Hopedale, Labrador

M/Sgt. Michael Lepore reported to this organization and assumed duties as First Sergeant on 25 Feb 56, vice M/Sgt. Campbell temporarily assigned duty to Communications. A/3C James Krueger, AFSC 73231, reported for duty 2 Mar 56. All section positions are currently manned.

Strength for the unit at the close of the reporting period was as follows: 1 Major, 4 Captains, 2 2^nd Lts., 3 M/Sgts., 9 T/Sgts., 9 S/Sgts., 9 A/1C, 34 A/2C, and 38 A/3C. Unit strength is 97% authorized with 75% effective manning.

The 64^th AD(D) annual inspection of the unit was conducted in the period 20-28 Mar 56. Lt. Colonel William Cole, with one officer, and four enlisted personnel conducted the Inspection.

Conversion to the Military Records System was implemented during this period. All 201 jackets were converted to the AF Form 4. No action on the Form 20 or 230, pending arrival of the new Form 7 from the support base.

During this period the unit mission remained unchanged. 1^st Lt. Lancaster departed 26 Jan 56. Captain Nelson was sent TDY from the 641^st AC&W Squadron, to replace Captain Hickman, TDY to Goose AB from 1 Feb 56 until 9 Feb 56. Lt. Watts went to Goose AB Hospital 10 Feb 56 until 22 Mar 56. Operations Section received 25 new personnel, one 27370, four 27350’s and twenty 27330’s. An extensive training program has been underway since the arrival of the new personnel. The (3) Crew System remains in effect with all personnel working 8 hours a day, 7 days a week.

During this quarter, a total of 2,460 tracks were plotted for an average of 27 tracks per day. All tracks were forwarded to the 641^st AC&W Squadron. Eleven unknown tracks were intercepted by Fighters of the 59^th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. A total of 31 practice interceptions were made. The 15-J-1C was used to complete 82 synthetic intercepts, and was out of commission only 72 hours. The 6630^th REV/ECM Flight ran a total of 2 missions against this site. Nine hundred and sixty-eight (968) Navigational Assists were given. Parts for converting the plotting board to florescent lighting, have not been received. Paint for the plotting board has been re-requisitioned; as only 3 colors were received in the previous order. Weather conditions were very severe, causing aircraft arrivals to be very limited.

In the Radio Maintenance Section personnel that are assigned possess AFSC 30433A or 30453A. This AFSC is Ground Maintenance Technician (Heavy) and these airmen have not had any training on UHF equipment. The UHF equipment is causing the majority of maintenance problems and no fully qualified personnel to perform maintenance is available. An OJT program is being conducted by the Canadian Marconi Contractor Technician in an effort to qualify personnel to satisfactorily perform maintenance on UHF equipment.

Captain Ralph I Evans arrived this base during March 1956 and was assigned primary duty as Communications Officer.

A/2C Spellman, Cryptographic Operator rotated to the ZI. A/2C Fatheree, AFSC S29330, who has completed cross-training as crypto operator, is now performing those duties. There was a total of eleven (11) airmen rotated and four (4) airmen arrivals in the Communication Sections during this reporting period.

It was necessary to de-ice the LF antennas six times during the month of January. Severe weather with below freezing temperatures and impassable roads caused crews to remain at the transmitter building for as long as five (5) consecutive days. A constant watch is maintained on the antennas and guy wires to prevent too heavy an accumulation of ice.

A shortage of W-110 field wire has hampered installation of site defense telephone service. This wire is presently in traffic.

Adverse weather conditions caused the lashing of 500 feet of 26 and 52 pair telephone cable to break. A wire team from the 1^st Communications Squadron reported and repaired the break.

During this reporting period, one S/Sgt. (AFSC 56150) rotated to the ZI and one S/Sgt. (AFSC 56150) was assigned TDY for 60 days. This section has had no woodworker (AFSC 55250) since Oct 55.

During this reporting period, there have been two exterior power failures to the RX and TX. These power failures were caused by snow drifts around transformer poles at the RX site. First power failure was due to weight of snow pulling primary lead loose from installation on the transformer. Second power failure occurred three days later when primary lead came in contact with the ground wire burning the pole. A shelter has been constructed around transformer temporarily until transformer can be moved to new location this spring.

The Ric-Wil water line was broken by a Caterpillar and repaired by site personnel within 48 hours. The plumber checked all condensation pumps daily and changed pumps each month, checked Ric-Wil line daily, before pumping water and checked water pumps weekly. The electrician checked all blowers, Trane heaters, furnaces at RX and TX, POL pump houses each month and performed minor repairs. Heating plant personnel cleaned all tubes in boilers, painted floors and boilers. All preventative maintenance in this section was set up according to AFM 85-2.

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

During this reporting period, all fire extinguishers and standpipe hoses were inspected monthly. Spare fire hoses, foam generators and additional fire extinguishers were received from Goose AB. 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 every month to replace personnel rotating to the ZI. Fire inspection was conducted by Fire Inspector from Goose AB and submitted a satisfactory report on fire prevention. The Fire Chief makes a daily inspection of the entire site for fire hazards. The Fire Chief likewise meets all incoming aircraft and stands by the craft with CO2 bottle, while the aircraft refuels and warming up takes place.

A new NCOIC T/Sgt. (AFSC 47170) and one S/Sgt. (AFSC 55131) was assigned during the month of January.

Motor Pool personnel are utilized for the refueling of all aircraft, maintenance of power units, and snow removal. Snow removal has been the major problem this reporting period. Due to shortages of personnel and spare parts the Sno-Go and one D-8 Caterpillar are VDP. Due to lack of snow removal equipment, roads to RX, water pump house and POL area have not been opened this reporting period, however roads are passable by weasel and snowmobile.

