Saglek, Labrador

History of the
924^th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
1 October 1954 - 31 December 1954

Prepared By:
Robert C Smith, 2^nd Lt., USAF, Historical Officer, and
Stanley A Koven, A/1C, USAF, Historian

The annual turnover in Operations personnel, a move which involved the loss of 21 men and their replacement by 17 others, took place in mid-October without interruption of the mission. A factor which contributed to smoothness of transition was the retention of seven airmen who helped considerably in the process of instructing newly arrived crews.

These seven rotated during November, at which time two more replacements were received. Further personnel shifts occurred in December with the gain of one airman and the loss of two.

The AN/FPS-3C, which had been ROCP after high winds collapsed the antenna on September 13, became operational again on November 20, enabling the squadron to resume its primary function and accomplish its primary mission. On November 27, the AN/TPS-502 became ROCP.

Facilities for training operations personnel improved with the inception of a Target Simulator program October 25. A War Room was recently added to the Operations room and will be used as an Intelligence office and chart room.

Among the visitors to the section during this reporting period were Lt. Gen. Glenn O Barcus, Commanding General, NEAC, and Colonel Charles B Downer, 64^th Air Division Commander, and his staff.

During October and for the first 19 days of November, the Primary Search Radar was ROCP status. On Nov. 20 when this equipment became operational, the Primary Height Finder was taken off Search utilization. The Height Finder equipment subsequently went of ROCP status for failure of Motor Generator P4-5005 AN/TPS-502; and the Primary Search Radar was placed on reduced capability status on Dec. 29 due to ROCP (upper beam for Cavity-Tuned T/R Cavity). At period’s end, the latter was operating normally on lower beam.

Seventy per cent of the parts received to convert Search to an operational status was received during October via airlift and water transport (USNS Enid Victory). A Ground Radar Beacon and a Jamming Simulator were received December 15. Still missing are the following parts: a truss activator, two brace activators and two Shortage Cases.

During October, Marconi Ltd. Electricians arrived and began work on power feeder lines and two banks of heat lamps to be placed in the Radome. This work was completed during November. Also during October, a spare IR unit for the Mark X IFF arrived and was properly aligned and made ready for use preliminary to placing the Search equipment on operational status.

The Radome on the Primary Equipment tower was lowered during October and the lightning rod installed. The Radome was then given a maximum pressure check with no evidence of seam or fabric failure. This pressurization equipment has operated satisfactorily during this period.

Personnel-wise, the section lost one 3044 and two 30352’s, and no replacements were on hand for these personnel by period’s end. Currently assigned are: one 30372; and three 30332’s. Supervising is one 3041.

Recent re-evaluations of procedure and organization have necessitated several corrective steps:

1 - By rearrangement of storage units, IAW Sect. 6, Vol. 1, AFM 67-1, the storage space in the Supply warehouse will be increased by approximately 2,000 square feet. Such arrangement is currently underway.

2 - Procedures and policies outlined in Vol. IV and Vol. 1, AFM 67-1, pertinent to operation of this Supply are replacing unorthodox administrative methods previously in effect.

The major problems, for which no local solution will apply, involved the inadvertent assignment of unqualified supply airmen as evidenced by the personnel actually assigned as opposed to Par. 4c(1), AFR 67-10, 14 May 1954.

In spite of this problem area, the petroleum branch of the Supply section, during the last 45-day period, serviced approximately 47 aircraft, accounting for approximately 5,000 gallons of av gas.

During the same period, approximately 1,000,000 pounds of cargo have been handled by personnel of this section as additional duty and without the aid of materials-handling equipment.

Approximately 70 per cent of UME equipment authorized this unit is on hand and serviceable.

This section has continued to operate smoothly despite an under-strength status which has remained constant during the reporting period. Progress within the section can best be described in the following breakdown:

Teletype: - Inoperative during October, teletype went on the air in November, but operation was unreliable. Difficulties can be traced to equipment at Goose Bay and the frequency upon which the section is trying to operate. To alleviate the situation, the 641^st AC&W Squadron attempted to get new frequencies authorized for radio teletype. In December, a pony circuit was instituted between the teletype and the transmitter site.

Wire Section: - Personnel installed a new public address system early in October permitting the record console to begin operation. During November, the public address system was separate from the fire alarm network, and wire personnel also assumed duties at the local switchboard. This switchboard was modified during December to accommodate longer cords.

Radio Section: - Since October, decreased outage time has improved radio communications. More favorable weather and new operators in the net contributed to this improvement. Radio maintenance personnel rendered excellent service in keeping the equipment in operation and complying with the many requests from Goose Bay to change the equipment. A Communications change from CW to teletype involves a change of transmitters and receivers.

During December, the maintenance section moved into Tower Three where the MARS station was set up along with the new test equipment. The CW site, previously located in the Message Center, was moved at that time to the Transmitter site.

In General: - Cross training has become a necessity with only 14 men handling the multiple functions of the Communications section. During November and December, seven personnel were lost to the section through rotation and another has been reassigned within the Command. As Assistant Communications officer, 2d Lt. William Drugan, was assigned to this section during November.

