Trafford Publishing: Watch and Warn

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Watch and Warn

by Allan F. Coggon

194 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #04-1019; ISBN 1-4120-3192-3; US$23.99, C$29.99, EUR19.50, £13.50

The unpublished wartime story of Canada's Aircraft Detection Corps. Key words: canada, history, heritage, RCAF, volunteers, homefront, ww II, Espionage, Sault Ste. Marie, Submarines, personal narratives

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about the book about the author Table of Contents and excerpt catalogue info

About the Book

An account of aeroplanes, submarines in our coastal waters and German incursions. Twenty-four thousand volunteers, their reports to filter centers and the twin cities of Sault Ste. Marie; one of the highest defended targets in North America.

About the Author

Allan Coggon has spent 40 years in aviation -- 38 as an active pilot and as a helicopter ground school instructor. Receiving his Royal Canadian Air Force Wings in November of 1940, he ended six years of military service by completing an Operational Tour with the Royal Air Force aginst the Japanese forces in South East Asia.
Post-war he moved to Holland where he was employed, with other Canadians, by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Flying Convairs to European capitals and as a Navigator and Pilot on DC-4's and Lockheed Constellations on Trans-Ocean, and Inter-Continental routes to the Dutch East and West Indies. He left KLM to return to Canada in 1952 to fly with Hollinger Air Transport, on the mega-project to build a 360-mile railroad to the interior of Labrador. He then became the personal pilot to Sir James Dunn in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, and thence to Algoma Steel Corporation Ltd, at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He remained there for the balance of his flying career.
Moving to Toronto in 1984, he in 1990 returned to his roots in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. In 1993 he founded the AirCrew Association of Nova Scotia and in 1995 the Silver Dart Chapter of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society in Halifax, and is its current president. Several references are made to Coggon in Milbury's extensive tome: Air Transport in Canada.
Encomiums supporting Watch and Warn

Angela Dobler, Managing Editor, Vanwell Publishing wrote:
"..you have added a significant piece to the historical record of the Second World War"

***
"...I found it very interesting. There were certainly lots going on here at home, on both coasts that nobody ever got to know until now. Your research was very thorough, and it paid off with the production of a most fascinating book. I hope it sells well."

Sam Shapton Ex B-25 pilot, White Rock, BC

***
"This is a story of ordinary people who answered their country's urgent call for help". Those are the opening words to the Prologue of a new book by Allan Coggon of Nova Scotia. You too will be fascinated by this excellent story. He was an active pilot in Atlantic Canada in 1941 to 1943. A year later he was en route to "The Forgotten War" in Burma, South East Asia Command. Order it, you won't regret it.

Ken Pask, Regional Secretary AirCrew Association, Western Canada.

***
In "Watch and Warn" Al Coggon has described the efforts of Canadians, both military and civilian, to protect the Canadian homeland from enemy action during the Second World War. In particular, he has told the little known story of the Aircraft Detection Corps that provided invaluable information in the days before radar and reliable radios. Although no enemy aircraft reached this continent, Japanese submarines shelled the Pacific Coast and German submarines sank ships off our East Coast and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. All this is history that needed to be recorded.

Charles D. Maginley, Naval Historian

***
W/C EDWARD BURNETT GOODSPEED, OBE (FOR FOUNDING THE ADC)

"I am deeply impressed by the detail and accuracy of Coggon's research from archival material and ADC volunteer's memories, now six decades old, and by the engaging way he tells this story...I recommend Coggon's Watch and Warn for those who never knew about these Canadian citizens who performed their duty on the home-front...

***
ONE ANONYMOUS OBSERVER WROTE:

"I spend hours developing 'spotters neck' and 'hill-climbers calves' for nothing thank God. I froze during long night hours last winter. I stood in soaking rain peering into weather listed as zero-zero; 1 spent hours listening, for nothing, in weather when even the birds were on instruments. I have reported the same old transports the same R. C.A. F. planes, the same commercial craft. I have worn enough clothes to start a rummage sale and often looked like one on those long winter watches last February.
***
Al Coggon writes of a hitherto little acknowledged, but vital contribution, to wartime defence right here in our own "back yard" by the most vigilant women and men of the Aircraft Detection Corps.
"Watch and Warn" is a well researched read for a weekend and a source of future reference.

David Waterbury, ex RCAF Navigator.

