Puntzi Mountain, BC

917th Squadron,
Williams Lake, BC, Canada

Murrell F Neblett, Major

AN/FPS-3, AN/TPS-502, AN/TPS-6

Historical Record
17^th AC&W Squadron
1 January 1960 to 31 March 1960

Accomplishments –

During this reporting period a change of command was effected with Major Edmund M Bouchard being replaced by Major James G Barnett (see enclosure #1). Major Barnett was on station for one month as temporary commander and was relieved by Major Murrell F Neblett, our present commander. (see enclosure #2)

A critical shortage of personnel in operations and radar maintenance career fields continued to be a major problem during this period. A prior policy of partial undermanning of this station was revoked and our parent unit, 25^th Air Division (SAGE), has promised full manning in all AFSC’s by July 1960. This time lag has become necessary with the change of manning responsibility for Canadian sites moving from WADF to Air Defense Command.

With the spring thaw, came a general area cleanup and re-evaluation of facilities. Squadron living and working areas have been brought up to a proper state of orderliness and morale of the airman has improved with the approach of the spring season.

Community Relations –

There were two emergency evacuations during this reporting period involving one airman and one military dependant. The evacuation of the airman took place at night and required coordination between the RCMP, airport officials at Williams Lake and the aircraft commander to effect a safe mission. Neither our field at Puntzi Mountain nor the landing strip at Williams Lake is equipped for night operations except under emergency conditions.

Modifications – Operations has had a 30% turnover of directors, with approximately 20% turnover of airmen, with an overall loss of airmen. Due to this shortage of personnel we have been forced to the three crew schedule with 12 men per crew. This shortage has also brought about a hardship on the detail and mess attendance schedule and it has been necessary to come up with a crew on the midnight or swing shift employing less than the minimum personnel required.

Training -

In February three operations personnel were sent to McChord AFB, Washington, on a TDY trip to a conference, prior to our entering into the SAGE operation. This was to indoctrinate everyone concerned with the operation and problems that would come with the new system. We have been in operation under this new system since 1 March 1960.

One S/Sgt. has completed his OJT to the seven level and has met the board for his upgrading to the new AFSC. One officer has been sent TDY to McChord AFB for a cross training mission with SAGE, with plans to send all directors to the center in the near future.

Due to the new SAGE system, the crew training was accelerated considerably and it is continuing with very high results. Transition into SAGE has been a very long and tedious job, but because of the interest shown by all crews everyone concerned has been able to accomplish his mission satisfactorily.

The TOR room has been modified to provide a study room for operations personnel and has proven to be a tremendous help, as it gives the men a place to study and relax while on break.

The overall area of the operations building has been given a good face lifting by a major cleanup.

January 1960 -

AN/FPS-3C – A total of 8:00 hours was utilized on the AN/FPS-3C for preventative maintenance during the month of January 1960. On 19 January a voltage surge from the diesel generators caused a fuse to blow out in the high voltage cabinet, causing the set to lose all AC power on one phase. The set was off the air for 1:55 for location of malfunction and repair. Total substandard time for January 1960 was 9:55.

AN/FPS-502 – A total of 4:00 was spent on preventative maintenance on the AN/FPS-502 during the month of January, with no peculiar problems being encountered.

AN/TPS-502 – 7:25 hours were utilized on preventative maintenance on the AN/TPS-502, height finder, with no unusual problems being encountered.

February 1960 –

AN/FPS-3C – A total of 14:56 hours of preventative maintenance and corrective maintenance were utilized on the AN/FPS-3C prime search set during February. On several occasions it was noted that, with the high voltage control in the automatic position, when the set was removed from radiation, the high voltage would automatically run up to an excessive high voltage, preventing the set from returning to radiate. The procedure of returning the manual-automatic high voltage control to the manual position prior to turn off of the radar set has prevented recurrence of the trouble.

AN/FPS-502 – A total of 2:00 hours preventative maintenance was accomplished during the month. The set’s stand-by status makes more than these few hours preventative maintenance unnecessary, with normal system operational checks showing normal operation on all equipment.

AN/TPS-502 – 7:00 hours preventative maintenance was accomplished during the month of February, with no outstanding problems encountered.

