Hopedale, Labrador

1 April 1956 through 30 June 1956

Historical data contained herein reflects activities of this section for the interim period of 1 April 1956 through 30 June 1956.

All section positions remain manned, with no change in personnel.

Strength for the unit at the close of the reporting period was as follows: 1 Major, 4 Captains, 2 1^st Lieutenants, 1 2^nd Lieutenant, 4 M/Sgts., 11 T/Sgts., 9 S/Sgts., 15 A/1C, 32 A/2C and 42 A/3C. Total strength is 101% of authorized with 71% effective manning.

The 64^th AD (D) annual inspection report was received and all noted discrepancies were corrected. Still no action on conversion of Forms 20 and 230 to Form 7, pending arrival of necessary forms from the support base.

No unusual events occurred during this period henceforth the normal administrative and personnel workload has been maintained.

During this period the unit mission remained unchanged. Lt. Donovan arrived 14 May 1956 and Captain Hickman went TDY to Goose Bay for flying purposes from 21 May to 4 June 1956. The section was able to revert to a four (4) Crew system due to an increase in personnel. Lt. Wilson an Aircraft Observer of the 74^th FIS spent 90 days TDY with the unit on director status. Lt. Wilson left on 15 June 1956.

During this quarter a total of 3,951 tracks were plotted and forward told to the 641^st AC&W Squadron. This is an average of 43 per day. A total of 29 Active Defense Intercepts against unknown aircraft were run with fighters from the 59^th FIS. A total of 60 practice and 75 synthetic intercepts. The 15-J-1C was operational at all times during the period. Navigational Assistance was rendered to 2,113 friendly aircraft for an average of 24 per day. Parts for converting the Plotting Board to florescent lighting have not been received. Paints for the Plotting Board have been re-requisitioned and 4 are now on hand. Weather has been marginal and aircraft arrivals have been fairly close to schedule.

Three (3) teletype operators were assigned to the message center. This brings the number of Comm Center personnel assigned to five (5). One man is due for rotation in August.

There are thirteen (13) airmen assigned to Radio Maintenance. Seven (7) of these men are due for rotation in August, and three (3) more are due for rotation in September. This will leave three (3) airmen assigned in the radio maintenance field.

A/2C Richard W Reese, cryptographic operator, was assigned duty as crypto operator.

Ship to shore circuit was set up with the operating position at the Transmitter site.

The power unit building at the transmitter site has been dismantled, and the new building is being built.

During the month of April, the power transformer at the receiver site was repaired and relocated. Due to the weight of the snow, the transformer had shorted out. The snow drift caused a hot wire to short to ground, therefore burning off the pole. The transformer was dug out of the snow and moved to a spot south of the receiver which is free of snow. It is estimated that the snow where the transformer and power line were buried was 25 feet deep. The power cable was cut at the old transformer pole and rerouted to the receiver site. Mr. Dearden, Air Installations, Goose Air Base, and his power team is to return and mount the power lines on poles. During the period that the power line was out of commission, the emergency power unit at the receiver site operated 348 hours. The back-up power unit (PE-95) at the receiver site has a broken governor. Two weeks after the power line was repaired, this power unit failed completely.

The latrine at the transmitter was cleaned 27 April. This was accomplished by manual labor and with the use of gas masks.

There is still a shortage of -110 Field Wire. This wire is on order and is due in to base supply at Goose Air Base.

The landing barge and rock jetty were damaged by ice and tides were repaired by using old drums filled with rock to form a perimeter for the jetty and then filled in with whole rock and topped with crushed rock. The road was raised with crushed rock to place it high above the tide level.

The wood barge was swung into place and cabled to the shore line. All spikes and bolts were tightened to prepare it for the summer months. The metal barges were scraped and chipped of old paint and rust and then repainted with zinc chromate and red lead to prevent corrosion. Marine fray paint was used to paint the tops of both barges. The outboard motor mount on the aircraft uploading barge was overhauled and is in good condition.

The rubber buoy which is used as a tie down for SA-16 type aircraft was re-conditioned and a quarter inch hole was repaired by using radome patching materials.

