Hopedale, Labrador

923^rd AC&W Squadron,
APO 434, New York, New York.

John T Nelson, Major, USAF

AN/FPS-3C; AN/TPS-502; AN/FPS-502; AN/FPS-14.

In early May, an inspection team from 64^th Air Division; Lt. Colonel Bruce Murphy in charge, arrived at the 923^rd AC&W Squadron for the annual IG inspection. After approximately a week of intensive and comprehensive activity, the IG team completed the inspection of Squadron facilities with a satisfactory report.

As the quarter progressed, an important personnel change involved the assumption of command of the 923^rd AC&W Squadron by Major John T Nelson. On 18 May, Major Nelson relieved Major Joseph E Leadingham who rotated to the Zone of Interior after serving as Squadron Commander since 6 September 1958.

Operations:

As the second quarter of 1959 opened for the 923^rd AC&W Squadron, its primary function in the operations field was still beset with problems. The operational manning problem was still serious, although somewhat lessened by the arrival of additional personnel. The general shortage of operations manpower, however, continued through the months of May and June.

The operations personnel training program wad begun in April, intensified in May in an all-out effort to fill key positions from the ranks of newly assigned personnel, and continued throughout the month of June. A total of 129 man hours were devoted to training during the second quarter.

Notable operational incidents during the quarter were confined to three emergency assists to MATS aircraft in distress. On 4 April, 8 April and 25 June, MATS aircraft experiencing engine difficulties were vectored to safety by operations personnel.

Communications and Electronics Maintenance:

In the radar maintenance section, the primary search radar equipment continued to operate satisfactorily with a minimum of routine maintenance. The section, however, was seriously concerned with a personnel shortage.

In April all cables were untangled, realigned, cut to proper length, marked, reconnected to the appropriate unit and properly laced. Such an operation was necessary to facilitate PPI scope arrangement after the modification of the Operations Room during the first quarter.

The antenna pedestal, operationally faulty throughout the first quarter, continued to present a problem which intensified during the week of 27 April. A technical assistance team from 64^th Air Division arrived at the end of April and worked through the early days of May. Test checks and complete remedial maintenance resulted in no further trouble in the antenna pedestal. During the month of May,, the antenna failed to rotate due to a blown fuse caused by a frozen blower motor. On 16 May the operation of all radar sets was unstable and abnormal due to power fluctuation and power failure. The sets could not be readily adjusted and the result was 1 hour and 10 minutes of red time.

Radio maintenance was also a source of annoyance as this section during the month of April logged 162 hours of red time. It was the consensus of opinion much of this red time could be considerably reduced if adequate backup facilities were provided. The problems persisted through May as more red time was added due to a variety of reasons. Among them were defective field wires, improper contact of high voltage fuses, defective antennas, defective switches, weak tubes, burned wires, faulty transmitters and over-all preventative maintenance.

Problems continue through June as red time assumed a figure of 156 hours. Fox Channel – defective wiring; Channel 19 – out for a replacement antenna which required an emergency overhaul team from Canadian Marconi Depot; and Channel 7 – defective tubes.

But, as the quarter closed, all these problems seemed to have been resolved.

Installations and Engineering Maintenance:

During the month of April, maintenance shop personnel remodelled the Squadron operations room. The project included a new dias, an intercept control technician’s table, file boxes, repair to steam line insulation, etc. Remodelling resulted in additional floor space and more efficient operation. The month of May was devoted to a concerted drive on all exterior maintenance problems caused by the ravages of winter. This effort continued throughout June.

All heating plant discrepancies noted in the first quarter were corrected and during May the boilers were cleaned. They were found to be in excellent condition.

Minor maintenance and new water pumps were all that were required for the successful maintenance of the power plant, with only one short power failure recorded on 16 May.

All site roads were opened during the month of May. It was the first time since December 1958 that the road to the supply warehouse and the lower camp was open to vehicular traffic.

In June preparations were begun for the overhaul of facilities at the lower camp site. Six barracks, the Mess Hall, water line and fire station were slated for renovation. The rehabilitated lower site was to be used for overhaul teams and contractor personnel engaged in extensive renovation work on the squadron main site.

Supply:

With the arrival of a new Supply Officer in May, the supply facilities undertook a comprehensive re-warehousing program in anticipation of the arrival of SUNEC 59 summer supply items. The project continued through May and well into June. At the same time, the supply section was actively engaged in Operation Clean House for the screening of abandoned contractor and squadron excess property. Serviceable and economically repairable items were to be returned to Pepperrell Air Force Base.

Miscellaneous:

On 8 June, Radio Station VNTT, The Voice of the Nine Twenty Third, adopted a regularly scheduled series of daily broadcasts. The squadron’s closed circuit station had previously operated without and predetermined schedule, with musical programs aired at the whim of available personnel. Program schedules are maintained by the squadron information specialist. Disc jockeys and console monitors are recruited from volunteer personnel who operate the station during off-duty time. Established operating hours are from 1800 hours to midnight on weekdays and from 1000 hours to midnight on Saturday and Sunday.

An information service specialist arrived during April. One has been authorized but none had ever been assigned. An information services office was established in the former Ham Radio Shack in the library.

The Ham Radio shack was moved outside into the MARS van, the former electrical shop. The Airman’s game room in the Installations area was converted into an electrical shop and Base Exchange storage area. The game equipment was distributed throughout the squadron area for better utilization.

As the quarter closed operations personnel and all support areas were engaged in extra training and orientation for a forthcoming operational evaluation.

John T Nelson, Major, USAF