Red Cliff, NF

The mission of this Squadron during this period remained basically the same as during the previous period, i.e. GCI, Air Surveillance, Navigational Aid, and aid to Air Sea Rescue.

Air Surveillance – Traffic under surveillance increased approximately 30 percent over the previous quarter, reaching the peak normally gained during the summer months. Quality control records were continued as a check on radar performance and scope operator efficiency.

Interceptor Action - With the transition to F-89D fighter interceptors at Ernest Harmon AFB completed, there was a small increase in the availability of fighter aircraft for Active Air Defense missions. However, scramble action was still limited to tracks classified as "suspicion of hostile". The only identification intercepts completed by this unit were performed with fighters vectored from training CAP. The primary use of interceptors was in practice intercepts involving two or more F-89D aircraft.

Training - A plan for more complete and exacting utilization of interceptors was attempted in the establishment of an air-to-air rocketry course on the gunnery range at the Argentia Naval Air Station, Newfoundland. The course was intended to provide intercept directors from all of the GCI stations under ADDC at the 640^th AC&W Squadron with realistic experience in conducting 90 degree lead collision intercepts. Continuous poor weather conditions forced abandonment of the project.

Extensive practice in intercepts involving two or more fighter aircraft was afforded three directors who completed two week periods of cross training at the parent ADDC. In addition, the assistant operations officer was TDY to Yuma AFB, Arizona, for approximately one month during the reporting period.

Personnel – Three intercept directors, PAFSC 1644, were lost to the organization through transfer and one through rotation to the ZI during the reporting period. No intercept directors were gained during the period. These changes, combined with the TDY to the ZI, caused three changes in the assistant operations officer during the quarter.

One AC&W Supervisor was transferred from the organization and four rotated to the ZI. During the same period, two AC&W Supervisors were gained and three AC&W operators were assigned.

Radio Operations – Problems caused by rotations during the first part of the period were overcome by cross-training of other communications personnel in radio operations. At present sufficient operators are assigned for the maintenance of 24-hour operation.

Communications Maintenance – Back-up air/ground radio equipment, UHF and VHF, has been installed in the radio monitor room. This equipment can be remotely controlled from the primary director’s scope. Air/ground radio antennae, anemometers, and obstruction lights will be placed on a 90 foot pole next to the main radome. This equipment will provide adequate back-up air/ground radio communications in the event primary transmitters or receivers become inoperative.

FM carrier radio-link equipment has been moved to the old Communications quonset hut. This equipment connects this site with the 64^th Air Division (Defense) through one voice and one teletype circuit. Antennae has been mounted on poles next to the quonset hut, and a 26 pair cable was installed between the Operations building and the quonset hut to provide control lines for the carrier equipment. This equipment provides adequate back-up communications to the 64^th Air Division in the event of damage to the tail cable.

A new air/ground radio channel, VHF Channel C, was called into operation in early July. This channel, monitored on a 24 hour basis, greatly increases the unit’s VHF capability.

The weather teletype machine has been moved from the Operations room into the message center, due to its causing excessive noise in the Operations room.

Two facsimile machines were transferred to the 64^th Air Division (Defense). These machines were considered excess due to lack of qualified personnel to interpret the maps received.

Line amplifiers have been arranged in the radio monitor room. A new channel annunciator system has been devised. Parts for construction of the system have been ordered, but as yet none have been received.

The communications maintenance shop has been moved to the base of Tower 2. Included in the shop are a large work bench, TO files, tube racks, and spare components. A test teletype circuit has been established from the message center.

An emergency signaling system has been established between the main tower radar equipment and the telephone switchboard. This system provides a quick means of alerting the switchboard operator in the event of accident.

Message Center Operation – Teletype equipment has been rearranged to facilitate operation. Several machines have been transferred to the 64^th Air Division (Defense)/

The on-line crypto circuit was temporarily out of operation due to the transfer of transmitter-distributor equipment to Headquarters, NEAC. However, a transmitter-distributor was borrowed from 64^th Air Division for use on this circuit.

An AFRS teletype news circuit has been established, so that regularly received copies of news broadcasts can be distributed to the Squadron.

Amateur Radio Operations – A new beam antenna from the radio console, has been fabricated. This antenna will enable omni-directional transmissions to be possible.

Personnel – At the start of this reporting period, the assigned strength of the section was approximately 41 percent of the personnel authorization. However, during the quarter, fifteen new airmen arrived. Despite the rotation of five men, this leaves the number of personnel assigned at seventeen, the number authorized in the Unit Manning Document. It should be noted that all of the new men were directly assigned from the Radar Repairman Technical School at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, and have no field experience. The remaining two personnel, PAFSC 30352, are performing the duties of NCOIC and Maintenance Chief. Although the number assigned meets authorization, the lack of experience and skill level has proved to be somewhat of a liability.

