Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Mar 17, 2009 2:32:39 GMT 9
Whilst with the 59th FIS at the Goose in 1959 and 1960, we went through a transition from F89J aircraft to F102A and TF102As. There was a drop time when we didn't have any interceptors. All we had of our own was one L20. I ended up working on it because of previous experience on the type. The RCAf pulled our alert function with CF100s.
What do you do to keep a squadron of maintenance troops busy for several weeks? The hangers could only be swept so many times and the ramp was spotless.
The maintenance chiefs got together and decided we needed a flight line maintenance office, one that was closer to the ramp and outside the hanger. Some storage facility at the Goose had a whole lot of pre-fab building panels, but no instructions. The chiefs got some six by's from the motor pool to haul the panels to the edge of the ramp and then got all the troops to begin the big construction project.
We began by putting concrete piers where flooring was supposed to go. Then the floors were put in place. The outside wall panels were next and then the roof. The panels locked together quite nicely. Don't know how old they were, but suspect the panels were leftovers from WW2. Once the roof and outer wall panels were all locked in place, we began putting panels up inside to make the rooms that were needed. Some of the panels came with doors and windows, so it was quite well done. The chief got CEF to run electricity to the building and wiring conduits were fastened to the walls, complete with light sockets and wall plugs. The interior walls and ceilings were painted white, but the floors and the exterior stayed their original green. A flag pole was attached and the squadron flag, the big black bat, was put up. It was a special day when the first pot of coffee was done and we all toasted the completion of the building and awaited the arrival of our Deuces.
There was one thing no one thought of. When the CEF inspector came to final the building, he found one problem. There was no building number. The chief asked if CEF had a number and was told to just come up with one. The chief took off his hat and made a discovery that ended the quandary of what number to put on the building. The building got Building number 6 7/8 painted on all four corners. Why 6 7/8? It was the number on the tag in the chief's hat.
I don't know how long Building 6 7/8 stayed out there on the grass next to the 59th's ramp, but it was a proud building when I left in Dec. of '60.
:god_bless_usa
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Bullhunter
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318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
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Post by Bullhunter on Mar 17, 2009 3:16:07 GMT 9
No where in the story did you mention you put heaters in that building. Did it not get pretty cold at Goose Bay? My Uncle back in the 1950's & early 60's was a boom operator on KC-97's. He mentioned that his tanker often landed at Goose Bay and talked about the cold. When I was at Sembach Air Base, Germany 1978-1981 the wanted a building closer to the flightline. It was put up by CE in a few weeks. Cement floor and then the building was put together wall by wall. It was just 4 square walls and no rooms, it was all open. The squadron maintenance officer, maintenance superintendent, and the flight chief all had a desks, there was a table of the coffeee pot and supplies and two tables with chairs for the maintenance troops. We named it the line-shack. This pic is of the flighline side corner. Winter time.  Trying to post a photo I took of it while I was flying one day but ImageShack is giving me problems this morning. |
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
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NBA: Spurs
NFL: Niners
MLB: Giants
NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Mar 17, 2009 4:14:32 GMT 9
As a matter of fact, Bull, it did have heaters. As I recall they were oil stoves that we could burn JP4 in. Don't quote me on that one, though, as it has been a long time. But, I do know it was heated.
Had a flat roof, so it needed snow removal. By winter there was a snow and wind protected outer door put on.
I didn't have much to do with the building after our Deuces got operational, as I was assigned to the alert hanger on the 89s and went back there on the Deuces. It was always warm in the alert hanger.
I forgot one part of the building number. It was SH 6 7/8. The SH was for self help.
It too was called the line shack. Don't know when the first line shack was named such, but suspect probably around the time Wilbur and Orville were starting out.
:god_bless_usa
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Post by Gene on Mar 17, 2009 4:36:00 GMT 9
i think they had line shacks along the fence line of a cattle ranch way back when...thats where mygranddad died...1937, medicene lake, montana...the flue to the stove froze and the CO got him...
:us_flag
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
Location:
Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF
NBA: Spurs
NFL: Niners
MLB: Giants
NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Mar 17, 2009 6:17:23 GMT 9
:thumbsup
You are absolutely correct, Gene.
The original American line shack was just that, a shack on a fence line of a ranch for the cowboys to stay in. If you go to Montana, Wyoming and other cattle areas, yep, even Texas, you can still see some old line shacks. You have to be looking for them in out of the way places, as not many are near major highways.
Teddy Roosevelt lived in a line shack on his ranch in North Dakota part of one winter. His cabin is at the visitor's center at Roosevelt National Monument at Medora, ND. Well worth the visit if you are traveling I 94. There are bound to be some in Eastern Washington and Oregon.
I suppose if you look back in to the history of line shacks, you might find an equivalent building from the steppes of Russia or maybe in Mongolia. But, I suspect they would most likely be movable, rather than the American West version, that is pretty permanent.
:god_bless_usa
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Post by Gene on Mar 17, 2009 13:18:53 GMT 9
i do crossword puzzles, and, the word yurt comes to mind...
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