About the Sites
There were three radar lines that stretched across the country, collectively operational from the 1950s into the very early 1990s. These were the Pinetree Line, the Mid-Canada Line and the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line. Now, only four Pinetree Line sites remain as unstaffed Canadian Coastal Radar sites on the east and west coasts, and many of the DEW Line sites continue to exist as part of the modernized North Warning System, although most are not permanently staffed.
The Pinetree Line
Jointly funded and staffed by Canada and the United States, the Pinetree Line was the first radar line to become operational, opening in the 1950s. Many of the first sites were originally operated by the United States Air Force and then handed over to the Royal Canadian Air Force who continued to build more sites across the country. From coast to coast, there were a total of 44 radar sites, although they were not all operational at one time. While some of the sites closed earlier, most of the Pinetree Line stations closed in the 1980s as defence mandates changed. These sites were the most common posting locations for air defence personnel, and most of the sites could support families as well.
The Mid Canada Line
The Mid-Canada Line consisted of eight main sites and nearly 100 small unstaffed ‘gap filler’ stations, visited by personnel for regular maintenance. Fully operational by 1958, the Mid-Canada Line was short-lived and was closed in 1965. The Pinetree Line sites had installed better radar equipment and could see further North, and the implementation of sites in the Arctic allowed for much earlier warning of potential threats. These improvements made the Mid-Canada Line redundant. More isolated than the Pinetree Line sites, these locations were less receptive to families, and the short stints that staff had to do at the gap-filler stations (rather than a main station), could be weeks of only a few people and basic supplies.
The Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line
Operational by 1957, this line provided almost four more hours of warning of an aircraft flying in the Arctic than its more southern counterparts. The line had 63 stations of varying size and function and many of the smaller sites were unstaffed but maintained by personnel at larger ‘Main’ stations. Many of the DEW Line sites have been converted to North Warning System (NWS) sites, used by NORAD today, but are unstaffed, accessed only for maintenance. Military postings at the DEW Line sites were short, usually only 6 months, and they could not support any families. Many civilians spent much longer at these sites, some of them their full careers.
This map of the radar lines across Canada shows how they were placed strategically for effective radar coverage. While some of the sites are close to larger communities, most of them were located in remote areas.
Personal Stories and Photos
Submitted by Matt Mulally, Mid-Canada Line, from http://lswilson.dewlineadventures.com
Booze at DDS's [unmanned Mid-Canada Line Doppler Detection Stations] was strictly verboten. And, of course, being forbidden fruit made it that much more desirable. Generally, in my time there, most of the sites were indeed dry. I occasionally had a buddy smuggle a few beers from the mess at Great Whale and send them to my site but that only teased. And knowing the guys working at Whale had full access to a wet canteen didn't help.
Mechanics visited the sites at regular intervals and spent a week or two performing routine maintenance on the three diesels. And it was Ken, a diesel mechanic, who taught me about the mysteries of distillation. Raw materials were locally obtained - sugar, tinned fruit, fruit juices, molasses, yeast - all easily ordered from Whale. Fermentation was accelerated by locating the batch of mash in the diesel room, where it was always warm - and soon smelly.
After about a week, the stuff was ready to be "processed". Again, the necessary equipment was readily available - a sealed metal container and a length of copper tubing formed into a spiral. This spiral was then placed in a pail with one end connected to the metal container and the other end protruding through a hole near the bottom of the pail. The mash was put in the container, which was then put on a burner of the electric stove in our kitchen and the pail with the copper spiral was kept filled with cold water.
Then, physics worked its magic. I would guess that we obtained about a half gallon of alcohol from the five gallon batch of brew. There was a rough and ready method to test the condensing booze, which was generally known as "doppler juice". That was to set it afire with a match. When the output of the still no longer burned, the alcohol content was considered too low and the process was halted. I learned later that this process probably indicated an alcohol content of 90% or so - pretty deadly stuff. I've heard that on occasion, a little doppler juice in the carburetor was actually used to help start vehicles on cold mornings.
However, when mixed with fruit juice (roughly 10 to 1), it was quite palatable as before, during and after dinner cocktails.
