Radio Direction Finder Shediac – 1930-1945

Based on article on Simonne Gallant by Société historique de la mer Rouge :

Shédiac / Cap-Acadie , Bellevue Heights , (AKA Frier Street).

By going up this road, there is a hill that offers a spectacular view of the Shediac Bay and the wharf. It was the reason that the government decided to install the towers and antennas with a radio station to communicate with the airplanes. There was already a radio communications station on the Point-Du-Chene wharf. In the field on the left side of Frier St. there was a small building named D.F. (Direction Finder), and to the right of Frier Street there was the administrators house, not far from the 3 towers painted in Red and White. It was quite a sight to see according to Simonne Gallant. The small station (Direction Finder) was in operation 24/7 and had 3 relay stations.

It was very important that the radio operator to update the aviators with the atmospheric conditions for a safe landing in the Bay of Shediac. This operation lasted around 10 years in the 1930’s until the end of the war in 1945. During these years, the house on Frier Street became to be known as the house of the Gallant, which served as residence for the radio operators who were in majority English. Their names were, Joe Peddiscombe, Harry Mullins, Jack Perry, Terry Ryan and Harry Wickweir, and also one francophone Rhéal Valiquette, who worked at the Direction Finder. They all arrived by train and stayed close to their work. Two other francophone workers, Yves LeBlanc and Alyre (Casque) Hébert, worked at the Direction Finder, but stayed in the Town of Shediac.

Article found by Jean-Claude Thériault VE9JCT

Translation to English by Michael Caissie VE9MTV