Reproduced with permission from The Beacon Supplement July 28, 1986

Contributed by Carol  (Mercer) Walsh - Class 1954

Military Presence at Gander

The first military installations at Gander was built in 1938 when the British Air Ministry constructed and operated a communication and direction finding site for transatlantic flights.  This operation was transferred to the Department of Transport and then to the RCN in 1941 being designated as Naval Radio Station Gander. This is the area now referred to locally as the “Old Navy Site.

The first RCAF aircraft to land at Gander was on an occasion of a short visit by two Hudson bombers on February 10, 1940.  The first RCAF Detachment was established some months later.  At that time, the airport was still under the control of the Civil Division of the Newfoundland Government.

On November 9, 1940, the first formation of American made Bomber aircraft being ferried to Britain departed Gander and reach England the following morning.  These flight deliveries were organized by the Atlantic Ferry Organization (later called RAF Transport Command) set up at Gander to handle the increasing flow of bombers in 1941.  Up to this time control and signals were handled by the Newfoundland staff and weather forecasting by Canadian staffs. 

In 1941 the RCAF took over the function of the Newfoundland staff.  In 1942 the Newfoundland Government handed over control of Gander to the Canadian Government and it became a military airfield and RCAF station.  The RAF continued to maintain a separate organization and when the United States entered the war, U.S. aircraft and personnel were stationed at Gander.  Throughout the war many thousands of aircraft landed at Gander on their way to war zone.  

At the end of the war, the Newfoundland Government resumed control of Gander from the Canadian Government.  In 1949 when Newfoundland entered Confederation, the aerodrome was transferred to the Department of Transport.

In 1950 the RCN and the USN agreed to coordinate and standardize direction finding activities for search and rescue operation in the Atlantic region, and Naval Radio Station Gander became a member of the CAN-US Atlantic High Frequency Direction Finding Network.  Subsequently, in 1952, on completion of construction by the U.S. Government, the RCAF took command of the Pinetree Line radar site at Gander.  This installation was then manned by 226 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron and Air Command unit in support of 22 operations, administrative offices, single quarters, galley and mess were all in one building.  The RCAF also had spartan accommodation and there were no sports or recreational facilities.

In 1955 the RCAF took over the USAF Hospital constructed in 1942 by the U.S. Government.  This hospital building now houses the Station Administrative Offices; supply, combined messes; and officers’ and WO’s and NCO’s quarters.

About this same period, 123 PMQs were constructed by Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation.  A recreational hall was constructed in 1960 which houses a swimming pool, gym, bowling alley and, today, Canex.  In 1964 a curling rink was completed.

Following unification of the Canadian Forces, Naval Radio Station Gander was disbanded and became CFS Gander, occupying RCAF Station Gander premises and 226 AC&W Squadron became a lodger unit.  Operations were moved from the “Old Navy Site” to the newly constructed operations building which was completed in 1970.  This new site is referred to locally as the “New Navy Site” or the “Turkey Farm” due to the large circular array of antenna which give the impression of a plain square two story building surrounded by a huge fence or cage.

CFS Gander, including 226 AC&W Squadron, now has a total complement of approximately 450 military and civilian personnel.  This total is made up largely of communication research and technical personnel, including USN Exchange personnel of the Supplementary Radio System.  Other lodger units are 727 Communications Squadron Detachment and 12 Dental Unit Detachment.  In addition, the CFB Chatham Detachment turnaround crew for CF101 (Voo-Doo) aircraft are supported by but no lodged on the Station. 

CFS Gander is situated on a 30 acre site, two miles from the Town of Gander and about five minutes walk from the Gander International Air Terminal.  Located here are the administrative offices, single quarters, messes, supply and CE Stations, MSE Section, MIR, Dental Clinic, recreational facilities and 226 AC&W Squadron.  Three and one-half miles away is the “Old Navy Site” of 180 acres, comprised of only six PMQs and a 25 yard rifle range.  The new Operations Site is five miles away by road and covers an area of 650 acres.  The installation is now a Canadian Forces Base.