By period’s end, all personnel were working seven days a week with some overtime assigned to each almost every day. In addition to the above functions, a new schedule was initiated during December providing for a 24-hour shift for purposes of maintenance, cleanup, and fire guard in both RX and TX.

The many operations of this section can best be described in the following breakdown:

Electrical Shop: - When the 30 KW generator supplying power to the RX site broke down in October, authorization was asked and received to transfer temporarily the 40 KW generator from the lower camp pump-house, and service was restored in this manner. During December of this reporting period, further maintenance was performed on the outlying TX site when a falling pole caused a power break. Routine tasks performed by this shop included constant maintenance of the fire alarm system, dryers, washers, and other electrical equipment necessary for the normal functioning of the squadron. Working in close coordination with this section were personnel of the Rehabilitation contractor who, during October, completed installation of power line poles and continued to make progress in stringing up cables to both RX and TX sites during October and November, finishing the job in December.

Carpenter Shop: - Personnel maintained a busy schedule, accomplishing routine work orders and requests for special projects. Notable during this period was the rehabilitation of living quarters at the lower camp site and construction of an addition to the water pump house building, which was begun in November and completed in December. Routine tasks included frames for bulletin boards, partitioning, and shelving.

Heating and Power Plants: - Constant maintenance and inspection of facilities was necessary. Except for an igniter breakdown in the Heating plant during December, a failure which was quickly remedied by the Electrical shop, operation of both plants was generally smooth. The water level was maintained satisfactorily after the failure of the water line system by utilizing two 1,000 gallon water trucks.

Plumbing Shop: - Installation of a sterilizer in the Dispensary plus routine maintenance on oil and steam lines and fire station valves occupied this section during the reporting period.

In General: -

1 - A fire at the lower camp site which began at 0500 hours December 4 resulted in the loss of a Butler-type building, personal effects of two men on duty, plus several pieces of equipment - a portable generator, two graders and several other vehicles, the loss of which will be discussed in the Motor Vehicle section. Inadequate fire fighting equipment, such as extinguishers retarded by cold weather conditions, failed to check the blaze at its source. This major loss stimulated the establishment of an intensive fire-prevention program which includes training of all personnel in fire-fighting techniques; and the constant surveillance of fire hazards and the condition of equipment by designated personnel in designated areas. The program is under the supervision of Captain John Fabry, Fire Marshal.

2 - By period’s end, the Ricwel water-line system had been completed from the pump-house to within a few sections of the storage-tank. Drake-Merritt crews were accomplishing final details as the year ended, and only thermostat controls and concrete supports remained to be installed.

The fire which destroyed the Butler-type building December 4 took with it three motor pool vehicles, two of which - a 5,000 pound Fork Lift and a quarter-ton trailer - were subsequently replaced. The third, a 5-ton dump truck, had not been received at period’s end.

During this quarter, supervision of motor vehicle functions was turned over to Lt. Stephen Seymore and later to Captain John Fabry; S/Sgt. Adam Doherty replaced T/Sgt. Lowery as NCOIC. Other personnel statistics include: two airmen rotated to the ZI during October and three reporting in; a civilian heavy equipment operator and another airman arrived in November; and another civilian heavy equipment operator in December.

Operating with seven personnel, including the Food Service supervisor, this section served an estimated 18,000 meals during the period, and processed approximately six and one half tons of supplies for consumption at the site.

Two personnel were lost to the section during the period: one, the former Food Service supervisor, through normal rotation processes, and the other a cook, through transfer for medical purposes.

Conversion from metal to Bakelite trays resulted in more sanitary dining conditions. Steps were also taken to rearrange the Food Service warehouse and cold storage units, and a possible rearrangement of stoves, iceboxes, and other equipment in the kitchen is contemplated.

Health and welfare of site personnel during this period were good. This section recorded 241 treated patients, most of them suffering from common colds, cuts, and other minor ailments. Two personnel were sent to the Goose Bay hospital, one with nasal hemorrhage, another for consultation. In the first instance, the individual returned to the site after five days; in the second, transfer to the 64^th Air Division Headquarters for further treatment was deemed necessary.

Dental service was rendered to personnel from November 10 to December 17 by Lt. Sheldon Simons and his dental technician, A/2C James Chastain.

All medical equipment and supplies were picked up from the 826^th Engineering Aviation Battalion medical detachment and transferred to the plant account number assigned to the Medical Supply officer at this site. A pressure sterilizer was also added to Dispensary facilities on November 12.

Major Henry F Bockstege arrived from 64^th Air Division (Defense) October 4 to assume command of the squadron. The great bulk of incoming personnel, three of whom served as replacements for this section, were processed and oriented during November after arrival on the Marine Carp October 22.

Much of the effort expended during the final month of this reporting period was directed toward the accomplishment of data pertinent to the destruction by fire of the Butler-type building December 4. This included the processing of reports and correspondence, and the details involved in setting up a comprehensive fire-prevention program.

With the close of the calendar year, orderly room personnel were also occupied with the annual personnel records review and the termination of calendar year files.