Hopedale, Labrador

1 July 1954 - 30 September 1954

(64^th Air Division (Defense)
Northeast Air Command)

During the initial stages of this period 1 July through 30 September 1954, this section enjoyed comparable ease of operations. In the closing weeks however, our activity was considerably increased by the rotation of personnel and the arrival of their replacements, a detailed report of which will be given in this history.

On 1 July, the individual Standard Operating Procedures as written by the personnel of this unit, were brought under revision to incorporate all or any additional information that will prove of value for the incoming replacements. After revision, the SOPs were reviewed by the Section Heads and the Commander for approval or re-accomplishment.

The rotation of the squadron got under way on 1 July with the rotation of Lt. Paris, Supply Officer, Lt. Schaak, Aircraft Controller, and eight airmen of the advance party. The rotation of these personnel was accomplished during the first week of July which also saw the arrival of Lt. Connolly, Aircraft Controller, and Lt. Rice, Communications Officer. On 27 July, Captain Simon, Air Installations Officer, arrived to replace Lt. Doty of that section.

During this quarter Lt. Colonel Webster, DCS/Personnel, HQ 64^th Air Division (Defense), arrived at this station to coordinate rotation matters and advise us of the tentative schedule of replacement arrivals. The Colonel departed after a two day visit and completion of his mission.

Our Support Base initiated use of the H-21 Helicopter during this reporting period and have periodically used them without incident. Continued use of this larger helicopter will cut down the two periods of isolation which this unit experienced last year.

The shipping season continued in high gear and vessels such as the USNS Vela, USNS Tonti, USNS Red Bud and others, brought in military and contractor supplies and the provision necessary for subsistence of this unit during the forth-coming year. At the close of this quarter the USNS Vela is expected, and the unloading of that vessel should close out the shipping season.

Several teams of visitors and inspectors arrived at this site during these three months and issues such as construction, administrative and personnel matters, review of operating procedures, and general evaluation, were the subject of the day. After accomplishing their respective missions, they departed this station to effect further coordination.

Several construction projects were carried out during this quarter with corporations such as the Drake-Merritt Company, Canadian Bell Telephone, Canadian Marconi Company and Byers Construction Company being the principle contractors. In some instances, the projects are not as yet completed but will be in the near future. The work involved included; installation of electronics equipment, to broaden the effectiveness of this unit; and repair of, and additions to the buildings of this site.

On 5 September, the rotation of the main body of personnel was initiated upon receipt of the station assignments for those personnel rotating in September. Because of a release from active duty, our first sergeant was airlifted on 15 September for rotation to the ZI.

On 11 September notification was received from our support base of the death of the father of S/Sgt. Skelly. The airman was granted an emergency leave of thirty days and then ordered to Camp Kilmer, NJ, for separation from the military service in accordance with current regulations.

Airmen Proficiency Test Scores received on 15 September were made a matter of record and several of those personnel having passed the test for their respective career fields were subsequently upgraded.

During the entire month of September, replacements continued to arrive at this site by aircraft with a total number of 17 having arrived at the close of the quarter.

On 14 September, this section published special orders for return of 29 September Returnees aboard the USNS Marine Carp which arrived at this site on 21 September and embarked those returnees and debarked 21 replacements. At the close of this reporting period, plans are being completed for rotation of approximately 55 October Returnees, also aboard the Marine Carp, which is expected at this site on 23 October. The tentative number of replacements aboard at that time is 42.

With the accomplishment of that rotation, all personnel eligible will have been rotated unless the incoming replacements do not adequately man the critical positions of the site. In that case, a few men may be retained until replacements arrive.

A quarterly Character Guidance Council was held in this unit on 15 September, and all pertinent business was discussed. It was noted at the meeting that the morale of the unit was excellent.

All finance matters necessary to rotation were effectively carried out during this quarter, and in two instances, personnel were dispatched to Goose Air Base to pick up the pay records of personnel rotating aboard the USNS Marine Carp.

