Frobisher Bay, NWT

926^th Squadron, (ADC)
Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island, Canada

Frederick L Schanberger, Major, USAF

AN/FPS-20A, 1.

Operations:

The AN/TPS-502 was deactivated on 12 March 1960 and this station was in turn downgraded from a GCI site to a Surveillance station on 18 March 1960. Operations personnel in a joint operation with 327 FIS on 18 March 1960 provided initial detection and flight following into the Frobisher Bay airport and handoff to the Frobisher Bay GCA unit for recovery. On March 19 Operations personnel provided flight following for the 327 FIS on their departure from the Frobisher Bay airport. Mr. Kaiser of the Systems Development Corporation arrived at this station on 21 March 1960 to train Operations and Maintenance personnel in the use of the new ECM Actor. Certain problems arose during the early hours of operation of the Actor. On 23 March 1960 Mr. Zipple, also of the Systems Development Corporation, arrived at this station to assist Maintenance personnel with the correction of these problems. The Countermeasures Signal Simulator (0A-1767/GPS-T2A) was brought into operation during the month of March 1960. The Canadian Marconi Company calibration team arrived at this unit on 29 February 1960 to perform the six (6) month calibration on this station’s test equipment. This work was completed on 31 March 1960.

Personnel:

Captain George D Kuter, the new C&E Officer, arrived at this station on 19 February 1960. First Lieutenant John E Bright, the new Administrative Officer, arrived at this station on 10 March 1960. Captain Francis B Mael, the C&E Officer departed this station on 24 February 1960. First Lieutenant John N Gordon, the Administrative Officer, departed this station on 26 March 1960. First Lieutenant Eriand G Ahlberg, Weapons Controller departed this station on 29 March 1960 for reassignment to the 641^st ACWRON. Captain David Manlove replaced Captain John E Mosteller, who was acting as the Unit Supply Officer, on 18 January 1960. Captain Mosteller assumed the duties of Station Civil Engineer, vacated by Captain Charles B Hochanash’s air evacuation to the States. The following airmen of this unit were chosen for Airman of the Month for their outstanding performance of duty and contribution to squadron life as a whole: A/2C Jack B Townsend for Airman of the Month for the month of January; A/2C John Corbett for Airman of the Month for the month of February, and A/1C Joseph F Thompson for Airman of the Month for the month of March. The following airman and NCO were the nominations to 64^th Air Division (Defense) as Airman of the Quarter and NCO of the Quarter: A/1C Joseph F Thompson for Airman of the Quarter and T/Sgt. Charles A Walters Jr., for NCO of the Quarter. The following training hours were accomplished using the following equipment by Operations personnel during the report period: AN/GPS-T2 = 75 hours; AN/UPS-T5 = 48 hours; MO-1 = 2 hours; and ECCM = 190 hours. Five men entered OJT during the report period and five completed OJT during the report period 1 January 1960 through 31 March 1960. This squadron had an average of 18 men on OJT throughout the period of this report.

Equipment Performance:

The relay assembly for the Anti-Chaff Unit in Channel number one (AN/FPS-20A) arrived at this station and was installed on 22 March 1960, thus relieving RNFP condition that had existed since 19 November 1959. On 18 March 1960 the oil control unit on the rotary joint assembly (AN/FPS-20A) failed to maintain oil pressure due to a broken pawl. This necessitated manually pumping the unit to maintain oil pressure. This will be corrected with the installation of modification TCTO 31P6-2FPS20-564, which is scheduled to be performed the first week in April 1960. A shortage of test equipment applicable to the AN/FPS-20A has existed throughout the period of this report, although this gear has performed with acceptable efficiency. This efficiency will be greatly enhanced with the use of this test equipment. Two AN-447/G line amplifiers were received and installed in amplifier racks in Operations during February 1960.

Facilities:

The following manhours were expended by members of this organization in snow removal operation: 136 manhours for the month of January, 186 manhours for the month of February and 83 manhours for the month of March. Snowfall has been rather light this year with a total snowfall of 35 inches being recorded up to 31 March 1960. The following is a list of electrical power generated by this stations power plant during the months indicated: 348,000 KW for the month of January, 228,600 KW for the month of February, and344,520 KW for the month of March. Iran of five diesel units was started on 19 February 1960 by a team of technicians from Canadian Marconi Company. This team was lead by a Mr. John Weeks. The work of these five units was completed and the team departed this station on 30 March 1960. The four remaining diesel units, which have better than 10,000 hours each since the last major overhaul, will be overhauled as soon as the necessary parts are available. The installation of oil and water heaters on the two auxiliary diesel units in the Pole Vault facility was accomplished by a Canadian Marconi Company installation team during the month of March 1960. Hydrostatic tests were performed on all air storage tanks and the two boilers at this station by Mr. Linson and Mr. Gosney of the 64^th Air Division (D) during March 1960. Fire incidents were negative during the period of this report. Mr. Pike, the 64^th Air Division (D) Fire Inspector, conducted a semi-annual fire inspection of this station during 26 February through 29 February 1960.

Supply:

The stocking process of the spare parts for the AN/FPS-20A was completed during January 1960. The Air Force world wide inventory "Project Count" was started in January by members of this squadrons supply. All schedules are being maintained as established by basic "Project Count" procedures.

Community Relations:

All the squadron personnel have been briefed on the President’s "Person to Person" program. In keeping with this, this squadron is formulating a plan for an Open House to be held on Armed Forces Day. Captain Mosteller has been appointed as Project Officer.

Results of Inspections:

On 25 March 1960 a letter was received by this unit from Lt. Colonel Charles A Gibson Jr., Inspector General of 64^th Air Division (D), which stated in part, quote, "Report of Annual General Inspection, 926 ACWRON, FY 60, 11 Sept 59, is closed out. Corrective action initiated by the unit is considered adequate", unquote.

Morale:

Morale is very high at this station. Squadron health remains in a satisfactory condition with treatments being minor in nature.

Miscellaneous:

This station was visited during the month of February by the following: General LS Kuter (Commander of NORAD), General Robert E Lee, General Agan and party, and General Robert Taylor III (CCS Ottawa) and party. Doctor Bowen and party of the Canadian Joint Intelligence Bureau, and Frobisher Bay Consultants. Colonel RW Strong Jr., the Commander of the 4082 Strategic Wing at Goose Air Base, visited this station during March 1960. All parties received a squadron briefing and then inspected the station facilities.

Frederick L Schanberger, Major, USAF