Project 572 &

VE8GY

William Barrie

VE3AAS

February, 2008

Doomsdqy ClockDoomsday Clock

Doomsday Clock Chart Created by atomic scientists to indicate the minutes

before we incur catastrophic destruction (midnight”)- At 2 minutes to “midnight” in 1953 through 1960.

The Threat

• Russian long range bombers had been flying over northern Canada at will

The 1952 Summer Study

• A Summer Study group was assembled at Lincoln Labs of MIT to consider measures required for a defense against the Soviet bomber threat.

• The existing Pine Tree Line could not provide the six hour warning needed to launch air defensive forces.

Project 572ATT, Western Electric and the Bell System were

assigned the task. Project work began in 1952.

(At that time, Bell System included Bell Telephone Company of Canada and Northern Electric)

This led to the largest and most difficult construction project in history – what became known later as the Distant Early Warning Line

The DEW Line would supplement the existing Pine Tree Line, and the planned Mid-Canada Line

The Radar Lines as of 1953

• DEW Line (Lat 70 N) very early in planning– would grow to 43 stations

• Mid Canada Line (Lat 55 N) early in planning– would grow to 98 stations

• Pine Tree Line (Lat 50 N) partially completed - would grow to 50 stations

Project 572 Objectives Construct an accessible prototype site at Streator, Ill for

equipment evaluation / training. Construct three Arctic radar sites - at Pt. Barrow,

Barter Island and Komakuk to form a 200 mile prototype “Test Line” section of the future DEW Line.

As part of the ongoing development process, evaluate the Search Radar, Doppler Radar, lateral and rearward VHF and UHF communication systems for future DEW Line deployment.

Evaluate the Sno Shu tracked vehicle and Otter amphibious vehicle for future DEW line use

Assess staff selection, level and training problems.

The “Test Line” Arctic Sites

Pt BarrowPt Barrow

Barter IslandBarter IslandKomakukKomakuk

VE3AAS in 1953

I had spent World War II studying, teaching, and working on Radar in the UK and the Far East

By 1953 I had graduated from UWO in Radio Physics and was working with Northern Electric in Belleville under Bud Punchard VE3UD.

Though I was working for a Bell System company, I was unaware of the highly secure Project 572 activities at top levels in the Bell System and Western Electric.

Come Into My Office Please

Wow!

Canadian Project 572 Contingent

Several engineers chosen from Northern Electric

Several engineers chosen from various Canadian telephone companies

Some would not survive the rigorous evaluation and training ahead

My “Briefing”

• More an interview to determine the capability of the “volunteer” to survive a year of Arctic isolation.

• The interviewer did not reveal much about the project since security level high.

Major Project 572 Challenges

• Harsh environment

• Remote locations

• Staffing

• Radar

• Rear and lateral communications

• Cost

• Security

These only became apparent to me over time as the training program progressed.

Psychological Evaluation• Shrink team from Northwest University -

Chicago • Aptitude tests, ink blots• Ability to survive alone• Political - follow on from McCarthy era• Some curiosity about Canadians

Several initial candidates did not make it through this evaluation process and training

Diesel Power Plant Training

Key place of the electric power Maintenance and repair Fuel supply lines in frigid weather Synchronization switching of main to

standby generator

Firefighting Training

Practice sessions at Western Electric Hawthorne plant, Chicago.

Remember, an Arctic building fire leaves you completely without shelter.

Use of extinguishers and other equipment.

First Aid Training

First Aid as per American Red Cross No doctors or nurses at hand so ---

How to remove an appendix !! Frost bite treatment. Extreme care.

Arctic Survival Training

Kit of blanket, shotgun (miniature),water tablets, hardtack

Beware weather, wind, blackout, ice Eskimo guide Never alone

Getting There

Yukon Alaska Tundra

Alaska Mountains

Welcome to Arctic Alaska

Flew commercial into Fairbanks Flew charter into Barter Island, the more

advanced of the three “Test Line” sites as it had sea-lift access and supplies went out from there.

