Fort Pepperrell

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Fort Pepperrell, also known as Pepperrell Air Force Base (47°35′10″N, 52°41′31″W) is a former United States military base located in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. The base is named in honour of Sir William Pepperrell (1696-1759), the soldier who led the American colonists in the capture of the fortress of Louisbourg. Fort Pepperrell was a base used by the American Air Force Command for the defense of the northeast coast of Canada and the United States. Its creation followed the signing of a ninety-nine year land lease agreement on March 27, 1941, by US President Roosevelt and Newfoundland Governor Walwyn which established a framework for creating a military base at St. John’s for the defense of the North Atlantic.

Contents

[edit] Lend Lease Agreement

For more details on this topic, see Lend-Lease program.

In September 1940, the British Government obtained leases of sites for the establishment of naval and air bases for the Government of the United States, and facilities in its western possessions, Newfoundland and the South Atlantic territories. Aware of the possibility of a potential enemy strike across the North Atlantic Route, the United States accepted, and agreements were signed between the two countries. On March 27, 1941 a 99 year lease was acquired from Great Britain [Great Britain did not want to sell or give land away so a 99 year lease system was set up-ed.] for construction of air bases on sites in Newfoundland, Bermuda, Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Guinea. "The Leased Bases Agreement was signed on March 27, 1941 at 10 Downing Street. Under this agreement the United States received very wide powers to take necessary steps to defend the areas involved, including additional powers in time of war or emergency"

As a result of the discussions preceding these agreements, a board of experts on naval and air bases in British possessions had arrived in St. John's by March 1940 to investigate areas necessary for developments being considered by the recently set-up Canadian/United States Defence Board, and with the agreements signed and most of the negotiations completed, the first movement of U.S. troops to Newfoundland was planned.

Colonel. L. W.Rook was Judge Advocate of the US Army "lend-lease" force commanded by Gen. Charles H. Bonesteel.

[edit] NFLD Base Command

Fort Pepperrell was the center of the Newfoundland Base Command and was separated from the Greenland Base Command under the provisions of the United States/Danish Defence of Greenland Agreement. Before World War II both commands were brought under the jurisdiction of the Newfoundland Base Command which meant that Fort Pepperrell became the hub of all operations from the coast of Newfoundland and all lands north.

On January 15, 1941 the Newfoundland Base Command was activated on board the U.S. Army Transport Edmund B. Alexander, the largest ship ever to dock in St. John's. Field work near Quidi Vidi Lake began on October 15, 1940. On April 15, 1940 a lease was signed with Carpasian Park limited, for fifteen acres of land on which to build Camp Alexander, a temporary tent camp, located on Carpasian Road.

[edit] Commanders

Lt. Colonel J.J. Yates assumed command of Fort Pepperrell on November 28, 1941 and was replaced on December 02 by Colonel Paul N. Starling. Beginning with the 21st. Signal Service Company, [the Signal Corps began activity by linking up the ship with the temporary shore establishments. The link to Argentia from St. John's was later installed and then right across country to Harmon Field Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, thus providing a permanent dial telephone system between the bases] unit after unit moved from the tent city to Fort Pepperrell until on February 27, 1942, Headquarters NBC had moved from 44 Rennie's Mill Road. The military capacity was increased to 5,500 troops. With Pepperrell, McAndrew, and Ernest Harmon Air Force Base on a war footing, extensive maneuvers took place in the early fall of 1942.

Between May 01, 1942 and December 15, 1942, the Argentia Holyrood Road was constructed and 500 miles of telephone communication extended across Newfoundland. One such difficult link in the cross country communication line was the 110 mile stretch from Harmon Field to Port-au-Basque. Two thousand foot high, Long Range Mountain had to be crossed and wires had to be stretched over the top. Siberian huskies were used to tow the sled with heavy equipment up the dangerous slopes of the mountain. The task was completed with a telephone network far surpassing anything Newfoundland has ever had and in case of emergency is ready to fall in line of service for the inhabitants.

On January 07, 1943, Brigadier General John B. Brooks assumed command of the Newfoundland Base Command and on March 15 of the same year, work was completed at Fort Pepperrell. St. John's harbor, one of two ice free ports during the winter months, was engaged in unloading supplies necessary to maintain the Newfoundland garrisons. During the war years of all supplies shipped to other stations were processed through Fort Pepperrell. On October 10, 1944, Brigadier General Samuel Connell arrived at Pepperrell and assumed command of the Newfoundland Base Command, and in November 1944, the first man to be called on temporary active duty status left the Newfoundland Base Command for the Zone of Interior. On February 08th, Headquarters Company, St. John's Area, was formed and the Headquarters Detachment discontinued. On December 23rd, 1945 Colonel Albert Warren assumed command of the Newfoundland Base Command.

