923rd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
(NEAC)
APO 677, New York, New York
Historical Report
1 July 1956 through 30 September 1956
Pages 1 and 2, containing detail on Administration and Operations are not available for this reporting period.
Communications
Personnel
There are four (4) radio maintenance personnel assigned, which is less than 50% of authorized strength. Additional personnel are forecasted and are due in, but they are all of the 3 skill level.
Airman Second Class Fredrickson, cryptographic operator, was assigned duty as crypto operator for this squadron.
There are four (4) men assigned to the wire maintenance section with one of these men due to rotate in December of this year.
General
The high voltage power lines have been grounding out causing numerous power failures at the transmitter and receive sites. Numerous air cracks in the insulation cause these lines to ground out or short in damp weather. There were nine breaks in one line. and fine in the other one. A team from Goose Air Base is repairing this line. This team moved the power transformer at the receiver site and mounted it on a platform.
The antennas for the UHF back-up circuit are installed except for the transmitting antenna for the lowest frequency. A letter requesting depot assistance for the installation of this antenna was submitted to 64th Air Division (Defense).
The depot overhaul team overhauled and repaired the UHF and VHF antennas. The antenna mounts for the back-up UHF equipment were modified to facilitate their removal.
The power unit at the receiver site was replaced with a 5 KW power unit. The power unit which was removed requires major repairs on the engine.
The telephone line to the village (Hopedale) was repaired and placed in operation. Three hundred feet of wire was replaced in the pump house phone line.
The construction of the new power unit building at the transmitter site has been completed.
Supply
Crystals for the newly assigned RTTY circuits were ordered on control number 6-12-1627, but have not been received as of this date.
Crystals for the new UHF circuit were ordered on control number 9-28-178 and are due in to this squadron.
There is a shortage of 15 amp 3AC fuses and 4X150 tubes. Supply has these items on order.
Tech Supply
General
During the period of 1 July through 30 September 1956 the following activities, difficulties and personnel changes were experienced:
Approximately 300 long tons of General supplies, UAL property and Commissary stores were received by water in addition to normal air delivery during this period.
One NCO was sent to Makkovik in August to receipt for and safeguard supplies for Detachment 1.
One Airman, 64151, arrived during the period for assignment at Makkovik. He was detained and employed in the section pending completion of facilities at Makkovik.
The annual requisition was completed during the reporting period.
The UAL report was completed and forwarded at the end of this period.
The section started the period short one (1) each 64173, T/Sgt., over one (1) each 64151, A/1C, and one (1) each 64131, A/2C. At the close of the period the section was short one (1) each 64173, T/Sgt., one (1) each 79250, A/1C, and one (1) each 64010, A/3C. The section was over one (1) each 64151, A/1C.
Radar Maintenance
General
The Canadian Marconi overhaul team was here during the month of July for annual overhaul of all radar equipment and associated test equipment. During the month of September, the Marconi Radome Painting team painted all of the radomes, inside and out. They had some difficulty with the weather being too cold for radome painting. The foreman stated that he was ordering a new radome for tower #3, to be installed next summer. We had nine days red time on primary search during July and August, while awaiting replacement for 36 speed synchro. We have encountered no trouble with the prime radar since then with the exception of a minor power failure.
Personnel
During this period there has been several personnel changes. Captain Runge was replaced by Captain Evans as OIC during July. M/Sgt. Hart replaced T/Sgt. Funderburk as NCOIC in September. During this period the section has gained one and lost seven maintenance personnel. At the present time the section is operating below minimum without considering squadron duty obligations. The present strength of the section is five. Mr. Jack Bradley, Marconi Site Resident Engineer, arrived on the 16th of September to replace Mr. James Bush who departed with the overhaul team in July.
Supply
Supply channels are still slow. The most critical items are tubes and crystals. We need several parts for the Sheldon systems but can only order them on routine requisitions. High priority items are handled without delay but routine requisitions seem to have no value.
Installations - General
Personnel
During the reporting period one civilian, 47250, was transferred and one civilian, 56570, resigned. The following personnel were assigned to this section: one Master Sergeant, 56750; two Technical Sergeants, 56750; one Staff Sergeant, 56750; one Airman First Class, 56750; one civilian, 56550 and one civilian, 55131.
