Goose Bay, Labrador

1965 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
641st AC&W Squadron
Goose Bay, Labrador
1 April 1965 to 30 June 1965

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

641st AC&W Squadron (ADC)
APO New York 09677

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Donald A Zeine, Lt. Colonel, USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. Air Defense Command
    26th Air Division (SAGE)
    Goose Air Defense Sector
    641st AC&W Squadron

  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)
  • None

  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • The mission of the 641st AC&W Squadron is to conduct Air Defense Operations within area of assignment as outlined in ADC (RCAF) ASI 3/4/3, to support the Goose NORAD/CONAD Combat Center area of responsibility as described in NORAD GO Nr. 14 and CONAD GO Nr. 8 dated 13 May 1960, and to function as a Master Direction Center within the Air Defense system.

    Authority: Paragraph 1, Goose Air Defense Sector Regulation 23-2, dated 15 July 1963.

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Authorized

    19

    221

    14

    254

     
     

    Assigned

    17

    175

    14

    206

     
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • AN/FPS-20A – Two Channel Prime Radar, AN/FPS-90 Radar Height Finder, AN/GPX-7A Radar Identification, 10 Cummins Diesel Generators, 8 AN/GRC-27 Multi-Channel UHF Transmitter-Receivers, 6 AN/GRR-7 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.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Operations:

    Major Lloyd W Cadwallader assumed duties as Operations Officer on 21 April 1965 relieving Major Ralph M Knighton. Officer manning during the quarter was satisfactory with authorized strength 13 and assigned strength 13. New officer arrivals were Major Cadwallader, Lt. Sevenson and Lt. Paul. Departures consisted of Major Knighton, Lt. Taylor, Lt. Peterson, Captain Wade and Lt. Kiliveros. Airman manning in the operations section is 33 NCO’s authorized, 17 assigned; 52 airmen authorized, 50 assigned. There were 10 new arrivals during the quarter. Inexperience continues to be the major problem confronting the operations area. An intensified training program is in effect, however, in an attempt to alleviate the problem. Work orders have been submitted to repaint the vertical plotting board and change the physical layout of equipment and personnel positions. During the quarter the squadron participated in 7 live exercises and 20 STM missions. Weapons controllers accomplished 239 hours of academic and ECM training. During this same period 4,682 flight plans were processed. There were 17 unknown tracks, 8 active air scrambles, 1303 practice intercepts and 642 recoveries. The squadron participated in 5 Category I STM’s, 11 Category II STM’s, and 4 Category III STM’s. On 26 June 1965 the squadron underwent a combined 26th Air Division Tactical Evaluation and Northern NORAD Region Evaluation with successful results.

    Communications and Electronics:

    Depot level maintenance was performed on the AN/FPS-20A beginning 7 May 1965. The team completed the DLM on 22 June and the equipment was accepted as of that sate. The scopes in Operations have been completely recabled. The change will provide a clearer, better defined, radar presentation. The CEM section received a Quality Control Inspection during June. Results were complimentary with no major discrepancies noted. The Battle Commander’s position on the Dias has been provided with a system to make announcements over the public address system. This also provides him with the capability of initiating alert signals from the Dias. The Communications Center made a 50% improvement in the operation of our AIRCOMNET circuit with Andrews AFB. Only one error was experienced during May. This should place the squadron in the top ten tributary standings our of 45 stations. Lt. Tweedle replaced Lt. Liska as OIC of Communications.

    Civil Engineering:

    The following work orders were completed by Civil Engineering during this period:

    (see the matrix at the end of this report)

    Maintenance and Overhaul: Routine preventative maintenance continues daily. The fourth quarter PM cycle for fiscal year 65 has been completed. Power Plant: Power outages were experienced on 17 and 18 June 1965. Both outages caused Tech Power to be lost for a total of 12 minutes. BMEWS remained on, due to proper operation of No-break units. Heating Plant: The Heating Plant operated at peak proficiency during this period. Preventative Maintenance Costs: The following are cumulative costs for three (3) month period.