Extensive on-the-job training for the new personnel is currently being conducted by the Philco Technical Representative, Marconi Resident Engineer, NCOIC, and Maintenance Chief. Each crew is reduced to two men, and the remaining personnel are receiving the practical and theoretical OJT, while remaining available for preventative maintenance periods and emergencies.

Two changes in the Philco Technical Representative have taken place during the quarter. After one completed his tour, his replacement chose to affect a trade with a representative at a northern site.

The Emerson Technical Representative for the UPM-37 visited the site for a short time in September, and will return for a longer period after touring the northern sites.

Maintenance AN/CPS-6B – Repair of the AN/CPS-6B azimuth drive unit was completed to the extent that the equipment was operational on 3 July 1955. Some additional work was accomplished on the antenna control unit to minimize speed vibrations of the antenna. Rotation of the antenna was very good following replacement of the handwheel magnetic clutch and several bearings in the speed servo gear train, and balancing of the twelve speed angle-mark commutator. After the azimuth drive was reassembled, there was evidence of a small amount of oil leakage around the oil pans. Numerous attempts were made to remedy the situation, but the leakage continued. A new set of pans was placed on requisition and will be installed upon receipt.

MTI operation appears fairly satisfactory at present, but no MTI operation has been attempted due to failure of the EW unit. Some difficulty has also been experienced with the 6B stalos. Much of this has been traced to the inexperience of maintenance personnel in maintaining these units. Canadian Marconi Company has begun overhaul of the stalos, but it is necessary to operate with some of the stalo motors turned off.

The EW system has not operated satisfactorily for several months. The waveguide section needed has been received and installed, as have the slip-ring brushes of the EW 400 cycle generator. After replacement of the brushes, the armature was found to be badly scoured and pitted. After the armature was repaired by Canadian Marconi, the generator operated normally/ However, due to the faulty generator, effective trouble-shooting of the EW transmitter-receiver was not possible. It is suspected that the magnetron currently in use is faulty, but since there is no replacement available, this cannot be definitely established. Further trouble-shooting is being conducted in an attempt to establish this theory.

Plans are being made to permanently hook up to the standby power unit to the pressurizing equipment in all three radomes. The possibility of effective use of this system is limited to the fact that the pressurizing equipment has two power distribution systems for each system.

The radomes painting and repair, begun in June, was successfully completed by Canadian Marconi’s radome painting team.

New roofs are being installed on the two back-up towers outside the radomes. Included in the project will be board cat-walks above the roofs to minimize damage caused by walking on the roofs.

AN/FPS-502 – Installation of the AN/FPS-502, begun in June, has been completed. The equipment was flight checked satisfactorily, and interim acceptance was accomplished on 11 July 1955. Since then the equipment has been employed as normal back-up.

AN/TPS-502 – Performance of this equipment has been fairly satisfactory. During September, some difficulty was experienced with the transmitting system. The trouble was found in the modulator, and after a delay in receiving the necessary part, normal operation was resumed.

AN/UPS-T4 – The height finding equipment to be incorporated in the search simulator equipment has been received, but as yet not installed. The equipment will be installed as soon as the new maintenance personnel become familiar enough with the AN/TPS-502 to be able to modify it to receive simulated height finding information.

This same lack of personnel experience has been pointed up in maintenance of the target simulator 15-J-1C. No training is given on this equipment in the technical school and technical literature supplied with the equipment is not sufficient for inexperienced personnel to utilize effectively. Completion of the AN/UPS-T4 is still awaiting the interconnecting cable between the 15-J-1C and the 15-J-4A. This cable has been on requisition since September 1954.

All parts stocked for support of "lash-up" equipment has been screened for retainability and spares which reflected no current and/or anticipated consumption were returned to BASO.

Headquarters NEAC and Rome AFB Depot authorized the requisitioning of certain tubes from AF stocks to support Pinetree equipment. This has been done and has expedited many stock replenishment requisitions, having a favorable effect on the operational status of equipment.

Pinetree spares for the AN/FPS-502 have been received and are being binned as space becomes available. Bin space is critical due to lack of bin dividers, now on requisition.

Approximately 64 percent of Pinetree spares requisitioned from the support base at Ernest Harmon AFB on routine stock replenishment requisitions have been received. Pipeline time on these requisitions still seems excessive, however.

Records for the fiscal year 1955 were closed out and a new Control Register and Jacket files were set up for fiscal year 1956. All incomplete Control Numbers for 1955 were carried forward in the new Control Register and cancellations were made on items no longer needed.

Supply records are currently being audited by the auditors, Headquarters, NEAC. The audit is expected to be completed by 5 October 1955. The NEAC Inspector General’s officer also made its semi-annual inspection on 14 September 1955, but their report has not yet been received.

The UAL Cycle Report is now in progress. The UAL for this report has been received, and is being reviewed and made ready for return to the BERB for final approval.