The total number of personnel assigned is thirty-one (31) consisting of 15 military personnel and 16 civilians. At the close of the reporting period the section was short the following military personnel:
|
One (1) |
Construction Equipment Operator |
55131 |
|
One (1) |
Electrician |
56150 |
|
One (1) |
Petroleum Supply Specialist |
64350 |
|
One (1) |
Ground Power and Support Equipment Technician |
47270 |
Electrical
The outdoor lighting system for the helicopter pad was overhauled by site personnel during July. Several lens gaskets were replaced and the auxiliary power unit was overhauled.
Numerous insulation failures occurred in the Receiver-Transmitter power lines during this period. Failures in these lines occurred on 14 August, 15 September, 19 September and 26 September 1956. Two breaks were located on 14 August, seven breaks on 15 September, two breaks on 19 September and six more breaks between 26 September and the close of the reporting period. The receivers and transmitters did not operate simultaneously on base power for more than two hours at a time from 15 September to the close of the reporting period.
Numerous repairs of kitchen ranges and ovens were made throughout the reporting period, however, two ovens were not operational at the end of the reporting period and the remaining equipment was barely operational.
On 29 September linemen arrived from Goose Air Base for the purpose of rehabilitating the outside power lines.
Plumbing
During August and September the Ric-Wil line was checked for proper operation of thermostats, defective relay contact points were replaced, defective joint collars repaired, alignment checked and corrected at two points, and additional insulation added at one point where insulation seemed inadequate due to poor alignment of the outside cover.
All 1 inch fuel lines in the power plant were replaced during August and September to reduce leaking which had become excessive.
Most of the boiler feed water piping in the heating plant was replaced in September.
Carpentry
Two life preserver racks were fabricated and installed at the main dock in July. Repair of Ric-Wil support cribs and trusses was completed in September.
All known roof leaks were repaired by painting the roofs with tar, and work was begun to provide storm hoods on all outside doors.
POL Facilities
Diesel fuel was pumped to the upper storage tank to prepare for the arrival of the USS "Peconic" on 20 July. 657,384 gallons of fuel were pumped at this time.
On 26 July a leak was caused in Oil Tank No. 1 by blasting being carried on there by the Bell Telephone Company. The Peconic returned on 30 July and the tank was drained and 12 feet of salt water pumped to permit welding. A welder arrived from Goose Air Base on31 July and the leak was repaired on that date. The tank was drained of salt water and refilled with fuel oil on 1 August 1956.
A total of 610 barrels of salt water and fresh water was drained from both of the lower POL tanks in September.
During this reporting period enough aviation fuel was removed from the POL dump which is heavily drifted with snow in the winter and placed in an exposed area near the helicopter pad to last throughout the winter.
Roads and Grounds
Dragging of the main road and TX roads was accomplished twice during this period. Filling of individual holes was found to be a more effective method of maintaining roads.
The landing barge and jetty were repaired after having been damaged by ice and tides. Repairs were made using old drums filled with rock to form a retaining wall and filling the space with rock.
Two portable lighting units were installed on the main dock for night unloading operations. Units consist of three reflecting lamps each mounted on 12 foot collapsible tripods.
Installations - Power Plant
Personnel
During the reporting period the following airmen were assigned: one (1) Master Sergeant, 56750; two (2) Tech Sergeants, 56750; one (1) Staff Sergeant, 56750; and one (1) Airman First Class, 56750. The following personnel were reassigned: one (1) civilian, 56750; and one (1) civilian 47250.
Power Plant
On 4 July a partial base power failure occurred due to the sudden overloading of the generator. Number 4 generator was thrown off the line. The cause of the overloading was not determined. On 8 July a similar power failure occurred when number 8 engine supplying power to the electronic load was thrown off the line. Tech power with the exception of operations was off for five minutes.
On 10 July six new cylinder heads and gaskets, six new rocker boxes and gaskets and six new injector assemblies were installed on number one engine. The exciter of number 1 generator was repaired and number one cooling radiator was dismantled and caskets installed at top and bottom.
On 13 July six reconditioned injectors, six rocker housing covers, one injector push rod and one injector adjusting screw were installed on engine # 5.
Six reconditioned injectors were installed on engine #4 on 8 July, 17 July and 21 August.
On 27 July a new solenoid was installed on engine #5.
