Frobisher Bay, NWT

The 926^th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated at Grenier Air Force Base, New Hampshire, on 13 June 1953, with an authorized strength of ten (10) officers and one hundred and twenty (120) airmen. The squadron was moved to Site Number 31, Frobisher Bay, Canada, between 19 August 1953 and 2 December 1953. The authorized strength of this organization was changed to nine (9) officers, ninety-six (96) airmen and sixteen (16) civilians by Unit Manning Document dated April 1956.

The primary mission of the 926^th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was to provide early warning surveillance of the assigned area of responsibility. The secondary mission was to provide navigational assistance to friendly aircraft.

The purpose of this squadron was to serve as a member of a group of similar organizations providing a system of early warning against the infiltration of enemy aircraft into the defense areas of the United States and Canada.

It was the responsibility of the Administrative Section to maintain all records pertaining to assigned personnel and to perform the duties pertinent to the office of the Squadron Commander.

During this period the administrative section established a 80 percent effectiveness. This was ten (10) percent less than the last reporting quarter. This loss was due to mis-routing of mail pouches by postal sections and unfortunate and unfavorable weather conditions.

In the month of April this squadron was unofficially inspected by the 64^th Air Division Inspection Team. The Inspection Team was delayed in their journey to Resolution Island due to weather and remained at this station for approximately ten (10) days. Minor discrepancies were noted and called to the attention of the Commander. Immediate corrective actions were effected.

During the month of April no squadron personnel were extended beyond their normal tour of duty. Replacements were received on a normal basis with the exception of the Air Installations Section. The Communications Section received adequate replacements to fill positions vacated before the 1^st quarter, and is presently effectively manned.

During the month of April this station received a Unit Manning Document change authorizing two (2) additional controllers, AFSC 1644, in the operations section. Three (3) military positions in the heating plant, AFSC 56550, were also changed to civilian positions. Total manning to date as authorized by the current UMD lists 105 military and 16 civilian positions.

The On-The-Job Training program was carried out in a very satisfactory manner resulting in the upgrading of one (1) airman to the "3" level, five (5) airmen to the "5" level and one (1) airmen to the "7" level AFSC. As of 30 June this unit had 42 airmen training in the OJT program.

During the reporting period the following airmen promotions were effected: Seven (7) airmen were promoted to the grade of A/2C, two (2) airmen were promoted to the grade of A/1C, one (1) airman was promoted to the grade of S/Sgt. And one (1) airman to the grade of T/Sgt.

The General Military Training Program was completed for the first cycle except for 490 hours of Marksmanship and Individual Weapons. Weather conditions prevented the accomplishment of this subject, however it has been rescheduled for the month of July. During the reporting quarter twelve (12) airman Information Periods were held on the following subjects: Ceremonies and Drills, Security Functions, Individual Fortification and Marksmanship, Mechanical Training, Individual Weapons, Passive Defense and Inspections.

The mission of this section has remained the same, early warning, however the secondary mission of providing navigational aid required the most active amount of participation from Operations Personnel during the reporting period. Rendering navigational assistance was necessary, due to the lack of navigational aids in this region of the world. Pilots connected with the Canadian Civil traffic servicing the DEW line have continually expressed their gratitude for any and all navigational assistance provided by this unit.

Coordination with the RCAF tower at the lower base, 6650^th, continued on the best of terms. An agreement to the effect that this station would place aircraft on the precision equipment of GCA during the loss of GCA search radars was practiced as much as possible and found to be very satisfactory.

This station being located on higher ground is able to relay radio traffic from aircraft out of range of the lower base antennas to the lower base control tower. This duty although not a part of our mission, provided additional training and experience for operation personnel.

The traffic into the Frobisher area increased during the reporting period with 3924 tracks being plotted and 2764 flight plans recorded. The month of April was the most active month since the site became operational.

The increase in traffic was due, for the most part, to increased activity on the DEW Line. Better flying weather was partly responsible plus additional aircraft being put into operation in supplying the stations to the north.

The Operations section was on a four crew scheduled. There were 31 men assigned, during this reporting period, to the section and that was the largest number in the history of the site. The section was still short of 27370 personnel but the proficiency of the operations section did not decrease. This was due in part to intensive training of all personnel within the section.

There were no operational readiness tests during the reporting period. The section, however, maintained a constant high level in case of any emergency.

