MCL Site: SCS-500

Mid Canada Line (MCL) – Sector Control Station (SCS) 500
Winisk, Ontario
The following extract is taken from the book “A History of the Air Defence of Canada 1948 – 1997” by the NBC Group.

RCAF Station Winisk (Sector Control Station 500) was located on the mouth of the Winisk River, which flows into the southwest side of Hudson Bay. The station began in January 1957 but would not become operational until one year later. The airfield at Winisk was a very busy place with military and civilian transient traffic. The Winnipeg based Transair Air, with DC-3’s and DC-4’s, used Winisk as a staging point during construction of the eastern portion of the DEW Line. The annual re-supply sealift to Winisk brought vessels like the Rave, Puffin, Swivel and Wahcondar. By 1963, the RCAF presence on the Mid Canada Line stations was minimal. Typically, there was one Officer, three Non-Commissioned Officers, five Airmen, and 114 civilians. RCAF Winisk closed down in April 1965. The station is still standing, just as it was when shut down. Unfortunately, the same can not be said for the community of Winisk. In the spring of 1986, the area was struck by a massive flood, killing a number of people and destroying everything. The community moved up-river to a new settlement and renamed itself Peawanuk. (Cree for flint)


A Map of the 15 MCL Sites in Ontario.


Miscellaneous Photos

“B” Mess Membership Card. Courtesy Al Gallant.

St. Patrick’s Day feast 1958. Courtesy Al Gallant.

Transient Quarter fire 1958. Courtesy Al Gallant.

Newly completed Rec Hall 1958. Courtesy Al Gallant.

Quarters 1958. Courtesy Al Gallant.

Firehall 1958. Courtesy Al Gallant.

Ops Building 1958. Courtesy Al Gallant.

1958. Courtesy Al Gallant.

Hanger 1998. Courtesy Environmental Sciences Group RMC.

Courtesy Environmental Sciences Group RMC.

Fire Hall 1998. Courtesy Environmental Sciences Group RMC.

Rec Hall 1998. Courtesy Environmental Sciences Group RMC.

Mess Hall 1998. Courtesy Environmental Sciences Group RMC.

Barracks 1998. Courtesy Environmental Sciences Group RMC.

Inside the abandoned control tower, 13 June 2001. Courtesy Paul Nopper.

Aerial view 1960. Courtesy Gordon Eastwood.

Barrel Dump. Photo taken Apr 30 2004 courtesy Jonathan Schmidt.

Remains of Station Sign. Photo taken Apr 30 2004 courtesy Jonathan Schmidt.

Interior of the Hangar. Photo taken Apr 30 2004, courtesy Jonathan Schmidt.

Control tower. Visit by the YMCA Extreme North Weenuck Exchange Group. Photo taken Apr 30 2004 courtesy Jonathan Schmidt.

Warning Sign. Photo taken Apr 30 2004 courtesy Jonathan Schmidt.

View of the hangar from the Control tower. Taken Apr 30 2004 courtesy Jonathan Schmidt.

Winisk jacket patch. Courtesy Len Haier.

“Mid Canada Line” Chopper at Winisk 1959. Courtesy Len Haier.

Courtesy Len Haier 1959.

Roy Campling 1958 (approx).

Main Street approx 1958.