Table of Contents and excerpt

TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Advent of Canadian Air Power
The Royal Canadian Air Force- The Genesis
The Organisation of the Aircraft Detection Corp.
1940-1942
East Coast
A Lighthouse Family in Wartime
The Gulf of St. Lawerence
Quebec and The Hudson Bay's Trading Posts
Ontario and The West
British Columbia
Four German Incursions in Canada

100 Observer Reports
Victory and Disbanding

THE AIRCRAFT DETECTION CORPS OF THE R.C.A.F. ACTS FOR THE AIR FORCE, NAVY, AND ARMY IN DETECTING AND REPORTING ENEMY ACTIVITY. BY WATCHING, LISTENING AND REPORTING. YOU ARE DOING A MUCH NEEDED WARTIME SERVICE FOR YOUR COUNTRY. THE AIR FORCE, NAVY AND ARMY ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO KEEP THEM INFORMED OF ANY UNUSUAL INCIDENT OR SUSPECTED ENEMY ACTIVITY IN YOUR DISTRICT.
The Department of National Defence
... is for those who never knew about the Canadian citizens who performed their duty as volunteers on the home-front, while their sons and daughters were scattered across the world in the defence of our freedom. (39)

...Some Observers of the Aircraft Detection Corps were also British Columbian and Atlantic Canadian fishing boat skippers, BC Rangers, railroad section people in Northern Ontario, and Hudson's Bay fur traders in the Arctic and Labrador. They were volunteers from all over our country. Canada was threatened. The people were asked to help. Up to 30,000 responded with their sense of duty, and devotion. In the pre-radar days of 1940 and 1941, they were the eyes and ears of our military intelligence. ADC members assisted and rescued victims after crash landings, treated injuries and gave succour to the helpless. Search and Rescue crews were guided to accident sites deadly mines, submarines, and ship wreckage were reported and dealt with. Most of the Observers faithfully served long tiring and boring hours dutifully logging and reporting nothing but the mundane aircraft, perhaps only one in hundreds would make a significant report...
"This cousin of mine had a cousin, not my cousin, and he said he saw one German submarine come to the surface and the guys go for a swim. Now that's not so crazy. He says the guy swears it was that way. For about an hour. Right there, where the old lighthouse used to be, I think like he said. Anyway, this screwy French cousin, Maurice, says one morning the subs got a ship down by Natashquan. From shore somebody sees it and calls the mayor. He's the boss of the town, you phone the boss. He phones the airport at Mont Joli, the air force there, they phone or telegraph or radio something to Ottawa. They say can we? Can they what? For Christ's sake's can't they send out this bomber with the bombs? And the mayor tells my cousin that Ottawa phones the police guy at Natashquan. Has there been a sinking? Damn right, I guess the cop says, just off the wharf, or something like that, but he makes sure they understand. So Ottawa phones Mont Joli and they send out the bomber, Bzzzzz low over the water, up high maybe looking for the shadow of a shape of the sub in the water. But there's no sub there now. If he wanted, he could be 40 miles away. So you wanted to know how long since the mayor phone to say the ship had been sunk, until Mont Joli sent that bomber out? It took seven hours. You ask anybody who was there at Natashquan. They'll tell you. Seven hours."

An Observer wrote... I like to feel that I'm an important cog in the vast machinery of Canada's defences. Silly isn't it? but true. The minute I take over the watch I become for a few short hours, just that important. I'm no longer a clerk, an editor, a mechanic, a gardner, or a minister. I'm an important guy. Thousands of men and millions of dollars worth of equipment are waiting for MY call to action.
Thousands of wardens, fire watchers, auxiliary police and firemen can sleep peacefully as long as I am AWAKE AND ON THE JOB, and my wife and little girl can go to market, and to school, in safety as long as you other Observers are on the job during the daylight hours.
At the Operations rooms trained experts are alert for MY phone call. I'M the one the folks with the A.R.P arm-bands depend upon. Their splendid training and hours of study will never be called into action unless some chap like me gives the word.
Not some interceptor aircraft of the Fighter Command will leave the ground in combat unless some Observer like myself gives the word. Why, I can even get Generals our of bed in the middle of the night and be thanked for it.
If suckers can be that important and being one means we never have to give that fatal report of "Hazel ONE-ONE, SEEN 5:45 AM-SOUTHWEST"- etc. I'll gladly BE one for the duration!
Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1. The Advent of Canadian Air Power.

Inter-service wrangling for scarce funding in transition for the new military service. The embryonic Canadian Air Force reporting to army. The genesis of Royal Canadian Air Force, responsible for air activity within Dominion, eg: Photography, mapping - et al. Air Commodore George Croil becomes Senior Air Officer 1934. Anticipated need for Aircraft Detection Corp. Recommended Air Force needs for protection of country.
Chapter 2. The Organization of the Aircraft Detection Corps.

