RCAF Station Beausejour
Pinetree Line Radar Station
General Information
Base / Station: Beausejour
Province: Manitoba
Period(s) of Use: 1952-1986
Units:
- 916 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, ASAF
- No. 48 Radar Squadron
- CFS Beausejour
Structures:
Commanding Officers:
- Squadron Leader M.B. Anderson
Unit Duties / Information:
The station at Beausejour was completed November 21, 1952 as a joint Canadian-American project in response to the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe and the Korean War. The station was a component of the Pinetree Line of NORAD. It was responsible for detecting incoming aircraft and missiles into North American airspace.
It was originally manned by 916 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron which was an American unit. This unit provided tactical training to RCAF Airborne Interceptor Navigators from Winnipeg. Control was assumed by the RCAF through No. 48 Radar Squadron October 1, 1961.
Beausejour’s duties remained much the same as when the station was first opened – being responsible for the detection of aircraft in North American airspace.
(Department of National Defence)
Aircraft Flown: N/A
Financial Impact:
- $180,000,000 (approximate)
- $6,921,900/year (average)
Station Magazine/Newspaper:
Date / Reason for closure:
The base closed in 1986 due to a combination of budget cuts and, due mainly to the fact that technology had so vastly advanced, the system was outdated.
Site details:
Aerodrome: From information received on Facebook it was indicated that there was at one time a runway installed at the station. I can not find the conversation so can’t attribute the comment to someone. If you look at google maps at this link it shows what appears to have been a runway and the individual that I was talking to confirmed that this was it. I also have a book as referenced below that shows no listing for this aerodrome. I have so far found no written confirmation on this to date.
- The Publication On Track…the Pilot’s Air Travel Guide (First Annual Edition – 1978) does not list this Aerodrome.
Married Quarters:
Site Evolution
Current Status: The station was decommissioned January 1, 1986 and closed July 31, 1986 with the property being transferred to the Government of Manitoba in 1987. The facility is now a provincial correctional facility.
Location – Google Map
For More information – External Links
- Wikipedia:
- https://www.radomes.org/museum/showsite.php?site=Beausejour+AS,+MB,+CN&country=CN
- MilitaryBruce.com – Canadian Military History by Bruce Forsyth
- http://www.c-and-e-museum.org/Pinetreeline/other/other5/other5e.html
- http://civildefencemuseum.ca/beausejour-mb
- Facebook Groups:
I was posted to CFS Beausejour from 1982 to 1986 and helped to close it. Yes there was a grass field runway there. I was a member of the ground search and rescue team. We did a live search in a northern Manitoba fishing resort to try to find a lost young boy. The RCMP picked us up from the site and flew us directly there using that grass strip runway and their Twin Otter aircraft. That was probably the last time that strip was used. Kerry Schmidt
I wouldn’t call it an Aerodrome! As I recall it was only smooth enough for the Twin Otter to land and take off. There was not even a windsock available! Seemed to be no more than an after thought. Kerry Schmidt (Correction on my dates. I was there from 1983 to 1986)