| RCS: AU-D5 |
of the
825th AC&W Squadron
for the period ending
30 September 1960
| Section I | REQUIRED DATA |
| Officers | Airmen | Civilians | Total | |
| Assigned | 13 | 161 | 18 | 192 |
| Attached | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| Section II | COMMENTARY |
In this last reporting period, forest fires were prevalent in the news. This past summer was marked by the worst fire season in recent Kamloops history. This squadron contributed to the fire fighting cause by coordinating and supervising the removal of a B-17 Flying Fortress from Fulton Field. The B-17 had been used in water bombing and landed wheels up, thus blocking all other water bombing traffic. This squadron upon hearing of the accident immediately contacted the 25th Air Division (SAGE) at McChord AFB, Washington, who in return sent up all necessary equipment and personnel to remove the plane. Members of this squadron worked all night supervising the removal. The District Forester wrote a letter of appreciation to the Division Commander, commending Major John A Farrar, Captain Daniel G Corcoran of the 825th ACWRON, and Major CW Brown of the 84th MATRON for their expeditious handling of the removal operations.
It was announced on the 2nd September that this station would be assigned a Procurement Officer to make local purchases to support our local purchase function. At the present time local purchases are limited to $100. In value but with the assignment of a Procurement Officer, this would be raised to $2,500. This will be a definite advantage in that it will increase our supply capabilities.
TSGT Paul F Deary, who is to become the Procurement Officer was present in the area scouting potential vendors.
On the 12-13th of September this squadron was visited by Major General Dale O Smith, Commander of the 64th Air Division, and his staff. The purpose of the visit was to become familiar with Canadian sites, since the 64th Air Division will be absorbing the 4602 Support Wing in January 1961.
On 10 September 1960 this squadron took part in the NORAD/SAC exercise Skyshield. Three interceptors were employed by our squadron resulting in twelve MAs, six withdrawals, and one MI/AEF. Also nineteen STPs were participated in by this squadron, including; twelve division wide, two sector, and five site orientated problems. This number seemed adequate for training problems.
Interceptor availability for training and proficiency purposes was very low during the last period with this squadron conducting only two hundred forty-eight intercepts. This is not sufficient to keep ten directors current. This matter has been discussed with the Spokane Air Defense Sector and improvement is anticipated in the near future.
There have been numerous changes in weapons director personnel assigned. Three have been reassigned and three have been gained. Those leaving were Lieutenants VJ Carlino, PK Uno and EM Lewis. They were replaced by Captain JC Riddle, 1Lt PC Comeaux and 2Lt FL Billheimer. Captain Riddle was assigned as operations officer when Captain DG Corcoran became the Squadron Executive Officer.
This squadron still remains in the enviable position of never having missed an exercise intercept due to director error.
Also during this period the MCC Section was expanded from an eight hour day operation to twenty-four hour operation. A personnel problem arose when several people were reassigned without replacements, and two radar maintenance men were sent TDY to the 689th RADRON for a period of ninety days at the direction of 25th Air Division (SAGE).
A new and important function has been added to the C&E section. That is the C&E inspector whose responsibility is to insure, through daily inspection, that all equipment is operating in accordance with existing directives.
| REPLY TO ATTN OF: | 825CCR |
| SUBJECT: | Limited Operational Capability |
| _____TO: | Colonel GG Atkinson |
| Commander, SPADS |
2. The CW-396A/GPS rigid radome is not compatible with the AN/FPS-6B, reference FC-3-40, Section II, TO 31-1-11. We believe this to be the cause of the excessive clutter we are now experiencing. This clutter completely saturates the HRI for 360 degrees out to 60 miles and up to 100,000 feet. I am requesting command assistance for correction of this deficiency, since the squadron has no capability to do so.
3. Our other height finder, the AN/FPS-6, is limited to a maximum slant range of 180 nautical miles because of the PRF required for MTI operation of the search radar. The maximum height capability is limited to 60,000 feet because Depot Modification 3XP3-FPS6-524 has not been accomplished on the obsolete height range indicators (OA-270). Command assistance is also requested for correction of this deficiency.
4. The search radar, AN/FPS-3 is constantly operated on MTI because of terrain factors. This is of course a severe limitation in range detection. Action initiated by your headquarters to procure an AN/FPS-20 for this station is the solution to greater range detection in all three radar sets and remains an urgent requirement for your northern and eastern coverage.
5. This station has been unable to overcome these deficiencies, nor have we received any positive information indicating correction by any other agency. Your staff is aware of these problems, but this letter is intended to focus attention on the overall effect on your primary mission.
John H Farrar
Major, USAF
Commander