The transmitter area power supply developed troubles due to wet weather when the circuit breakers on the pole tops kicked out causing complete failure. We solved this problem by cutting all ground leads. We are still awaiting a power line overhaul team from Goose Bay to renovate and re-splice our entire RX and TX power supply systems.

Two (2) portable lighting units have been rigged and installed on the main dock to be used for night operations during the shipping season. These units consisting of three reflectors each, are mounted on twelve foot collapsible tripods and can be dismantled during winter season. To prevent tipping or collapse during high winds or bad weather, each unit is guyed to the dock with quarter inch cable.

The squadrons 18 foot rescue boat was renovated by scraping, wire brushing and sanding. A small hole in the plywood was repaired using caulking compound and a metal patch held with brass screws. All unpainted wood was treated with a wood preservative. The copper clad bottom was painted with two coats of red oxide primer. The kapok side rails were repaired with canvas patches and all cleats were tightened. The boat was painted marine gray and trimmed in Air Force Blue.

All fuel oil tanks were topped off by pumping from the lower tanks up the hill top tank to prepare the lower tanks for the oil tanker due in July. Ten (10) days were consumed in accomplishing this work.

A great amount of work was expended in locating rocks suitable for crushing and then spreading the crushed rock in back of the motor pool to eliminate a mud hole. Crushed rock was spread in back of the heating plant and also in front of the motor pool to provide a level parking area.

One D-8 caterpillar tractor was overhauled during this period with a new clutch and cleats to replace those broken during the winter. The winch was repaired to facilitate hauling of stuck vehicles.

All outboard motors were checked, cleaned and tested to prepare for the summer season.

All air filters were steam cleaned and then dried with infra-red heat lamps. This did a very good cleaning job and did away with the use of hazardous cleaning solvents.

The main bearing of the FPS-502 Motor Alternator burned out, causing quite a bit of noise and smoke. The spare Motor Alternator is now in use. The bad one was sent to the depot at Pepperrell on 9 June 56 to have the bearing repaired.

The UPX-6 finally arrived here after being sent to depot for maintenance. At the present time another UPX-6 is being prepared to be sent to the depot.

The power transformer for the UPH-4 was received. It was installed and the test set returned to use.

A/2C Nieman and S/Sgt. Beard rotated to the ZI during this reporting period. Both men were 30352’s. This section gained A/2C Imbrigotta and A/3C Hughes, 30332C, and T/Sgt. Funderburk, 30372.

Mr. James Bush, Marconi Site Resident Engineer, arrived on 13 April 1956 to replace Mr. Geoffery Haddon.

Three (3) men took the 30352 test. Two (2) passed and were upgraded and one (1) failed.

No changes have occurred in assigned personnel since the last reporting period, except that the NCOIC in the Infirmary was called home on Emergency Leave for 30 days. He was relieved by a Medical Technician from Goose Bay.

The month of April, May and June were very busy months for the Medical Section. Seven (7) Airmen were evacuated for medical and dental reasons, 104 man days were lost. The N-Site was visited by a Dental Officer from Goose Air Base during the month of May, and a Base Veterinarian visited the Site during the month of June.

During the period of 1 April through 30 June 1956 the following activities, difficulties, and personnel changes were experienced:

UAL property requisitioned in January was delivered in sufficient quantity to bring the effective equipment of the unit to 84%.

Preparations were made for the receipt of supplies by water. To make room for incoming property, 25% of dockside warehouse, 50% of Commissary dry storage warehouse, and 75% of the temperature controlled warehouse were evacuated.

Logistical difficulties experienced during this period were: identification of non listed parts for procurement, failure of the traffic section to deliver supplies in the proper sequence of priority, and inadequate supply of certain high consumption tubes.

At the start of the period the section was short one (1) 64131, A/2C. At the close of the period the section was short one (1) 64173, T/Sgt., over one (1) 64151, A/1C and 64131, A/2C.

During the months contained in this reporting period, 1 April through 30 June 1956, Special Services had endeavored to take full advantage of the pleasant weather. An intra-section basketball tournament was held with Radio Maintenance emerging the winner from a field of five. An indoor badminton court has been set up, as has an outdoor volleyball court. Horseshoe pits and an archery range have also been completed. The fishing season is now in full swing.

At present, eight-five percent of all military personnel in the squadron have completed high school or passed the USAFI and GED test.