CFS Armstrong was built quite remotely by the USAF in 1952 and became operational in 1954 as the Armstrong Air Station, it was handed over to the Canadian RCAF in 1963, and became CFS Armstrong after unification in 1967. As other radar stations became more powerful it became redundant and was decommissioned in 1974. Most of the base still stands, including the foundation of the radomes. From what I gather, the more remote the radar station, the better preserved it has been - it seems like nobody goes there because it's really remote - perfect!
The location of the operations site and domestic site are obvious, but the GATR, RX and TX sites I'd like to locate as well. From the available imagery I can only identify one of them (east of the operations site, at the end of the road) and I hope I can find the others when I have boots on the ground. (NB, In the 1950s there were always two communications sites; one for transmit, one for receive; about 10 years later the higher powered GATR sites were built)
I do not currently know where the CFS Armstrong GATR site would have been, which would have been built in the early 1960s, I suspect. I also do not know where the "cabins" were that were supposedly built by German prisoners of war in the years before the station was built.
The local town of Armstrong was a short trip away and the rail brought in most of the base supplies.
Here is the site plan of how the base was paid out:
Well, clearly The King George Hotel/Bar is a must. By military standards it was a rough hotel/bar, so I can only imagine what stories its walls hold... It has been renovated, but it is still there under a new name and new management (uh, I think? I'd hope!) now called "Chateau North"
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| Photo Credit: Fred Rasmussen (1971) |
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| (L-R) Bob Wanner, Bob Landenman, Kelly at the airport April 1955. (Credit Bob Wanner) |
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| Armstrong International Airport August 1962 (Credit Keith Robinson ) |
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| Checking out the plane at Armstrong airport before take off July 1958 (Credit Wayne Mathern) |
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| This L-20 aircraft was attached to the 914th AC&W Squadron April 1960 (Credit Greg Clarke) |
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| Armstrong AFS - February 1960 (Credit: Greg Clarke) |
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| Aerial close up of Operations Site - 9 May 1962 (Credit: National Photo Library) |
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| Aerial photo of the radar station - March 1969 (Credit: National Photo Library) |
I was posted at CFS Armstrong in 1972 and was held over past my 1 year as it was closing and they didn't want to bring new personel in. And yes, there are many stories around the King George Hotel. It was right across from the train station and the first place most people saw in Armstrong. Like stepping a hundred years back in time.
ReplyDeleteWill Beaudoin
I was 12 years old in 1972 in Armstrong.
DeleteI was posted at CFS Armstrong in 1972 and was held over past my 1 year as it was closing and they didn't want to bring new personel in. And yes, there are many stories around the King George Hotel. It was right across from the train station and the first place most people saw in Armstrong. Like stepping a hundred years back in time.
ReplyDeleteWill Beaudoin
I was wondering where to get a list of men that were posted in Armstrong? I have a half sister, her father was stationed there. she was given up for adoption in 1969
ReplyDeleteI was stationed at Armstrong radar station in 1959. USAF
ReplyDeleteAnyone stationed there remember Camp Nine ? or the bears in the garbage pit ?
ReplyDeleteAre you talking about the garbage dump just past Little Caribou Lake I've got a picture of 21 black bears chowing down inside the dump. Do you remember Angeline Lawrence she lived at little Caribou lake and had a pickup truck with mail and garbage on the side of it she would pickup garbage and mail from the train station.
DeleteShe was picking up the garbage at the mess back in 73/74.
DeleteGarbage and Mail and Ice for sale.
ReplyDelete