During this reporting period this section lost one airman (AFSC 56751). One civilian power production repairman and three civilian power production operators were assigned to this section.

On 2 Jan 56, number five diesel licked off base line due to an overload from a power surge. On 16 Jan, number nine diesel kicked off tech line; number ten diesel took the load but a frequency vibration put radar off the air. Number eight diesel was immediately put on the line with number ten diesel. An inspection of number nine diesel was performed and a faulty solenoid valve was found. The solenoid valve was replaced with a new valve. On 11 Feb 56, number nine diesel was kicked off tech line causing a complete failure on tech line. Cause of failure was a faulty injector in number nine diesel which was replaced. On 25 Feb, number ten diesel kicked off tech line due to a stuck injector. New injector was replaced in number ten diesel. On 15 Mar 56, number nine diesel kicked off tech line to a faulty solenoid fuel valve. The major cause of power failures this reporting period was paint getting into injectors and solenoid fuel valves. Personnel are in the process of painting the diesels and fuel lines. Maintenance during this reporting period has been mostly regular inspections and preventative maintenance. The prevention of fuel leaks and painting of diesels have been the major projects for this reporting period.

This section lost two airmen (303520) on rotation this period. New personnel arriving included A/1C Leonard Morrison, 303520, A/2C Neil T Missildine, 303320, and A/2C Louie Sarver, 303320.

Mr. Peter Brisbar, Canadian Marconi Company, Site Resident Engineer (Electronics). Departed in Feb for his annual leave. He will not return to this organization to complete his contract with the Marconi Company. He had been assigned to this squadron since Jun 55. Mr. Geoffrey A Maddon, same company, arrived in Feb to continue as Mr. Brisbar’s permanent replacement.

Seven airmen, AFSC 30332, Radar Repairmen, took the "5" level upgrading examination, but only four passed. Two of the three that failed have 30332D AFSC’s and were transferred to this organization in Dec 55 from a CPS-6B site; these airmen are unauthorized in this unit and are awaiting disposition, pending instructions from higher headquarters.

Although this section is authorized five "7" level airmen and five "5" level airmen, it is short of high level experience. No "7" level personnel are assigned. There are six "5" level and five "3" level personnel assigned.

The UPS-T4, (15-J-1C) Moving Target Generator was overhauled in January by Mr. Hugh Sangster, Emerson Radio Company Technical Representative and the personnel of this section. The "Jammer Trainer", UPA-37, was also installed during the same period and formal classes were held on the operation and maintenance of this equipment.

The primary search set operated without a mishap on lower beam. S shortened pulse forming network caused upper beam to malfunction. A new network was received two months later and installed to restore the primary gear to normal condition. The primary height set had one malfunction consisting of a burned out magnetron blower meter. A replacement motor was sent to us by C&E Maintenance Office at 64 AD (D). It was installed upon delivery to place the HRI in operating condition.

An equipment rack was built and installed for the UPS-T4 and the UPA-37. This rack consolidates the training device equipment and provides more space for the operators and maintenance personnel.

Sheldon Systems modifications were received and a total of twenty-two have been completed out of twenty-four. The remaining two modifications will be completed on the first calm day.

The most critical supply problem in this section is shortage of various vacuum tubes. Tubes that are requisitioned "routine" are so slow in arriving that it is necessary the change the priority to immediate or resubmit under RNFP condition to expedite shipment so that we can keep the equipment operating.

There are two (2) medical technicians assigned to the medical section, one (1) T/Sgt. 90270 and one (1) A/2C 90250. There has been no change in assigned personnel during this last reporting period. The A/2C was upgraded to 90250 from 90230 during the month of March.

There was an unusually large number of patients on sick call during the months of January, February and March with URIs and dental defects. There were two hundred and sixty-three (263) man days lost due to medical reasons during the months of January and February, and twenty-one (21) during the month of March.

The Dining Hall is being inspected daily by Medical Section to insure maximum prevention of Dysentery. More than one thousand (1000) pounds of meat and vegetables were condemned due to age and contamination.

Two (2) airmen were released for rotation to the ZI, on 27 March 56. Loss of these men reduces the effective manner of the supply section to 50%.

Captain Cunning was at Goose AB during the period coordinating Supply Matters. The following adverse conditions were found to exist:

Lettered Priorities are not handled as priorities after routing to Traffic Section for delivery to the Unit.

A TWX for a VDP item was transmitted on 2 Feb 56. This message was received by the priorities section of Goose AB on 7 Feb 56. This unreasonable lapse of time partially explains the excessive pipeline time required to obtain supplies from the support base.

Follow ups on 19 requisitions were made on 16 Jan 56. Coded copies on all these requisitions had been received prior to 3 Jan 56. Of the items checked, six (6) had not yet been processed through Base Supply shipping section for release to traffic.

One item requisitioned ROCP was in the hands of traffic for six (6) days before an Air Bill Number was assigned.

The new Unit Authorization List was received 19 Mar 56, with a deadline date of 5 Apr 56 to the Support Base.

Intensive training was conducted on Base Defense Training with the establishment of the Unit Base Defense Plan. All personnel are engaged in the Defense Plan. Passive Defense procedures are included in this program.

General Military Training requirements are being met by all personnel. A repetitive training cycle has been established with all personnel participating.

Code of Conduct training has been initiated with a semi-annual schedule directing the program.

Informal Arctic Survival Training is being conducted. The program is hampered by the lack of a qualified instructor and an appropriate syllabus.