DAILY DIARY
17 RADIO DETACHMENT - TORBAY, NEWFOUNDLAND.
January 15, 1944 to September 30, 1944
15 Jan 44
Quarters: All the personnel, except the men on watch will sleep at the New Quarters tonight. In spite of some initial difficulties, such as lack of hot water and fluctuating heat, the men are in good spirits and everyone seems ready and willing to help in the job of settling down. The good meals are particularly appreciated.
16 Jan 44
Operations: Non-operational. H/F fairly good. The new schedule is in operation. It is the same as the one used at this type of Detachment in Great Britain but is proving difficulty to operate on account of shortage of transport. Torbay Station prevously provided a stake truck to bring the watches on duty and we are now attempting to do it with our own equipment, consisting of one dump truck, two panels and a station wagon for the two Operational and one Domestic Sites. The dump truck is not suitable for transporting personnel and the other vehicles are too small to take even one complete watch to one Operations Site. One of the light vehicles is usually unserviceable.
Quarters: Still busy settling down. The RC padre came at 0930 hours to say Mass. It has been arranged to take men each night to Torbay Station for lectures, sports, entertainment, baths and haircuts but it is a great strain on the transport and only a few can be taken each night.
17 Jan 44
Operations: The men are finding the English schedule much more strenuous than the old one. Equipment still non-operational.
Quarters: Meals still good. The principal handicap is lack of hot water.
18 Jan 44
Operations: Owing to difficulty in operating present schedule, have arranged a new one effective tomorrow. Detachment still non-operational but training of Operators continues.
Quarters: The new operations schedule provides for a duty watch of operations personnel at the Quarters. The duty watch will be employed on Quarters duties, to relieve shortage of personnel there, and will also form the Fire Picquet. A fire fighter from Torbay Station is coming to the Quarters tomorrow to instruct in Fire Drill and each Monday thereafter. Dinner late today as the coal is unsuitable (all slack). The Airmen are delighted to have the use of a washing machine.
19 Jan 44
Operations: Revised watch schedule working satisfactorily. Still non-operational.
Quarters: One panel and the dump truck are in repair shop and arranged to borrow a panel from Torbay for a few days. Meals on time and very good.
20 Jan 44
Operations: Still non-operational
Quarters: Schedule working smoothly both in MT and meals. With approval of Commanding Officer, arranged to borrow stake truck at night to take men to classes, games, entertainments, baths and haircuts. This will be a great help as our light vehicles quite inadequate for this purpose.
1 Feb 44
Operations: Lengthening days made new Controller schedule necessary, effective today. High surface wind kept Fighter aircraft on ground. The following Fighter Pilots came on information visit:- F/O WI Gould, F/O W Dove, P/O DB Dack, P/O DG Gellafly, P/O DG Cleghorn. As it was not possible to work with aircraft, we did a dummy exercise in which they were much interested. Fortunately, we picked up one or two aircraft and a surface vessel to show them. Considerable interference on R/T at times.
Quarters: Normal except for handicaps previously mentioned .
2 Feb 44
Operations: Snow delayed arrival of MT in morning. Heavy overcast in morning, partially clearing for a time at midday and then overcast again. Very little flying but Red Section (Fighters) were up late in the afternoon and we talked to them. The carpenter from the Quarters came to measure buildings for fire ladders. Heavy interference on R/T for a time.
Quarters: As the Quarters have not been snow ploughed and roadways only have been cleared by hand, snow piled fairly high in places. From the Administration Building where the officers still sleep at night, the path to the mess goes up and down - a rough treacherous walk.
3 Feb 44
Operations: Some flying and equipment picked it up well in our good areas. Fighter aircraft recalled early on account of weather, light snow and snow blown by gusts. Snow drifts delayed transport. Hospital Assistant from Quarters came to check First Aid Box in Guard House. Some interference on R/T.
Quarters: Personnel much interested in preparations for first dance.
4 Feb 44
Operational: Weather poor all day and very little flying. Fighters apparently grounded. Heavy interference on R/T most of the day.
Quarters: Preparations for dance progressing.
5 Feb 44
Operations: Weather fair earlier and very good in evening. Some flying and wind checks were made. Interference on one R/T channel and the other was unserviceable for a time.
Quarters: The long anticipated House Warming Dance took place tonight and was a huge success. The special guests included Air Vice Marshall VJ Heakes, AOC, No. 1 Group and W/C WWS Ross representing the CO of Torbay Station. The ladies were mostly WD Officers and airwomen from No. 1 Group and Torbay Station and included many associated workers in Group Filter and Group Fighter Control. The music was supplied by the Torbay Station Dance Orchestra conducted by our own Corporal Collis, W, who is now attached to Torbay. The refreshments prepared under the direction of the head chef Sgt. Devlin, J, were excellent and well arranged. A letter expressing the appreciation of Air Vice-Marshal Heakes dated 18th February, 1944 is attached as Appendix L-1 and photographs as Appendices P-1 to P-6.