March 1960 –

AN/FPS-3C – On 17 March excessive water within the main containing the power cable from the diesel generators to the antenna of the AN/FPS-3C caused the cable to short, removing all prime power to the azimuth drive of the antenna. This power outage remained for 7:35 hours during which time installations engineering office repaired the shorted cable. In addition to the power failure, the set was sub-standard, due to preventative maintenance for 10:33 hours, making a total sub-standard time of 18:08 hours. At no time, during the quarter, was the station operating at reduced capabilities, as the AN/FPS-502, search back-up was operating at all times the AN/FPS-3C, prime search was sub-standard.

AN/FPS-502 – 3:15 hours were utilized on preventative maintenance during the month. No unusual or serious problems were encountered. The power outage on the station which effected the operation of the AN/FPS-3C was not on the power line feeding the AN/FPS-502, so there was no sub-standard operation of this set at that time.

AN/TPS-502 – The power outage which disabled the AN/FPS-3C on 17 March disabled the AN/TPS-502 for a total of 18:11 hours, prior to becoming operational again. In addition to this power outage time, 4:50 hours were utilized on preventative maintenance.

AN/GPS-T2 – On 2 February modification 43E10-3-7-502, relocation of "catch-up, catch-down" switch and on 8 February modification E035DA-15GPS-T2-6A/1, installation of a trigger-bias adjustment for CRT #1 was installed.

AN/FPS-6B – All radome and electronic equipment had been received on base by 9 February, with installation scheduled for April 1960.

On 5 March Captain Schmidt, Squadron C&E and Radar Officer, departed this station, PCS, for reassignment to North Bend, Oregon. On 31 March T/Sgt. Billings, section NCOIC, departed, PCS, for reassignment to Germany. These losses, coupled with two 5-level airmen losses, reduced the section strength to 9 personnel, 2 NCO’s and 7 airmen.

Activities –

The supply section, assisted by other sections, conducted a complete physical inventory of all assets, "Fence to Fence". By the end of March, project count was proceeding on schedule.

Components of a new FPS-6B arrived on this site and work was begun to install this equipment. The end of this reporting period found the supply section well along in its progress towards equipping for support of the new set (FPS-6B).

Modifications –

Snow and ice conditions were extremely light this winter and temperatures were well above average. An early spring thaw caused some erosion in fill and ditch areas, due to the sudden water runoff, but these have now been corrected.

Numerous contracts have been accomplished in the maintenance field, auto maintenance building exhaust system, modification to boiler water treatment, installation of anti-sweat insulation in pumphouse, heated workshop and office in aircraft shelter, sewer main replaced at septic tank area and construction of trailer vestibules. All these projects have improved the basic facility.

A considerable number of local projects have been engineered and approved by our support wing and as soon as the materials arrive, a partition will be built to enlarge our BX facility, a recreational area will be realized in the operations area, new garbage can racks will be built to improve the trailer area, and a raised theater floor will be installed to allow an unobstructed view of the screen.

Plans are on hand for MCP projects and an early construction can be expected on an airman’s dormitory (20 man), multi-purpose recreation building, nine car auto storage building (heated) and a complete water utility system for the operations area.

One problem area exists in our underground power distribution system in that rubber covered conductors were installed at the time of base construction. Due to dampness, the installation of these conductors has deteriorated to a serious point. All wiring from a manhole situated 50 feet from the powerhouse building has been replaced to the switchboard and one set replaced to operations building transformer bank during the past two years. A complete power failure has occurred during these cable failures. Our support wing has been informed of this condition and have promised assistance.

Modifications and Improvements –

During January, February and March, Special Services underwent extensive physical changes. The entire special services building has been renovated.

After the Operations Officer, Captain Tate, and a visiting director, Captain Evans built a new tool issue room and provided room for the Puntzi Mountain radio station, the entire building was painted.

Following all this, the special service equipment was overhauled. March was a most impressive month as the special service section and its equipment began to bear witness to the work being performed.

Eight outboard motors were returned to this squadron after being repaired by the Adams Marine Supply in Tacoma, Washington. The motors are stored in a fenced in area near the supply building in order to supply better protection for the equipment.

Warm weather has arrived and all personnel are enjoying the maximum of outdoor activities and good health.

Morale is high and the squadron continues to perform its assigned mission with excellence.

Prepared By: Edward W Landolf, 1^st Lt., Historical Officer