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Suffield Experimental Station

October 21, 2023

50°16′16.83″N 111°10′23.39″W / 50.2713417°N 111.1731639°W / 50.2713417; -111.1731639 The military research facility located 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Suffield, Alberta, operated under the name of the Suffield Experimental Station (SES) from 1950 to its renaming to the Defence Research Establishment Suffield in 1967.

History Edit

Experimental Station Suffield Edit

The military research facility located 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Suffield, Alberta, operated under the name of Experimental Station Suffield (or the Field Experimental Station) from its inception into 1941 to its renaming to the Suffield Experimental Station in 1950.

When France fell to the Axis Powers in 1940, the British lost access to the joint British/French experimental station located in the Sahara at Beni Ounif, two hundred miles south of Oran. Following the loss of the Algerian experimental station, the Canadian Government indicated that it was willing to provide an alternative location. In October 1940, the Superintendent of Experiments at Porton Down, England, Mr. E. Ll. Davies, arrived in Canada to discuss the issue with Lt. Colonel Morrison and Dr. Otto Maass. Of the sites considered; Tracadie NB, Northern Quebec, Northern Ontario, Brandon, Manitoba, and Maple Creek, Saskatchewan; Suffield, Alberta was selected.[1] The area, which was given the name the Suffield Block, contained one hundred and twenty-five farms plus additional lands that were mostly owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Hudson's Bay Company. A small nucleus of British scientists arrived at the experimental station in the spring of 1941.[2]

Experimental Station Suffield, under the administration of the Canadian Army, commenced operations on June 11, 1941, as a joint British/Canadian biological and chemical defence facility. The name appears on several reports from the period and was most likely following a British naming convention. By the end of the Second World War, the station employed 584 personnel[3] trained in chemistry, physics, meteorology, mathematics, pharmacology, pathology, bacteriology, physiology, entomology, veterinary science, mechanical and chemical engineering. In 1946, the station was placed completely in the hands of the Canadian Army when the British withdrew their support. The responsibility for administrating the station, including the Suffield Block, was transferred to the Defence Research Board[4][5] on April 30, 1947, by Order in Council PC 101/1727. In August 1950, the station was renamed to the Suffield Experimental Station (SES).

Chief Superintendent Tenure
E.Ll. Davies 1941 to 1947

A note on the Defence Research Board:[2] Based on the recommendations of Dr. Solandt, Director General of Defence Research, an Order in Council was signed on October 17, 1946, that created the Interim Defence Research Board. The four interim board members were Dr. C. H. Best, Dr. Otto Maass, Dr. P. E. Gagnon, and Colonel R. D. Harkness with Dr. Solandt as the chairman. The first meeting was held on December 16, 1946. On March 28, 1947, Bill 19, which amended the National Defence Act of 1927, became law and legally established the Defence Research Board.

A note on the joint British/Australian "Australian Field Experimental Station (AFES)":[6][7] AFES was constructed at Gunyarra, a railway siding about 12 miles south of Proserpine, Queensland, in 1944. AFES was established to continue the research and experimental work carried out by the Australian Chemical Warfare Research and Experimental Section (A.C.W.R. & E.S.) at Innisfail, Queensland, in 1943/44. Activities at this Station continued until the end of the war. For some time it was placed in a care and maintenance situation but was finally dismantled.

SES Edit

Control of Experimental Station Suffield was transferred from the Canadian Army to the Defence Research Board (DRB) on April 30, 1947 by Order in Council PC 101/1727.[2] In August 1947, approval was given for the construction of 60 prefabricated housing units at a site named after the James Ralston. Due to delays, major construction did not complete until 1953.

Suffield Experimental Station came into official existence when Experimental Station Suffield was renamed in August 1950. The station was responsible for the administration and operation of the 2690 square kilometre Suffield Block. The DRB's annual report for 1951[8] listed various major construction projects in progress at station: Shopping and Recreation Centre, Transport Garage, CMHC Housing (76 homes), the Ralston School (a Recognized Federal Heritage Building), and a Fire Hall. The designs for the Central Laboratory were to be completed by December, 1951. On September 29, 1955, the Central Laboratory (Building 1) was opened by Major General William M. Creasy, Commanding General, U.S. Army Chemical Corps[3] and is now a Recognized Federal Heritage Building. In July 1967, the Suffield Experimental Station was renamed to the Defence Research Establishment Suffield (DRES).

