Lowther, ON

1961 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division

Historical Record
639th AC&W Squadron
Lowther, ON
1 April 1961 to 30 June 1961

Section I

REQUIRED DATA
  1. Unit and Location

639th AC&W Squadron
Lowther Air Station, Lowther, Ont., Canada
  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Arthur A Fox, Major, USAF
  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)

    2. 30th Air Division (SAGE)
    Air Defense Command
  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)

    • None
  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)

    • To operate and maintain a Direction Center facility as part of the integrated Air Defense System of the 30th Air Division (SAGE) for the purpose of conducting air defense operations within this system. (30th ADIVR 24-6, 2 July 59)
  • Personnel
    		•
       

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

    		  
     

    Assigned

    17

    150

    7

    174

    		  
     

    Attached

    2

    0

    0

    2

    		  
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
    •

    1 Search Radar AN/MPS-7 in Arctic tower; 1 Height Radar AN/MPS-14 in Arctic tower; 1 IFF AN/GPX-20A; 1 Video Mapper AN/GPA-30; 1 Telephone Equipment AN/GTA-6A; 2 Teletype AN/FGC-20; 1 Teletype AN/FGC-25; 3 Radio VHF BC640 BC639; 4 Radio UHF Multi Channel AN/GRC-27; 2 Radio HF AN/GRC-26D; 1 Crypto Account; 4 Radio UHF Single Channel AN/GRR-7; 4 Radio UHF Single Channel AN/GRT-3;

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    The following officers, replacing departing officers indicated, reported during this reporting period:

    1st Lt. Charles R Helms, Weapons Director, replaced 1st Lt. Steve A Guidry.
    1st Lt. William G McKnight, Supply Officer, replaced 1st Lt. Arthur E Coyne.
    1st Lt. Richard W Reynolds, Weapons Director, replaced Captain James M Dorsey.

    Morale remains very good. Community relations are excellent,

    Considerable construction is scheduled for the station during the summer months. The station is to receive two new radar towers, a SAGE Annex building, Diesel plant extension to the heating plant, a TELCO building and GATR site.

    A civilian education advisor was hired and many personnel are signed up for education courses. There has been a 400% increase in USAFI testing.

    Armed Forces Day was celebrated with a station open house during the afternoon and an invitational buffet and tour of the station during the evening. There was a total attendance of about 400 visitors from surrounding communities.

    Promotion during this period includes one to Captain (RO Hammermeister (DC) attached), one to 1st Lt. (WG McKnight, Supply Officer) eleven airmen to A/1C and four to A/2C.

    Housing is becoming more available than before with usual waiting periods reduced to 3-4 weeks.

    Canadian/US officials have agreed on the eventual (within the next two fiscal years) Canadian manning of this station. No indications of how or exactly when has been given.

    The 1961 Pinetree Line Bowling Tournament was held in Kapuskasing, Ontario, sponsored by Lowther Air Station, 17 and 18 June. The winning team was Pagwa Air Station with Armstrong, Lowther and Ramore finishing 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.

    Airman Second Class Bobby G Cayton was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Achievement. Airman Cayton was credited with saving the life of a local resident when he applied first aid to the individual who was involved in an auto/Moose accident.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Arthur A Fox, Major, USAF

    Signature