All appropriate reports, letters and endorsements were submitted during this reporting period and in addition the Post Exchange Officer inventoried that function and signed it over to his relief in preparation for return to ZI.

During the reporting period, two (2) replacements were assigned to AIO. Captain James F Simon, Installation Engineer, replaced 1^st Lt. Perry Doty as Installations Officer and as Transportation Officer, and A/2C Bedella was assigned as an apprentice electrician. The Installation Section lost A/1C Wetherington, refrigeration specialist, and replaced this vacancy with A/1C Lockwood, who is operating the system at the present time. A leak in the system was found by A/1C Lockwood shortly after he assumed his new duties and it was repaired.

A stand for the fifty-five gallon tank was fabricated by this section, and is being used at the Receiver Site.

Two more stands of similar nature, only larger, were also fabricated to be used in the heating plant. These stands hold tanks which contain 250 gallons of fuel.

At present, the summer screens on the windows are being removed. Later, storm windows will be inserted and both types must be removed and installed from the outside. Some difficulty is encountered in this operation since many of the windows are extremely high off the ground and no extension ladders are available. Also, the terrain is exceedingly rough and finding suitable positions in which to put the ladders is quite difficult at times.

Through the combined efforts of the Motor Pool and the Air Installations Section, a gin pole was erected behind the Power Plant for the purpose of hoisting drums of fuel. The foundation was painted with diagonal stripes of black and yellow. A garbage rack was made for use by the Mess Hall. It is located immediately adjacent to the Mess Hall.

The Edna K-5 was wrecked during a storm in September and has been dry-docked. The waves that night were extremely high as were the winds and the moorings were severed. This squadron has two dories which were also removed from the water and stored for the winter.

A number of boats have come here during the past weeks and the unloading of them was supervised by the Air Installations Section. All went according to schedule.

Several changes are being made at this unit by civilian contractors. All of the roofs are being repaired at this site by a large number of civilian personnel, and it is progressing rapidly.

At present, civilians are placing extra telephone poles between the existing ones and the lines are being lowered. A great deal of blasting with dynamite and rock drilling is involved in this job.

The boilers at the transmitter and receiver sites were removed and hot air heaters installed. Also, the pumps at the water pump house were repacked. These jobs were also performed by civilians.

In the Motor Pool Section this quarter all required maintenance and transportation was accomplished as scheduled.

Four replacements were assigned, filling the vacancies of airmen who were transferred to Thule. S/Sgt. Kidd was assigned as a heavy equipment operator. A Motor Transportation Supervisor (60370) was also assigned, filling the position of a vehicle maintenance technician, (47171). Additional replacements are scheduled to arrive at this station during the month of November or early in December.

The USNS Vela resupplied the site with drummed fuel oil and lubricating oil (OE 30). The fuel oil was stored at both the RX and TX as an emergency measure to insure and adequate fuel supply in the event that fuel transfer from the truck stands during the winter months might be impossible due to excessive snowfall. The lube oil was stored at the Power House for the same reason. Bulk fuel was supplied by the USNS Tonti. All operations other than docking were handled by the ship’s crew. Due to a shortage of fresh water, this section supplied the ship with ten thousand (10,000) gallons of water.

A salvage crew arrived at this station to decide disposition and crating of units for return to Goose Bay. Transportation and all available assistance was given to the group by this section.

Four (4) new vehicles consisting of three (3) ¾ ton trucks and one (1) 2 ½ ton cargo truck were assigned to this organization. The above mentioned vehicles were serviced and put into operation. The two (2) cargo carriers M-29-C were loaded aboard the USNS Vela for return to Goose Bay and rebuilt under project "Swappo".

Considerable assistance has been given the various civilian contractors working at this site. Prior to the installation of a fresh water system, this section supplied an adequate amount of water by truck transfer. Every effort has been made to assist them in matters pertaining to maintenance and the location of supplies left by the contractor last year. As a result of this assistance, all work has progressed smoothly.