6 Feb 44
Operations: Controller F/L WG Hughes was fortunate enough to get aircraft and weather suitable for exercises and made two practice interceptions. R/T was good today except for some distortion. P/O GA Edwards, Radio Officer from No. 19 R Det. visited the Detachment.
Quarters: A quiet Sunday at the Quarters with the personnel not on duty resting after the dance. Usual Church services held.
7 Feb 44
Operations: Overcast and later mist. No flying observed. H/F fair.
Quarters: Personnel enoyed usual "movies".
8 Feb 44
Operations: Clouds and fog all day. One fighter aircraft took off in the afternoon but was promptly recalled. First Fighter Night. Wind started to move mist at dusk and full moon was visible before midnight. The toilet at the Operations Building is still not working. R/T fairly good.
Quarters: Ping Pong is greatly in favour and the one table is kept busy day and night. Bridge is also very popular and both bridge and ping pong tournaments are organized.
9 Feb 44
Operations: Controller F/L WG Hughes was again fortunate in getting two aircraft for interception exercises. Clouds increasing in the afternoon. At 1400 hours instructions received to go over to Filter and remain with them all night. - the Second Fighter Night.
Quarters: Nothing special to report.
10 Feb 44
Operations: Overcast in morning. Snowing steadily in afternoon. Remained on Filter all day and night. Third and last Fighter Night of this moon. Slight to moderately heavy interference on R/T. F/O HC McNeil, Group Radar Officer visited Detachment to inspect equipment, and WD Sgt HM Hickson and 6 other WD's from Group Fighter Control came on familiarization visit.
Quarters:The WD's who had visited No. 17 Operations visited the Quarters and had supper there.
11 Feb 44
Operations: Still with Filter on H/F but have now arranged to receive from Squadron at same time. Road blocked with snow and the Controllers and airmen had to tramp the two and a half miles from the Quarters through the snow drifts. The main road was ploughed in the afternoon and Group Captain RS Grandy, OBE, Commanding Officer of Torbay Station was able to pay the Detachment a visit, arriving in a Station Wagon. The Dump Truck was used to change the watch in the evening.
Quarters:Group Captain RS Grandy also inspected the Quarters, accompanied by the Officer Commanding.
9 Mar 44
Operations: Fighter Section airborne but by 0900 hours appeared to be grounded with mist and rain arriving. No flying observed at local airport in afternoon, although aircraft noted proceeding in Gander direction. Squadron closed R/T watch at about 1600 hours until tomorrow so for second Fighter Night Controller went on call at Quarters. R/T satisfactory with Squadron; unsatisfactory with Filter channel broken in afternoon.
Quarters: Roads bad and even dump truck could not quite reach No. 17 Det. General cleaning day. Station Wagon at last back in use. Has new engine. Now have three vehicles, viz: Wagon, Dump Truck and the Stake borrowed from torbay Station.
10 Mar 44
Operations: Weather fairly good until late afternoon. Our R/T was fair but Squadron was having trouble and we relayed for them. Had two aircraft in the afternoon for one practice interception. F/L JC Scott Signals Radar Officer from EAC HQ, F/L WS Martin, Group Filter Radar Liason Officer and F/O WE Jessee, Signals Radar Officer from No. 19 R Det. visited the Operations Site.
Quarters: OC has been taking turns as Orderly Officer. First Weekly OC Inspection held today and revealed Quarters in fairly good shape but as it was a fine day, available airmen were set to work on window cleaning. Mr. Kenny, Civilian Engineer from No. 1 Group HQ, and his assistants at Quarters on survey. F/L JC Scott, F/L WS Martin and F/O WE Jessee visited Quarters and had lunch there.
11 Mar 44
Operations: Fine in morning and three practice interceptions took place. More were planned for afternoon but weather deteriorated before aircraft were available. R/T satisfactory but Squadron developed trouble again and we relayed for them.
Quarters: OC paid what has now become a regular fortnightly visit to CO, Torbay Station and made verbal report. In spite of repeated requests, the US Army snow vehicles have not worked on the Operations Sites lanes for some time and transport continues to be difficult, particularly on No. 17 R. Det.'s lane which only the dump truck can travrse at present. Transporting personnel in the dump truck is unsatisfactory and somewhat hazardous. Sometimes truck is held up in ice storms and raw winds, and personnel are liable to catch colds. The Hospital Assistant, Sgt. Wilde, PR is doing an excellent job and cures colds and other ailments quickly - sometimes overnight - by putting airmen immediately to bed in sick bay and nursing them assiduously until they are better.