During the reporting period operations gained two (2) new officers, both controllers and seven (7) enlisted men. The section lost one (1) officer, two (2) NCO’s and one (1) airman Third Class due to rotation to the ZI.

The Radar Maintenance Section was responsible to the Operations Officer for the proper operation and performance of all ground electronics equipment pertaining to radar in the support of the Primary Mission of this squadron. This section presented on the job training, both formal and informal, and carried on all necessary coordination with other sections.

The Radar Equipment was inoperative for a total of three (3) hours and thirteen (13) minutes during the reporting period. The time that the radar was off the air was above and beyond PM and scheduled maintenance repairs. Forty-five (45) minutes of the total was due to a power failure. Thirty-two (32) minutes was due to failure of the magnetron filament circuit. Thirty-four (34) minutes was due to low magnetron current and poor pickup. Eleven (11) minutes was due to a high voltage interlock failure to close. Thirty (30) minutes in June was due to an investigation of a scrapping noise from the pedestal. This was the first time in six months that the prime equipment was off the air. Less than an hour of unscheduled maintenance was necessary for repair.

A large number of capacitors in the AN/FPS-3 were found to be cracked from heat. These cracks allowed the capacitors to take on moisture and caused unstable operation. After having a low MDS for several days on the upper beam of the AN/FPS-3, it was found that the door coupler, TR and ATR cavities were badly pitted. It was also found that the pulse transformer was leaking and arcing internally. Parts were not available within the section so they were placed on RNFP with the support base.

The back-up radar, AN/FPS-502, was overhauled by the men of this section. Instead of cutting the high voltage completely off it was dropped back about one (1) and a half (½) KV. The overhaul gave the section a noise figure along with the continuous operation of the set and resulted in better performance and increased sensitivity.

Six (6) modifications were installed on the AN/FPS-502 monitor scope. These modifications increased the suitability of the scope and increased the life of the associated tubes.

An intercom system was installed between operations and the radar maintenance shop by the communications section. This facilitated coordination between operations and radar maintenance especially during times of emergency.

During the reporting period this section gained one (1) A/2C while it lost seven (7) A/2C and one (1) A/1C. Two of the A/2C were in the hospital and have since returned to this section. The other five (5) A/2C were rotated to the ZI.

During the reporting period the Communications section fulfilled its mission of operating and providing administrative and tactical point to point communications, VHF and UHF air to ground radio, message center, and fixed plant telephone facilities using tropospheric scatter system circuits and HF and LF back-up equipment.

The communications section has made many operating improvements. Teletype and Wire Maintenance personnel have completely overhauled the internal wiring in the communications center. By order of the commander, all teletype machines which are operational have been wired for HF RTTY transmit operation on line (i.e. supplying signal current to line from table rectifiers) and line 2 has been wired for Pole Vault split-duplex operation or HF RTTY receive only (i.e., signal current supplied from remote point).

The transmitter was repainted and new work benches were constructed. An inspection of the Antenna farm disclosed a dissipation line of the TX Rhombic Antenna had about ten feet cut off it. This will be repaired when the Overhaul Team arrived in August. This defect does not hamper the capability of the HF transmit communications but it should be repaired to conform with plant-place records of this site.

During this reporting period a strict adherence to periodic preventative maintenance schedule has reduced outages in this section to a minimum. One VHF transmitter failed and is ROCP for a clower interlock and keying relay. One UHF single channel transmitter is ROCP for lack of a capacitor which failed in long continuous service. One UHF multi channel transmitter is ROCP for lack of C-1436 in the MD129. One UHF channel transmitter was retracked and returned in driver and PA stages using the RF dummy load and Wattmeter loaned by Pole Vault.

Obstruction lights at the Receiver Antenna farm were replaced and an inspection of all antennas was made to determine their condition after experiencing a very rigorous winter at this site. Telephone connections were installed in all NCO rooms for the convenience of airmen on duty as Charge of Quarters. An inter-communications system was installed between operations and radar maintenance. The PS system was removed in the Frame room to provide better accessibility for the telephone operator. Emergency phones located on the lower base road were repaired and all phones are in operation.

The Dual Diversity Receiving equipment, receivers, combining equipment and the converter were completed rehabilitated and at present we are copying news from the ZI about 18 hours a day and broadcasting this over our local radio station. We include up to the minute baseball scores and all other sports activities occurring in the states. This is a great morale factor at this site. Interest in the present pennant races in the Major Leagues has increased tremendously because of these up to the minute reports.