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Typical DEW Line Auxiliary Station lounge area, FOX-2 (Longstaff Bluff, Nunavut). Courtesy Brian Jeffrey and www.DEWLine.ca
Fishing boat creatively built from 55 gallon oil drums, unknown rower, DEW Line site. Courtesy Brian Jeffrey and www.DEWLine.ca
Submitted by Jim Richmond, CFS Barrington 1982-1985
I remember when I first came to the site fresh out of TQ-3. They tried to send me to supply to get some SIF Paint and Range Lines. Knowing what they where I just said nice try. There was another time I was running the film at the Junior Ranks and the one cook was there. He was scared watching the movie so I snuck up on him and grabbed him from behind. Never see anyone jump and scream like he did. One of the cooks was a fisherman and some times would bring part of his catch in. One time I asked my crew chief for a sandwich and he returned with a whole crab between bread. I have many more stories. Some may or may not be appropriate here.
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Submitted by Jim Richmond, CFS Falconbridge, 1985-1986
They had a fish tank in the Junior Ranks mess. I felt sorry for those fish. The number of times people relieved themselves in that tank. One time the Snowbirds where at Sudbury and as they took off them flew between the towers. When the site was being decommisioned they took done the search radome and the whole search tower became a wind tunnel coming into the switchboard area. I sat most nights out in the main DMCC area sitting between two chairs with a blanket on me and a space heater blasting away.-
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Submitted by Jim Richmond, CFS Dana 1986-1987
We were on a BDF exercise one time and this jack rabbit showed up. He stood a good three or four feet tall when on his back legs. We had SMG's with blanks in them and opened fire at it. This thing just gave us a look and carried on doing it's thing.
Radomes at CFS Dana from the PMQs. Submitted by Jim Richmond
TQ-3 Course, 1982. Submitted by Jim Richmond
Jim Richmond - TQ-3 Course, 1982
TQ-5 Course, 1985. Submitted by Jim Richmond
Jim Richmond - TQ-5 Course, 1985
Submitted by John E. Moors, Mid-Canada Line 1958/1959
Our postings were to be 12 months on the MCL however the RCAF decided to institute a posting cycle that took place in the summer months, rather than at any time of the year. I was the NCO I/C Flt. Sgt. at Stoney and my crew and myself had our tours extended six months. Not great news when the family was located at RCAF Stn St Sylvester PQ a remote Pine Tree site.One of the things we had done at Stoney though was to build our 2 rink curling club. So happy to see they made a crest. We all spent a lot of happy hours there and did a tournament in the winter in Fort Mac Murray when the bombadier could navigate over the frozen tundra.
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Submitted by Nick Stolarchuk, Comox 1956, Holberg 1957, Falconbridge 1958, Mid Canada Line 1960, Sydney 1961, Cold Lake 1962, NORAD Topsham Brunswick Maine USA 1963 to 1967, Mont Apica 1967 to 1969
Comox was my dream stn. Little did i know that 6 mon. later a whole bunch of us were sent to Holberg to open up the site, what a let down, middle of no where. Falconbridge what a change lots of airwomen and close to towns. Mid Can. Line was not bad, small Indian village next door, we got along great and good times.Sydney was a Wow, women were at least 10 to one, a great area and fond memories. Cold Lake well it was cold. Topsham was a dream come through 4yrs. of great times and where I met and married my beatiful wife Eleanor. 4 yrs later we ended up in Mont Apica Que. It was a place in the middle of a park,40 mi. to nearest town. First few moths were tough but after getting settled and getting to know most of the people, it was one the greatest time we ever had curling, skiing, fishing and of course all the TGIFs it was a real fun place. Before leaving Mont Apica I remusterd to Electrican Lineman and was transfered to Borden and from there I ended up in Comox where I retired in 1977. Over all it was a great journey and many fond memories of the fine people I met. CHEERS U ALL.
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Submitted by Lee Dawson, 916th AC&W Beausejour (Milner Ridge ) Manitoba 1956-1957
My year spent at the 9416th was probably the most meaningful assignment I had while in the USAF. Our mission to keep watch on the northern borders during the Soviet threat was most fulfilling. After all these years I still have fond memories of the duties and fellowship.