The war's end brought a haziness in the minds of authorities as to the future of the Newfoundland Base Command and Fort Pepperrell, since the inactivation of units and redeployment of forces had been going on at a rapid pace. But word finally came from the Adjutant General setting forth the post-war mission for Newfoundland. This was to provide local security for and maintain U.S. Army installations and areas and to facilitate operations of the Air Transport Command and maintain liaison with U.S. Navyand allied nations and local commands.

[edit] Quidi Vidi Lake

Field work near Quidi Vidi Lake began on October 15, 1940. During April and May, 1941 the Newfoundland Base Contractors' personnel began arriving on the island, and construction was taken over by their organization. On the 15th of April a lease was signed with Carpasian Park limited, for fifteen acres of land on which to build Camp Alexander, a temporary tent camp, located on Carpasian Road. On May 20th, both the troops quartered aboard the Alexander began moving into their new, but temporary camp. The Canada Newfoundland defense agreements were restricted to war-time conditions. War-time shortages meant that the Canadians did not build permanent military bases at Botwood, Gander, Bell Island or St. John's. Canadian Military buildings were erected quickly and cheaply with what ever materials were available. U.S. construction was planned to last the length of the 99 year lease.

[edit] Troops at Pepperrell

The Fort was designed to accommodate 3500 troops, inside storage space for 310 vehicles, warehouse space of 146,315 square feet and open storage of approximately twenty acres for vehicles, lumber, equipment, and supplies. Lt. Colonel J.J. Yates assumed command of Fort Pepperrell on November 28, 1941. On February 27, 1942 the headquarters for the Newfoundland Base Command had moved from 44 Rennie's Mill Road (Sir Richard Squires old house) and the military capacity was increased to 5,500 troops. The map shows the unique design incorporated into the street layout as a tribute to its designer, a stylized cowboy hat. The streets have undergone some minor changes over the years, but if you follow the outline created by Roosevelt Avenue, Churchill Avenue and Charter Avenue, outlined in green, you will notice the pattern. The street names that make up the stylized cowboy hat are in commemoration of the signing of the Atlantic Charter.

Barracks at Fort Pepperrell
Enlarge
Barracks at Fort Pepperrell

The base also had its own radio station VOUS which carried US radio network shows and Armed Forces Radio Service broadcasts.

[edit] 6604th AIR BASE WING

The mission of the 6604th Air Base Wing was to maintain and operate Pepperrell Air Force base for the support of personnel and units stationed on the base or USAF controlled areas of operation and to support other military units required to rise the facilities in their operational assignments.

[edit] Installations and Facilities

[edit] Torbay Air Field

At the end of June 1956, 23 separate installations were under the jurisdiction of Pepperrill Air Force Base. Most of the facilities were located on the Avalon Peninsula, the only exception being the Long Lines Repeater Stations. Pepperrill's two main facilities, the USAF Docks and Torbay Airport, were both located off base, both within four miles of Pepperrill. The Dock's were within one and one half miles of the base and Torbay was within three and one half miles. Torbay Air Field was under the control of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and was used as a commercial airfield. It was jointly used by the Trans Canada Airlines (now Air Canada), RCAF rescue aircraft, the 6604th Operations Squadron and a twelve plane Air Transport Group (the 6622nd ATS). In l956 Torbay Air Field was made of one major runway 8,000 feet long and three secondary runways of 5000+ feet each. The largest aircraft to have landed at Torbay was the C-124.

Terminal facilities were leased to the United States Air Force by the Canadian government at Torbay. From 1946 to 1956, rents, maintenance and construction totalled $2,000,300. The facilities included two 25,000 square foot hangars, 36,000 square foot machine shops and administrative offices. A thirty day notice was all that was needed to cancel the lease by the Canadian government.

[edit] Reorganization

Pepperrill AFB

Commercial Transportation was placed under the Maintenance and Supply Commander and Military Transportation under the 6604th Operations Squadron Commander. In a six month period (in I956 for example) 862,500 miles were driven using 93,900 gallons of gasoline and requests for 18,560 taxi trips. The food services and air installations functions formerly performed by the 64th Air Division for their organizations were transferred to the 6604th on May 01.

The 138th Engineer Aviation Group, SCARWAF (Special Category Army With Air Force) was deactivated on the 31st of May along with its 15 officers and 70 enlisted men. The 622nd Engineer Aviation Maintenance Company was deactivated along with its 4 officers and 95 enlisted men. The Engineer Aviation Battalion remained at Pepperrell and was under complete control of the Army at Governor's island, New York. For operational control and support, Headquarters 5th Weather Group and Detachment Number l2 were attached to the 6604th Wing on March 01. On June 01 the 6982nd Mobile Radio Squadron was attached to Wing for logistic support. Colonel Floyd M. Johnson assumed command of the 6604th Wing during this first six months due to the temporary absence of the Commander, Colonel Graeme S. Bond.

