Operations: R214531, Sgt. Pitts, WW, Diesel Fitter, reported for duty. 24 Sep 43 Quarters: Mr. EA Day, Canadian Dept. of Transport, paid a visit to check boundaries. 25 Sep 43 Operations: Bulldozer bogged down whilst flattening mounds. Deputy Inspector General arrived at Torbay Station. Although Detachment had not been asked for report, detailed reports were prepared both for Operations and Quarters. These reports were not accepted on behalf of the Inspector General, as it was considered that the Station and Unit reports that had been requested would suffice. Copies of reports Appendix "A". 26 Sep 43 Operations: Installation of Emergency HF Set commenced. 27 Sep 43 The first non-operational man, R72231, Cpl. Collis, W, Equipment Assistant, reported for Duty and was placed in the temporary office in the Administration Building at Torbay Station. 28 Sep 43 Operations: Installation of HF Set proceeding. RCAF Station, Torbay, was on parade this day for inspection by the Deputy Inspector General, Nos. 14 and 17 Detachment and No. 20 Sub Equipment Depot forming No. 5 Squadron on the parade, and in the absence of S/L McKinnon of No. 20 Sub-Equipment who was sick, F/L Webster acted as OC. The Deputy Inspector General expressed satisfaction at the appearance of this No. 5 (Parade) Squadron. 29 Sep 43 Operations: F/O Peter, PF, Radio Officer from No. 19 Detachment, arrived on Temporary Duty at this and No. 14 Detachments. 30 Sep 43 Operations: Three operators arrived. (T.M. Webster) F/L (No. 17 Radio Detachment) 1 Oct 43 Quarters: Hot Air Furnaces lighted in Airmen's Barrack Block and Kitchen Range under supervision of Works & Buildings NCO from Torbay Station. Coal delivered to bins from same source. Operations: Instruction and exercises for Operators this and each subsequent day in month, average periods totalling 3 hours daily. Two watches participate for 1 1/2 hours each day, so that for the whole 4 watches the daily average is 3/4 hour. Personnel are showing a great improvement in knowledge of GCI Operators duties. It should be noted that the work is more complicated than in a fully equipped GCI with proper communications and sources of information. For example, as Fighter Sector is not in operation, weather information has to be obtained direct from Meterorological Section, Torbay; first light, sunrise, etc have to be figured from Air Almanack; arrangements with Fighter Squadron have to be made direct. In addition, some of the navigation instruments have to be borrowed or made at the Detachment. These conditions necessitate extra work and improvision but on the other hand they afford extra training and should make the personnel better able to work anywhere under handicaps and adverse conditions. Mechanics arrive at the Detachment more trained in their work so that regular classes are not necessary for them. In their case it is estimated that training occupies about one hour per day, or 30 minutes per watch. F/O PF Peter Radio Officer, No. 19 Radio Detachment arrived on temporary duty for technical check. 2 Oct 43 Quarters: NCO from Torbay Station checking furnaces. 3 Oct 43 Quarters: NCO from Works & Buildings, Torbay Station checking furnaces. On this date the Hospital Assistant (Wardmaster) Sergeant took over the work of running the furnaces with the aid of the guard. 4 Oct 43 Quarters: NCO from Works & Buildings, Torbay Station oiled and greased Hot Air Unit. 13 double tier beds delivered to Airmen's Barrack Block. Operations: Five mechanics arrived. 5 Oct 43 Operations and Quarters: F/L HP Lyons, Command Hygiene Officer, and F/O JH Spence, Medical Officer from Torbay Station inspected both Quarters and Operations Site. Quarters: NCO from Works & Buildings started furnace in Airmen's Mess. 6 Oct 43 Operations: Representative from EM Cape Co came to check details for estimate on completion of plumbing. 7 Oct 43 Operations: Tuning up Emergency HF Set preparatory to commencing to operate. 8 Oct 43 Operations: Emergency HF Wireless Set operating and telling to Filter started. Quarters: Cold, light snow. 9 Oct 43 Operations: First calibration run with Canso aircraft. 2 Tracks but No. 17 Radio Detachment could only follow one as it was necessary to shut down gantry on account of high wind. F/L TM Webster, OC in aircraft. 10 Oct 43 Operations: Routine work and training. 11 Oct 43 Operations: Second calibration run with Canso. 2 Tracks each 150 miles but after following aircraft out part way on first track, lost contact and had to close down on account of high winds. F/L WG Hughes, Controller, was in aircraft. 12 Oct 43 Quarters: S/L TH Spear, Station Administrative Officer, Torbay Station, inspected quarters. 13 Oct 43 Operations: Third calibration run with Canso; F/L WG Hughes in aircraft. Quarterly Maintenance party arrived from No. 1 MU Scoudouc. 14 Oct 43 Operations: Fourth calibration run with Canso; F/L TM Webster in aircraft. Quarters: Mr. WG Dawe, Assistant Engineer from No. 1 Group, arrived to check fence line. 15 Oct 43 Quarters: Surveyors lining up fence. 16 Oct 43 Operations: A party including P/O KE Vavasour, Detachment Radio Officer, visited US Radar Station at Cape Spear. First coat of paint applied to Guard House floor. 3 Operators, 1 Mechanic and 1 WEM arrived. 17 Oct 43 Operations: F/L TM Webster, OC gave a talk to the pilots of No. 128 (Fighter) Squadron, Torbay Station, on GCI work.
for Commanding Officer, RCAF Station, Torbay
1 Dec 43
Quarters: Heavy rains caused brooks between Main Station and Quarters to overflow across highway at about six points; in some cases to a depth of 6 to 8 inches and about fifty feet wide. The pressure tank for water systems arrived.
Operations: The heavy rains caused the water in the main drainage ditch to back up and water started to rise in cellar of Operations Building, reaching a depth of 3 1/2 feet. Detachment was again given task of organizing Trade Test for Mechanics and Operators, as papers had not arrived from Command. It was decided to again test operators at the Operations Site, as this enabled the operational equipment to be used in the test. The tests started this day. Fog, rain and special maintenance prevented exercises.
2 Dec 43
Quarters and Operations: The first detail of guards arrived, viz. 2 Sgts., 1 Cpl. and 6 Other Ranks. They were naturally very welcome, particularly to the Operational personnel who have been doing this duty ever since the Detachments (Nos. 14 and 17) were opened. These nine men are of course not sufficient to maintain the guards at the two Operation Sites and the Combined Quarters, but they relieve some of the operational personnel from this duty.
Operations: Trade Test continued. Weather only fair in any case special maintenance prevented any attempt at exercises. The recently installed telephone line between the Gate and Operations building is proving a great convenience.
3 Dec 43
Quarters: Normal routine. The quarters are still unoccupied except for guard and medical orderly who sleep in contractor's shack.
Operations: Special maintenance still proceeding, and party are working hard to finish as soon as possible. This may be said of all the visiting maintenance parties; they work hard. Finished trade tests.
4 Dec 43
Quarters: S/L SH Johnstone, Command Fighter Control Officer paid a brief visit.
Operations: Weather poor; snow and then fog. S/L SH Johnstone, recently appointed Officer i/c Command Fighter Control, was a welcome visitor. This visit afforded the opportunity to frankly discuss the Detachment's possibilities and limitations. At his request, a written report covering the main features was prepared for submission through the Commanding Officer and No. 1 Group to Command Headquarters.
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Updated: April 3, 2003