Submitted by Sharon Wright, DEW Line 1957
I was raised in Swastika, Ontario and when the DEW Line opened just north of us my father Andrew Wright drove the family up for a visit. I can remember clearly the enthusiasm of the joint Canadian/American personnel but more important to me at the time was the sense of security I felt knowing that the US was there and would protect us.
Submitted by Joyce Washburn, Chibougmau, St. Margaret's, Lac St. Denis, North Bay, Parent, Mont Apica, Metz France
my hubby & i were at these sites. bud washburn from blackville n.b. I was joyce hucker from fort william ont. he was in the military 38 yrs, passed in 2010. We loved every minute of it all, & would do it all over again. any good friends out there hi, we miss them all.
Submitted by George Cole, Moosonee, 1964-1966 (Ontario Northland Telecommunications)
In 1964-6 my wife and I and 2 young children lived in Moosonee on Base road . We had a beautiful part huskey dog named Peanuts.That dog loved children, so much that he found out there was a school on base and, if our kids were not around, he would run the mile down the road and play with the children at the Base school. This did not go over too well and the MPs who would pick him up and drive him back to our home and "gently"put him out of their vehicle.The dog did not like those rides home, but he eventually stopped going to the base. He took a real dislike to their vehicle and would hide under our house until it went back.
Submitted by Doug Newman, Holberg, 1989-1990
Got my first sense of what Holberg was about, that I wasn't 'in Kansas anymore', when on my third day there a bald eagle flew overhead carrying off somebody's cat. Couple months later, while jogging back to the domestic site, face on into the setting Sun, I spied the silhouette of an Irish Setter sitting on a 55-gallon drum beside a derelict house, watching me. Having been chased by dogs before, I slowed to a walk and moved to the opposite side of the road--and the "Irish Setter" turned, revealing its true form--a full-grown mountain lion--and wisped off into the roadside forest without the slightest sound. The two coolest moments at Holberg were having a deer stroll by me without a care, close enough to touch, engrossed in snacking on the PMQ patch lawns, and driving up the mountain to the radar site and popping out of the perpetual lumbering gray rain and drizzle into an ocean of brilliant clear morning sunlight. On the 'B' side, I don't miss the hour-and-a-half drives to town for banking or groceries over the car-eating logging road; heaven help you if you forgot something you needed in town at home!
Fred Wolfstar-Lenhart, Hancock Field, Syracuse, NY 21st Air Division/1976-77, Murphy Dome AFS, 744th AC&W/1977-78, Tatalina AFS,717th AC&W/1980-81
21st Air Division, Syracuse, NY, my Supervisor (NCO) was Canadian Armed Forces Personnel. The 21st AD was a SAGE Control Center. The 744th and 717th were both part of the DEW Line. Murphy Dome was reachable by auto, via Fairbanks some 35 miles. The 717th was only reachable by major airline (Wein Air Alaska) to McGrath, then by Bush Pilot.
Submitted by Sheila Staddon (née Keen), Massett 1972-1974
I was only young (5 or 6) but I remember the housing was in circles, each starting with a different letter of the alphabet.
Submitted by Jim Richmond, CFS Barrington
I remember once we were doing a BDF exercise leading up to an Op Eval. I was guarding the door to the DMCC when there was a knock. I looked out the peep hole and saw two of the BDF guys taping something to the door. I knew they could be playing either friend or enemy. Thinking this was awful suspicious I had the BDF check it out. Sure enough the note said bomb on it. Nice Try Guys. I know us single guys where desperate for things to do other than drinking so besides the usual poker games we use to spend a lot of time playing D&D. I also use to play a lot of military strategy games with our DM(Dungeon Master). One time we decided to play the Battle of Trafalgar and didn't finish till over 24 hours later.
Submitted by Mark Shaw, CFS Holberg, 1982-1986
CFS Holberg, Transport. Best posting of my career. For a transportation type we got to do everything from runs down island to maintaining roads and keeping the hill topped up with fuel, water and techs. Outdoor life was always an adventure. This was a close knit military family, I miss the friends I made there and think of them often. When I do talk to anyone from Holberg it is like I just talked to them yesterday and not 30 years ago.