GORDON HEAD -  EQUIPMENT  AND OPERATIONS


 
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Photo 1: Both of these operators are using National HRO receivers. Note the stacked coil sets beside each of the two receivers. On the left side, the coil set is providing support for the gooseneck lamp. The wide carriage typewriters are likely those used for copying Kana code. Gordon Head Special W/T Station was the only "Y" and D/F element that had any continually significant role in the RCN's radio intelligence operation against the Japanese. (DND photo #PA-188814 submitted by Joe Costello)

 
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Photo 2: Marconi (UK) Direction Finding set, model DFG12 (1.5 to 20 MHz) at Gordon Head. Gordon Head became part of the US Navy's West Coast network. Information collected at the station was passed to Bainbridge Island, near Seattle for 
onward transmission to Washington or elsewhere. (DND photo #PA-193142 submitted by Joe Costello)
Photo 3: This was the high speed Morse position at Gordon Head. Left to right: Canadian Marconi CSR4 receiver, Morse bridge,  UG6 undulator, Morse bridge /undulator and  CSR4 receiver.  Download image to enlarge.  (DND photo #PA-193143 submitted by Tom Brent )

Undulators were actually ink tape recorders which were used to copy high speed Morse, sent either as a single or dual frequency shifted signal. They used an ink nib, moving at a very fast rate which would inscribe the paper tape. Ink flowed constantly and the pen was held against the paper which was pulled past the pen. The track produced by the pen when no signal was present was a Space. When keying commenced, the pen moved a few millimeters to the Mark position. The tape was then scanned visually and the Morse characters were transcribed unto a message pad usually by typewriter.

The model UG6  was in use as early as 1942. 


 
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In photo PA-193143 above, can anyone identify the model numbers for devices 1 and 2? If so contact : jerry.proc@sympatico.ca. Device #2 is likely an undulator with a built in bridge.

 
Photo 4: Circa 1945: A WREN at Gordon Head is taking a bearing using a  Marconi type FA direction finder. MF: 60 to 600 KHz. HF: 667 to 20,000 KHz. Need a bigger photo. (Photo ID: PA-?????)

 
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Photo #5. July 22, 1943. Main operating room. In view are receiver types National  HRO, RCA AR-77, Canadian Marconi MSL-5 and one which is hiiden behind the operator.Sitting on the desk in the foregtound is a Supreme  model 571 signal generator. The station employed  a five watch operator/four watch supervisor system., Download image to enlarge. (LAC photo #PA193100)
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Photo #6.  Feb 22, 1945.  Office and administration area. Barely in view is a Marconi CSR5 receiver to the right of the WREN who is seated. The wartime complement of personnel consisted of approximately 65 RCNVR Reservists and about 65 WRCNS Wrens who replaced them in 1944. (LAC photo #PA193098). 
In 1944,  a group of WRENS arrived at Gordon Head fresh out of the Ste. Hyacinthe training school. These operators were to replace the male operators being shipped off to the new intelligence station being created at Masset.  At the beginning of WWII, the Japanese naval procedure used a five figure code, which was then sent in International Morse.

As time went on, these symbols were simply too long for the increasing amount of traffic, so a set of shorter symbols were devised which were a mixture of International and Kata Kana code. This change had taken place some months before the arrival of the WRENS. It was was well known at Gordon Head, but the news had never been passed on to Ste. Hyacinthe training school . To the WRENS it appeared to be a matter of secrecy being carried too far! So here they were...the supposedly and fully-trained WREN operators setting off for a week's liaison with the USN at Bainbridge Island and in complete ignorance of one of the most basic parts of their work. It did little to bolster confidence. or create pleasurable anticipation of the coming week. While at Bainbridge, American operators did the best that they could  by providing training on the new Japanese naval procedure.

gordon_head_rx_position_s.jpg A view of the main Operations Room courtesy of Reg Hill, a former operator at the site. The receivers in the photo are National HRO variants.  The equipment sitting on the foreground desk is the Supreme 571 signal generator. On the desk to the left of the lighter coloured HRO is a C2 frequency meter. Click on thumbnail to enlarge. (LAC photo PA-193099 submitted by Bill Robinson)
gordon_head_station_log_s.jpg Although its not that legible, this image does serve to illustrate  an example of a  reception record for the month of September (year?) for stations 'BGH' and 'S'. BGH reception is shaded in grey while station 'S' is in red.  The first time column PWT is for Pacific War Time . Column AX is unknown at this time . The three hour difference to PWT would suggest it is out beyond Hawaii, just East of the international date line. Click on thumbnail to enlarge .(Found in LAC file for Gordon Head) 

To obtain additional into on call sign BGH, ITU Library and Archives was contacted. Unfortunately, they had no information or assignment for . It is now believed that  'BGH'' and 'S' were the call signs for a military radio net  as suggested on page 172 of the book Secret Warfare by David Kahn .  The call block BAA-BZZ was assigned to China in 1947 as part of a re-organization of the international series of call signs discussed and agreed during the International Radio Conference in Atlantic City in 1947. 


Credits and References:

1) Joe Costello. Gordon Head Photos.  http://www.rcsigs.ca/ViewPage/History/Canadian-CESM-History.
2) Bill Robinson  <jnewman(at)golden.net>
3) Tom Brent <navyradiocom(at)gmail.com>
4) Clive Kidd, Collingwood Heritige Collection  <cjckidd(at)waitrose.com>
5) FA D/F unit spec sheets courtesy of the Collingwood Heritage Collection.
6) LAC - Library and Archives Canada
7) Dorothy Robertson, WREN : Extracts from "I go (Not) Down To The Sea in Ships". Used with permission.
8) ITU Libraty and Archives
9) Secret Warfare by David Kahn


Back to Gordon Head

Sept 18/16