Hopedale, Labrador

1958 – Monthly Activity Report – National Archives of Canada

1. Lt. Borges was TDY the entire month as Acting Commander of Detachment #1.
2. Status of the AN/UPS-T5 (Moving Target Simulator):
1. Training Hours Scheduled – None
2. Training Hours Completed – None
3. Reason for Outage – The AN/UPS-T5 has been out of commission since December 1956 – Bearings required and requisitioned 9 April 1958.
3. The MO-1 Surveillance Trainer was utilized by six airmen for a total of 96 hours.
4. Operations Problem Areas:

1. Section II – C&E Maintenance:

(1) Radar Maintenance: Primary Search Radar: 5 May 58, 1 hour 20 minutes down time because of bad shunt diode, and stalo. 8 May 58, 2 hours 20 minutes down time to change IB magnetron and blower motor. 30 May 58, 1 hour 30 minutes down time due to power failure. The automatic tank float stuck causing fuel tank to drain. Tank is now being filled by hand and will be watched closely until adjustments and operation of float is satisfactory. Primary Height Radar – satisfactory performance with routine preventative maintenance. Back-Up Search Radar – satisfactory performance with routine preventative maintenance.

1. Detachment #1: No down time, although they have been RNFP for 1258’s since 13 May 1958.

(2) Communications Maintenance: 31 May 58, 15 minutes outage, GRC-27 off the air due to a defective fuse holder, which disabled high voltage in the transmitter. The back-up equipment was inoperative at that time due to preventative maintenance.

(3) A visit was made to Detachment #1 on 28 May 58 for seven (7) days by Captain George H. Grim, Radar Officer, and three airmen from the C&E Section. Visit was for familiarization of Det. Equipment and to provide assistance as needed.

2. Section III – I.E. Maintenance:
1. Arrivals: received one 55250, Building Craft Supervisor, S/Sgt. William H. Sparks.
2. Departures:
1. One 56170, Electrician – S/St Rice
2. Two 55250, Carpenters – A/2C Brooks and Lawrence
3. Two 47152, Special Equip Mech. – S/Sgt. Arnett and A/2C Beckert
4. One 47250, Ground Power Mech. – A/2C Findlay.
5. One 56450, Plumber, Mr. Patrick Wade.
3. Power Plant:

(a) Technical Buss Power Failures: One partial failure on 4 May 58, due to a seized injector of number of three cylinder on Unit #8. Circuit breakers for the TX and RX. Operations and Deicing of the towers were opened until a stand-by unit could be placed on the line. Duration of failure approximately four minutes.

(b) Base Buss Power Failures: There were no failures on Base Buss during this period.

(c) Activities of the Power Plant:

1. For a period of three weeks, different tests were run on Units #1, 2 and 3 in order to find any fault which would lead to the rapid clogging of injector nozzles and heavy black smoke at the exhaust. These tests made very little major improvement. However, at the end of this period, unit #1 was isolated from the normal fuel distribution system and fuel oil from sealed barrels was pumped to this unit. At the present time a considerable improvement had been noted. After 175 hours of continuous operation under an 85% load, this unit shows no signs whatever of smoky exhaust or plugged injector nozzles. In the past the injectors would be plugged at approximately 90 hours. From all indications the fuel oil now being used by the Power Plant is faulty and the cause of most maintenance problems.

2. Modification of lubricating oil filters was completed on Units #1, 2 and 3 in the main plant and Units #2 and 3 in the Pole Vault Plant.