Lots of contractor people still building that site Joined a dozen or so on the electrical team - two

of us to focus on the Search Radar, others to focus on VHF, UHF and Doppler

Spent two months at Barter Island before going on to Komakuk, Yukon to start over again there.

Our ObjectivesThe radar and telecommunications equipment, antennas and towers had been unpacked and installed by contractor people before our arrival, under factory supervision. To calibrate and evaluate the equipment features and suitability for future DEW Line deployment To use and report observations on other equipment in use at our sites, including diesel power plant, Sno Shu and Otter vehicles.

Site Functions

Reporting and Decisions

Instead of formal reports there were daily TTY exchanges in the form of questions from Western Electric at West Street, NYC and our answers

Often questions came from Bell Labs and the Western Electric Company plants

Environment

10 Months+ Winter

Very bitter cold

Drifting snow

Violent wind

2 Months Summer

Clouds of mosquitoes

Temporary Shelter

Sleeping Wannigan

Engineer Drowns at Komakuk

That tragic drowning left me alone on Search That tragic drowning left me alone on Search Radar for the duration.Radar for the duration.

L Band Search Radar

AN/TPS-1D (Tipsy One Dog) Built by Western Electric 1220 – 1350 MHz, 500 KW, 4o H, 12o V Used selected 5J26 magnetrons Movable automatic alarm range rings. Frequent Minimum Discernable Signal tests Frequent VSWR tests Frequent frost problems on feedlines

L Band Search Radar

VHF Equipment

Lateral – FM 250W Vertical – 100 KW Ionsospheric Scatter Air/Ground – HF, VHF, UHF LF Beacon – for non-precision

approaches to runway.

VHFVHF

UHF & Doppler “Radar” Air/Ground AN/FRC-23 Doppler / McGill Fence “Intruders” detected by doppler shift of

received signal (not to be confused with doppler search radar as used for weather)

UHF and Doppler

Vehicles

SNOW SHUOTTER

Sno Shu and Otter

Completed Komakuk Site

Project 572 Test Results• Extensive tests for future DEW Line

suitability had been done on the AN/TPS-1D L-Band Search Radar using USAF aircraft

• High level of security prevented access to my own test results

• TPS-1D L Band Search Radar: successful; special features performed well

• Doppler Radar: much false triggering by vehicles, animals, birds and vibration

• VHF and UHF Telecom: Some fading

Project 572 Test Results (cont’d)

Otter Amphibious Vehicle: irrelevant for DEW Line

Snow Shu Vehicle: no suspension meant much rider discomfort and significant vehicle damage

Ongoing improvements on various pieces of radar and telecoms gear would be made throughout the DEW Line operations phase

AN/TPS-1D evolved into AN/FPS-19

AmenitiesWe had all the amenities of an isolated US military base, provided by Uncle Sam

•Hunting equipment

•Model railroad

•Heathkits

•Music library, movie projector, games

•Photographic darkroom to develop & print

•Ham radio station

Amateur Radio VE8GYKomakuk, Yukon

Transmitter: Collins KW-1 Receiver: Hammarlund SP-600 Antennas: Dipoles, V-BeamBands: 10, 11, 15, 20, 40, 80Modes: Phone, CW, RTTY

VE8GY HIGH CLASS OPERATORS

VE8GY V-beam directed south

DX QSLs

Polar Net 14.195 6.30 pm

Field Day 1954 - Top Score for VE8(See QST)

Unusual Events

Working Ice Island T3 on 80M

Prince Phillip on Polar Net in 1954

QSO with Aklavik on broadcast band

Herschel Island QSOs

The Great Globemaster Incident

MIDNIGHT SUN

Midnight SunMidnight Sun

Guide, Photographer, Weatherman

Radio Inspector

Haircut

Sea Water Bath

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