Our Favourite Hang Out- The Rec Center
As teens we carried ID to get through the staffed gate to get on the base from where we lived. The Rec Center housed a theater, bowling alley, huge gym, swimming pool, library, confection store and snack bar. We were all involved in rec activities at various times and though we didn't know it at the time, it was a remarkable facility. We all congregated there in the evenings and weekends and sometimes would stir up various types of innocent trouble. This was truly our bonding time that lasts through to today. The stories....the stories that only we can tell at our next REUNION.
CFB Bagotville Today
In 1994 the two squadrons at CFB Bagotville each had 15 operational fighters(CF-18s). A Radar Squadron moved to Bagotville to provide tactical control services in support of CF-18 training. Soon T-33 aircrafts and "Iroquois" helicopters (replaced later by the "Griffon") arrived. The title 3 Wing was attached to the operational side of the base in 1993 and the primary mission is to participate in the control of Canadian air space, support NATO and UN missions as well as supporting search and rescue operations. Today, approximately 1,500 people are employed there.
REC CENTRE POOL
This is a more current picture of the pool - the windows are gone now.
In 1942,the RCAF established First Operational Training Unit at Bagotville, Quebec; which is located near the Saguenay River in the Lac St Jean area. The unit trained officers to pilot "Harvard", "Lysander" and "Hurricane" aircraft and to provide protection for the nearby Alcan factory and power stations. The training unit only lasted till fall 1944 and disbanded following the war.
CFB Bagotville started up again in 1951 welcoming 413 and 414 squadron and its "Sabre" aircraft. A year later both squadrons went to Europe to rejoin First Canadian Air Division. Bagotville's role was then a stopover for squadrons going overseas and a summer camp for squadrons and their "Mustang" and "Vampire" aircrafts.
In 1954 the base had attached units with "all-weather" fighter squadrons and their CF-100 Canuck aircrafts. Squadrons came and went until 1961 when the CF-100's squadrons were dismantled.
PMQ's (Personnel Married Quarters)
The aerial view of our homes (the PMQs); is much the same today as it was back in the 60's,with a few more added on. These pictures provides us with the perfect map of where we used to live.
In those days there were blocks for various ranks. The officers lived in the big houses with shrubs etc. while the working ranks lived in small houses very close to one another. All the better to pass notes back and forth from one house window to the next door neighbors when parents weren't looking
Linda's house and Dad's home-made trailer
Linda's Mom
The 1960's Arrive in Bagotville
In December 1961 Squadron 416 arrived with its CF-101 "Voodoos". In 1962 Squadron "les Alouettes" arrived with their "Voodoos" and in 1969, the "Porcs-Epics "Squadron played a tactical support role using Canadian built CF-5's.
A New Era Enters
In 1982 the 410 Squadron moved to Cold Lake, Alberta to make the switch to the new Canadian fighter, the CF-18"Hornet. The CF-5 squadron came from Cold Lake and then went off to Chatham N.B. in 1985.
July 1,1984 marked the end of the "Voodoo" era and Bagotville converted to CF-18s.
HISTORY OF BAGOTVILLE
1960's and more current
OUR PMQ HOMES
Some PMQs were duplexes, some were single but they were all very close to each other. You could see what was happening on the street as the view was unobstructed from one end to the other. In our earlier days we would go to homes that had kids and trade comic books after supper. Millie the Model and Archie were the girls' favs while I am sure the Marvel comics got the boys attention. Nicole and Deb rigged up a clothesline between their bedrooms and had notes pegged on it to pass back and forth. The houses couldn't have been more than 12 feet apart.
Debbie's House
Our family lived in this small house on the 500 block right next door to Nicole on one side and Rocky and Randy on the other. There were two small bedrooms upstairs and one down stairs that was probably designed as a dining room but in our case had to be a bedroom. This design can be seen all across Canada as houses that were built for returning veterans after WW2. Most of our time was spent outdoors on the vast grassways because I don't remember a tree in sight, just lawn.
I only recognize Cynthia in this picture and Mary ? and I have no idea who the little one is. Anyone want to make an identity send me your comments.