3. Heavier flywheels were installed on Units #2 and 3 of the Pole Vault Plant.

4. New water pumps were installed on Units #4 and 10 in the main plant.

5. All scheduled maintenance was performed.

6. Replaced exciter brushes on Unit #3.

7. Replaced fuel pump on Unit #6.

8. Painted engine room work benches and some equipment.

4. Heating Plant:
1. Cleaned and flushed main water tank.
2. Cleaned compressor and installed new gaskets.
3. Installed devise on exit door so it can be opened from both sides.
4. Performed general maintenance.
5. Carpenters Shop:
1. Removed all storm windows and screens.
2. Repaired all window screens.
3. Installed window in Radio room for ventilation.
4. Performed general maintenance in accordance with AFM85-2.
6. Motor Pool and Roads & Grounds:
1. Rear differential was changed on F3K22141, ¾ ton truck.
2. Steering wheel was repaired on 53K2213, ¾ ton truck.
3. The area opposite the Motor Pool has been leveled off, and vehicles will be parked outside during the summer months.
4. D-7 and D-8’s were summerized and inspected for summer use.
5. The boats were put into the water. The outboard motors were reconditioned and tested. Spare parts were requisitioned for them.
6. All empty oil drum were removed from the Chopper Pad to the POL Storage Dump.
7. A road repair project was started and a continuous maintenance program will be carried out. A request has been submitted for personnel to operate a rock crusher located on the site, approximately 220 cubic yards of gravel is required to improve roads & washout areas.
7. Refrigeration Shop and Plumbing Shop: Performed general Maintenance.
8. Electric Shop:
1. Rewired new radio room
2. Rewired new dark room
3. Performed general maintenance.
9. Personnel: A shortage of civilian personnel during the month has made it difficult to keep up with the installations projects which always develop with the spring thaw. Civilian vacancies in the power and heating plants, construction Equipment Operators and plumbers has placed an additional hardship on the Installation Section. Close coordination with CPO Goose AB has been accomplished and some vacancies should be filled during the month of June to improve the situation.
3. Section IV – Supply
1. The supply section completed an inventory for the new Supply Officer, Lt. David A Flethcher, and account was accepted on 16 May 1958. The supply personnel are currently preparing for shipment to be made during the open water season. All warehouses are being rewarehoused to accommodate new supplies. Shortage of supply personnel has delayed progress in preparing for the arrival of sea lift. The supply section has had in traffic at Goose AB, four supply personnel, AFSC 64151 since 15 May 58 awaiting air lift to this site.
4. Section V – AFR 60-2 Requirements:

NAME	TT	TP	TCP
Thomas, J. Captain	15:15	12:55	3:00

Captain Thomas departed for Goose Air Base on 30 May 1958 to complete AFR 60-2 requirements.

5. Section VI – Summary of Re-Supply Flights:

DATE	TYPE A/C	LOAD IN	LOAD OUT
1 May 58	H-21	1646-4 P	898-3 P
6 May 58	"	1763-6 P	1767-6 P
7 May 58	"	1933-3 P	1194-6 P
8 May 58	"	1209-3 P	1000-4 P
8 May 58	"	1920-0 P	977-5 P
14 May 58	"	1702-3 P	1495-0 P
16 May 58	"	800-0 P	1491-1 P
19 May 58	"	1594-3 P	1207-2 P
21 May 58	"	1693-0 P	1255-3 P
22 May 58	"	1325-3 P	1084-3 P
28 May 58	"	1599-7 P	1800-5 P
TOTAL	11	17184-32 P	14158-38 P
Detachment #1 Cape Makkovik
1 May 58	"	208-0 P	923-2 P
5 May 58	"	6-0 P	75-0 P
8 May 58	"	-	453-2 P
16 May 58	"	844-3 P	330-2 P
19 May 58	"	448-0 P	425-1 P
22 May 58	"	324-7 P	492-0 P
28 May 58	"	1499-7 P	30-0 P
TOTAL	7	3329-16 P	2729-7 P

(1) The 923^rd ACWRON has received very poor air support from Goose Bay during May. This inadequate support is due to Helicopter maintenance trouble, inclement weather, and no flights on weekends. At the present time there is a tremendous backlog of cargo and personnel at Goose AFB.

(2) Approximately eighteen (18 ) helicopter flights are scheduled for this site each month. Only eleven actually arrived during May. Half of these eleven were lateral flights to or from Cape Makkovik. These lateral flights have their load divided between 923^rd AC&W Squadron and Det #1 which results in a lesser amount of pounds actually arriving at this site.

(3) During the month of May this site had approximately 2500 pounds of produce that was in traffic and pulled out at Goose AB. This was produce that was actually needed, but was never delivered because there was an insufficient number of helicopter flights made to the site during the month.

(4) Recommend assistance be given to provide more airlift support to the 923^rd AC&W Squadron. The present scheduled flights cannot possibly meet airlift requirements for this site and Det #1. No flights are made on weekends to make up for flights lost during the week. If the present system is continued, perishables will continually be withdrawn from traffic. This is affecting the morale of personnel assigned to the squadron and Det #1. Further recommend commercial transportation be made available by support base to make up for all flights not accomplished by the 22^nd Helicopter Squadron. Request for commercial transportation will be requested from support base.

6. Section VII – Miscellaneous:
1. The food service function reached full manning during the month. Lack of perishables, items such as lettuce, celery, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, apples, oranges, grapefruit and shortage of eggs tends to lower the squadron morale. Seven cases of eggs were received during the month which lasted nine days. No eggs on hand as of 31 May 58. Perishables received during May included only potatoes and onions. A complete inventory of food service warehouse was completed and needed items not on hand were requested from Goose AB by our message AKCO 512, dated 27 May 58 to carry through until annual food supplies arrive by ship. Additional airlift of food supplies and perishables was requested from Goose AG, our message AKCO 528, 30 may 58. Large quantities of perishable food supplies enter Goose traffic each month but never reach this unit due to the shortage and inadequate transportation support. See para regarding additional airlift support.