Due to the continued shortage of personnel the message center is still using wire and teletype maintenance personnel to fill vacant slots. Teletype and switchboard operating efficiency is suffering due to this situation. Radio operations are also operating at 50 percent of authorized strength at this time making it necessary to utilize radio maintenance personnel for radio monitoring.

During this reporting period this section had three airmen promoted. S/Sgt. Sears was promoted to T/Sgt. A/2C Colgin was promoted to A/1C and A/3C Nelson was promoted to A/2C. Five (5) airmen rotated back to the ZI and we received three (3) new airmen. The airmen who rotated were: S/Sgt. Johnnie L Dunham, A/1C Arnold J Cecconi, A/2C James D Kayser, A/2C Ronald L Bowers and A/3C Richard H Hutchins. The new airmen are A/1C JR Petties, A/2C Donnie G Carlisle and A/2C Reynaldo Leal.

It was the responsibility of the Supply Section to acquire, issue and maintain records on Unit Authorization List property and spares required by the various activities of the squadron.

During the month of April overhaul spares were put on requisition for the Communications Radar Maintenance and Power Plant. The Overhaul Teams were expected to arrive during the summer for the installations of these parts. The supply section received a substantial amount of 17-B hand tools and 16-S Electron Tubes to restock the shelves. Fifteen hundred line items were put on requisition to maintain an adequate stock level of expendable supplies. The section received, during the reporting period, six (6) Ignitor Buses which were installed by Mr. Robert Endsley of Headquarters NEAC. During this reporting period this section experienced great difficulties in procuring non-stock listed items for the telephone switchboard, power plant, and refrigeration, due to the unavailability of manufacturers parts lists in this section.

Two hundred and sixty-two (262) line items were put on requisition to maintain a stock level of expendable supplies during the month of May. This section started receiving the parts for the D-8 Caterpillar, which were on immediate request. The majority of the parts were on back-order and some parts were to be re-ordered, as they have been changed to AF class 51-A. This section continued having difficulty in obtaining Jan Type 807 tubes. Many necessary items are presently in backlog in traffic at Goose Air Base.

Signal and 16-L Classes were inventoried and stock levels were set for the month of June. Control Register and records were brought forward for the forthcoming Fiscal Year1957. Supply received an adequate number of supplies to carry the Squadron during the reporting period. The UAL was inventoried and necessary paper work initiated to transfer the Supply account to the new Supply Officer due at this Station in June.

During the month of April the Ric-Wil line (water) was under repair. In addition to the repair of the line the entire casing was repainted. In compliance with the original installations contract the water pump station equipment was finally painted during this period.

The Ric-Wil water line renovation project was completed during the first week of May, however the Ric-Wil heater thermostats and immersion heater thermostats were damaged beyond repair by the renovation team from the support base and no spare thermostats were available at this station or the support base. These items had to be requisitioned.

Bell Telephone Company of Canada installed the necessary equipment and made electrical connections from our power plant to Pole Vault. We are now able to supply electrical power to Pole Vault.

During the month of June the Installation Section removed storm windows and installed screen windows. This project was carried out throughout the station. Temporary repairs to roof trusses in the power plant and all truss bolts were tightened, pending the outcome of work order request for new braces. There were thirteen (13) civilians and eight (8) airmen assigned to installations at the close of this reporting period. A total of 10 man hours were expended for the operation of utilities plants and maintenance of real estate facilities from 1 April through 30 June. Regular and emergency overtime performed by civilian personnel were 354 hours during the month of June 1956.

This section was short ten (10) personnel required to fill the following positions as authorized by the current Unit Manning Document. The shortage of personnel created a heavy work load on the few personnel assigned and hampered the section from performing its assigned mission.

Due to the isolated location of this unit, it was imperative that the Special Services section utilize effectively all facilities providing entertainment and off duty educational opportunities for assigned personnel. With that fact in mind, the Special Service section, with the voluntary assistance of interested personnel, initiated many improvements in programmed activities during this reporting period. All facilities providing off duty educational opportunities were extensively publicized and an increase of personnel participation was effected. Other phase of Special Service activities were initiated due to favorable weather conditions during the months of May and June.