Baldy Hughes, BC

918^th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
Baldy Hughes Air Station, Prince George, BC

Major James D Lessley

Primary Search FPS-20; TPS-502; Height Range Indicator TPS-502; STP Trainer AN/GPS-T2; Fighter Trainer AN/GPS-T4.

The past quarter has shown many achievements and improvements. Following are the reports from various section.

On March 2^nd at 0900 PST this squadron came under the operational control of 25^th NADD, operationally responsible to the 823^rd ACWRON. The 918^th has previously been operationally responsible to the 5^th Air Division. The Commander of CANAIRVAN sent the following message to the Canadian Sites: "I take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the 918^th ACWRON for the effective and co-operative manner in which you have carried out your duties under my operational control. The tactical support rendered by your unit aided materially in assisting this division in the discharge of its assigned mission responsibility of Air Defense of the Canadian West Coast and threat warning to our neighbours south of the border". Although there are many problems to be ironed out with 25^th Air Division it is felt that this change will prove to be advantageous." Communications to Kamloops and other sites present difficulties, as we do not have sufficient number of landlines.

Systems Training Program was installed for this unit in January. STP has been of great value as a training device and also to check the system under adverse conditions. STP has helped most in keeping the operations personnel proficient in routine duties, such as scope integration, plotting, telling, and recording.

There have been several exercises during the past reporting period, but this unit has received a very limited amount of activity. It is hoped that this squadron will soon receive more fighters and play a more important part in the success of the 25^th Air Division.

General operation of the section was good for the reporting period. The FPS-20 was installed in March. It replaces the AN/FPS-3C and the AN/FPS-502. The equipment was installed with a minimum of difficulties. The SIF equipment was also installed in March.

The equipment performance was excellent during the quarter as no unusual problems were encountered.

The Supply operation is still improving and the only problem encountered was an increase in the work load. In addition to the routine duties; a project has been initiated for turning in and demilitarizing the residue components of the AN/FPS-3C Radar Set, screening out excess FPS-3C spares and packaging them preparatory to disposition and re-warehousing of FPS-20 spares and all this had to be completed in a period of thirty days.

The following transactions were accomplished in the Commercial Transportation and Petty Cash during the quarter: 266 Petty Cash transactions were completed for the purchase of 787 line items with an expenditure of $8,557.39. 28 GBL’s were issued for outgoing shipments. 34 GBL’s were processed for incoming shipments. 13 Transportation request were issued.

Sliding doors with locks were installed in the Squadron Library to cover book racks so the library may be left open for reading magazines, newspapers, and other material without having access to the books.

Many improvements have been made in Special Services during this quarter. The heavy Cruiser has been repainted and rewired. Also four 12’ and two 14’ boats were repainted.

A work room for the storage and maintenance of outboard motors was completed in February. Four (4) Johnson 5 ½ HP outboard motors were received.

There has been a punching bag, boxer’s sand bag, chinning bar, parallel bars and horizontal bars installed in the game room. The installation of this equipment has helped boost morale of the Squadron personnel.

James D Lessley, Major, USAF