Puntzi Mountain, BC

917th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
Williams Lake, BC, Canada

Robert A Wigen, Major, USAF

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

History of the 917^th AC&W Squadron
1 October 1962 to 31 December 1962

Many changes have taken place during the period of this report, primarily the result of transferring functions to the RCAF. Transfer of command will take place on 1 February 1963. F/L Miller, RCAF Personnel and Administrative Officer and Acting Commander, 55^th AC&W Squadron (RCAF), arrived 12 November 1962. F/O Burnett, RCAF Supply Officer arrived 1 November and F/O Dobie, RCAF C&E Officer and Phase-over Project Officer, reported on 5 November 1962. All RCAF officers except the Commander, S/L Advent and the medical officer are on station. It has been a smooth transition of operations up to this point and all indications are that it will continue.

Due to limited billeting we are sending our personnel to their new assignments as soon as their RCAF counterpart arrives. In some instances the RCAF airmen would arrive and we found it necessary to ship out our personnel in order to have adequate bed space.

Our BOQ/VOQ facilities have been overtaxed to the extent we have used rooms of officers who were on TDY or leave. This was caused by the large number of contractor personnel on station and the same conditions will probably continue after the RCAF has assumed command.

Major Wigen was given his physical examination for retirement on 20 December 1962 at McChord AFB.

The 1 December 1962 promotion cycle gave us two new Master Sergeants. Our Personnel NCOIC T/Sgt. John L Pickens and Motor Transportation NCOIC T/Sgt. Shields Jolly, Jr., were promoted to S/Sgt. Our Base Supply Sergeant S/Sgt. Ralph K Lane, who had departed the station because of an emergency at home, made T/Sgt.

Unusual weather and maintenance kept the L-20 from making its usual runs to town for three weeks in December. This made mail pick-up and town business slow. We kept vehicle trips to Williams Lake to a minimum in an effort to avoid excessive maintenance.

Phase over actions have proceeded according to plan with smooth transition. Morale at the unit continues high under the extra pressure of the change-over activities.

The FPS-7C became operational in mid-November replacing the FPS-3C as primary radar. The FPS-3 became back-up and the FPS-502 is being removed. The new radar greatly improves our coverage and provides a major assist in our Air Defense Mission.

On 22 October, the start of the Cuban Crisis, the station along with the entire defense team prepared itself for any eventuality. All leaves and passes, except emergencies were cancelled and maximum manning was in effect around-the-clock. Equipment was primed and peaked. The normal training program was suspended until "Normal Readiness Conditions" was called on 28 November 1962.

Our last controller was upgraded to Combat Ready. All other controllers have been re-certified.

During the month of October 1962 the installations of the FPS-7C search radar, the AN/FST-2 coordinate data transmitter and the new power facility were at their peak. The AFTO 88’s were signed on all three installations during the second and third weeks on November. The FPS-26 height finder installation has made little progress.

December saw the initial influx of RCAF C&E personnel. By early December the ground/air transmitter/receiver facility was completely taken over by the RCAF. During the period USAF personnel had been rotating. The exodus of USAF C&E personnel and the input of RCAF personnel has continued during the entire month of December.

The anti-jam modification of the FPS-7C was completed by mid-December. The FPS-26 is expected to be completed early in 1963.

The phase-over actions have gone smoothly during the past quarter and all dates have been met. Training of RCAF radar personnel is progressing as planed and they will assume maintenance responsibility of all radar facilities on schedule.

Personnel losses from the Supply Section were heavy during this period. Because of early release program of first term airmen, we had to ask for assistance in the technical supply section. One man was with us TDY from Paine Field, 1 November to 15 December 1962, to assist.

As of 31 December 1962, 90% of all supplies and materials were turned over to the RCAF.

During the report period, acceptance tests were conducted for the new diesel generating units and switchboards. These were accepted with minor discrepancies. Waste heat boilers will require major modification. The power plant building, FPS-7 and FPS-26 towers were accepted with minor discrepancies.

Extremely mild weather persisted throughout the report period and no major freezing problems existed.

Transfer of Civil Engineering functions from USAF to RCAF is progressing as programmed and no problems are expected.

Civilian employees of USAF have been notified their positions will be dropped as of 1 February 1963. They will be employed by the RCAF where possible.

Effective 1 January 1963, minimum limits for automobile liability and property damage insurance was increased to $35,000.00 inclusive in British Columbia. All vehicle registrations were screen, car owners notified and asked to inform their insurance company. This has been done.

The senior medical technician was evacuated to Madigan General hospital and then proceeded on PVS to his new assignment. All medical and dental equipment and supplies have been turned over to the RCAF, with the exception of narcotics. This will be done upon arrival of an RCAF medical officer.

All recreational equipment was shipped early in the quarter therefore little activity except bowling is now taking place. Many of the personnel enjoyed the moose and deer season and most of them got their game.

We have continued to enjoy mild weather and are hoping it continues.

Prepared By: Raymond G Berch, Jr., Captain, Historical Officer