Lowther, ON

1962 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division

Historical Record
639th AC&W Squadron
Lowther, ON
1 January 1962 to 31 March 1962

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

    151

    9

    177

    		  
     

    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

    All controllers remain combat ready and the stations capability to meet an emergency is excellent. Activity during the last few missions has increased considerably and training gained from these exercises has been excellent.

    Three key positions were effected this quarter by personnel rotations. The Executive Officer position was filled by Lt. Charles M Huntington, A03101663, Major William T Farmer, A0439229 became C&E Officer and Captain John B Mulherron was appointed Operations Officer.

    The 4602nd Support Squadron visited the Site in February. All section supported by them were reported in excellent condition. Improved operations in the Food Service and Supply Sections were complemented.

    During the winter months water has had to be rationed daily. Some days water was on only four hours affecting morale and inconveniencing several sections. No relief is seen before summer.

    On the 14th of March the L-20 Aircraft assigned for support was lost due to fire. The plane was hungered in the Austin Airways hangar at the Kapuskasing Airport. The fire evidently started in the boiler room.

    A very successful Miss/Mrs money tree contest was conducted in February. The contest was primarily aimed at making everyone aware of the aims and importance of project money tree. Everyone in the squadron was allowed one vote and an additional five votes could be cast by anyone submitting a valid acorn suggestion. Mrs. Simmons, wife of A/1C James Simmons, was crowned Mrs. Money Tree to culminate the contest. 95% of the squadron participated and numerous fine acorn were submitted.

    During March the squadron AFRTS Station was officially opened. The call letters are WLAS and the station is located in the transmitter building in a newly constructed sound proof studio.

    Construction of the new facilities for SAGE continued to move toward completion. The TELCO and GATR buildings were completed and preliminary acceptance was made by the Air Force in March.

     

    A Squadron party was held on the 18th of March to celebrate the C&E Sections accomplishment in the field of magnetron maintenance. As of the 30th of March the Maggie has 6182.49 hours of operation. The Squadron is justly proud of the fine record, which is an unofficial ADC record for magnetron life in class "A" operation.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Arthur A Fox, Major, USAF

    Signature