In the fall of 1942 the installation of four other radar units was begun by the 685th Air Warning Company. The locations were at Elliston (Cape Bonavista), Torbay, St. Bride's and Allan's Island, close to Lamalaine, By early winter of 1943, all were completed. The US Army supply boats, the Captain Mitchell and T-4, brought all the supplies to remote areas and continued to supply all stations, except Torbay. Again, fifty-two members of the 685th AWC were assigned. All of these personnel were fully trained radar technicians selected from Maine to Florida. S/Sgt. Joe Santomas, from Hammonton, New Jersey was the technician who installed and supervised all the maintenance on the radar units. Santomas, now retired from the US Army continually travelled by the US Army supply boats to each location. He maintains that in 1943 all the radar antennae were changed and these gave each station a range of 300 miles. All radar stations were in constant contact with one another by a separate radar networl. All transmissions to St. John's were directed to the Top Secret receiver/transmitter at Snelgrove, near Windsor Lake. The secret code names for all the radar sites were: Torbay - Prime; Elliston (Cape Bonavista) - Second; St. Bride's - Trio; Fogo Island (Sandy Cove) - Quad; and Allan's Island - Cinco. All radar information was sent to a plotting centre at headquarters, Fort Pepperrell, to track the aircraft coming and going. The plotting centre also sent messages to the radar units concerning lost aircraft or those needing navigational assistance. Both American and Canadian personnel manned the plotting centre.
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Updated: April 7, 2003