Red Cliff Museum Enhancement Project a Collection O/Interviews, Research, Pictures and Stories
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Red Cliff Museum Enhancement Project A collection o/Interviews, Research, Pictures and Stories Table of Contents 1.0 Background Information/Summaries 1.1 Red Clitf - American Radar Station 1951-1962 1.2 The American Connection of Red Cliff on our Town 2.0 Interview Reports and Consent Forms: 2.1 Lannis Huckabee 2.2 Jeremiah Pahukula 2.3 Norvell and Alice Simpson 2.4 Jay Stephens 2.5 Paul Winterson 3.0 Stories 3.1 All's Fair in Love and War 3.2 How I met my wife 3.3 My First Day at Red Cliff 3.4 On Duty? or On Air? 4.0 Red Cliff Questionnaires 4.1 Summary of respondents 4.2 Original copies of completed questionnaires 5.0 Pictures 5. I Present day (2007) Red CI i ff 6.0 Miscellaneous/Appendix 6.1 Picture of a USAF Squadron Emblem 6.2 Open House Poster 6.3 Emails 7.0 Sources of Research 7.1 "US Military Locations" 7.2 "St. John's (Red Clift), NF" 7.3 "Pinetreeline Miscellaneous" 7.4 "Memories of Red Clift" 7.5 "Life Goes On" Red Cliff American Radar Station 1951-1962 Construction of the American Air Force radar station at Red Cliff began in 1951. The station became operational in 1954. The facility was one of a series of AAF radar stations called the Pine Tree Line. The Pine Tree Line included radar stations across North America and as far as Greenland, and its purpose was to be a defense system against enemy aircraft during the Cold War. The station at Red Cliff served this function until it closed in 1962. The Red Cliff radar station was built near the site of a World War II battery. This battery was referred to as "the L-5ite" by the servicemen, and was not used as a part of the radar station. This base, like the others on the Pine Tree Line, was fairly self-sufficient - with barracks, a mess hall, clubs and a store, as well as offices, operations rooms, radio rooms and a radar control tower. All of these buildings were constructed on the exposed area of Red Cliff to be able to withstand the harsh conditions that are characteristic of a coastal cliff that boarders the North Atlantic. Red Cliff was an integral part of the American defense against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. As a part of the Pine Tree Line of radar stations, this station, and others like it in Canada (including those at Gander, Goose Bay and Argentia) and the United States, would provide protection for North America against a potential invasion across the Arctic. Such an invasion never occurred; however, the men stationed at Red Cliff were always alert, ready, and, well prepared (through frequent drills) for an attack. Normal, day-to- day operations of Red Cliff (which was also known under the codenames of Cornbread, Ginger, Examine and the Hill, among others) included contacting and identifying all incoming aircraft to Newfoundland airspace. These aircraft were then directed to Gander or Torbay Airport. Fighter aircraft were always ready to take off to identify, and, if necessary, escort, any unidentified aircraft. Another important ability of the Red Cliff radar station was the ability to aid local and Coast Guard search and rescue efforts by picking up Mayday calls from ships in distress at sea. Red Cliff remained functional in these capacities until new technology made numerous Pine Tree Line stations obsolete. In the fall of 1961 the American Air Force announced that they would be closing Red Cliff and it, it ceased operations in the spring of 1962. While it was fully operational, Red Cliff had a contingent of between 120 and 160 military personnel, and over one hundred civilian workers. The airmen, who were stationed at the base for between nine months and three years , worked eight-hour shifts on a rotating schedule: three days on day shift (BAM - 4PM), three days on swing shift (4PM-12AM) and three days on graveyard shift (12AM-8AM), followed by three days off. While not working, airmen and officers could entertain themselves at clubs on the base. At these clubs, a drink cost only fifteen cents! Servicemen could also take a bus to Fort Pepperrell, to use the amenities at the larger American base, or they could take the bus or drive to St. John's. The airman and officers also interacted with the citizens of the Logy Bay - Middle Cove - Outer Cove. Social gatherings such as parties and movie showings were hosted by men at Red Cliff and at Fort Pepperell. Many AAF servicemen also dated and married women from the Town of Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove and the surrounding area. Today, the former American service base at Red Cliff has been abandoned, and has fallen into disrepair. One of the access roads is completely overgrown, and the land, which had been completely cleared of trees and shrubs, is now covered with new plant