12 Mar 44
Operations: Wind and drifting snow with low ceiling early in day, improving gradually. R/T unreliable. Tried to get aircraft for exercises but not available until shortly before dark and the late hour and R/T interference made it unwise to proceed.
Quarters: Both Protestant and RC services held today. US Army snow plough went up the lanes to Operation Sites, but did not improve things very much as the ruts are now so deep with bad holes here and there. The operations personnel have been working on the road with picks and shovels in an endeavour to improve conditions.
The general health at the Quarters is good.
NOTE: As an Administrative Officer (Adjutant) is now on strength of the Combined Quarters of Nos. 17 and 14 Radar Detachments, he will now enter up the Quarters' Diary in the future and it will therefore be typed separately from No. 17 Detachment's Diary which contains Operational information not available to non-operational personnel.
(TM Webster) S/L Officer Commanding Combined Quarters
Nos. 14 & 17 R Det., via RCAF Station,
CAPO No. 5, Newfoundland.
1 May 44
F/O Vavasour, C10484, formerly SRO at this Detachment is now on embarkation leave and F/O RW Gush, C29955, the new OC of No. 14 R Det., is Acting SRO Since F/L WG Hughes, C6576, left on the 21st April, the OC S/L TM Webster, C2668 has been the only Controller here. In the absence of any fighter aircraft, GCI Operations are nil, except for dummy practice exercise and the Detachment is operating as an auxiliary CHL. Although not designed for this purpose, it picks up some plots that are not registered by No. 14 R Det., principally at short ranges. Fine day. Average flying. R/T satisfactory. Had to return transformer borrowed from No. 14 R Det., and became non-operational. F/O G Crichton C23200 and FS Dunn, TH, R223938 visited Detachment in connection with landlines.
2 May 44
Weather poor with fog, drizzle and snow. Still non-operational. R/T satisfactory. A party of 10 airmen, five from No. 14 and five from No. 17 R Det, including a mechanic and 2 operators, went on a visit to HMCS Newfoundland with the special object of seeing the various radar devices on the ship. W/C GL Creed C1925, S/L AP Cooper C1924, S/L AH MacCallum, C2587 and F/O AL Payne C13545 of Provost Marshall's Dept, EAC and No. 1 Group HQ visited Detachment re security (guarding).
3 May 44
Weather improving during day; increasing flying observed. Made temporary repair whch made it possible to power turn the gantry one way only, following which average flying observed. R/T satisfactory.
4 May 44
Fine day. Fair amount of flying observed in morning. R/T (ground to ground) satisfactory. F/O AI Cove C20332 arrived at Operations to do calibration. He had come to Torbay Station the previous day in a calibration aircraft from Scoudouc and favoured with fine weather was able to start the job this afternoon. Several calibration flights were made today and this speedy work after waiting nearly a year for the job to be done was very striking. The work was handicapped owing to it being possible to rotate gantry in one direction only. To keep on the aircraft, gantry was moved and steadied by hand, instructions being shouted through Ops. Room window to airman outside who relayed to man at gantry. Soon one of the men had a better idea and tied a single rope to both ends of the gantry carrying the slack part to just outside the window so that one airman could receive the instructions and control the gantry by means of the rope. R/T communication with the calibration aircraft was not reliable. Returned to normal CHL operations at end of calibration flights for the day (at 1815 hours local time) but equipment was not working satisfactorily. The dump truck with driver and two G.D.'s came to site to get some soil for shrub planting at the Comined Quarters.
18 Jul 44
Weather: Overcast at first. Bright and clear later with increasing wind. The Officer Commanding, S/L TM Webster (C2668) and the SRO of No. 17 Det were summoned to the Parent Unit by the Commanding Officer in connection with the Officer Commanding's pending departure. The Commanding Officer considers that it is advisable to have a replacement here, if possible, before S/L TM Webster leaves. Later, the CSO at No. 1 Group, S/L JT Henderson (C12077) expressed the same view. Usual movie show at night, this time featuring "Cowboy on Manhattan". The Quarters Softball Team played their second league game at the Parent Unit, losing by a narrow margin to the leading team there, No. 5 BR Squadron. They practise on our small piece of rented grass land where the ball does not roll much and find it very different on Torbay's hard, dusty and rocky ground. In local softball the Quarters team defeated No. 17 Operations 22 to 10.