Chief Superintendent Tenure
Dr. H. M. Barrett 1947 to fall 1949
Dr. E. A. Perren fall 1949 to 1951
Dr. H. M. Barrett 1951 to 1952
Dr. G. O. Langstroth 1952 to Sept 1957
Mr. A. M. Pennie Sept 1957 to ?
Mr. E. J. Bobyn September 1964[9] To 1968

Large explosive events Edit

 
Detonation of a spherical surface charge of 454 metric tonnes of TNT to assess the effects of nuclear weapons at the Suffield Experimental Station in Alberta on July 17, 1964.
  • A 100-ton detonation occurred on 3 August 1961[10]
  • The Snowball 500-ton detonation (hemisphere form) on 17 July 1964[11] formed an 87-meter diameter crater[12]
  • The Distant Plain series of explosive and detonable gas tests up to 100 tons from July 1966 to August 1967[13]
  • The Prairie Flat 500-ton detonation (spherical form)[14]

These experiments were meant to simulate and study nuclear weapon detonation effects including airblast, ground shock, cratering and effects on military targets.

References Edit

  1. ^ D. H. Avery, The Science of War - Canadian Scientists and Allied Military Technology During the Second World War, University of Toronto Press, 1998.
  2. ^ a b c D. J. Goodspeed, A History of the Defence Research Board of Canada, 1 Jan 1958.
  3. ^ a b Dinosaurs to Defence - A Story of the Suffield Block.
  4. ^ Dr. O. M. Solandt, The Defence Research Board, The First Four Years: An Address to the Staff of the Defence Research Board in Ottawa Marking the Occasion of the Board's Fourth Birthday 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, 30 March 1951.
  5. ^ Dr. O. M. Solandt, Defence Research in Canada 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, 11 May 1951.
  6. ^ G. Plunkett, Chemical Warfare in Australia - Australia's Involvement in Chemical Warfare 1914 - 1945, Australian Military History Publications.
  7. ^ B. Goodwin, Keen as mustard, Univ. of Queensland Press, 1998.
  8. ^ Annual Report of the Chairman, Defence Research Board, September, 1951
  9. ^ "Edward Bobyn is director of research establishment", The Ukrainian Weekly, 7 October 1972.
  10. ^ Dobbie, Clyde B.; Hamilton, Stuart R. (April 1963), Electromagnetic Measurements on Canadian 100 Ton TNT Explosion, Edgerton Germeshausen and Grier Inc
  11. ^ G. H. S. Jones, Complex Craters in Alluvium, Defence Research Board, 1977
  12. ^ Neville J. Price, Major impacts and plate tectonics, University College London, 2000
  13. ^ Ingram, James K. (1 May 1971). "Operation Distant Plain, Events 1, 2A, 3, 4, and 5: Project 3.02A, Earth Motion and Stress Measurements". Defence Technical Information Center. from the original on June 2, 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  14. ^ Hancock, Paul L.; Skinner, Brian J.; Dineley, David L. (2000), The Oxford Companion to The Earth p677, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-854039-6

