Puntzi Mountain, BC

917th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Murrell F Neblett, Major

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

History of the 917^th AC&W Squadron
1 July 1960 to 30 September 1960

Accomplishments –

M/Sgt. Charles F Cook, AF19293202 was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal by the Commander. Sgt. Cook distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while assigned as NCOIC of the Radar Maintenance Section, 858^th AC&W Squadron, Fallon Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Fallon, Nevada.

A PDO (Publications Distribution Office) was established with the functions of the Orderly Room. The responsibilities of the PDO is to maintain stock levels on and make distribution of all blank forms utilized within the 917^th AC&W Squadron. The PDO is also responsible for the requisitioning and distributing of all publications, i.e. AF, ADC, 25^th AD, SADS and 4602^nd Support Wing manuals, regulations, letters etc.

Personnel – The personnel problem was improved by the assignment of two new personnel to the Orderly Room, they were T/Sgt. Delton W Wiens, AF17262561, P&DAFSC 73270. Sgt. Wiens position is NCOIC of the Personnel Section. S/Sgt. Folomeno Mendes, AF11184925, PAFSC 70270, DAFSC 70250. Sgt. Mendes position is Chief Clerk of the Orderly Room.

Visits –

Report of Audit was conducted by USAF Resident Auditor, McChord AFB, Washington. Discrepancies were noted and a progress report was submitted. Completion date of 31 December was forecasted.

A Staff Visit was conducted by Mr. AE Murphy, DAFC, Chief, Division of Education and Libraries, 25^th Air Division. Facilities were generally adequate, suggested recommendations made by Mr. Murphy were corrected and put into effect.

Accomplishments and Personnel –

During the reporting period of 1 July through 30 September 1960 the Operations Section of the Squadron reached 90% of the sections authorized strength. There were enough airmen available to enable the operations officer to form four normal crews and an additional combat crew. The combat team being responsible for all missions and exercises. A direct result of this arrangement was an outstanding rating for the squadron during a recent tactical evaluation.

In September the combat crew was dissolved. Although the combat team had allowed this squadron to do well in the Tactical Evaluation it was causing the over-all proficiency of the other crews to fall off. This was the result of lack of practice on the part of the four other operations crews due to the combat crew taking all the actual and practice missions.

All NCO’s and A/1C were enrolled in the ADC management correspondence course 1A.

Equipment –

In July, a new FPS-6B height finder and two related indicator scopes were installed and operational. The SIF mode equipment was also placed into operation.

The control capabilities were increased greatly when we received two UPA-35 control scopes. These are also installed and operational.

Accomplishments –

Communications facilities in operations were greatly expanded by the addition of communication boxes and by the replacement of existing communication boxes with larger ones. Also, many additional intercommunication and long-line circuits were wired into various positions. During the past three months all cross-connect records and cable records were brought up to date. An audit inspection has resulted in a complete reappraisal of the classification of all telephones.

Equipment –

The first AN/FPS-6B height finder radar was placed in operation in July and since then were have experienced some difficulty in getting replacement parts. As of the end of the quarter a full facility acceptance has not been accomplished due to the lack of spare parts and test equipment.

Radio Maintenance has a normal maintenance period, the only important problem being a bad power amplifier which eventually resulted in an ROCP condition. The section has greatly improved in the past few months, from both the maintenance and administration aspects.

Personnel –

Personnel and skill level of the Radar Maintenance Section has come up to required strength during the reporting period. Radio, teletype, wire maintenance and communications center personnel were satisfactory. The manning of the Radio Maintenance Section will drop to a dangerous level during the early part of the next quarter.

Accomplishments –

In the program to rehabilitate the supply facilities, new concrete floors were installed, office floors were tiles and warehouse floors were painted. Metal desks and bookcases replaced wooden ones.

Personnel –

The shortage of personnel in supply, which existed during the last reporting period continues unsolved. During the present entire reporting period the supply section has had only one qualified airman assigned. One clerk typist and one motor vehicle operator were assigned to relieve the shortage.

Accomplishments –

During the reporting period of this report several improvements have been made and contracts were signed for further construction on base.

Improvements in the base water system were made by the installation of a hypo-chlorinator in the pump house to chemically treat the water with Hexamilaposphate to lessen calcium carbonate deposits by softening the water.

MCP projects are under way and will provide dormitory space, recreation building and bowling alley, and a heated auto storage building.

New roofs are being installed on four of the permanent buildings, which are in need of repair. These buildings will now be secured from water damage caused by leaking roofs.

A major contract for replacement of steam lines in the operations building is nearing completion. This project is necessary for the future expansion of facilities in that area.

Special Services –

During the reporting period of 1 July 1960 to 30 September 1960 the Special Services Section has seen vast changes and many improvements.

Walls and cabinets were repainted, safety guards were placed on all machinery and the machines were rearranged for safety. Yellow safety lines were painted around all the machinery.

Display and storage racks for special service tools were built and installed on the walls. Work benches were restored and storage bins were built to aid in the selection of equipment and for ease of inventory.

An unusual idea was presented by the special services officer when he offered an old boat to the proper authorities to be placed on the playground for the enjoyment of all the children. It has been accepted with enthusiasm by them.

Medical Section –

With the assignment of another airman the Medical Section will now be capable of accompanying the L-20 on all emergency evacuation trips. During the period 1 June to 30 September there were a total of six emergency evacuations flown from Puntzi to Williams Lake Hospital by Captain Barnes, Lt. Landolf and Lt. Gagaliano in the station L-20. One evacuation involved landing on a sod field to pick up a badly injured civilian for emergency transportation to Williams Lake.

The base dispensary has been repainted and a new entrance constructed to ease the military and dependant traffic through the interior hallways.

During this period there have been many physical changes to Puntzi Mountain Air Station. Several contracts have been let and construction has begun on the recreation building.

The base radio station has received a new transmitter and expects to be back on the air in October. The station will be managed by Lt. Sylvain the Communications Officer. While awaiting the arrival of a new transmitter Lt Sylvain inventoried and catalogued all the records in the station.

The base library was inventoried and a new system developed for the purpose of checking out books.

The squadron morale remains high as the squadron prepares all equipment and buildings to face another winter. The temperature reached a low of 9 degrees above zero already in the month of September.

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