Puntzi Mountain, BC

917th AC&W Squadron,
Puntzi Mountain, BC

Lawrence R Finn, Major

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

Historical Record
917^th AC&W Squadron
1 April through 30 June 1958

Operational Improvements and Changes –

Modifications -

Modification of the operations room was completed during this reporting period. The modified operations room should be of significant aid in accomplishing the assigned mission.

During the period of modification the operations section continued normal operations from two planned position indicators and a shadow box plotting board in the operations office. The Operational Readiness Inspection of the 25^th Air Division was conducted during this period with excellent results.

The Squadron has been programmed for a new vertical plotting board during the first quarter of fiscal year 1959.

Assistance to Distressed Aircraft –

On 19 May 1958 a lost civilian aircraft was successfully directed to a landing at this station. For further details see ADC Form 301 with attachments.

ADC Form 301
Attachment

Training:

Formal Training Program – A Formal Training Program consisting of two weeks of classroom instruction was started during the month of May. The curriculum offers instruction in surveillance procedures, control, the theory of radar, communications, mission and organization, and security.

Systems Training Program – During this reporting period 5 Air Division was integrated into the 25^th Air Division STP in a surveillance capacity. For further details see 5 Air Division Letter S965-119 (SOAC/AC2) dated 28 May 1958, with attachments.

5 Air Division Letter, 28 May 58
Attachment

Personnel:

Airmen – During this reporting period the operations section gained five (5) airmen bringing the total airmen strength to 38. The authorized strength under the Unit Manning Document is 64, however, the shortage in billeting facilities prevent assignment of additional personnel.

Officers – The number of controllers assigned has been brought to seven (7), the number authorized by the Unit Manning Document. The operations section is now manning each shift with a director.

Maintenance -

During the month of April this station logged 49 hours and 28 minutes of preventative maintenance time on the FPS-3 and seven hours forty five minutes on the TPS-502. A diesel power failure resulted in twenty-eight minutes of red time on 13 April. A shorted IF cable between the lower beam preamplifier and slip rings caused 25 minutes of unscheduled maintenance on the FPS-3 on 24 April. On 30 April 15 minutes of unscheduled maintenance was performed on the FPS-3 due to a short slip ring.

During the month of May Station Performance was reduced by the loss of high voltage on the FPS-3. The cause of the difficulty was undetermined as the high voltage returned and has operated normally. Scheduled preventative maintenance during May was 52 hours and 31 minutes on the FPS-3. Unscheduled maintenance time was 12 minutes.

The total preventative maintenance time for the month of June was 41 hours and 8 minutes. A power failure on 2 June caused 37 minutes of red time on all radar equipment. Station performance was reduced by unscheduled maintenance on the FPS-3 on 8 June for 40 minutes, on 9 June for 31 minutes and on 18 June for 50 minutes.

Equipment -

In April the operations room was established in the operations office while the normal operations room was undergoing modification. The AN/TPS-502 indicator was operational in the tower during this period.

All equipment was reinstalled in the modified operations room during the month of May and with the exception of training equipment is now completely operational. Training equipment installation is awaiting completion of the training room. This section has undertaken the job of Central Control Office on technical publications. Basic Tech Orders are being requisitioned and Publications Requirement Tables are being resubmitted for this Squadron.

Overhauls -

During the month of April the CAE team overhauled and calibrated all training equipment.

The CAE team calibrated all test equipment of the Radar Maintenance Section during the month of May.

Operational Changes and Improvements -

During this reporting period the internal wire system within the operations room was renovated. Minimum requirements were completed on 12 May 1958 with approximately 85% of the project complete at the end of the reporting period.

Considerable thought is being given to the possible programming of GTA-6 type telephone equipment. This equipment will provide more flexible and efficient operations within the Direction Center. A special study is being conducted by operations and communications personnel to justify the requisition of this equipment.

The 5^th Air Division has advised they will provide the station with 4 additional channels of VHF on a loan basis. This equipment will provide a substantial increase in the control capability of this station. The equipment is scheduled to arrive on 1 July for a lash up installation by personnel of this station.

Plans are being accomplished to segregate official telephones from unofficial telephones, i.e., Class A, Class B, and Class C. All telephones which are determined as not for official business will be designated as Class B and a monthly charge will be instituted for Class B telephone service. The estimated completion date of this project is 1 August 1958.

The outside and inside telephone plant and radio antenna IRAN overhaul was completed and accepted on 29 April 1958. All equipment was found to be in a satisfactory condition.

On 1 June 1958 Plan 55 was incorporated into the major teletype relay serving 25^th Air Division and this station. Some new procedures and routing indicators were incorporated with the change.

Personnel – The communications section has gained two NCO’s during this reporting period. The section has been undermanned during this reporting period both in numbers and skill levels. Teletype, Crypto, and telephone maintenance have been very short in personnel.

During the month of June the annual inspection of this station was accomplished by a team from Western Air Defense Force. The authority for the inspection was AFR 123-1 and WADF Special Order B-209 dated 25 April 1958. The general evaluation of the squadron revealed no discrepancies that would prevent this station from accomplishing its assigned mission. Morale was considered to be excellent.

On Armed Forces Day 17 May 1958 the Squadron held an open house for civilians. The armed forces day program included tours of the station, displays outlining the mission of the squadron and a fly over by CF-100 and L-20 aircraft. The station was visited by over 100 civilians which represented a considerable increase over the previous year. Due to the isolated location of this station it is believed that the civilian turnout represented an attitude of interest in the squadron operations by the residents of this area.

The squadron rendered assistance in evacuating a nun burned by a fire that destroyed part of the Catholic Indian Mission at Alexis Creek.

Lawrence R Finn, Major