[edit] Costs of Operation

For the year 1956, maintenance and operational Projects at Pepperrill totalling $21,307,681 were accumulated from a total personnel assignment of 54,00 (2,702 in the Wing). By the end of the year civilians were decreased from 1,738 to 1,685; officers increased from 129 to 132 and airmen decreased from 814 to 777. Costs of the entire base averaged $2,000,000 monthly, the two highest costs being military pay (over $1,000,000 monthly) and civilian pay ($500,000 monthly). Operating costs of the Wing averaged over $1,000,000 a month with a high of $1,505,173 recorded in December 1955. Figured in the Wing costs were military pay ($350,000 monthly), civilian pay ($420,000), monthly supplies ($210,000 monthly), contractual services ($20,000 monthly) and other ($50,000 monthly).

[edit] Cost Savings Program

A cost savings program was implemented at Pepperrill for a total savings of $915,505.72. The largest recorded amount was by the 1805th AACS Wing when they succeeded in establishing direct route communications between Goose Bay and Thule Air Bases. The improvement in estimated gains was $758,000. The second largest recorded savings was by the Food Services Branch. The savings resulted from standardization of a master menu for command wide use. Under the old system 240 man hours monthly were required. This was reduced to 80 man hours. One of the smaller savings was the publication of the base phone book every four months instead of every three months.

[edit] Civilian Employment

Civilian employees were processed by the Civilian Personnel Office. In hiring civilian personnel including U.S. nationals, it was required that the applicant furnish the names and addresses of all previous employers and five references, names and locations of all schools attended, a birth certificate and a certificate of conduct from the St. John's Constabulary. All names were checked against a civilian unsuitability list.

Letters were written to all schools attended by the prospective employee, to all former employers and to persons listed as references. If derogatory information is received, the letters were filed in the official personnel folder of the employee concerned. Prior to employment and every year after, each applicant underwent a complete physical examination. Clearance was then completed and an identification card was issued.

[edit] Flight Activities and Training

Each pilot of the 6604th ABW was required to put in 100 hours of flying on an annual basis, divided equally between the first and second half of the fiscal year. Typical hours would include twenty hours of weather flying, fifteen hours of night flying (50% as co-pilot) and up to ten missions as instructor pilot(p47). The total amount of hours put in by the Wing was 16,800 for the 168 pilots. In 1955, cross country flights to the United States and Canadian mainland were begun as a means of testing the pilots proficiency and making full use of the airplanes. This was set up over a three day period of six flight hours per day, every six months.

[edit] Selected references

(for this section only, Commanders and Quidi Vidi Lake)

  • Hiller, Ian and Neary, Peter (eds.) (1980). Newfoundland in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century: Essays in Interpretation. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
  • 66O2nd Air Base Wing. EHAFB Information Pamphlet. January 19, 1951.
  • Pepperrell Air Force Base microfilm, US Airforce Archives, Matthews AFB
  • Lumsden, Ian (ed.) (1977). Close to the 49th Parallel: The Americanization of Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
  • MacKenzie, David. (1986). Inside The Atlantic Triangle: Canada and the Entrance of Newfoundland Into Confederation 1939-1949. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
  • MacLead, Malcolm. (1986). Piece of the Continent: The Impact of Second World War Canadian and American Bases in Newfoundland. St. John's: Harry Cuff Publications.
  • Ray, Lt. Colonel Claxton. Interviews, correspondence, military records and diaries.
  • Roberts, Honourable Kenneth. US House of Representatives Correspondence with Claxton Ray.
  • Stacey C.P. (1976). Mackenzie King and the Atlantic Triangle. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada.
  • Terranovan. Bases boon to Newfoundland. St. John's Telegram. Topics Of The Day. April 16, 1948.
  • Terranovan. U.S. Signal Corps. St. John's Telegram. Topics Of The Day. April 17, 1948.

[edit] North East Air Command

In the summer of 1950 with the activation of the Northeast Air Command all units of the 1225th Air Base Group were reassigned to the Northeast Air Command, bringing to a close the activities of the Newfoundland Base Command. On May 15, 1960 the last American forces departed when the United States Army Transportation Terminal Command Arctic closed its headquarters and on August 10 that same year the American flag was lowered and the Union Jack and the Canadian Red Ensign was raised.

On August 9, 1966 in honor of Dr. Charles Alberton Janeway the Janeway Children’s Hospital opened its doors within the same building once used by the US Military as a hospital.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links