Ramore, Ontario

912^th Squadron
Ramore, Ontario, Canada

John A Helton, Major, USAF

AN/FPS-3C (1); AN/TPS-502 (1); AN/FPS-502 (1); AN/GPX-7 (1); AN/GPS-T2 (1); AN/GPX-502 (1); AN/UPS-T5 (1); AN/GPA-30 (1); AN/GRC-27 Remote (3); AN/GRT-3 (2); AN/FRT-502 (2); AN/FRT-503 (5); AN/URG-60 (9); CR-91 (4): AN/FRT-501 (4); Teletype M-19 (4).

Administration and Personnel:

The key personnel for this period remained unchanged. Through an administrative error, one person was omitted from the 30 Sep 58 report: Robert A Miller, Captain, A0781015, Operations Officer.

There has still been no action on our previously requested changes to the Unit Manning Document. Replacements for sections such as Operations, Radar Maintenance, Teletype Maintenance, and Supply have been difficult to obtain.

During this period there were twelve (12) military offences (courts-martial and administrative actions), which is deemed excessive for a unit of this size. Most actions involved failure to repair, disorderly conduct, and over-indulgence in alcoholic beverages. The majority of the offences involved a small group of airmen, the nucleus of which are marginal and immature. It is apparent that units in the Zone of the Interior have not been screening thoroughly the airmen nominated for overseas duty, in accordance with ADCM 35-14.

Operations:

The Communications Section completed fabrication of Air/Ground Control Boxes (reference last report), and we now have five scope control capability, one of which is used at the Raid Marshal’s position. When 3 Sector, RCAF, was notified of this, they scheduled us for increasing loads during missions, and for training compounding our director manning problem. In addition, we are called upon to participate in practically all 30^th Air Division (SAGE) missions, making us the only USAF Pinetree radar site, in the area, to participate regularly in two (2) Sector/Division Mission and Training programs.

The Commander attended an RCAF Rocket Meet, held at Cold Lake, Alberta, and some twenty-six (26) officers and airmen completed cross-training with other units.

Communications and Electronics:

During this period, initial action was started upon our request for additional communications to meet our expanded mission. Our requirements were submitted through channels and the following headquarters reviewed or passed comment upon our request: 3 Sector, RCAF; 4602^nd Support Wing (USAF); ADC Headquarters, St. Hubert, Quebec (RCAF); and Headquarters ADC, Ent Air Force Base, Colorado (USAF). As a result, a conference was held at this station on 21 and 22 May 1959, with members of RCAF Headquarters, Ottawa, RCAF ADC Headquarters, St. Hubert, Quebec, and the Northern Bell Telephone Company of Canada, attending. The purpose of this conference was to develop preliminary plans for internal and external communications facilities. It was explained that the facilities to be installed at this station are to be prototype for the entire Pinetree Line.

Four new slaves were added to the intercommunications system in the Operations Room, giving each Director’s scope a hot line to the Raid Marshal.

One teletype machine was installed, giving this station access to the Department of Transport (Canadian equivalent of the US CAA) Weather Circuit.

On 4 April 1959, an electrical short in the main conduit from the power house to the prime radar, caused the collapse of the AN/FPS-3 radome. As the radome collapsed, it became torn and burned by the IFF antenna and the heat banks respectively. As the ground was still frozen, the conduit could not be dug up to be repaired, and a temporary power line was rigged up. It was necessary to call in the CAR Radome Repair Team, who fixed the tears temporarily on 5 April. The emergency patches did not hold, and the CAE team had to be recalled. They finally completed the job on 30 June.

Installation of the Selective Identification Function (SIF) equipment took place between 4 and 12 June 1959. The equipment is operational, although RCAF aircraft will not be SIF equipped until approximately 30 June 1960.

Supply:

Due to restrictions placed on the obligation of funds covering the fuel oil category of the station P-458 budget, this station is programmed to receive far less funds than is necessary to meet our fuel oil requirements for FY 1960. The 4602^nd Support Wing, Ottawa, have been forwarded all particulars concerning this deficiency, and we are awaiting action.

Installations:

Due to several vehicle accidents which occurred near a bridge on the access road to this station, a contract was awarded to install 1,500 feet of highway guard rails on both approaches to the bridge. This bridge is located off base, and after repeated efforts to get the Ontario Highway Department to install the rails, which were to no avail, a contract was let by our logistic support headquarters.

Miscellaneous:

A weekly publication, in addition to our monthly newspaper, has been initiated to provide current information to on-base and transient personnel, as to the operating hours of various base facilities, phone numbers, and a movie and TV schedule.

A beach area has been cleared on Talbock Lake which lies adjacent to the base. Beach furniture was purchased by Unit Fund, and boat docks and other personnel facilities were constructed.

John A Helton, Major, USAF