Hopedale, Labrador

M/Sgt. Gavin FH Campbell reported for duty as First Sergeant vice M/Sgt. James A Reedy Jr. T/Sgt. Horace Nass reported as Personnel Specialist. Captain Stewart, 1^st Lt. Mitchell and 1^st Lt. Goldner rotated to the ZI upon completion of their tours.

Strength for the organization at the close of the reporting period was as follows: 1 Major, 3 Captains, 1 1^st Lt., 2 2^nd Lt., 1 M/Sgt., 6 T/Sgt., 6 S/Sgt. 10 A/1C, 32 A/2C, and 25 A/3C

Although all personnel reporting for duty now come in with the new personnel records folders, the supply of forms for our own implementation has not been received. Follow up action fails to bring results.

During this period the unit mission remained unchanged. Two Directors were assigned the Operations Section during this period. Captain Hickman was TDY at Goose Air Base from 3 November to 2 December. Eleven days of this period was spent awaiting transportation to the site. Lt. Lancaster was TDY at Goose Air Base from 2 December to 20 December. On 20 December Lt. Jack Watts of the 74^th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Thule Air Force Base, Greenland, arrived at the site to begin a 90 day TDY for the purpose of cross training. The three crew system remains in effect with all personnel working eight hours a day, seven days a week. Nine operators returned to the ZI after having been extended for a forty-five day period. Operating personnel were assigned with six Communications Maintenance personnel. These persons proved quite adaptable and were soon integrated with the crews. No replacements were received this quarter.

During this reporting period a total of 2250 tracks were plotted for an average of 25 tracks per day. All tracks were forward told to the 641^st AC&W Squadron. Eight unknown tracks were intercepted by fighters of the 59^th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. A total of 156 practice intercepts were made. The 15-J-1C was used to complete 225 practice synthetic intercepts. The 15-J-1C was TDIOP from 1 October through 22 December for card number 133. The 6630^th Radar Evaluation/Electronic Countermeasure Flight ran a total of four ECM missions against this site. Five hundred and one navigational assists were given. Parts for converting the plotting board are still on requisition. Weather in November and December was very bad. Temperature not below zero but low clouds and poor visibility made the Wednesday and Saturday schedule for incoming aircraft very difficult to meet.

The previously existing personnel shortage has been partially alleviated in this section. A 50% shortage exists in the radio operator field. The wire maintenance section has no supervisory level airmen and no outside plant technician. Radio Maintenance has no supervisory level personnel assigned. A total of eleven supervisors are authorized with only one assigned.

The tropospheric scatter system continues effective operation and has an average monthly operation of 99% to 99.8%. Air to Ground radio maintains its usual 99% effectiveness. Back up Point to Point Communications in the form of LF, CW and HF RADTT is operational and can be ready for emergency use within seconds. UHF and VHF equipment is located at the main site for emergency status and are in the process of being supplemented by one more VHF receiver, R-278 and one VHF receiver, VRG-60 for additional back up. This is considered necessary due to the failure experienced in base power lines to receiver site and additional failure of emergency power unit PE-197. The 197 is being replaced by a PE-95. Difficulty in obtaining access to receiver site due to adverse weather conditions constitutes still another problem. One VHF transmitter T-217 has been sent to Depot for complete overhaul and replacement of parts. LF CW Key has been remoted to tellers tables in Operations Room for immediate passing of plots should emergency operation of LF become necessary due to failure of NRRS. A complete and effective training program is being conducted but is hampered by the departure of the Philco Contract Technician who contributed greatly to the training of radio repairmen. Training is now being conducted by Marconi Technical Representative and Airmen in charge of Radio Maintenance. A wire team has arrived to survey splices and cables and to do necessary re-lashing.

Vacuum tubes continue to lead the critical parts list with 12AT7’s, 355A’s and 2039As needed most.

During this reporting period, one M/Sgt. (AFSC 55370), one S/Sgt. (AFSC 56150) and two airmen (AFSC’s 55131 and 53250) rotated to the ZI. There has been no replacements forecasted for these personnel.

During this reporting period there have been a total of seven exterior power failures to the RX, TX, POL area and water pump house. These power failures were caused mainly by moisture getting into splices and burning the splice. Fifteen splices were repaired by Drake-Merritt and this section in order to restore the line into operation. An AIO cable team from Goose Air Base arrived at this site to temporarily restore the power lines until this summer when assigned work will be completed. The Bell Telephone Company of Canada has finished construction of the two - ten personnel barracks and equipment buildings. The plumber checked all condensate pumps daily and changed pumps each month, checked space heaters and radiators and installed new heaters in towers 2 and 3 for additional heat. The furl line from the storage tank to the heating plant was broken by a caterpillar and repaired with minimum loss of fuel. The fuel leaks in the heating plant were repaired and floors were painted. The electrician checked all blowers each month, installed conduit in the towers for the additional heaters and in the mess hall for the refrigerator. The electrician worked with the Drake-Merritt and AIO cable teams in repairing all the burnt splices. The interior of the entire site is being painted and all steps varnished.

There was no change in the personnel of this section during this reporting period.

During this reporting period, all fire extinguishers and standpipe hoses were inspected once monthly. At least two fire drills were held each month and the fire fighting teams are critiqued after each drill. Fire fighting teams and Area Fire Marshals are re-appointed each month to replace personnel rotating to the ZI. The Fire Chief makes a daily inspection of the entire site for fire hazards. The additional duties of the Fire Chief are: Meets all incoming aircraft and stands by the craft with a CO2 bottle, while refueling and warming up for takeoff.