The conversion of AF Stock numbers to the Federal Stock numbers system is being accomplished on schedule. The 30 September 1955 progress report is prepared for submission to the BASO.

The removal of furniture from BOQ’s and BAQ’s for central storage has proved unsatisfactory. It has been decided to return all furniture to empty rooms, in the custody of the NCOIC Quarters.

During the reporting period, this section lost four vehicles through action of the Base Vehicle Utilization Board: two 1 ½ ton stake bed trucks, one ¼ ton jeep, and one ¾ ton weapons carrier. In addition, two 2 ½ ton K-53 radio vans and one one-ton trailer have been turned in to the base maintenance.

A wood hobby shop is currently being set up within the Motor-Pool, for use by personnel of the squadron.

Due to transfer of personnel, there have been two changes in Transportation Officers.

Special Services – A request was made for a special grant from the non-appropriated welfare fund to provide better facilities for off-duty recreation. This request was approved by the NEAC Central Welfare Fund Board, for $3,000. Day room furniture is to be purchased in the near future for use in the officer’s and airmen’s lounges, the reading room, and the newly planned television room.

The relocation of the squadron theater was completed recently and outfitted with approximately 70 theater like type seats. The rows are elevated so that personnel will have a good field of vision. The movies remain the most popular form of off-duty recreation although attendance slacked off somewhat during the summer months.

Additional photographic supplies have been secured for the unit photo lab which is now equipped for all types of developing, printing, and enlarging. Also during the quarter, fishing tackle was made available to the section for check out to personnel. Although the supply is limited, the service has proven to be very popular.

The squadron softball team completed its season in mid-September, with a records of 16 wins and 5 losses, good enough for third place in its league. The Airmen’s and Officer’s bowling teams were organized and started their seasons in early September. Both teams appear strong and should place high in their respective leagues.

Education – Continued emphasis is constantly being placed on all educational opportunities available to squadron personnel. Special emphasis is placed on the taking of the GED test by personnel who have not completed high school.

Several personnel are now enrolled in the fall semester courses offered by the University of Maryland while others are enrolled in Group Study classes under USAFI.

The squadron education office is open from 0800 to 1700 each working day and all interested personnel are counseled on the education program.

During the reporting period, there were two admissions to quarters transferred to the support base hospital at Pepperrell AFB for hospitalization. The breakdown is as follows: observation, medical suspected pulmonary tuberculosis, one; medical observation, one. There were 129 treatments on the basis of general medicine, nine cases of dermatology, 50 patients for surgical dressing, and 15 for treatment of ear, nose, and throat, for a total of 203 treatments.

One Air Policeman rotated to the ZI during the quarter and since no replacement was available, the section was forced to begin operation on 12-hour shifts on 24 August 1955. At the end of the reporting period, no replacement had arrived.

The body of Airman First Class Paul Wilson, Jr., who fell into the ocean while fishing on 22 June 1955, was found by a Newfoundland fisherman about 70 miles south of the point where the airman fell off. The body was found on 21 September 1955.

During the quarter, several improvements were made in Mess Hall equipment and appearance. All cups were turned into salvage and replaced by new, sanitary ones, a new silverware rack was built and put into use, canopies and pipes were repainted to give the dining room and kitchen a lighter appearance, and a new strong concrete floor was put into the boiler room. During the flooring process, the hot water boiler was moved outdoors and immersion heaters were used to maintain proper sanitation.

Rotation dinners were continued each month for personnel leaving the squadron.

There were 115 airmen and 20 officers assigned to the squadron at the beginning of the quarter. At the end of the period, 135 airmen and 17 officers were assigned compared with the UMD authorization of 155 airmen and 16 officers. In comparison with the UMD authorization, the unit is 20 percent manned in grade E-7, 23 percent manned in grade E-6, 43 percent manned in grade E-5 and 58% manned in grade E-4. The opposite is true of the lower grades specifically: 116 percent manned in grade E-3 and 760 percent manned in grade E-2. The lack of NCO grades is primarily due to the fact that new assignees are recent graduates of AF Technical Schools in the grade of E-2 or E-3.

Major Robert S Hulett assumed command of the Squadron on 5 July 1955 relieving Major Elmer E Tackage.

The beginning of the quarter found a serious shortage of radar maintenance personnel, but this has been corrected by the assignment of fifteen airmen with PAFSC 30332D. The Air Police Section, although up to UMD strength, is undermanned.

Priority projects for this quarter were revision of all outdated squadron directives and the bringing up to date of the publication and correspondence files. The files are complete as of the last day of the quarter.

Conversion of the new Airmen’s Qualification Record was implemented during September. Due to non-receipt of sufficient copies of all forms, records of only personnel rotating within the next few months were converted insofar as the supply forms would permit.

The NEAC General Inspection was held during September by the Inspector General’s Officer, Headquarters, NEAC.