Goose Bay, Labrador

641^st AC&W Squadron
APO 677, New York, NY

Benjamin M Howse, Lt. Col., USAF

AN/FPS-20A – Two Channel Prime Radar, AN/FPS-6B Radar Height Finder, AN/GPX-7A Radar Identification, 10 Cummins Diesel Generators, 8 AN/GRC-27 Multi-Channel UHF Transmitter-Receivers, 6 AN/GRT-3 Single Channel UHF Transmitter, 2 MF/URG-60 VHF Receivers, 6 AN/GRR-7 Single Channel Receivers, 10 T-5002/FRT-502 and 1 FRT-503 Single Channel VHF Transmitters.

Operations:

Officer manning in Operations during this quarter was satisfactory. Authorized Officer strength is 13, assigned is 13. New officers arriving at this station were 2^nd Lts. Terwilliger, Hammet and Willett. Officers upgraded were: Lt. Duncan to Combat Ready, Warrant Officer Alexander to Combat Ready Skilled, Lt. Moore to Combat Ready Skilled and Lt. Schacker to Combat Ready Expert. Officers departing for the ZI were Captain O’Brien, Captain Egbert and Captain Foxe. Current director status is: 2 C/R Expert, 3 C/R Skilled, and 4 C/R and 3 in training. Airman manning in Operations during this quarter: NCO’s, 33 authorized, 31 assigned. Airmen, 50 authorized, 40 assigned. 27 new personnel arrived during this quarter. Lt. Bunce was selected as Controller with A/1C O’Rourke as his ICT for the 26^th Air Division Project "Fire-Away". A/1C Blue as Height Operator. This team won First Place and will represent 26^th Air Division at the William Tell competition at Tyndall AFB, Florida in October 1963. CWO Alexander was sent 30 days TDY to Hunter AFB, Georgia as a TAC Controller for Swift Strike III exercise conducted in July – August 1963. The 641^st Operations Section were evaluated on the 20-23 July 1963 period for the Smith Hughes Trophy Competition. We received the ADC "A" award for sustained outstanding performance from August 31, 1962 to 21 July 1963. The Operations Section was rated outstanding in all phases of AC&W Operations by the 26^th Air Division IG Team. On 18-20 September the 641^st assisted in the 26^th Air Division No-Notice Tac Evaluation of the 59^th FIS. The Operations Section received an outstanding rating from this TAC Evaluation team for the Ground Environment Portion. Officers and Airmen: Weapons controllers have accomplished 574 hours of ECM and academic training. Airmen have accomplished 2164 hours of ECM and academic/proficiency training. During this quarter the Operations Section received 3902 flight plans. We had 35 unknowns and 21 active air scrambles. We also conducted 805 practice intercepts and recovered 555 aircraft. The 641^st participated in 7 category II’s, 3 category III’s, and 6 category IV STP’s. Two new teletypes were added to the Operations functions. Duplex tape recorders were installed in the Radio Monitor Room for use on Gander AMIS and Goose ARTC Telephone Lines. During this quarter T/Sgt. Loy and A/1C Cusick were awarded ADC Commendation Certificates for outstanding work. A/1C O’Rourke was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for outstanding operations work in the Cuban Crisis.

Communications and Electronics:

First Lieutenant Foushee arrived 1 July 1963 and assumed Communications Officer duties. A new Master Locator Board has been completed and is mounted in the switchboard room for quick reference by telephone operators. Additional "PA" speakers have been received and installed in the Dining Hall and Civil Engineer sections. On 18 August, the Director for C&E at ADC and a portion of his staff visited this unit. A thorough inspection of the entire C&E section was conducted by the GADS Quality Control Section during the period 24-26 July. An inspection was conducted by the 26^th Air Division Inspector General during the period 2-6 August and a rating of satisfactory was assigned. Lt. Colonel Ralph Frank departed and Major Allen J Jedel arrived to assume duty as C&E Officer. Additional emphasis on AFM 66-1 and associated OJT training, proficiency training and Unit Fundamentals Training has been started. Our goal is to obtain a maximum number of people assigned to direct labor, maximum utilization of the direct labor, a zero rate on submission of maintenance data collection forms and exception time accounting forms and 100% passing rate on all aspects of training. A Material Control Section has been established and is operating. A UMD change has been submitted to bring up the strength to 4 airmen. The MCC supervisor has begun a training program to improve the accuracy of data collection documentation. Documents returned with errors are reviewed with the work center supervisor, who in turn, discusses the error with the airman concerned. Sample forms have been prepared showing the proper method of completion. A daily count and accuracy check is being maintained on all "fix documents". On 27 August a monthly maintenance meeting was held for all 66-1 personnel plus other interested personnel. It was revealed that our utilization rate had dropped approximately 5% due to large amounts product indirect labor, duty absences and non-duty absences. Methods of reducing hours lost to these categories were discussed and assistance was promised by all squadron sections. Our error rate dropped 20% to 10% which is most encouraging, but efforts are still being made to reduce this to approximately 2-3 %. A C&E Officers Battle Position has been partially installed in the Operations Room. The effectiveness of this position is evident as a tactical evaluation held during the week of 16 September and no GCI errors were made. This includes ground environment causes and/or director causes. The Suggestion Program has been most effective. Since emphasis was placed on the program, 36 suggestions were submitted in a single 30 day period. Special consideration has been given to submitting suggestions pertaining to AFM 66-1. Three tape recorders, RD-142A/UN, and associated tape demagnetizer were installed in the operations radio monitor room. This permits simultaneous recording of 6 voice channels. A 55 foot tower and rotary beam antenna installation for the squadron amateur radio station was completed. The project was quite extensive, as the anchors had to be laid in cement after drilling through solid rock with a compressor.