The overall efficiency for the months of July and August were approximately 60% and 55% respectively. During the month of September this efficiency has fallen down due to:

Local interference was decreased when a series of loose connections were located in the high voltage power transmission lines near the power section. These connections were arcing and radiating radio frequency which jammed radio communications. The connections were remade with a resulting decrease in local interference.

High atmospheric interference was reduced to a minimum by bringing the radio equipment up to maximum operational condition.

The faulty impedance matching transformers on the HF diversity receiving antennas were found to be wet. Having low resistance to ground they were moved inside the receiver building and new ones were ordered. This installation was reported on an Unsatisfactory Report 15 September 1954.

Previously it was found that the civilian Marconi station was blocking our HF signal at the receiver site. A conference with the chief operator there resulted in his working a different transmitter restricting his signal to a narrower range and reducing interference.

Since August 13, low frequency (LF) has been operational. On August 26 satisfactory tests on the net were completed. At the present time the LF installation is complete except for the de-icers which are awaiting material for completion. The 641^st AC&W Site is able to receive us on LF(CW), but are not able to transmit because of personnel shortage. The use of low frequency has caused some problems in that it creates interference with the Civilian Marconi station when our transmitter is being keyed. This interference has been minimized by keeping the number of our LF transmissions to a minimum during the times when the civilian station is trying to meet it’s schedule. Since the station goes on its net every hour on the half hour, we have changed our schedule of reporting into our net from every half hour to every hour on the hour. Only operational traffic is passed on LF at the present time and the civilian station is able to meet its schedule fairly well.

On Wednesday, September 22, we received a message from the 641^st AC&W Squadron, instructing us to go into operation on voice on the HF system in place of RTTY. On Thursday, 23 September, a test was begun on HF which was continued for a week. On 30 September, RTTY went back into operation.

At the receiver site early in this reporting period, the diversity unit DDR-2 was found to be functioning improperly. A check showed the Impedance matching transformers and lightening arrestors to be collecting moisture. The transformers were dried and moved inside the receiver building, and new transformers were ordered to replace those damaged by moisture. An Unsatisfactory Report was prepared on the installations.

An additional long wire antenna was installed at the receiver site in August. This antenna is used for LF. The original long wire is now being used for stand-by on HF teletype, ship to shore communication and MARS, and is now operational and standing by. The emergency power unit, PE 197, was repaired, installed and tested.

AIO has built a 55 gallon fuel tank for the Power Unit so that long hours of operation may be achieved if necessary. Since there is a shortage of electrolyte at this station the power unit has to be much easier than anticipated. Plans are being drafted for instructing the receiver site personnel in the operation of the power unit, should it become necessary. A schedule for practice operation of the unit will go into effect in the near future. A new hot air type furnace has been installed at the receiver site. This is expected to resolve the difficulties experienced last winter which occurred with the original steam heating plant.

Transmitters: On 22 July, this station went into simultaneous operation of two frequencies on radio teletype. The transmitter antenna on day frequency 5875 was checked and found to be faulty. The delta match was re-positioned and the antenna cut to frequency. The wire rope halyards were found to be resonating to the frequency and were cut to a different length. A counter poise was added to this antenna increasing the angle of radiation and efficiency of the antenna for short distance transmissions.

A check of a UHF antenna which was not functioning properly revealed a disconnected cable in the antenna connection. The connection apparently had never been made during installation; making the connection corrected the trouble on the antenna.

The emergency power unit, a 40 watt diesel powered generator, was tested and adjusted and found to operate satisfactorily except for the lack of batteries for starting. If electrolyte is received, this trouble will be corrected. A weekly schedule of practice operation of the diesel will soon be instituted. A new hot air type furnace has been installed and is now in operation.

