Lowther, ON

1961 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division

Historical Record
639th AC&W Squadron
Lowther, ON
1 July 1961 to 30 September 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.
  • Personnel
    		•
       

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

    		  
     

    Assigned

    17

    148

    9

    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; 1 Crypto Account; 4 Radio UHF Single Channel AN/GRR-7; 4 Radio UHF Single Channel AN/GRT-3;

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Operations continues to maintain a high state of readiness. During the 30th Air Division ORI the directors and intercept technicians obtained the highest composite score of any unit in the division. Although the necessity for training at sector has resulted in the curtailment of intercepts available to the 639th for proficiency training all directors assigned remain combat ready.

    During this period plans were finalized for turning over the Pine Tree sites to the Canadians. Lowther was scheduled for phase out in July 1963 and will be the last site on the line to be turned over.

    Due to the worsening Berlin situation special attention has been given such items as disaster control and qualification firing. The general readiness of the base to cope with any emergency has never been better.

    The 4602nd Support Wing carried out its annual Staff Assistance Visit inspection during August. They found the dining hall undermanned and supply operations unsatisfactory, mainly due to the low level of experience of the personnel assigned. The BX operation was very favourably counted on.

    The 639th along with the "A" Company Algonquin Regiment sponsored a hangar dance at the Kapuskasing Airport on the 15th September. The dance was a huge success and the proceeds, $654.00, will be presented to the Sensenbrenner Hospital of Kapuskasing.

    The squadron still continues to receive substandard airmen with excessive OJT and one or two test failures. During August four such airmen were received in this category. These airmen greatly complicate the training function.

    Paving of Highway 11 was completed and driving to Kapuskasing or Hearst is not a bad trip at all now.

    Lt. Lee A Smith A03087868 replaced Lt. Roy N Knight as executive officer in August. Lt. Smith was previously the personnel officer.

    The squadron field day and the fall uniform inspection were held during this period. The uniform inspection was followed by a formal review.

    Construction on base and at the GATR site is moving along rapidly during the summer months. Contractors and their equipment are everywhere. The road paving project has disrupted traffic flow and caused a house keeping and a parking problem throughout the base. Because of numerous contractors going in and out of the operations area the security check point was moved from the gate into the entrance to the operations building.

    Overall morale and community relations remains excellent.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Arthur A Fox, Major, USAF

    Signature