Civil Engineering:

Three representatives of the installation contractor arrived on 23 July 1963 and corrected a deficiency on No. 3 Power Unit, which was previously reported. The Cummins Diesel Overhaul team from Canadian Marconi Company arrived on 16 August 1963 to start work on the 200 KW LRT engines. They completed overhaul on four of the six LRT engines. The difficulty concerning maintenance and repair of the "No Break" electrical system was discussed with the IG team. On 25 September 1963 through 27 September 1963, a conference was held at Goose Air Base for the purpose of finding a solution to the "No Break" failure problem. Representatives from all the concerned agencies were present. Many recommendations were made, responsibilities assigned and target dates set. The CE Cost Accounting program has now been in effect for one year and nine months. The following are cumulative costs for this three month period:

(see the matrix at the end of this report)

A Mobile Maintenance team worked on MEL 125-63, repair roof, 502 tower; MEL 130-63, repair roof, new Comm Center; MEL 110-63, Repair storm entrances; MEL-106-63, Repair Operations Briefing Room; and MEL-117-63, Repair basement – A Barracks, Photo Shop. There were no fires during this period. On 30 September 1963 the Squadron completed twenty-one months and sixteen days of operation with no reportable fire incidents. At the end of this reporting period, 30 September 1963, the Squadron has completed eight hundred and thirteen days of accident free operation. Contract MEL 2-2, Paint Motor Pool Building Ceiling was started on 7 August 1963 and completed on 19 August 1963. Contract MEL 226-1, paint interior of BOQ and A and B Barracks was started on 19 August 1963 and completed on 30 September 1963. Contract MEL 3-3, repair floors in Power and Heating Plants, was started on 9 September 1963 and is 30% complete. Contract MEL 248-1, Paint exterior of all buildings, was started on 9 September 1963 and is 28% complete. This contract has been postponed until next spring.

Supply, Motor Pool and Food Service:

The Unit Supply and Material Control Sections received a satisfactory rating by the 26^th Air Division IG team. The semi-annual inventory of all electronic spares in Material Control was accomplished. All BEMO equipment was inventoried. SCHEME equipment for the FPS-6/A0-2325 was received during the month of July. An inspection of all assigned ammunition and weapons was performed by 4082^nd ammunition inspectors. On 3 August 1963, Captain Rachel assumed the duties of 641^st AC&W Supply, Food Service, and Motor Pool Officer vice Lt. Warner who returned to the ZI. BEMO property accounts were transferred to individual custodians of the respective sections. All stock record cards, (AF Form 84B) were screened to determine which items show consumption during the past year. The items with no consumption were reported to GADS Material as excess. A total of 4576 line items are within excess category. Approximately 450 line items will be maintained in Material Control as stand-by items. Another 270 line items are bench stock type items for the AN/FPS-6, ANFPS-20, T-4 and Radio Maintenance bench stocks. These four bench stocks are presently maintained on a manual system. However, bench stock lists were forwarded to Base Supply Goose Air Base, where these items will be incorporated into the RAMAC 305 IBM computer and within the next 30 days our four bench stocks will be mechanized. Excess SCHEME equipment was moved to the SCHEME storage area in lower part of AN/FPS-6 tower. One )A-99 scope was shipped to the 776^th AC&W Squadron and two additional scopes will be shipped to the 931^st AC&W Squadron. The two excess switchboards will be turned into Redistribution and Marketing as outlined in disposition instructions. The Motor Pool function became the responsibility of the Supply Officer as of 24 July 1963. A new 6,000 pound forklift was received which is replacing the 4,000 pound lift. A 12 passenger snow cat just arrived. This vehicle will play an important part in winter transportation. SAC received a new four wheel drive bus to be used on the Melville run, operated by SAC drivers. During the month of July the Food Service function was evaluated by the 4601^st for the Hennesey Award. Warrant Officer Campbell was the evaluator. A brochure was prepared in conjunction with the evaluation and was forwarded to the 28^th Air Division. Two General Officers visited the dining hall during this reporting period. Favorable comments concerning the food service operation were received. The dining hall operated within the monetary allowances for the months of August and September and many favorable comments were received concerning the improvement of meals.

Personnel and Administration:

The most important event of this period was the General Inspection of the 641^st AC&W Squadron conducted by Major John J Connell and personnel from the Office of the Inspector General 26^th Air Division (SAGE) during the period 2-6 August 1963. The overall evaluation of the Unit was satisfactory. Records management procedures received particular emphasis throughout the squadron during September. A comprehensive course of instructions was presented to all records custodians and clerks by the GADS Record Management NCO. A follow-up inspection found an improvement in all sections including non-appropriated fund activities. Decentralization of authority to release messages and correspondence was directed by the Commander in compliance with AFR 10-2. This policy has improved efficiency and removed unnecessary controls. The Administration of all Open Mess operations received the continued, personal attention of the Commander. Operating and accounting practices were reviewed and improved. A Central Bookkeeping section was established to accomplish bookkeeping, typing and records maintenance for all non-appropriated fund activities. Distinguished visitors were: Colonel George M Hinckley, Eastern District Director, Auditor General’s Office; Colonel RT Hosken, Director C&E, Headquarters Air Defense Command; seven news media representatives from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Rockford Illinois; Colonel Henry C Crouch, Chief of Staff, 26^th Air Division and fourteen (14) staff officers; Major General Benjamin J Webster, Chief of Staff, Air Defense Command and a party of eight (8); and twenty-two (22) teachers and faculty members of the USAF Dependent School System, Goose Air Base. Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin M Howse assumed command of the 641^st AC&W Squadron on 13 July 1963.

Benjamin M Howse, Lt. Col., USAF