October 21, 2023
suffield, experimental, station, 2713417, 1731639, 2713417, 1731639, military, research, facility, located, north, suffield, alberta, operated, under, name, from, 1950, renaming, defence, research, establishment, suffield, 1967, contents, history, experimental. 50 16 16 83 N 111 10 23 39 W 50 2713417 N 111 1731639 W 50 2713417 111 1731639 The military research facility located 5 km 3 1 mi north of Suffield Alberta operated under the name of the Suffield Experimental Station SES from 1950 to its renaming to the Defence Research Establishment Suffield in 1967 Contents 1 History 1 1 Experimental Station Suffield 1 2 SES 2 Large explosive events 3 ReferencesHistory EditExperimental Station Suffield Edit The military research facility located 5 km 3 1 mi north of Suffield Alberta operated under the name of Experimental Station Suffield or the Field Experimental Station from its inception into 1941 to its renaming to the Suffield Experimental Station in 1950 When France fell to the Axis Powers in 1940 the British lost access to the joint British French experimental station located in the Sahara at Beni Ounif two hundred miles south of Oran Following the loss of the Algerian experimental station the Canadian Government indicated that it was willing to provide an alternative location In October 1940 the Superintendent of Experiments at Porton Down England Mr E Ll Davies arrived in Canada to discuss the issue with Lt Colonel Morrison and Dr Otto Maass Of the sites considered Tracadie NB Northern Quebec Northern Ontario Brandon Manitoba and Maple Creek Saskatchewan Suffield Alberta was selected 1 The area which was given the name the Suffield Block contained one hundred and twenty five farms plus additional lands that were mostly owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Hudson s Bay Company A small nucleus of British scientists arrived at the experimental station in the spring of 1941 2 Experimental Station Suffield under the administration of the Canadian Army commenced operations on June 11 1941 as a joint British Canadian biological and chemical defence facility The name appears on several reports from the period and was most likely following a British naming convention By the end of the Second World War the station employed 584 personnel 3 trained in chemistry physics meteorology mathematics pharmacology pathology bacteriology physiology entomology veterinary science mechanical and chemical engineering In 1946 the station was placed completely in the hands of the Canadian Army when the British withdrew their support The responsibility for administrating the station including the Suffield Block was transferred to the Defence Research Board 4 5 on April 30 1947 by Order in Council PC 101 1727 In August 1950 the station was renamed to the Suffield Experimental Station SES Chief Superintendent TenureE Ll Davies 1941 to 1947A note on the Defence Research Board 2 Based on the recommendations of Dr Solandt Director General of Defence Research an Order in Council was signed on October 17 1946 that created the Interim Defence Research Board The four interim board members were Dr C H Best Dr Otto Maass Dr P E Gagnon and Colonel R D Harkness with Dr Solandt as the chairman The first meeting was held on December 16 1946 On March 28 1947 Bill 19 which amended the National Defence Act of 1927 became law and legally established the Defence Research Board A note on the joint British Australian Australian Field Experimental Station AFES 6 7 AFES was constructed at Gunyarra a railway siding about 12 miles south of Proserpine Queensland in 1944 AFES was established to continue the research and experimental work carried out by the Australian Chemical Warfare Research and Experimental Section A C W R amp E S at Innisfail Queensland in 1943 44 Activities at this Station continued until the end of the war For some time it was placed in a care and maintenance situation but was finally dismantled SES Edit Control of Experimental Station Suffield was transferred from the Canadian Army to the Defence Research Board DRB on April 30 1947 by Order in Council PC 101 1727 2 In August 1947 approval was given for the construction of 60 prefabricated housing units at a site named after the James Ralston Due to delays major construction did not complete until 1953 Suffield Experimental Station came into official existence when Experimental Station Suffield was renamed in August 1950 The station was responsible for the administration and operation of the 2690 square kilometre Suffield Block The DRB s annual report for 1951 8 listed various major construction projects in progress at station Shopping and Recreation Centre Transport Garage CMHC Housing 76 homes the Ralston School a Recognized Federal Heritage Building and a Fire Hall The designs for the Central Laboratory were to be completed by December 1951 On September 29 1955 the Central Laboratory Building 1 was opened by Major General William M Creasy Commanding General U S Army Chemical Corps 3 and is now a Recognized Federal Heritage Building In July 1967 the Suffield Experimental Station was renamed to the Defence Research Establishment Suffield DRES Chief Superintendent TenureDr H M Barrett 1947 to fall 1949Dr E A Perren fall 1949 to 1951Dr H M Barrett 1951 to 1952Dr G O Langstroth 1952 to Sept 1957Mr A M Pennie Sept 1957 to Mr E J Bobyn September 1964 9 To 1968Large explosive events Edit nbsp Detonation of a spherical surface charge of 454 metric tonnes of TNT to assess the effects of nuclear weapons at the Suffield Experimental Station in Alberta on July 17 1964 A 100 ton detonation occurred on 3 August 1961 10 The Snowball 500 ton detonation hemisphere form on 17 July 1964 11 formed an 87 meter diameter crater 12 The Distant Plain series of explosive and detonable gas tests up to 100 tons from July 1966 to August 1967 13 The Prairie Flat 500 ton detonation spherical form 14 These experiments were meant to simulate and study nuclear weapon detonation effects including airblast ground shock cratering and effects on military targets References Edit D H Avery The Science of War Canadian Scientists and Allied Military Technology During the Second World War University of Toronto Press 1998 a b c D J Goodspeed A History of the Defence Research Board of Canada 1 Jan 1958 a b Dinosaurs to Defence A Story of the Suffield Block Dr O M Solandt The Defence Research Board The First Four Years An Address to the Staff of the Defence Research Board in Ottawa Marking the Occasion of the Board s Fourth Birthday Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback Machine 30 March 1951 Dr O M Solandt Defence Research in Canada Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback Machine 11 May 1951 G Plunkett Chemical Warfare in Australia Australia s Involvement in Chemical Warfare 1914 1945 Australian Military History Publications B Goodwin Keen as mustard Univ of Queensland Press 1998 Annual Report of the Chairman Defence Research Board September 1951 Edward Bobyn is director of research establishment The Ukrainian Weekly 7 October 1972 Dobbie Clyde B Hamilton Stuart R April 1963 Electromagnetic Measurements on Canadian 100 Ton TNT Explosion Edgerton Germeshausen and Grier Inc G H S Jones Complex Craters in Alluvium Defence Research Board 1977 Neville J Price Major impacts and plate tectonics University College London 2000 Ingram James K 1 May 1971 Operation Distant Plain Events 1 2A 3 4 and 5 Project 3 02A Earth Motion and Stress Measurements Defence Technical Information Center Archived from the original on June 2 2018 Retrieved 19 May 2017 Hancock Paul L Skinner Brian J Dineley David L 2000 The Oxford Companion to The Earth p677 Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 854039 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Suffield Experimental Station amp oldid 1176056387, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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