Stoney Mountain (Anzac) Alberta
The following extract is taken from the book "A History of the Air Defence of Canada 1948 - 1997" by the NBC Group
RCAF Station Stoney Mountain Alberta (Sector control Station 800) was located close to the northern Alberta town of Anzac, which is on Gregoire Lake, 24 miles south of Fort McMurray. The station was opened in March 1957. By April it was conducting limited operations without the benefit of any identification capability. In June 1963 Stoney Mountain continued it's basic function as a Sector Control Station, until a major change resulted in the deletion of the detection function, due to a relocation of the Canadian Air Defence Identification Zone (CADIZ) north of the Mid Canada Line in its area. RCAF Station Stoney Mountain disbanded on 01 March 1964.
In addition to its MCL role, RCAF Stoney Mountain was also a rearward IS 101 Ionospheric Scatter link to DEWLine Station PIN Main (Cape Parry NWT) The site was actually near ANZAC AB on Lake Gregoire south of Fort McMurray at 56°27'00"N, 111°02'00"W Using the acronym WAT-X as an identifier for "Waterways" another close community. The site was closed in 1964.
(2) Raising a TV antenna on an unused tower. Photos courtesy of Roy (Slim) Jennings
(3) First Crew. Photo courtesy Paul Richard
(4) Bell Technicians. Photo courtesy Paul Richard
(5) sunset with Radome on the right. Photo courtesy Paul Richard
(6) Radome from the air looking west. Photo courtesy Paul Richard
(7) Ionospheric Antenna Rearward comms from PIN Main. Photo courtesy Paul Richard
(8) Transmitter Receiver tower with Radome in the background. Photo courtesy Paul Richard
(9) Cpl Paul Richard at the Radio console. Photo courtesy Paul Richard
(10) RCAF Stn Stoney Mountain Crest. Courtesy of Rick Francis
(11) End of a typical day 1962 Courtesy of Bruce Jorgenson
(12) Roman Catholic Chapel Courtesy of Bruce Jorgenson
(13) Protestant Chapel Courtesy of Bruce Jorgenson
(14) Officers & NCO's Messes Courtesy of Bruce Jorgenson
(15) Station sign Courtesy of Bruce Jorgenson
(16) Looking North from the Radar Building Courtesy of Bruce Jorgenson
(17) Hanger, from the Radar Building Courtesy of Bruce Jorgenson
(18) McMurray Alberta circa 1960 Courtesy of Bruce jorgenson
(19) Remembrance Day Parade Between the airman is a home made cannon that was fired on the 11 November. The person the right is Woody Woodbeck and on the left I think is Yogi Parker, the rest of us were on parade thanks to our CO S/L Webster (now deceased). Info courtesy Ralph Hunt.
(20) Ops Room courtesy David Glover
(21) RCAF Personnel, 1958 courtesy Jim Shrubb via Michael Koerner
Anyone who served at Stoney Mtn R.C.A.F. station back in the 50's-60's will likely recall there was an Alberta Forest Service fire lookout approx 2 1/2 miles to the east of the station.
Back in 1991, Forestry moved the lookout and cabin, to the old R.C.A.F. station site.
Over the years, quite a few people have come through, that served at the base while it was still operational. From them, I understand the fire lookout sits about where the old water tower (?) used to be.
Every once in awhile, I still run across the odd remnant of the base, from when it was demolished - mostly just concrete and rebar, but also the odd bit of a truck, or helicopter. My "firepit" is an old manhole, which I found near the house.
The lookout tower isn't alone up here, though - there's also 5 communications towers ( soon to be 6), along with the radar dome for the Fort McMurray airport.
Just thought someone might be interested in what ever became of the place...
Tom Martin cupola@telusplanet.net
Anzac, Canada - Saturday, September 18, 1999 at 18:30:43 (EDT)
