770 Communications Research Squadron, a unit of the Supplementary Radio System, is a "lodger unit" at Canadian Forces Base Gander in Newfoundland.
Better known as an airfield for transatlantic operations, Gander was also operated as an RCN HF-DF site during the Second World War. Gander was reopened as an HF-DF station around 1949. In 1950, it became part of the joint Canada-US Atlantic HF-DF net. By 1960, the station had a complement of 25 military personnel; this number was increased to 32 in 1962.[1]
Like CFS Masset, Gander was substantially enlarged and upgraded in 1970; SIGINT operations at Coverdale, New Brunswick, were transferred to Gander in 1971.[2] As a result of this upgrade, the station's complement was increased substantially, probably to 300 or more military and civilian personnel. In May 1977, however, control of Gander was transferred to Air Command, and 770 CRS became a lodger unit at the station (later upgraded to base). This change probably led to a reduction in the number of personnel associated with the unit.[3]
The current strength of 770 CRS is approximately 200 personnel.[4] As of 1978, approximately 154 of these were members of the Communicator Research trade. In addition, "there is always a U.S. Navy [NSG] contingent serving on exchange with 770 Communication Research Squadron" as part of the CF/USN Personnel Exchange Program.[5]
In February 1994, it was announced that the SIGINT facilities at Gander will be converted to remote operations by 1997-98. The facilities will remain in service, but the number of personnel at the site will be reduced by about 90%.[6]
When it replaced Coverdale in 1971, Gander also may have taken on Coverdale's role as alternate net control station for the Atlantic HF-DF net. In addition to its direction-finding activities, 770 CRS monitors "a wide spectrum of electronic communications frequencies". According to one former 291er, the squadron "listens to the ever-present Soviet trawlers, to Soviet air flights, and to brief messages that lurking Soviet missile submarines flash to their satellites."[9]
Like Masset, 770 CRS operates an AN/FRD-10 CDAA installed in 1970. Originally, these facilities had been "scheduled for completion in October 1969 with concurrent phasing out of CFS Coverdale, N.B., and transfer of personnel to Gander." However, "due to lack of housing, certain equipment and personnel were retained at CFS Coverdale until July 1971." The "operations building" itself cost $2 million to build; the "operations facilities" as a whole, including the CDAA, cost $11 million.[10]
[2] Report of the Auditor General to the House of Commons for the Fiscal Year Ended 31 March 1971, p. 82.
[3] "Brief History: 770 Communications Research Squadron and Naval Radio Station Gander," p. 2.
[4] "Brief History: 770 Communications Research Squadron and Naval Radio Station Gander," p. 3 ("some 200 personnel strong"); "Canadian Forces Base Gander," Capt Richard Moore, Sentinel, 1984/4, p. 23 ("200 or so"); "Welcome to Canadian Forces Base Gander," introductory booklet, National Defence, ca. 1988, p. 2, released under Access to Information Act ("196 military, 1 civilian").
[5] "Communicator Research (291)," INTERCOM: Training and Information Magazine for the Canadian Forces Communication Command, Vol. 14, Issue 2, Special Edition, April 1978, p. 22; "Canadian Forces Base Gander," Sentinel, 1984/4, p. 22.
[6] "Canadian Forces Base Gander, Nfld," Backgrounder, National Defence, February 1994.
[7] "Canadian Forces Base Gander," pp. 22-3.
[8] "Brief History: 770 Communications Research Squadron and Naval Radio Station Gander," pp. 1-2.
[9] "Brief History [HMCS Coverdale]," National Defence, January 1961, Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Museum collection; "Welcome to Canadian Forces Base Gander," p. 2; Larry Clark, quoted in Bob Gilmour, "Our electronic spying hides behind cover stories," Edmonton Journal, 26 October 1982, p. A2.
[10] Report of the Auditor General to the House of Commons for the Fiscal Year Ended 31 March 1971, p. 82; Defence Construction (1951) Limited Annual Report 1968- 1969, 1969, p. 12.
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