1938 Concept of Aircraft Detection Corps. Samples of documents etc. 1939 launch ADC's operation in response to Hitler's actions with few personnel, scanty resources. Appointment of Goodspeed to Eastern Air Command, Hollicum to Western Air Command to head ADC. Detail of organizations and recruiting. Canada declares war on Germany, Sept. 3 1939.
Chapter 3. 1940-1942

Colony of Newfoundland taken over as protective measure. First convoy leaves Halifax. Canadian 1st Division sails for England. Recruiting documents, etc. More subs in inland waters than expected. Urgent recruiting and organizing throughout Maritimes. Few RCAF personnel. Similar conditions in British Columbia. (see Chapter 9) German convoy offensive close to Nova Scotia shores. First incident reports incoming.
Chapter 4. Canada's East Coast

Nova Scotia in Danger Zone. Gas masks, Dim-outs. Ship sunk 13 miles from Halifax. ADC spreads to Newfoundland, north shore of Gulf. Apprehension uneasiness of people on shores. AVM Breadner's concern on security. Huge $216 million, 49 squadron expansion approved. Author's musings. Fishing boat Captains enlisted. 1943 Prime Ministers praise in House of Commons. Sample ADC reports to filter centres.
Chapter 5. A Lighthouse family in wartime.

This is a chapter of noted NS author Evelyn Richardson, a lighthouse keeper's wife's book, "B was for Butter... and also for Enemy Aircraft."(With permission of Family.)
Chapter 6. The Gulf of St. Lawrence

Audacious U-Boat Kapitans. Inept communications. Anti-submarine naval and aircraft elements change their tactics. Difficult recruiting on Magdalen and Anticosti Islands. One million dollar increase in spending to improve needed radio and telephone facilities on Gaspe, Anticosti Island and North Shore of Gulf of St. Lawrence; also on west coast of B.C. Authors musing in area.
Chapter 7. Quebec-Ontario

Quebecois' loyalty question resolved. Church and government cooperation to overcome problems. Establishment of French speaking personnel reporting problems. Establishment of French speaking personnel reporting centres, French publicity, publications. Civilians uneasy near coasts. American fear of attack on Sault Ste. Marie's locks, most defended target in North America. New ADC command, Sault Ste Marie to Manitoba.
Chapter 8. The Hudson Bay's Trading Posts

Early 1940 RCAF documents requesting Hudson's Bay Company's help. HBC's response. Summary of HBC's lengthy published document in 1946 detailing their involvement.
Chapter 9. British Columbia

Formation of Western Air Command. F/O Hollingum. Personnel shortages. Aleutian landings. Jap's shelling Wireless transmitting station and lighthouse. US/CAN fears and co-operation. Canadian Defence staffs withdraw from Victoria to safety of Vancouver. Shocking lack of defence forces, especially in United States. Rush to send needed EAC squadrons to BC and Alaska. RCAF does seaward patrols for USA. BC Rangers, Booby-trapping of shoreline areas. One mile depth of coastal shoreline an alert area. Fire Balloons, 9000 of them, detail. Integrity of ADC members.
Chapter 10. Four German Incursions in Canada during 1940-1945

Coastal community's area rich ground for rumours. Possibility of industrial sabotage in inland war production and naval dockyards. Two German Agents landed separately. Weather Station Kurt. Fourth unreported landing revealed.
Chapter 11. Observer reports

100 Documents from Observer posts on both coasts.
Chapter 12. Victory and Disbanding.

AVM Leckie's disbanding letter. Late 1944 and early 1946, 24, 300 sterling silver serial numbered pins were awarded to members with certificates of appreciation (6,000 in French). Gradual shutdown of reporting centres.
Excerpts - Epilogue

"Some Observers of the Aircraft Detection Corps were also British Columbian and Atlantic Canadian fishing boat skippers, Pacific Rangers, railroad section people in Northern Ontario, and Hudson's Bay fur traders in the Arctic and Labrador. They were volunteers from all over our country. Canada was threatened. The people were asked to help. Up to 30,000 responded with their sense of duty, and devotion. In the pre-radar days of 1940 and 1941, they were the eyes and ears of our military intelligence. ADC members assisted and rescued victims after crash landings, treated injuries and gave succor to the helpless. Search and Rescue crews were guided to accident sites; deadly mines, submarines and ship wreckage were reported and dealt with. Most of the observers faithfully served long tiring and boring hours logging and reporting nothing but the mundane aircraft, perhaps only one in hundreds would make a significant report.
"The member's consistent sense of duty and responsibility was remarkable. While at war's end the RCAF thanked them individually, the people of Canada were and still are unaware of their contribution. This overdue accounting, may in part, correct this oversight."

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