    (see the matrix at the end of this report)

    1st Lt. George E Adams replaced Captain Charles L Brock as Maintenance Engineer. Other personnel gains are: Mr. Ivan B Balson, Power Plant; A/1C Lorenzo Alexander, Administrative Clerk; A/2C Herbert L Freeman, Heating Plant Specialist. Fire Protection: There were no major fires this period. Fire drills were conducted on 6, 9, and 22 April; 11, 21 and 26 May; and 3, 24, and 29 June. Fire prevention and training classes were conducted on 5, 7, and 26 April; 10, 12, 14 May; and 9, 14, 16 and 24 June. Mobile Maintenance Teams: The 8th Air Force Mobile Maintenance Teams have spent a total of 2,733 hours performing maintenance at this station during this period.

    Supply:

    The two unit supply warehouses have been rearranged and many civil engineering stand-by items are now being stored and issued from unit supply. All stock lists were reviewed and many series were discontinued. Unit Supply presently maintains stock lists for Civil Engineering and Motor Pool supplies. A GADS assistance visit was conducted during the period of 20-22 April 1965, with all areas receiving a satisfactory rating. 1st Lt. Ralph L Long, Supply Officer, departed in June and will be replaced by Lt. Alden Evans in July.

    Personnel and Administration:

    Lt. Colonel Donald A Zeine replaced the outgoing Commander, Lt. Colonel Benjamin M Howse, on 26 June 1965. The departing Administrative Officer, Lt. Daniel J Pastor, was replaced by Lt. Dennis C Fitzgerald on 4 June 1965. SM/Sgt. Joseph A Imbrescia replaced M/Sgt. Robert Webster as First Sergeant of the squadron on 25 June 1965. A total of 8 officers and 32 airmen were processed in and 9 officers and 44 airmen were processed out of the squadron during this period. The squadron was visited by Lord Shackleton, British Air Defense Minister, and General McConnell, USAF Chief of Staff, in June 1965.

    Motor Pool:

    1st Lt. George E Adams was assigned as Transportation Officer. S/Sgt. James Murphy was assigned additional duty as NCOIC Preventative Maintenance, Civil Engineers. The Motor Pool Vehicles were driven approximately 45,000 accident free miles. The Motor Pool and Civil Engineers were combined under one officer. The following vehicles were turned in: One four wheel drive bus in exchange for a 29 passenger bus for summer operation; one Track Master #63B5516 under the Cost Reduction Program.

    Prepared By: Dennis C Fitzgerald, 1st Lt., USAF

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Donald A Zeine, Lt. Col., USAF

    Signature

     

    Civil Engineering Projects

    Work Order No.

    Description

    Date Completed

    MEL 106-65

    Repair to main door

    1 April 65

    MEL 107-65

    Replaced light fixtures

    5 April 65

    MEL 108-65

    Repair to stair threads

    13 April 65

    MEL 109-65

    Replaced panel switch

    19 April 65

    MEL 110-65

    Repaired ceiling, Bldg S-1582

    24 April 65

    MEL 111-65

    Repaired heating system

    27 April 65

    MEL 112-65

    Repaired air compressor

    30 April 65

    MEL 106-65

    Repaired Fire Alarm System

    3 May 65

    MEL 107-65

    Repaired condensate tank cover Bldg S-1586

    7 May 65

    MEL 108-65

    Replaced radiator valve traps

    12 May 65

    MEL 109-65

    Repaired catwalk

    17 May 65

    MEL 110-65

    Provided new exit for BOQ

    22 May 65

    MEL 111-65

    Grounded all floor buffers

    25 May 65

    MEL 112-65

    Grounded all washing machines and dryers

    29 May 65

    MEL 106-65

    Repaired shingles at Check Point

    3 June 65

    MEL 107-65

    Repaired steps at Check Point

    8 June 65

    MEL 108-65

    Repaired shingles around entire squadron

    14 June 65

    MEL 109-65

    Repaired heating system at Dining Hall

    18 June 65

    MEL 110-65

    Repaired Air Conditioning System

    22 June 65

    MEL 111-65

    Repaired roofing entire squadron

    25 June 65

    MEL 112-65

    Repaired fire protection system

    30 June 65

    Civil Engineering Cumulative Costs

    Military Costs

    Civilian Costs

    Material Costs

    Fuel and Lube Costs

    Total Cost

    $7,474.74

    $24,099.62

    $4,865.62

    $20,273.69

    $56,713.67