148 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



requisitioned flying from the various bases reveal the fact that coverance of the 

 Bisco area was required at almost exactly the same time as Sudbury area. In 

 view of the foregoing, the abandonment of this base is recommended. 



The establishment of a base at Longlac gave to the suppression forces in 

 that area a machine subject to immediate requisition, in addition to providing 

 facilities for a forest-type sketching programme. The base at Pine Ridge was 

 designed to provide for a new fire hazard, attendant upon the Red Lake Gold 

 Rush. 



The eastern operating district consisted of five bases and six machines. 

 At Sudbury were the District Headquarters and machines OK and ON. At 

 Bisco was OP, at Como OH, at Temagami OR, and at Remi Lake OT. This 

 district comprised that area lying from the Quebec boundary to a line drawn 

 roughly from Spanish on the C.P.R. Sault line, through Nicholson on the 

 C.P.R. Main line, on to Mattice on the C.N.R. Northern line, and from Georgian 

 Bay to the Northern timber limit. 



In the Central District were three bases and five machines; OB, 01, OJ 

 were at Orient Bay, the District Headquarters; OM was at Oba Lake and OS 

 at Longlac. In connection with Orient Bay operations, Port Arthur was used 

 as a sub-base for a part of the flying season. This district extends west from 

 the Eastern District to a line roughly drawn from Lac des Mille Lacs to Allan- 

 water on the C.N.R. Northern line. 



The Western District extended from the Central to the Manitoba boundary. 

 The District was served by four bases and five machines with headquarters 

 and machines OQ and OE at Sioux Lookout. Machine OF was at Pine Ridge, 

 machine OG at Kenora, OL at Fort Francis. 



Sault Ste Marie, the general headquarters for summer reconditioning, for 

 office and accounting administration, and for flying instruction, was also used 

 as an operating base for forest protection. This station was in the charge of a 

 station superintendent. Algoma District was patrolled and machine OA was 

 used. 



2. Reconditioning. — While reconditioning of motors and, when necessary, of 

 disabled machines was carried on throughout the operating season by a staff 

 which was entirely devoted to such work, the chief activity in this connection 

 occurred in the winter season, when the services of the entire flying personnel 

 were also used. 



For such reconditioning the organization required was very simple, since 

 the work undertaken was all of the same nature, and only one base was kept 

 open. The station superintendents of summer operations took the positions 

 of Superintendent in Charge of Reconditioning and Superintendents of Air- 

 craft Shop and Engine shop respectively. The pilots and mechanics of summer 

 operations were utilized in the work of overhauling machines and motors in 

 preparation for flying operations. (In this connection see Recommendations). 



In addition to the reconditioning of aircraft and engines, the personnel and 

 plant at the reconditioning base were used for the construction of various items 

 of equipment for the Ontario Forestry Branch. Four large motor boats were 

 thus built, one 36-foot boat, two 24-foot boats, and one 20-foot boat. Worthy 

 of note also was the building of several collapsible canoes of our own design, in 

 addition to the standard 14-foot type. The former canoes have proved so 

 successful in use that the R.C.A.F. have ordered the mold and one model, to 

 be used in connection with their patrol operations. 



