Argentia: The Naval Air Station
Protection of territory in the Western Hemisphere from European intrusion was of
paramount concern to the United States of America. Recognizing the need for Atlantic bases
the United States negotiated the Destroyers-for-bases deal with the United Kingdom on 2
September 1940 and was granted the lease, "freely and without consideration," of
base sites in Newfoundland and Bermuda.
In mid September 1940, the USS St. Louis arrived in Placentia Bay with a
Board of Experts headed by Rear Admiral John W. Greenslade. The Board selected the
Argentia Peninsula and adjacent waters for aerial operations and to accommodate facilities
for naval light forces. In addition, the Board recommended the neighbouring community of
Marquise as a site for basing and training some 16,000 Army troops. The following month,
Army Corps engineers surveyed the harbour and land and by year's end temporary buildings
were in place and field work underway. Contractors began construction of the air and naval
base in January 1941. Work on the Army base, or Marquise Military Reservation as it was
initially called (renamed Fort McAndrew early in 1942), began in March 1941.
The Army's primary role was to protect the Naval Operating Base, Naval Air Station,
and surrounding area. The initial recommendation that Fort McAndrew accommodate 16,000
troops was never realized. Instead, a garrison of 2,000 was considered; in 1942 this
figure was revised to 7,500 men. Infantry guarded roads and beaches and patrolled as far
north as Arnold's Cove. They manned searchlight, artillery, and antiaircraft posts, and
protected the rail line which was used to transport cargo and fuel (via Argentia) to Army
posts and air bases throughout Newfoundland.
Base Security Badge
Credit: Dorothy (Glavine) Doyon
Prior to the American's arrival some 750 people inhabited the area selected for
military occupation. In December 1940, the Newfoundland Government took power to
requisition (for defense purposes) any land within the island. Almost immediately
householders began receiving notices to vacate their homes. In response, residents formed
a Citizens Committee to defend their interests and retained St. John's Lawyer Philip J.
Lewis as legal counsel. Expropriation procedures were underway when in March 1941 the
Newfoundland Government appointed an official Board of Arbitration to settle compensation
claims. The process took months; not until early 1942 was the last family removed, their
household goods placed aboard an Army truck, and the premised passed over to Base
authorities. To allow for further development three Argentia cemeteries were relocated in
the summer of 1942 and some 625 bodies disinterred and re-buried in a new site at nearby
Freshwater.
In March 1941, the United States Navy organized Patrol Wing, Support Force, comprising
Patrol Squadrons 51, 52, 55 and 56 and Seaplane Tenders Albemarle, Belknap
and Geo. E. Badger. Issued on 5 May 1941, Operation Plan No. 1-41 provided that
the Wing "proceed on advance base exercises [and] maintain at least one squadron
based on tender(s) at Argentia." In accordance with this plan, Albemarle
established Wing Headquarters at Argentia and on 18 May PBY-5A seaplanes of Patrol
Squadron 52 commenced operations. The following week, American neutrality notwithstanding,
they searched unsuccessfully for the German battleship Bismarck.
In July 1941, the Wing's name was changed from Patrol Wing, Support Force, to Patrol
Wing Seven (re-designated Fleet Air Wing Seven
the following year). This adjustment included the renumbering of squadrons. Beginning in
August, Patrol Wing Seven, in addition to convoy coverage, established a daily harbour
patrol of the approaches to Argentia. It soon became evident, however, that Newfoundland's
harsh winter weather would make tender-based aerial operations extremely hazardous.
Consequently, the Navy began efforts to re-equip the Wing with land planes. Meanwhile,
runway construction on the Argentia Peninsula had progressed such that by late 1941 three
were available for emergency use.
The new year brought change and success to Wing operations at Naval Air Station
Argentia as facilities improved, new squadrons arrived, and aerial reconnaissance
intensified. On 1 March 1942, U-656 became the first German submarine sunk by American
forces during World War Two. The attack was carried out by Ensign William Tepuni piloting
a Hudson bomber with Patrol Squadron 82
(VP-82). Two weeks later VP-82 pilot, Chief Aviation Machinist's Mate Donald Mason, sank
U-503 southeast of the Virgin Rocks.
Throughout 1942 and much of 1943, the principal activity of Argentia-based aircraft
continued to be search and rescue, convoy escort, and anti-submarine patrol. A significant
change came in April 1943 when United States, British, and Canadian authorities agreed
that Canada assume responsibility for the protection of shipping in the Northwest
Atlantic. Now, operational direction of aircraft came from the combined Royal Canadian Air
Force-Royal Canadian Navy headquarters at St. John's, Newfoundland. Fleet Air Wing Seven
functioned under this system until its transfer overseas in August 1943.
In July 1943, Coast Guard Patrol Bombing
Squadron Six (VPB-6) began training and indoctrination at Argentia preparatory to
North Atlantic operations. After its commissioning in October 1943, VPB-6 reported to its
main operating base at Narsarssuak, Greenland. A detachment of two VPB-6 aircraft (PBY-5A)
was, however, assigned to Argentia and placed under the administrative control of
Commander Fleet Air Wing Nine (Fleet Air Wing Seven's successor). Duties included
antisubmarine patrol, convoy coverage, and search and rescue. Lighter Than Air Blimp
Squadrons provided additional support during the Summer and Fall of 1944. When war ended
in 1945, VPB-6's duties changed to ice observation, medical evacuation, and utility
missions; it continued air-sea rescue operations.