19 Jul 44
Weather: The sky was overcast with rain and drizzle. This was not good weather for our second big dance at the Quarters; it was originally called the Semi-Anniversary Dance, to celebrate six months occupancy of the Quarters but subsequently changed to Anniversary Dance to celebrate the 12 months operation of the Detachments. This was the first time that written invitations had been used since the House Warming Dance in February. Air Vice Marshall AL Morfee, CBE (C57) accepted; finally he sent a message in the afternoon that he was unable to come and hoped to visit us in the near future. We were, however, honoured with the presence of the Commanding Officer G/C RS Grandy CBE (C61), S/L JT Henderson (C12077) CSO of No.1 Group HQ and other male and female officers from the Parent Unit and No. 1 Group Headquarters also some civilian guests. In view of the number of officer guests, supper was served both in the Officers' Mess and the Airmen's Mess, although the big "spread" was in the airmen's mess and included a huge Anniversary Cake. The kitchen staff had worked hard and the refreshments were excellent. The Airmen's guests were principally WD's from the Parent Unit and No. 1 Group and a party of WRENS (16) in charge of their lady officer Lieut. French. Decorations included wild iris gathered in the vicinity and tied into little bouquets with yellow paper holders. These bouquets were tacked on the walls between the windows. The orchestra was from the Parent Unit, under our former Equipment Assistant, Cpl Collis, W, and provided splendid music. The visiting Dental Officer, Capt. JK Macintosh assisted the Officers to entertain the officer guests. Everyone seemed happy and the dance was voted unanimously an outstanding success. Special credit is due to the Entertainment Committee under the chairmanship of R87816 F/S Flanagan, RT, PT & DI and the Kitchen Staff under R82791 Sgt Cousineau, JH and the general supervision of the Recreation Officer, F/O HL Taylor (C28834). R257764 LAC Colton, SJ Service Police, promoted to rank of Acting Corporal (Unpaid).
21 Jul 44
Weather: Clear and mild until evening when it became overcast with fog. Weekly Routine Orders published. OC made his usual weekly inspection. French conversation class held tonight.
22 Jul 44
Weather: Overcast, cool. Fog clearing in evening but steady rain started at 2000 hours. Usual large party went to K of C Hut for bowling. Softball was in full swing when rain started at 2000 hours. No. 14 Operations defeated No. 17 Operations today 17 to 7. The Officers were busy digging (gardening) at that time, and it was estimated that at least two-thirds of the total strength were thus engaged in organized physical exercise in one form or another. This does not take into consideration the men on hikes, fishing and swimming. Swimming is fairly popular. The ones who venture in the ocean report it very cold which is not surprising with icebergs floating around but there are some lakes in which the water is much warmer. North Three Island pond about 1 1/2 miles west of Quarters is reported to be particularly good. Horse Shoe pitching is played very steadily on fine days. Usually a total of eight men (4 per court) play at a time. Inside, the ping pong table is in use from early morning to late night. Progress on the Airmen's Club has been delayed for lack of materials and also because volunteer workers have been insufficient during the warmer weather. The Committee has now requested that Airmen be detailed for a few hours daily so that the work may keep pace with the available materials. This is being done.
23 Jul 44
Weather: Mist and light drizzle in morning, overcast in afternoon, broken clouds in evening. As the Protestant padre is on leave and the RC padre could not come, there were not any services at the Quarters, but transportation was provided to take the faithful few to the Parent Unit. The usual movie show was held at night, featuring "Chip Off the Old Block". this had been previously shown but, being a good picture, it drew the usual large attendance. Steady visitors, a sheep and two lambs, apparently had a gala night in the flower beds also flower boxes prepared for the club munching off the tops of the plants and uprooting most of them. This sheep was noted during the morning near the Quarters with left foreleg injured and a report was sent to the village. Two or three sheep owners arrived to check it and finally one, Mr. Mainyard, claimed possession and took it away. New batteries in our office phone (connnected to civilian 7 party line, our numbers being Pouche Cove 75 ring 6 (office) or ring 7 (Guard House)) have improved communication but our situatin is still unsatisfactory both as regards service and security.
30 Sep 44
Received signal from No. 1 Group advising No. 17 Detachment to be disbanded - awaiting advice as to disposal of personnel etc. Weather overcast with light fog. Station visited by CSO and two WD Signals Officers from No. 1 Group to inspect VHF Hut and No. 14 Detachment.
There were no serious cases of illness during the month. The health of all personnel was generally good.
(JF Macmillan) F/L, OC
Combined Quarters Nos. 14 & 17 R Units,
via CAPO No. 5, Torbay, Nfld.
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Updated: April 3, 2003