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B Gen Gerry Edwards, was the Comd, Grant Nichols the We organized a hasty test run with some troops
Deputy, Russ Roane my boss, Pete Armstrong in Tac Eval from Valcartier and lo and behold we did it the
and many more. next day, with no major problems.

The exercise business was getting started and we had just It was not long after we had the unfortunate
formed HQ 10 Tactical Air Group (HQ 10 TAG), so I was an experience of dropping some paratroopers in the
original. There was much new ground to be developed in Petewawa River, so I was justifiably a little goosey
the setting up of an operationss center, the fleshing out over the idea-through the flight path of Airliners
of the Tac Avn command and control organization, into Dorval, etc and as there was no one else to
Tactical Air Control Centres (TACCs, Tactical Air Control advise, contacted the Reserve Support Unit (RSU)
Units (TACUs) etc. I enjoyed the challenge and was CO, who agreed it could be done. We organized a
fortunate to work with some very good people. hasty test run with some troops from Valcartier
and lo and behold we did it the next day, with no
Early on I went to Suffield for “Ex Vacuum” a Nuclear
major problems. I signed an op order to cover the
Biological Chemical Warfare (NBCW) scenario with the
Queen’s Own Rifles (QOR) group under Herb Pitts. The Otter Sqn and at monday ops briefing told Gen
Edwards that the only two names on the venture
Brigadier was Stan Waters, followed by Bill Leanord, the
were JV Allard and Jim Grant. Sometimes you just
Brigade Major (BM) John Deschastelain, Bud MacKay the
Air Comd and I was the Ops Centre guy. Fred Zeggil was do what you have to do and make things happen,
but always be prepared to cover the other people
there with the CH113s, a Navy pilot from Rivers with a
involved. Accept responsibility. Similar non-tac
Hiller and 408 Sqn with T 33s. I will never forget being in
the op center, with troop lifts, T 33 Aerial spray of happenings included the McGill student riots, we
had Hueys from 403 and 450 Sqn on standby, but
simulated nerve gas, everyone flying with respirators,
even though downtown Montreal looked like a 20
including night ops, and the QOR pioneers blowing up
obstacles, and we carried it off without an incident. The KT ground burst, we never actively used the a/c.
only casualty was someone asleep in a caravan or tent I was promoted to LCol in early 69, originally on
and succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning, The the logistic list, but was thoroughly involved in the
personal relationships established during these exercises aviation scenario and B Gen Edwards requested I
were invaluable as we all progressed to bigger and better stay at 10 TAG and change to the Air Ops
things. (especially Deschastelain, Waters and Pitts!)We classification. I replaced Buzz Borland as SSO
had a number of exercises underway and this included Organization and Establishment, and Jim Brubaker
Jamaica with Bert Casselman and 403 Sq and a Hiller replaced me in ops. I was active in the creation of
from 450 Sqn(Bill Pollock) They were all a great the Tac Hel Sqns, the a/c assignments, the
contribution to establishing credible tactical aviation selection of locations for new hangars and liaison
support to the army. with Ottawa on tac hel matters, Our initial survey
of the Sqn sites was a team composed of myself,
Some other events were not that tactical but I will never
Stan Cote, Al Cooper and others. So if you want to
forget being in the 10 TAG ops desk on Friday afternoon
blame anyone over why 430 Sqn is at Valcartier
and receiving a phone call from the aide to the Chief
ofDefence Staff (Gen Allard) who had a small request, and not Ancienne Lorrete, 408 Sqn in Edmonton
and not Wainwright or Calgary, 427 Sqn at Silver
just drop 5 parachutists on all the bases and the pitcher’s
Dart and 403 Sqn at Gagetown and not
mound at Jarry Park for the first game of the new
Montreal Expos. Fredericton, the buck stops here. The main force
in having the Tac Hel Sqns all co-located with their
It was not long after we had the unfortunate experience army units was LGen Turcot who was adamant
of dropping some paratroopers in the Petewawa River, so they should not be in the white sheet
I was justifiably a little goosey over the idea-through the environment of a commercial airfield. The
flight path of Airliners into Dorval, etc and as there was emotions over living in the field continued
no one else to advise, contacted the Reserve Support through the early days of 10 TAG and the mixed
Unit (RSU) CO, who agreed it could be done. marriage with the Buffalo unit etc.