Telephones: Minor difficulties in the outside plant were experienced during this reporting period. These were attributed to moisture in connections, and the trouble was corrected. A cable was found spiked at the water pipe trestle. This was dried and repaired.

MARS frequency during this quarter was changed from 8085 KCs to 7445 KCs. We are now able to meet our prescribed schedule with Pepperrell AFB, and usually can meet the night schedule with Goose AFB.

During the month of July there was nothing unusual that happened in the Food Service Section. Weekly supplies arrived regularly from Goose AFB. This helped us to provide a variety of salads for the men, and gave a better eye appeal to the menu.

In the month of August there was a lot of planning in the Dry Stores Warehouse and the freezing units in anticipation of the annual food re-supply shipment. All the stacks in these sections were moved to make room for the incoming shipment. On or about 14 August, the USNS Vela arrived with approximately 44 tons of foodstuffs which were unloaded in a minimum of time. These supplies were stacked and inventoried as it was unloaded in the warehouse and freezing units.

Following the unloading and storing, an additional inventory was taken to insure the accuracy of the first, and both figures matched. All shortages were noted and recorded on the APO 604 and a copy was transmitted to the Commissary Officer at Goose Air Base. It was noted after the two inventories was taken that there were several items that had not been received. A message was sent to the Commissary Officer at Goose Air Base for an emergency supply of the shorted items till such time as they could be supplied in quantity. Some of these items have been supplied in a small quantity, but will only last a few weeks at most. No large supply has been forthcoming in preparation for the winter months.

In the September rotation of personnel we lost three Mess Personnel and received four replacements.

During this reporting period there was a definite decrease in the number of respiratory infections. The reason for this was probably because the personnel were less congested; being able to spend a greater deal of time outdoors. Also, in this warmer period there were fewer contributing factors to respiratory infections.

There were no accidents causing serious injuries, and those which did occur consisted of sprains, all of which were successfully treated.

A great increase in the number of civilian personnel requiring medical assistance was noted. The number of civilian personnel treated was far greater than the number of military personnel. These cases consisted of minor injuries and diseases.

Sanitation measures were taken for the prevention of insect breeding.

Medical supplies have been received with much less difficulty than previously experienced, and no problems are expected in the near future.

During this quarter of operation, this section has continued its increase in operating efficiency. Two controllers have been present during the entire three months of operation, aiding this section in continuing its operational effectiveness.

Our control capabilities were greatly increased this quarter by the addition of UHF channels 7 (238.9 MCs) and 12 (351.0 MCs) on 15 July and channel 8 (261.5 MCs) on 28 August. Channel 7 has been assigned as our number 1 squadron Tactical UHF frequency and channel 8 has been assigned our number 2 squadron Tactical UHF frequency; allowing for uninterrupted communication with interceptors and eliminating confusion during simultaneous intercepts by surrounding GCI stations.

Radio-teletype has been our primary method of communication with Capable during these three months, resulting in an average plot telling time lag of 2.9 minutes. On 13 August, Low Frequency CW became operational as backup to our Radio-Teletype, which we expect to improve considerably our ground to ground communications.

Our GCI capabilities were further increased on 2 August when the HRI TPS-502 was accepted operational as our Primary Height Finder. Lack of back-up radar for our primary search radar still prevents us from operating at full GCI capabilities. A new radome was installed for our FPS-3, primary search radar, between 5 and 8 July, and as yet, neither this nor the HRI TPS-502 has been calibrated.

The weather on the whole was comparatively calm during this quarter.

Following are station statistics which reflect the performance and activities of Operations during this reporting period:

During this quarter we realized a noticeable improvement over the last. This was attributed to the receipt of critically needed parts. Although the situation improved, many items, including RNFP requisitions, were not received, even after considerable delay.

In July, Marconi personnel installed the primary height finder, AN/FPS-502, and section personnel put the set in operation as of 2 August.