growth. However, the site and view are still beautiful, and the site's history is still relevant. The American connection of Red Cliff to our Town In 1951, over a hundred unsuspecting Americans received orders to leave their homes and travel to Newfoundland - a place that most of them had never even heard of. The orders stated that they would be working as servicemen at a semi-remote Radar Station at Red Cliff. Over the next decade, hundreds more would be stationed there. In terms of landscape and climate, Newfoundland and parts of the United States are polar opposites - from sand and sunshine to rocks and snow - and many men experienced culture shock. Imagine enjoying thirty degree weather one day and then shoveling six feet of snow the next day! Despite the differences from home, many of the former servicemen enjoyed their time at Red Cliff so much that they often return to Newfoundland to visit. The Town of Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove received many economic benefits while the Radar Station was in operation. Local civilians were employed at Red Cliff to work in the cafeterias, to drive the bus or to do secretarial work. There was a noticeable economic loss in the town when the Station closed in 1961. Many folks were out of work, and as well many women had moved out of the province. A major connection between Red Cliff and the community came as a result of the relationships between American men and local women. The men often took the bus from Red Cliff into St. John's. They would meet young ladies waiting to be sponsored on the bus either at Fort Pepperrell or at the bottom of Kanas Hill. The young men and women would often go to the movie theatre at Pep perrell or at Red Cliff. A lot of these men and women settled together and got married at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Outer Cove. Red Cliff Interview Report Interviewee: Lannis Huckabee Interviewers: Christina Price and Shree Ziradkar Date oflnterview: August 3'd, 2007 Time of Interview: 9:30am Place of Interview: Town of Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove, Town Hall Recording Device: Digital Recorder Transcription: Consent Form Signed: yes, at time of interview Notes: • Secret Classification • NCO club-lots of women, sign in four girls • calling home/girl on official radio switchboard • tuna steaks • radar operator • Note- subject is hard of hearing • College, then Air Force, then dentistry • Live entertainment at NCO club CO,"--3~rV4NO""C;O rps Newfoundland & Labrador Interview Consent Form , agree to allow the Conservation Corps Green Team for Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove to record my interview for the town museum. I understand that the museum will keep this interview on file, and I give permission for the museum to present a transcription or a digital audio- file of the interview as part of an exhibit on the history of the town. Signature Date Red Cliff Interview Report Interviewee: Jeremiah 'Jerry' Pahukula Interviewers: Ian Murphy and Christina Price Date of Interview: August 3,d, 2007 Time of Interview: 10:45 Place of Interview: Town of Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove Town Hall Recording Device: Digital Recorder Transcription: Consent Form Signed: at time of interview Notes: • 'Scope Dope' radar operator • Married a girl from Lob'Y Bay nee Roche • Hawaiian- culture shock- first day lots of snow • became a policeman • liked Jigg's Dinner ~o"' u ~~rV'~-T~o""'Corps Newfoundland & Labrador Interview Consent Form , agree to allow the Conservation Corps Green Team for Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove to record my interview for the town museum. I understand that the museum will keep this interview on file, and I give permission for the museum to present a transcription or a digital audio- file of the interview as part of an exhibit on the history of the town. Sig6/ure Date Red Cliff Interview Report Interviewee: Norvell Simpson and Alice Simpson Interviewers: Christina Price and Shree Ziradkar Date of Interview: August y d, 2007 Time of Interview: 12:30 Place of Interview: Town of Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove Town Hall Recording Device: Digital Recorder Transcription: Consent Fonn Signed: at time of interview (two fonns) Notes: • No prejudice in Nfld. • Brought wife and children, 'semi-remote' • Master Sergeant in charge of communications • NCO club (bartending) • Leather crafting! Okinawa Korean War • educationlfonnation • average work day • cheap lobster on Sundays at NCO club (kids love lobster) • Nfld. culture • iX e (e((X cieri ,~~ II< ) ':J"Ol":; CO"'3~r ~~ . -r~o", '<; Corps Newfo u nd l and & Labrador Interview Consent Form , agree to allow the Conservation Corps Green Team for Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove to record my interview for the town museum.