22ND HELICOPTER SQUADRON, GOOSE BAY AFB, LABRADOR
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The 22nd Helicopter Squadron was located at Goose Bay Air Base, Labrador (SAC). The unit commenced operations in 1953 with H-19 helicopters and later switched to H-21's. The helicopters were used to re-supply the Air Defense Command Early Warning Radar sites along the northeastern coast of Labrador.
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At the time, the 22nd had the unique distinction of being the only helicopter squadron assigned to SAC. The 22nd H-21 helicopters were recognized by the rear half of the aircraft painted red and a horizontal red stripe covering the windows with an arrow at the front.
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Marvin DeLong was assigned to the 22nd Helicopter Squadron in 1958. (see his remarks – DeLong)
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In 1959, the Squadron Commander was Major John "Jack" Halpin and Operations Officer was Captain Harry Schussler. Goose Bay was temporary home to KC-135 and KC-97 Air Refueling aircraft from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana and Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. ARRS also had a detachment of rescue H-21's at Goose Bay.
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22nd HeliRon Pilots, circa 1959 – from Kyron Hall (for pdf file with names click here) |
The 22nd HELIRON was comprised of some 30 pilots (during the 1959-60 period) that flew a maximum of 3 aircraft a day. This was a terrible waste of manpower. The assignment was basically an unaccompanied tour of 18 months. Some officers were able to get their families to accompany them if the timing was right but to the majority it was a "solo" assignment.
The 22nd flew to five sites delivering supplies and personnel. These sites had began construction in 1951 and became operational in 1953. They were located about 100 miles easterly from Goose Bay. They were initially supported with H-19's. The names of the sites were Cape Makkovik, Cartwright, Hopedale, Fox Harbor, and Spotted Island. The troops at the sites were always glad to see the "chopper" because it brought fresh produce and MAIL.
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The re-supply schedule varied with some receiving a trip daily (weather permitting), some twice weekly or weekly. None of the sites had a landing strip for fixed wing aircraft. The AC&W sites were on the coast and most had a bay where an SA-16 or L-20 (on floats) could land in summer to bring in supplies. Sometimes in the winter when the choppers were grounded for weather, the SA-16 would make air drops or the L-20 would land on the ice with skis. In the summer, the sites also stockpiled supplies that were brought in by ships.
Working with the SAC commanders was another matter. All scheduled mission's paperwork had to be routed through at least 3 full colonels, Director of Ops, Director of Maintenance and Wing Commander, for their approval on the next day's flights. The weather had to be nearly perfect from "the Goose" to the site before we could launch. The SAC commanders didn’t understand how helicopters operate with low ceilings and visibility and we were lucky to get one trip a day with a rare "double".
In April of 1969 two H-21's and 5 pilots were sent TDY to Sondrestrom, Greenland, to support construction of a new DEW (Early Warning) site (Dye 1) on Greenland. The pilots got to fly about every other day, which was very welcome from the boredom at Goose Bay. Over a seven month period, from April to October 1959, the 22nd carried over a half million pounds of cargo and passengers in support of the construction of Dye One site. One of the perks to this mission was that the Danish cook at Dye One would always have a sack full of wonderful pastries for the helicopter crew.
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Sondrestrom Air Base was between the end of a huge icefield/glacier and the fjord. Sondrestrom fjord is a mile or 2 wide and runs 90 miles to the Ocean. The mountains go up very steeply on the sides to a height of several thousand feet. The water in the middle of the fjord was reportedly 600 fathoms deep. The mountains didn’t stop when they reached the water. (The book, "Fate is the Hunter" by Ernest Gann has a chapter on WW II cargo planes flying IFR up the fjord.)
With summer advancing, the Atlantic salmon and Arctic char were on their spawning runs from the ocean though the streams and the fishing was fantastic. We caught lots of fish and a medic at the hospital used the kitchen to deep-fry the fish. Fresh salmon and a bottle of Rose' Matusse made the evening.
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A few of the 22nd pilots at Goose got checked out in the L-20. In the summer the L-20's were on floats and were used to support the R&R fish camps.
Good news. In October 1959, the 22nd's mission was contracted out to Okanagan Airways and soon the pilots would be rotating stateside. The assigned crew members had to remain at Goose Bay for 30 days until it was assured that Okanagan could fulfill their commitment. Okanagan brought in three H-34 helicopters and two pilots and in a couple of weeks had hauled out the entire backlog. They sent one aircraft and one pilot home and accomplished the 22nd's entire re-supply mission with One aircraft and One pilot with a single backup H-34. Goes to show you what can really be accomplished by helicopter when you don’t have to mess with a bunch of SAC Colonels!
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The 22nd Helicopter Squadron was officially deactivated on November 30, 1959.
The bad news. The pilots not only waited the obligatory 30 days but also were without any flying aircraft through December and January. They had to get their 4 hours of flying for flight pay in the back of an L-20 or SA-16. Many went home on Christmas leave and back to Goose without a job or assignment. Finally in late January some assignments began to trickle in.
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Personal Note: My roommate had reported to personnel to get his new orders and called to tell me that my assignment was in. I was going back to Stead. This was about 2:30 p.m. By 4:30 p.m., I had collected my orders, had cleared every required office except Finance. By 5:30 p.m., I had gone to the BX and purchased a footlocker, had packed all my gear and checked with the KC-97 Tankers on their scheduled departure back to the states (they rotated every 2 weeks). Luckily they were departing in about 24 hours. The next morning I cleared Finance and was told that I would be scheduled to depart on a C-118 to McGuire AFB in about 4 days. I said, "Thank you very much" and made my way to Tanker Ops. I had spent enough wasted days at "the Goose". That afternoon I departed Goose Bay on my way to Little Rock, Arkansas, and on to home and family.
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Labrador's AC&W sites continued to be supported by Okanagan Helicopters for several more years. The main site at Cartwright was operational until 1968 with the “gap filler” sites closing in 1961.
