Neroutsos, John: my Cold War recollections (March 12, 2011)

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Interviewer: McKeigan, Cameron

Rank: Brigadier-General.

Interviewee: Neroutsos, John, b. 1932

An interview/narrative of John Neroutsos's experiences during the Cold War. Interview took place on March 12, 2011.

ABSTRACT: The interview conducted with Brig. Gen. John Neroutsos on 12 March 2011 begins with Neroutsos’ entry into the RCAF Reserve in Montreal in 1950. He begins his recollection by describing Canadian relations with the Soviets at the time of his joining up. He then describes his experience flying with 438 Squadron in Montreal, and its role in Canadian defence and the early stages of NORAD. Following his thoughts on Montreal, Neroutsos describes his duties at his next posting as a communications officer in 411 Squadron in Toronto. He then discusses his return to Montreal, becoming CO of 401 Squadron, and the near-disastrous effects of Unification on the Reserves. Following that is a discussion of how the Reserves coped with a minimal budget and barely sufficient manpower, and the various classifications of pay within the Reserves. There is then a dialogue of the Total Force concept employed by the Canadian Forces during his time as commander of the Air Reserve Group in Winnipeg in the mid-1980s, and the subsequent revitalization of the Reserves. Neroutsos also voices his opinions on the Reserves relationship with NATO and the USAF, before discussing the differences between serving in the Reserves now versus when he was a pilot. He ends the interview with some background on the origins of the Reserves. 0:00-0:30 - Introduction 0:00-3:30 - Joining the RCAF and education 3:30-7:45 - Canada and the Soviets during and after WWII 7:45-11:30 - Work in Montreal and flying for the 438 Reserve Sqdn. 11:30-13:30 - Responsibilities in Montreal 13:30-16:00 - Reserves and auxiliary presence in Canadian defence 16:00-17:00 - Formation of NORAD 17:00-19:30 - Transfer to 411 Sqdn. in Toronto 19:30-22:30 - Responsibilities in Toronto 22:30-24:00 - Reserves operations in Toronto 24:00-24:30 - CO of 401 Sqdn. in Montreal 24:30-26:50 - Integration and the struggle for survival of the Reserve 26:50-29:00 - Integration and 401 Sqdn. and the revitalization of the reserve 29:00-31:00 - University Reserve Training Plan and after it was cut 31:00-33:20 - More on integration, creation of the Air Reserve Group 33:20-37:20 - Change to Otter aircraft and helicopters, paramilitary divisions within air force 37:20-42:20 - Staff officer in Air Reserve Group (ARG) in Winnipeg 42:20-45:40 - Contribution of the Reserves to Canada 45:40-51:15 - Reserves' struggle to maintain a raison d'etre, total force 51:15-52:05 - Reserve classifications 52:05-53:30 - Retirement from the Reserve in '83, recalled to Winnipeg as a General, Project 2010 53:30-59:30 - Commander of the ARG 59:30-1:00:30 - Responsibilities of ARG, mainly logistics 1:00:30-1:03:40 - Outstanding issues of the Reserves, focus on the future, manpower 1:03:40-1:07:30 - Problems with manpower in the Reserves 1:07:30-1:1:09:40 - RCAF and the USAF 1:09:40-1:13:00 - RCAF in NATO and NORAD 1:13:00-1:16:20 - 'Mess life' then and now 1:16:20-1:17:20 - Signing the release form and discussion of the Oral History Project 1:17:20-1:19:50 - Some background on the early squadrons of the Reserves 1:19:50-1:20:24 - Conclusion

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
  • 39.76, -98.5
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • NJ_687
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • March 12, 2011
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 128 kbps and 44 kHz. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2011. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
Rights
  • This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
DOI

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