Pagwa, ON

913^th Squadron, Pagwa Air Station
Pagwa River, Ontario, Canada

Rogers D Littlejohn, Major, USAF

Radar and Communication Equipment

AN/FPS-20A; AN/GPX-7A; AN/GRC-27 5ea; AN/FRT-501 4ea; AN/FRT-502 2ea; AN/GRR-7 2ea; AN/FRT-503 1ea; AN/GRT-3 2ea; CR-91A 4ea; URG-60 5ea.

Command:

Major Rogers D Littlejohn remained in command of the squadron for the entire quarter.

Personnel:

Critical manning problems continued to plague the squadron during the quarter. The lack of a woodworker in the Maintenance and Repair function rendered it difficult to conduct a preventative maintenance schedule. In the Electrical Power Production function our manning shrank to 33% and the 30^th Air Division (SAGE) was forced to assist us by assigning three power producers to the squadron on a TDY basis. In the Radar Operations section manning dropped to 33 airmen against 58 authorizations by mid-September. This forced the operations section to establish a three crew system instead of having their usual four crew procedures. Personnel shortages also became aggravated in our Radar Maintenance function and by the end of the quarter we had only 45% of our authorized personnel in this function. Personnel shortages had an adverse affect upon squadron morale since airmen had to be assigned more often to such details as KP, trash run, etc. because of our shortage of airmen.

Manpower:

At the end of the quarter we received authorizations for the following AFSC’s and grades: S/Sgt, 60150, Passenger and Household Goods Specialist; A/2C, 70230, Administrative Clerk; A/2C, 29130, Communications Center Helper; A/2C, 55230, Apprentice Woodworker. These resulted from a shuffling of current UM spaces in which we lost four AFSC 29350, Ground Radio Operator positions. These authorizations, when manned should solve most of our manpower problems.

Civilian Personnel:

At the end of the quarter the civilian personnel section at Truax Field relieved the civilian personnel agency at Selfridge AFB, as the support section for the Chaplain attached to this squadron. The civilian authorizations for the Chaplain were shifted to the Support Squadron at Truax AFB.

Operations:

Operations experienced a heavy rotation of officer personnel during August and September. Seven of the eleven 1744As, Weapons Controllers, returned to the ZI during these two months. This created a serious training problem and efforts were made to make the controllers proficient prior to the ORI scheduled for early October.

The problem areas encountered with having a manual site working for a SAGE Sector have been attacked and are being solved. The unit took part in "Operation Sky Shield" in early September and performed effectively despite the shortage of officer and enlisted personnel.

Communications and Electronics:

The station possessed no height finding capability during the quarter. The shortage of X-80 tubes was relieved by supply action. At the present time both channels are on the air and sufficient spare tubes are on hand. All other communications and electronic equipment is working satisfactorily.

Flight Operations:

In the later part of September our single L-20 aircraft was involved in an incident at the Timmins airport. The plane was place out of commission and SSMADS secured a replacement for us from the 752^nd ACWRON. The airplane continued to be of vital importance because of deterioration of our bush road during July and August.

Medical and Dental:

The health of personnel on the station was generally excellent. Insect control became less important during the cooler fall months and several airmen were evacuated to Kinchloe for medical reasons.

Facilities:

The Hill Clark Francis Construction Company arrived on the station and began construction of a new barracks, a recreational building, a storage shed for our motor vehicles, and two towers for our new height finding radar. Construction proceeded according to schedule. Relations between the Air Force and the HCF Company have been good. The company constructed temporary barracks for its workers on the station and it also established a messing facility. Refrigeration equipment has worked satisfactorily during the quarter but the AIO Section has been unable to carry out a preventative maintenance schedule because of the lack of a woodworker.

Inspector General:

Our Inspector General received one major complaint during the quarter by an airman who desired an early release to attend college. The case eventually resulted in a Congressional Inquiry which found that the squadron had followed the provisions of the appropriate regulation.

Discipline:

There were no court martials or Article 15’s during the quarter. However, one of our airmen was accused of attacking an Indian girl. The case was eventually tried in the Canadian Courts and the airman was fined $10.00 and costs.

Inspections:

The 4602^nd Staff Assistance Team visited the station in late July. They found most of the sections in excellent condition. They declared an "Unsatisfactory condition in the power house function, only because of our critical shortage of personnel. This rating aided the squadron to have power production men sent in on a TDY basis.

The 30^th Air Division (SAGE) Training and Utilization Team visited the station in early August. They inspected Morning Report procedures, OJT, C&A Rosters, and several other related personnel areas. They found all of these functions being performed in a satisfactory manner.

Special Services:

Fishing and hunting became the chief extra duty attractions for both officers and airmen. The Special Services established a fishing-hunting camp on 18 mile lake and many airmen took advantage of its facilities. The Special Services section obtained a new jeep and many other items including fishing and hunting equipment during the quarter.

Morale:

Morale at this squadron continues to remain fairly high despite the isolated nature of the station and the shortage of personnel. As usual a major contribution to morale was made by the three clubs located on the station and by the efforts of the Food Services section.

Rogers D Littlejohn, Major, USAF