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LORAN STATION BATTLE HARBOR

52 14 53.14 N 55 36 18.39 W (MIT Vol 4 1948)
52 15 N 55.36 W (1948 Operational Report)

Fact Sheet:

Site Survey:

JUL 1942
 
Construction Date

Summer 1942 – Sept 1942
 
Constructed by:

National Defense Research Council - contracted McNamara Construction Company
 
Established:

OCT 1942
 
Disestablished:

31 DEC 1983
 
Operated by:

USCG: 1942 – 1 SEP 1953
CANADA: 1 SEP 1953 - 1983
 
Chain:

North Atlantic Chain
Canadian East Coast
 
Station Letter designation:

1L3/1L4 “V”
 
Station code name:

LOVE
 
Station Unit Number:

1942 - 1943 MIT Unit 06
1943 - 1949 USCG Unit 35
01-521
U.S. Navy 228, FPO, NY
 
Radio Call Sign:

NJN-35
 
Station AKA:

Advance Base Buck
 
On-air testing date:

1L3, FEB 1943
1L4, FEB 1943
 
Operational date:

15 JAN 1944
 
Operations Ceased:

1L3 - 312400Z DEC 1980
1L2 - 31 DEC 1983
 
Station Operation:

Double SLAVE/SECONDARY (DS) 1943 - 1980
 
Station pair:

1L2/1L4 – FREDERICKSDAL
1L3 - BONAVISTA
 
Loran Rate:

1L2, 1961 – 31 DEC 1983
1L3, 15 JAN 1944 – 312400Z DEC 1980
1L4, 15 JAN 1944 - 1961
 
On-Air:

1L3, 15 JAN 1944
1L4, 15 JAN 1944
1L3/1L4 - 191530Z MAR 1950 - Loran Operations resumed
1L2, 1961 - change of rate

Off-Air

1L3/1L4 - 26 FEB 1950 - Station off air - fire destroyed station
1L4, 1961 - change of rate
1L3, 312400Z DEC 1980
1L2, 31 DEC 1983

Monitor Rate:
 
Equipment:

AUG 1944 - Station Rab Model C timers installed
 
Antenna Type:
 
Personnel Allowance:

JAN 1953 – 1 Officer; 19 Enlisted
 
Miscellaneous:

1st Isolated station
31 OCT 1942 - USCG directed to establish three northern Atlantic stations (Frederiksdal, Bonavista, Battle Harbor)
15 NOV 1942 - Experimentation on-air testing
09 JUL 1945 - Five year lease signed with John Murphy @ $600 per year.
26 FEB 1950 - Fire destoryed station – station off air - Engine room, DC workshop, LORAN Shack and passageway destoryed by fire.
19 MAR 1950 - Station restructed - on-air- resumed operations
Commanding Officers /
Officers in Charge

1st CO: RELE William H Keel JAN 1943 - MAY 1943
CO: ENS Harry H Harrison MAY 1943 - MAY 1944
CO: ENS James G Norman MAY 1944
CO: LTJG Raymond G Parks ? - AUG 1947
CO: LTJG John W Sommers AUG 1947 – 13 JUN 1948
CO: RELE Rufus B Shirley 13 JUN 1948 – 27 OCT 1948
CO: LTJG John W Steffey 27 OCT 1948 -
CO: LTJG Louis E Price 1950

Cruising the Labrador, or LORAN in 1941 - 1942; A Memoir by Alexander A McKenzie (MIT Engineer) - pdf

Documents:

15 OCT 1948 - Operational Data Report - pdf

14 NOV 1949 - Dog Food Purchase Requisition - pdf

26 FEB 1950 - Station fire correspondence - pdf

23 APR 1950 - COMDT News Release - pdf

Pictures

Photos below are courtesy of   http://www.zianet.com/tmorris/battleharbourairresupply.html

Station Antenna circa unknown

c./unknown

The Mess Hall, Galley, Recrection Room and living quarters are at the near left. LORAN transmitting and electric generators are at the top right. The two areas are connected by a covered passageway with cement block fire walls at key locations to prevent the spread of fire. Part of the diesel supply in on the platform to the right. c./June 1947

An overhead view of the station. Note the braces to prevent constaant winds from
blowing over the covered passageway! There is additional diesel staorage at the
bottom center of the photo. There were two other diesel storage sites, making lots of work
for the Station personnel manhandling the drums to the areas where they were to be used.

Thanks Ted!

The photo below was retrieved from NARA Washington DC
USCG Official photo c./1948

c./1943