When I reached another sign which proudly proclaimed this to be the base of the 915th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, it dawned on me that I had stumbled onto one of the unpublicized radar installations which guard our northern boundary.
The first sentry post was upon me. So I explained to a smartly attired air policeman that I was a newspaperman and would like to speak to the commanding officer. The base commander, Major Francis W. Greenough, was away but Captain Hugh Brooks, temporarily in charge, invited me to headquarters for a cup of coffee. My attention was drawn to American and Canadian flags fluttering side by side.
When I suggested that I write a story about the operations, Captain Brooks reminded me that permission would have to come from the United States Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force, but that he would try to obtain the necessary clearance. A few days later the clearance had arrived and I called on Major Greenough, who had returned to the base, and found him to be a very busy young man.
As we chatted, Major Greenough explained something of the organization of the vast network of which his unit is a part. In the first place, one of the major commands of the United States Air Force is the Air Defense Command (ADC). The ADC, with headquarters in Colorado Springs, is divided into three operational areas - the East, Central and Western Air Defense Forces. These forces , in turn, are manned by air divisions, which are comprised of air wings. These wings are broken down into groups, which control the aircraft control and warning squadrons, of which the 915th is just one.
Bases such as that manned by the 915th AC&W Squadron cost upwards of $4,000,000. Canada and the United States share in the financing. Some stations are manned entirely by Americans, others entirely by Canadians, depending on whether the station in question watches over the approaches to an area most vital to Canada, or to the United States. All air defense activities on Canadian soil, however, come under the operational control of the Canadian Air Defence commander. Finally, I was invited to look around.
The barracks seemed especially inviting. Our tour reached the kitchen resplendent with its stainless steel equipment, where my concentration on the facilities were disrupted by the disconcerting aroma of freshly baked apple pies being cut for lunch.
The comfortable living conditions have been provided to help the men of the 915th better to carry on their mission. That mission, stated simply, is to warn both Canada and the United States of approaching hostile aircraft by means of unrelenting air surveillance. Science has provided the weapon in the electronic marvel of radar.
"Antenna farms", comprising powerful radio receivers and transmitters, are the ears and voice of the radar. Housed in compact concrete buildings, they are perched on separate granite hills a short distance from the radar mechanism and controls. They provide the means for instant communication with other centers or the top command. Ground-to-ground, ground-to-air, air-to-ground communication is on a 24 hour basis.
The long-range search radar equipment was placed atop the highest point in the area. Looking in any direction, we saw an almost limitless expanse of pine trees, broken now and then by vivid blue lakes. The radar control tower dominated the site. A half-sphere rubber dome capped the circular structure, which from a distance resembled a silo. I was told that the rubber dome housed "prime gear", whereby the rotating antenna of the radar could be sheltered from the 50 - to 60 - degree below zero weather. Constant air pressure keeps the dome inflated, and heat from infra-red bulbs prevents the accumulation of snow or the formation of ice on its surface.
We then proceeded to the control room known as DMCC. The weird surroundings were dominated by the "plotting board", a large piece of transparent plexiglass about the size of a conventional movie screen. Seated directly in front of the plotting board were two airmen who relayed information obtained from radarscopes, the viewing devices of the radar antenna, or other sources to an airman-recorder perched on a step ladder behind the board. With headset clamped in place, he moved about writing his coded designations backwards so they could be read from the front.
On the board the flight patterns of aircraft in the area were traced with different colored lines to distinguish them as "known", unidentified", or "hostile". Plotted also was the location of jet interceptors which could be dispatched almost instantly to intercept an unknown, or do battle, if necessary. Thus, the ever changing picture of aircraft activity in the zone was graphically available at a glance.
The radarscope positions were placed on different levels rising in amphitheater fashion so that an unobstructed view of the plotting board was available to all. Occupying the top spot was the dais surveillance position, from which the entire operation was directed. Here sat the controller, crew chief and crew technician, who kept a complete log of all activities and communications.
On the radarscope, a blip was spotted which indicated a plane was traveling eastward at seven angels (thousand feet) at bomber speed. No flight plan had been filed for this aircraft. (A flight plan is an advance flight schedule required for all military aircraft before taking off, and all other craft in certain areas). Since it had not been possible to learn the identity of the "bogie" (unidentified aircraft) by radio contact or other intelligence, the controller was faced with the decision to "scramble" interceptor planes to make contact with the mysterious craft. The decision was made to scramble two interceptors.
Now all business transactions between the controller an interceptor pilot were carried on in a colorful jargon but all meaningless to the uninitiated. Unversed in this dialect, I could only surmise the ensuing events as the blips from the interceptors first showed on the dial of the radar scope. The exchange might have gone on in this vein.
"Black Magic control to Santa Claus. Scramble red rooster, two aircraft, heading zero nine zero, altitude twenty. Call Black Magic Control on ford. Over." "Santa Claus to Black Magic Control, Roger and out". Probably within three minutes the jets were aloft on the directional heading given by the controller.
"Red Rooster to Black Magic Control. Airborne with one chick. Going to twenty on zero nine zero. Over." "Directions follow, Red Rooster, port zero three zero towards bogie". "Roger, Black Magic Control. Port zero three zero. Over."
Red Rooster and his chick were now speeding northeastwards at a speed of 500-plus miles an hour, while the bogie was winging southeasterly at 250. Computing azimuths or headings on the scope dial with a crayon, the controller established a theoretical spot high above the earth where the courses should have converged. It was amazing to watch the blips traveling unerringly to the predetermined point of interception.
From Red Rooster came a clipped "Tally Ho. Have sighted bogie aircraft. Await orders. Over". "Roger Red Rooster. Proceed to make identification pass, Over."
Tension was visibly relieved when the bogie was identified as a light Canadian bomber and its number was recorded in the log. Perhaps it had only been a practice run. On the other hand, someone may have goofed by not filing a flight plan for travel over the area. Such negligence can result in distinct reverberations around the offending flier.
As a by product of the defense operation, the radar units give valuable assistance to civilian aviation in an area which is so dependent on air transportation. Night or day, exact positions can be given to lost aircraft. Locations of forced landings can be given to search parties on many instances, which may avert loss of life or searches costing thousands of dollars.
The 915th AC&W Squadron is in a sensitive location. From this point the presence of hostile planes speeding towards this section of the country might first be detected. And a visitor gains great respect for the efficiency of the young men and for the highly technical training which the United States Air Force has given them. The Canadian and American flags stand out straight in the stiff breeze to attest the complete co-operation of the two governments for a common purpose. As I left, I passed the sentry post with a good feeling that the situation was well in hand.