On 2 August six reconditioned injectors, six new fuel inlets, and six 40 psi check valve springs were installed on engine # 3. Six reconditioned injectors were also installed on engine # 5.
On 6 August six reconditioned injectors and six 40 psi check valve springs were installed on engine # 2. Fuel inlets were cleaned, valves and governor adjusted and one rocker panel cover gasket replaced at this time.
On 10 August six reconditioned injectors were installed on engine # 10 and a new fuel filter assembly was installed on engine # 9.
A new fuel filter assembly and flexible lines were installed on engine # 5 on 11 August 1956.
On 14 August a short circuit in the RX-TX power line caused voltage fluctuations in the electronic power supply which threw TROPO off the air for six minutes. On this date the installation of the high voltage leads within the case of the RX-TX step-up transformer in the power house failed causing a short circuit. The resulting power failure lasted one hour and 19 minutes. A temporary by-pass line was installed pending arrival of sufficient high voltage cable to make a permanent repair.
Eight new exciter brushes were installed on generator # 3 on 16 August.
On 19 August solenoid valve seat washers were replaced on engines # 6 and # 7 and six reconditioned injectors were installed on engine # 7.
Six reconditioned injectors, new rocker box gaskets and valve cover gaskets were installed on engine # 2 on 30 August and on engine # 3 on 4 September.
On 8 September a new fuel pump was installed on engine # 1, one injector was installed on engine # 2, and six injectors were installed on engine # 3. On this date a power failure of 45 seconds duration occurred when an engine kicked off the line. The cause was not determined.
A power failure occurred on 12 September when # 4 generator motorized due to a burned out solenoid. TROPO was off the air for six minutes as a result of this failure.
On 13 November a new fuel valve shut-off and micro switch were installed on engine # 4.
On 15 September a short circuit in the Receiver-Transmitter power line caused voltage fluctuations which threw TROPO off the air for six and one half minutes.
All exciter brushes were replaced on generator # 2 and # 9 on 18 September.
On 26 September a short circuit in the Receiver-Transmitter power line caused voltage fluctuations which threw Radar Maintenance off the air for four and one half minutes.
Four exciter bolts and eight exciter brushes were installed on generator # 4 on 27 September 1956.
Installations - Heating Plant
Personnel
One civilian heating operating engineer, 56550, reported for duty with this section during this period.
Heating Plant
During September most of the boiler feedwater piping and drain piping was replaced after it had been found to be sufficiently scaled and pitted to interfere with its function and to constitute a safety hazard.
Number one boiler was placed in operation during the third week in September for the first time since April. Placing of this boiler in operation made possible the receipt of a minimum number of necessary parts.
Due to the fact that both boilers were not operating satisfactorily and since necessary parts had not been received, notification was sent to Headquarters NEAC that boilers would not be ready for the inspection scheduled for October 1956. Samples of defective piping were sent to Goose Air Base for the purpose of having tests made to determine what modification in operations and feedwater treatment would be advisable to avoid complete failure of boilers.
Fire Department
Personnel
No personnel changes occurred in this section during this reporting period.
General
During this reporting period weekly fire drills were conducted on the site and fire teams were briefed after each drill. Weekly inspections and reports were made by all activities by the assigned area fire marshals. Weekly inspection of all fire extinguishers and the construction camp were made by the Fire Chief.
Additional fire hoses were placed in the construction camp.
The fire inspector from Goose Air Base inspected the site and found that fire prevention methods, practices and equipment were very satisfactory. A fire guard for all transient aircraft was maintained.
Infirmary
General
The months of July, August, and September were very busy months for the medical section. There was an unusually large number of common colds, and a large number of sore throats. The cause was undetermined. Thirteen (13) airmen went TDY to Goose Air Base for Medical and Dental purposes during this reporting period and a total of two hundred and one (201) man days were lost by this unit due to TDY and sick in quarters.
Personnel
No changes have occurred in assigned personnel since the last reporting period.
Training
The Arctic Survival training program was discontinued during this reporting period.
Ground Safety Training was given in the form of lectures and training films.
Intelligence training was given to all operations personnel on a weekly basis.
Electronic countermeasures training was given to operations personnel with the aid of Ruffin type aircraft.
The training hours set aside each week are fully utilized for personnel training of one type or another.
The OJT program was in full operation during this period.
GED tests were given during this period so that the personnel concerned could get High School or College credits.