Orr, John Lewis: my Canadian Forces recollections (March 13, 2012)
ABSTRACT: Colonel John Orr flew the Sea King helicopter during the Cold War, working his way up to command 423 Squadron at CFB Shearwater and eventually being promoted to Maritime Air Component Commander (Atlantic). Our discussions focused on what it was like to fly the helicopter, tactics his squadron used to hunt submarines, equipment comparison between the Canadian Navy and those of Great Britain and the United States, and details of operations that took place during his time at the Maritime Air Group (MAG) and as the Commander of MARLANT. The discussions were largely tactical and technical in nature. Time Topic 0.00-2.21 Biographical Information/Training 2.21-9.59 Landing on a small ship 9.59-14.01 Discussion of Autopilot/Hard landings 14.01-17.22 Anti-Submarine Tactics Force Asset vs. Extension of Ship 17.22-19.00 ASW Conditions off of East Coast 19.00-20.00 Objective of ASW Operations 20.00-23.20 "Game of Boxes" 23.20-24.56 Operations from Tribal-class Destroyers 24.56-28.30 Maintenance Practices (Tribal, Carrier, AOR) 28.30-32:30 Tactics from Carriers/Destroyers 32.30-35.30 Operating with other NATO Forces 35.30-38.30 Equipment Comparison to American Sea Kings 38.30-40.20 Equipment Comparison to British Sea Kings 40.20-42.28 What made Canada so good at ASW 42.28-43.20 Navy vs. Air Force Bureaucracy 43.20-45.40 Tactical HUD (vs. Brits) 45.40-51.07 Communications (Destroyer to Helicopter) 51.07-53.50 Communications (Between NATO Forces) 53.50-56.53 Fixed Wing vs. Rotary Wing ASW 56.53-58.06 Actually Tracking a Soviet Submarine 58.06-1.00.43 His time attached to an American squadron 1.00.43-1.06.57 Mission Suite Switch (Persian Gulf) 1.05.46 System Integration 1.06.57-1.07.58 Mission Suite Change on Crew Responsibilities 1.07.58-1.17.00 Operations during his time with MAG/MARLANT 1.12.14 Red River Flood 1.13.05 Swiss Air 1.17.00-1.21.41 Discussion of -148 Cyclone 1.18.20 Crash in NFLD 1.20.42 Commonality with other NATO Forces 1.21.41-1.26.00 Changing Maintenance on the Sea King 1.26.00-1.28.00 What Made Col. Orr Proud about his Career.
Rank: Colonel. Medals and Honours: Canadian Forces Decoration
Interviewee: Orr, John Lewis
An interview/narrative of Colonel John Orr's experiences whilst serving with the Canadian Forces during the Cold War and the First Gulf War. Interview took place on March 13, 2012.
Interviewer: Ayers, Caylan
- In Collection:
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter Squadron, 423
- Air pilots, Military
- Canada--Dept. of National Defence--New Shipboard Aircraft Project
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Destroyer escorts
- Sea King (Helicopter)
- Search and rescue operations
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Organization
- Antisubmarine warfare
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Personal narratives
- Helicopter pilots
- Orr, John L. (John Lewis), 1945- --Interviews
- Civil-military relations--Canada
- Sea King (Helicopter)--United States--Navy
- Sea King (Helicopter)--Modification
- Sea King (Helicopter)--Great Britain--Navy
- Disaster relief
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Sea King Omnibus Modification Program (SKOMP)
- Aeronautics, Military--Communication systems
- Multinational armed forces
- Swissair Flight 111 Crash, 1998
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Finance
- Communications, Military
- Integrated operations (Military science)
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Maritime Helicopter Squadron, 423
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Equipment and supplies
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Maritime Forces Atlantic
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Weapons systems
- Helicopter pilots--Training of
- Naval tactics
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Procurement
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Military life
- Sikorsky H-92 (Helicopter)
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Maritime Air Group
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Drill and tactics
- Sikorsky helicopters
- St. Laurent Class (Destroyers)
- Sea King (Helicopter)--Parts
- Tribal Class (Destroyers : 1936-1969)
- Red River of the North (Flood : 1997)
- Canada--Royal Canadian Navy--Personal Narratives
- Canada--Canadian Forces Base (Shearwater, N.S.)--History
- Anti-submarine warfare--Equipment and supplies
- Floods--Manitoba
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Equipment--Testing
- Antisubmarine aircraft
- Cyclone (Helicopter)
- Sea King (Helicopter)--Maintenance and repair
- Canada--Canadian Forces Base (Shearwater, N.S.)--Organization
- Bonaventure (Carrier)
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 60.10867, -113.64258
- 54.75844, -2.69531
- 39.76, -98.5
- Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- OJ_704
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 13, 2012
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 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 2012. 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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