Hopedale, Labrador

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

William D MacMonagle, Major, USAF

AN/FPS-3C; AN/TPS-502; AN/FPS-502, AN/FPS-6B.

General:

The first quarter of the year 1962 saw several significant events occur and was climaxed by a change of several key personnel. During the month of January the squadron concentrated on preparing for the annual 64^th Air Division IG Inspection. A GADS Assistance Team was sent out to us on a pre-IG inspection in order to help in the preparations. When the IG Inspectors arrived in February all Sections were given a satisfactory rating and only a few minor discrepancies were noted.

Captain William F Pinegar arrived 18 Jan 62 replacing the Supply Officer, Major Forrest E Boughton, who departed on 8 Feb 62. 1^st Lt. Bernard E Schnieders departed on 24 Feb 62 and was replaced on 7 Mar 62 by 1^st Lt. Kermit L Armbruster as Senior Director on bravo crew. Major William D MacMonagle arrived 4 Mar 62 and assumed command of the squadron on the next day, replacing Major William R Glenn Jr., who departed 7 Mar 62. 1^st Lt. Donald E Meade, the squadron’s Administrative Officer, departed on 10 Mar 62 and was replaced the same day by 1^st Lt. John C Tilley. Captain John C Crocker, Assistant Operations Officer, departed on 18 Mar and was replaced by Captain Lemuel G Lloyd Jr., on 30 Mar 62.

The efforts expended on Project "Money-Tree" resulted in this squadron being the first unit in ADC to obtain 100% participation from its members. The total number of "Acorns" submitted climbed to 190 by the end of the period, and even more area being prepared for submission.

On 24 Jan 62 Colonel Victor Milner, GADS Commander, paid a one day visit and toured the squadron area.

Operations:

During this quarter operations personnel conducted 319 intercepts and participated in five exercises involving live aircraft. Twenty-nine simulated training missions were also exercised. A total of 3,102 tracks were plotted, of which 82 were classified as "unknown". One hundred and six navigational aids were accomplished. There were no aircraft in any emergencies while under our control.

During the period from 13 Jan to 29 Jan the operations section was evacuated for high winds 7 times for a total of more than 42 hours. Evacuation was not required during February or March.

A GADS Staff Visit for operations was accomplished from 5 Jan to 12 Jan by Major Flaa, Major Thompson, and 1^st Lt. Billet.

Captain Charles L Ekblad attended a Goose ADS Operations Officers conference from 14-20 Jan. 1^st Lt. Hugh P Wellford departed 25 Jan for a three day 64^th Air Division ISO conference at Stewart AFB, NY, and returned on 8 Feb. CWO Glenn D Fox was TDY to the 641^st AC&W Squadron for cross-training from 29 Jan until 9 Feb.

The T-4 remained inoperative throughout the entire period. Mr. Lanz, a representative of Canadian Marconi Co., arrived in March to perform the necessary repairs on the equipment. He remained approximately three weeks and made considerable progress but was unable to get the unit in operation before he left. Mr. Sorenson, the squadron’s Philco Tech Rep is continuing to work on the T-4 and hopes to have it operational soon.

On 20-21 March we participated in a 64^th Air Division TAC Evaluation of the 641^st complex. There were no members of the evaluation team positioned at this station.

Communications and Electronics:

Radio Maintenance – A SB239A/GTA Switchboard (patch panel) was installed at the transceiver site between 15 and 31 March.

Communications Center – A/1C Robin E Wilder departed for the NCO Preparatory School at Goose Air Base on 18 March.

Radar Maintenance – During the month of February the Canadian Marconi Depot Level Maintenance team calibrated and repaired all electronics test equipment. SM/Sgt. Donald F O’Hara and S/Sgt. Rex D Gardner attended school at Stewart AFB from 5 to 9 March and a conference at GADS from 22 to 23 March on the implementation and the maintenance system in accordance with AFM 66-1. On 19 March a window was installed in the GPS-T4 target simulator equipment room in order to provide better cooling for the area and to prevent the drastic overheating which was the original cause of the equipment failure last year.

Wire Maintenance – Four (4) five line key units were added to the NE 612 system on 22 Jan. in order to increase operations internal communication capability. In order to provide more reliable service to operations the NE 612 system was rewired at the MDF end on 29 Jan., and on 20 Feb protective dust covers were fabricated and installed on all terminal strips on the frame. On 20 March an intercom system was installed between the radar maintenance shop and towers #1 and #4 in order to provide better co-ordination between maintenance personnel. Winter weather caused a breakdown of the field telephone line to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment in the village and a new wire was installed on 27 March.

Supply:

After taking over this section, Captain William F Pinegar and T/Sgt William H Sidberry, the new NCOIC who arrived on 24 Feb 62, began preparations for the next SUNEC re-supply season. A total of 65 line items of excess property with a total dollar value of $47,712.45 was reported to GADS for disposition instructions. By the end of this reporting period $2,511.82 worth had been shipped out by helicopter.

Transportation:

Forty-four helicopter trips by Okanagan Helicopter Ltd., transported 158 passengers, 10,815 pounds of mail, and 61,051 pounds of cargo to this station from Goose Air Base. A total of 150 passengers, 5,402 pounds of mail, and 27,958 pounds of cargo was transported from here to Goose Air Base.

Civil Engineering:

Power Plant – On 11 Jan 62 a governor was received and replaced on the number 3 diesel unit. On 24 March 62 another governor seized and a new 500 KW engine failed. Power was lost for 4 minutes on the base bus. The no-breaks are finally working properly as of 28 March 62, because of considerable overhaul and modifications made by representatives of Canadian Marconi Company.

Heating Plant – All scheduled maintenance and cleanup of the plant was performed during this period. A type C inspection was performed on the boilers in March.

Civil Engineer Shops – A new floor was installed in the shops. Safety stair treads were installed on the corridor steps, and routine preventative maintenance was performed on schedule. A project was re-submitted to 64^th Air Division for guard rails along various roads.

Fire Department:

Two inspections were made of the station during this period by GADS and Goose Air Base. Small discrepancies were found.

Motor Pool:

Several vehicles were condemned and their records were processed. Snow removal was performed as scheduled and only one road remained closed as of the end of March.

Ground Safety:

No reportable accidents occurred during this period, however one Canadian national was hospitalized for broken bones which he sustained in a fall from a ladder.

William D MacMonagle, Major, USAF