The operator interacted with the SAGE computer by depressing mechanical buttons on the console, and pushing an 'entry' button. Alternately, the operator could use a 'lightgun' that would shine a circle of light over an item of interest on the display, and then the operator would squeeze the trigger to highlight the item for computer attention. So, for example, wanting to know information about an aircraft flying through the region, an operator could enter the computer assigned track number and request information, or, point the lightgun at the track symbology on the situation display and pull the trigger. The system was quite easy to use.

 

Controlling came naturally to me. ... I practised intercepts for hours during quiet times using the computer's simulation program, but rarely with any other people involved. This forced me to quickly interpret the displays, take all the actions to control the situation, and to test the boundaries of my ability. In today's terms, it was similar to playing a flight simulator game, but on a two-dimensional monochromatic display, and trying to stay ahead of the computer's logic stream to force desired results. It really was a blast, and at least a decade ahead of personal computing.

-Len Campaigne

 

Some of my best memories as a USAF officer were from North Bay and the hole. Our flights were a close knit group of people and, as a mid level captain, it was a great experience to work on a bi-national flight.
-Gary Savard, Col (ret.), USAF

 

A long time ago when I was in high school the had a once in a life time opportunity it was for about 9 student to get a tour of the U.G.C. My best friend Kristina and I were one of the lucky ones, we were estastic. I didn`t live in North Bay so we had a long excitment bus ride, getting suited up to go down that tunnel, here we go!!!!!! The tunnel Wow!!. When we toured into the room were they monitored the sky, Kristina was waiting for this after listening careful to everything it was time to ask questions here she goes.........Have you ever seen any u.f.o's in our skies? In many persisting ways she was asking lol. , then officers came in and informed us we need to continue our tour and showed us out of that room. We continued our tour and it was worth every bit of my excitment it was a spectacular place to see in person and to really get to apprieate it......The U.F.O ordeal always made a great story and lots of giggles for us school girls thanks U.G.C Great memories.
-Maxine

 

In March 1962 five Radar Tech Cpls were posted to Kingston, New York, to the IBM plant where they made the FYQ 7 computers that were installed in North Bay. We were there for 5 months taking the computer course...we arrived in North Bay in November... I remember the days we were operating the computer but were not yet operational, I was in the computer room getting the computer ready for a training exercise for the FCOs in the blue room up stairs, we had 10 minutes before the start time, when a Air Vice Marshall came in the computer room and asked if the computer could play music and solitaire? I told him it could and put the cards in the reader on the stand by computer and it played a couple of Christmas tunes and then let him use the light gun to move a few cards in the solitaire game. Next day my boss call me in and told me not to do that again because the AVM went up stairs a found the FCO sitting around waiting for the exercise to start running. We did not hold up the exercise because it was set to start for another 10 minutes.

-Ernie Killen Sgt (ret.)

 

In 1962,my husband was part of the IBM team that installed the equipment down in the "hole" as it was referred to at the time. They had to leave their cars at ground level and take a bus to the site. They worked 3 shifts to get the installation completed. I remember the awe I felt when I went down to visit the installation-- the massive doors, the refrigeration system, and most particularly the Command Post. It was very impressive. We left North Bay in 1963 and my husband did visit a few times later in the 60's but we were never able to show our sons where Daddy had worked. We did tell them about the Command Post and that this was where they tracked Santa every year! That certainly impressed them!

-Cecile Leach

 

Worked on the base (1966-1974 with 3 years in the Hole). I worked in the Hole as a secretary for 3 years which was long enough to get my BUM (Brotherhood of Underground Mushroomers) mushroom pin. I would ride the bus from the North Entrance at CFB North Bay to and from work every day. There was a good restaurant underground but we would often call someone up top on the base to see what the weather was like and then decide whether we wanted to take the bus and eat on the base or stay down for lunch. One whole wall of the restaurant was lined with curtains. Sometimes if you were sitting next to the curtains having lunch you would move the curtain to look out the window but, of course, there were no windows only walls behind the curtains. I enjoyed my time there.

-Diane Grainger (Norman)

 

So wonderful to see this section starting with the picture at the top where I recognize ,then Sqn. Ldr. Kieth Smith who was the Sr Director when the picture was taken.I worked for him when he was a F/L and I was an LAC at 2450 Reserve Sqn. Sherbrooke PQ. My career as a Ftr Controller started in the hole in 1968. During many tours in and out of The Bay and the hole I was Blessed to control,become a Weapons Director,Sr Director ,have the training and ground environment shops and finally have the Control Center Chiefs jobs. The wonderful professional people I was privileged to service with are too numerous to mention, and the outstanding work done by those to maintain the equipment and entire facility will never be surpassed. Thanks one and all-- friends to the end. Per Ardua Ad Astra

-John E Moors

 

Was stationed at at K.I. Sawyer ABF and Truax Field with Canadian Forces. Great folks to work and party with.

-Jesse Shanks, Colonel (Retired), United States Air Force

 

As a young female I was employed in the Sage Underground in l963 as a Secretary for Scientists who were employed by the National Research Council. We only used the south portal at that time and as someone else indicated in the winter it was dark when you went to work in the morning and dark when you came out at the end of the day. It was an interesting place to work and an engineering marvel that remains today. The waterfront in North Bay exists today because of all the rock that was excised from the "Hole", so it's value will live forever in this City.

-Lorraine Reny