A very critical shortage of personnel exists in this section. One S/Sgt. (AFSC 47150) was assigned during the month of November.

This section refuels all aircraft that arrive at this site. Motor Pool personnel are utilized for trash run each day and for snow removal. The engine parts of the Sno-Go finally arrived and the Sno-Go is now running satisfactorily. Due to the shortage of personnel and spare parts, this section has three vehicles on VDP at the close of the reporting period. During the month of October, four additional vehicles were assigned to this section; one ¼ ton utility truck, two 5 ton dump trucks and one 2 ½ ton cargo truck.

During this reporting period this section lost one airman (AFSC 47134) who rotated to the ZI and one civilian power production repairmen resigned. Due to a shortage of personnel, three attached power plant personnel were loaned by the 6631^st Radio Relay Squadron to effectively man our power plant. A civilian power production repairmen was assigned during this period. R. Brown, Marconi Site Engineer, returned to the site on 4 November 1955.

On 9 October, number three diesel kicked off tech line and number two and four diesels kicked off bas line due to loss of air pressure. This was caused by a faulty air pressure switch which enabled the radiator chamber to heat and kick the above diesels off the line. The pressure switch has since been replaced. On 16 November, a broken fuel line caused by vibration, resulted in number four diesel to be kicked off base line. On 3 December, number five diesel was taken off base line due to the generator being motorized. The trouble was found to be an injector had stuck. On the 14^th of December, number ten diesel kicked off tech line due to a faulty injector. All injectors were changed and set to prevent any further malfunctions. Maintenance during this reporting period has been mostly regular inspections and preventative maintenance. The heads were tightened on number one and four diesels to prevent fuel leaks. The prevention of the fuel leaks has been the major project for this reporting period. All gages and instruments have been marked for normal and abnormal conditions. New charts, diagrams and SOPs have been revised and posted.

T/Sgt. Clifford Rancour departed from this station on 3 December. As yet no replacement has arrived to fill the seven level vacancy. A/1C Beard was put on OJT for the seven level and is now NCOIC of the section. This section received four new airmen from the 642^nd AC&W Squadron, all AFSC 30332. We are still without the services of a Technical Instructor and this fact impedes our formal OJT program.

The internal radome painters arrived in November. Work in the domes was started immediately and finished within five days time. We received one used TR cavity and one used ATR cavity from Frobisher in November which we needed due to the failing condition of the duplexing system of the FPS-3. This section also received some slightly damaged wave guides, which were immediately placed on Upper Beam of the FPS-3. The section is still encountering minor difficulties, but they are within the capabilities of the assigned personnel. We received the long awaited circuit cards for the 15-J-1C in the latter part of December, and this piece of equipment became operational at that time. New wave guides were received 23 December and the FPS-3 was fully operational upon installation.

Supply channels are still slow. A routine requisition for TR cavities was submitted 1 February 1955. We later had to raise the priority of this requisition and re-submit it on 14 November 1955. High priority items are handled without delay but items tend to remain at Goose Air Base too long due to adverse weather and no aircraft.

Airman Third Class John Wrenn has been assigned primary duty as Information Specialist. Primary AFSC is 72010. A new information center has been constructed in one area of the orderly room for the posting of timely subject matter, as well as daily news bulletins received via the military teletype system.

Information material now flows into the squadron from a variety of sources. Likewise subscriptions to magazines and newspapers along with the efforts of the Goose Library keep the unit well "read". A full scale educational program has been instituted to provide for the needs of our personnel. All personnel without a high school diploma or certificate are encouraged to take the CED. Correspondence courses are being taken in quantity. Books from the Goose Library have flooded the library here with the most current publications. Books are returned to sender after three months.

Exercises were conducted to test the ability of our defense force. Additional training is being conducted in practice firing techniques and familiarization with weapons mechanics. The mandatory training schedules are being completed. The Commander’s Calls, along with General Military Training sessions keep personnel well informed on current events and topics of interest.

One hundred percent of eligible personnel are engaged in OJT training. The lack of packaged programs and qualified supervisors keeps programs at a reduced pace. A training reference library has been established.

The month of November brought a change of personnel in this section. T/Sgt. Paul Blevins replaced T/Sgt. Earnest Funderburg who rotated to the ZI in the month of December. Also, A/2C Robert Johnson was assigned as the medical technician’s assistant during the month of December.

The month of November brought the visit of the Dental Officer and an assistant from Goose Air Base. They both were kept very busy due to a long time lapse since the dentist was here. Also, we were visited by a member of the Goose Air Base Veterinary Service during the month of December. Except for a limited number of URIs and back aches, the medical section was very much at a stand still during this reporting period.

A/3C William D Nolley was assigned to this section during the month of October. Captain Robert Cunning was assigned as Supply Officer during the month of October. T/Sgt. Frank Hall departed for the ZI on 1 November. A/2C Commie Teder and A/3C Edward Gedling departed for the ZI on 4 November. Captain Theodore Stewart was relieved and departed for the ZI on 12 November.

Captain Cunning and Captain Stewart started a physical inventory of property on this site. On 17 December a para drop was made by a C-47 type aircraft of general supplies, needed very critically. All UAL type property was placed on requisition on 30 December.