Civilian contractors painted the radome of Tower No. 1, housing the AN/FPS-3. This protective action promises to conserve material and man-hours normally required in repairing leaks which develop from weathering.

Because of the problem of maintaining qualified personnel with diversified knowledge and ability comparable to the various equipment charged to this section, we initiated a program of classroom and OJT instruction in an effort to increase the level of proficiency and to utilize the personnel more effectively. This program is at present operating smoothly.

Procedures were formulated and provisions are being made to handle the increased problems associated with the winter quarter, i.e. temperatures, winds and ice, as were encountered previously, and to cope with possible emergencies.

During the first month of this quarter, Lt. James Paris, the Supply Officer, was reassigned PSC from this station to the Zone of Interior, and Captain James McNabb assumed the duties of Supply Officer. At the same time, two (2) airmen were also rotated to the ZI from this section, and were eventually replaced. During the latter part of July, the Supply Section, under the supervision of Captain McNabb, ran a complete inventory of all sections of the site. Shortly after this, Area Activities Team II arrived at this station and assisted in establishing Service Stock Cards for C&E spare parts.

The USNS Vela arrived here on the 14^th of August with PX supplies, dry stores, and miscellaneous supplies, and all were unloaded without incident. Upon departure, the Vela took two (2) vehicles to Goose Bay for maintenance, and also brought out empty oxygen, acetylene, and nitrogen bottles. On the 31^st of August, M/Sgt. William S Halicht arrived to dispose of salvage which had accumulated during the first ten months of operation.

On 8 September, Captain Rion and a crew of airmen arrived to inventory the supplies left by the Contractors and then proceeded to pack and crate these supplies for return to Goose Bay. In preparation for the rotation of 29 personnel to the ZI during the later part of this reporting period, the turn-in of all Arctic gear was begun on 18 September. With the arrival of the USNS Marine Carp on 21 September, Captain James McNabb was replaced by Captain Luther Hill, who after inventorying this section, took over as the responsible Supply Officer for the Squadron.

In Information and Education, there were two new enrollments in Correspondence and Self-Training courses this past quarter. There is now a total of 121 courses being taken by the officers and airmen of this squadron. Two end of course tests were administered and one was passed; six College GED Tests were given and two were passed; Two High School GED Tests were given and one was passed. One airman earned a High School Equivalency Diploma, and two educational interviews were given.

Movies have been shown five nights a week, Wednesdays and Sundays excluded. An afternoon performance is shown on movie days so that personnel working shift are able to attend one of the performances.

For the first part of this quarter, the men participated actively in the summer sports activities such as volleyball, softball, and horseshoes. Because of cooler weather during September, the men have not been active in these sports.

The Special Services Specialist, S/Sgt. William Buckholz was rotated with the September group. The I&E Officer, Captain James T McNabb rotated in September and was replaced by 2^nd Lt. Rembert Stokes Jr.

During this reporting period of July, August and September, this section accomplished ten (10) hours towards its prescribed yearly program. These hours encompassed the fields of Security, Passive Defense, Interior Guard, First Aid, Ceremonies and Drills, and Inspections. The service on films to be used as training aids has improved considerably and has given an added impetus to the program in general.

The site was surveyed during the months of August for a possible location for a firing range, the lack of which at the present time, limits the training in weapons practice to merely dry runs. The past shortage of AF Forms 50-10 and 50-11 has been alleviated by a sufficient supply to last through the coming year.

At the present time the Training Program at this site is approximately 90% completed, but with the rotation of personnel this quarter and at the beginning of the next quarter, the program will be going into full swing again. The main difficulty with the incoming personnel is that the majority of the men do not have their 50-10 Individual Training Record on their person. Although it is not a necessity that the men have these records it would be invaluable for the scheduling of future lectures if these records were available.

With the past supply of films, and the promise of more in the future plus the receipt of AF forms 50-10 and 50-11, our main problems have been abolished, and this section will be running at peak efficiency from now on.