Red Cliff, NF

30 October 1956

AGADM

Subject: Report of Historical Data, RCS: AU-D5 (64-1)

To: Commander
64^th Air Division (Defense)
ATTN: Director Statistical Services
Pepperrell Air Force Base

In compliance with 64^th AD (D) Regulation 210-3, dated 11 August 1954, the Report of Historical Data for this unit is hereby submitted.

For the Commander.

William A Wareham
2^nd Lt., USAF
Adjutant

642^nd AC&W Squadron
APO 862
New York, New York

For the Period 1 July 1956 to 30 September 1956

Part I – Narrative
Part II – Supporting Documents

Compiled By:
William A Romaine
1^st Lt., USAF
Historical Officer

A refueling mission, "Mobile Baker", which this squadron directed. A complete renovation of the main radar operations room, increasing efficiency and comfort. Maintained satisfactory operation of both the FPS-502 and TPS-502 sets. Stability reached in personnel assigned. These are the historical highlights of the 642^nd AC&W Squadron from 1 July 1956 to 30 September 1956.

First, "Operation Mobile Baker", an in-flight refueling mission, was run in mid-September and went off without consequence. No difficulties whatever were encountered as the aircraft came in over Torbay Airport at fifteen minute intervals, hooked up, refueled, and then proceeded on course in a minimum of time.

This operation was directed by 1^st Lt. William A Romaine and 1^st Lt. Norman GE Chang. Along with the two directors, the work of three radar operators, Airmen Walls, Burke and Hounihan, is to be commended.

"Mobile Baker" was conducted in the recently renovated Radar Operations Room. The new set-up was and continues to be a help in conducting the squadron mission effectively. Construction was finished in mid-August and the moving in was completed almost immediately. No major difficulties were encountered: things ran smoothly after a few minor questions which arose were adjusted.

There remains a pressing need for more interceptors, even though the availability of fighters for practice intercepts increased perceptibly since the last period. All directors have the AFSC of 1641 and the interceptors are needed to maintain director proficiency.

All radar operators now have been granted the final security clearance of "Secret", and all are working in their AFSC’s. No new operators were gained, but four rotated to the ZI, as did the Operations Officer, Captain Elmer J Schumacher.

Captain Schumachers duties were taken over by 1^st Lt. William A Romaine.

One Director was transferred to a northern site and the second vacancy created by appointing 1^st Lt. Romaine as Operations Officer motivated the necessity for placing the other three directors on twelve hour shifts.

In Radar Maintenance, both the FPS-502 and the TPS-502 were aligned and peaked by Canadian Marconi Corporation resident engineers. Both are now operational and are performing satisfactorily.

Except for the EW kit, our CPS-6B was operating normally, as well. Reason for the temporary non-operational status of the EW kit was a defective section of waveguide. A RNFP Requisition was initiated early in May, but the section was not delivered until mid-September. Since its arrival the waveguide has been installed and the EW kit is now operational.

Painting of the radomes was completed in July. Before departing, the Canadian Marconi Corporation riggers and painters also reinstalled all lightening rods.

Several personnel changes took place. Four maintenance personnel were transferred to other organizations within the 64^th Air Division (Defense).

Our losses consisted of one 30372 and three 30352D specialists. The radar maintenance section is still five persons under strength at the 7 skill level, and one over strength at the 5 skill level. Three radar repairmen were upgraded to 30352D and two other airmen took repeat tests during July. At this time the results have not been made available.

During this report period only fourteen men from the site were transferred north. Personnel-wise, this points to a stability which certainly is both new and welcome.

The unit assigned strength on 1 July 1956 was twelve officers and 169 airmen. At the end of the report period, assigned strength was eleven officers and 168 airmen. Twelve assigned personnel are TDY, pending EDCSA.

This compares with the squadron UMD authorization of thirteen officers and 152 airmen.

The 64^th Air Division (Defense) conducted its annual inspection from 16 July to 23 July, and it was answered and returned by 10 August.

A decrease of 118 out-patient treatments and one hospital admission, compared with the previous period, has been reported by the Medical Section. Actual figures include a total of six men admitted to the Base Hospital and two hundred and four men treated as out-patients.

Civilian health authorities placed warning signs along the stream which funds the squadron’s water supply, thus helping to prevent contamination. Lectures on First Aid and Personal Hygiene were conducted during June and classes on Artificial Respiration are held monthly for personnel of Radar Maintenance and Radio Maintenance.

During July the radio monitor position was relocated in a room beneath the right dias of the operations room, consequently all back-up equipment was moved there. The equipment is operating satisfactorily.

On 13 August this station was requested to install an alternate means for communications control between this site and its remote A/G transmitter and receiver sites. Since the project was initiated the carrier FM link has been installed and is operating. Several problems were encountered which hampered installation of the equipment.

First, there were no qualified personnel to install and repair the equipment. Second, there was faulty equipment. Third, there were no spare parts such as transformers, filters, relays, etc. Fourth, there was no test equipment.

When normal radar operations were resumed after completion of renovation in the main operations room, there arose a few difficulties in proper radio channelization. All communications facilities are now operating satisfactorily.

Floor plans were dawn up and a detailed study made to determine the practicability of moving the switchboard and crypto on-line machine into the message center. It was decided to make this move in the near future.

The site MARS station returned to operational capacity in early September. Ground Plane antennae for 14MC, 21MC, and 28MC have been assembled and will be utilized also in the near future.

The phone patch system is n excellent working condition following remodelization, and an Air War Room was established in the former radio monitor room. A slave was installed going to the master intercom station located in the main operations room. Further, two terminals were connected for two telephone lines. These are for use of the commander in alert situations.

Two UAL’s have been received by the Supply Section. One covers USAF property and the other covers Canadian property.

To accommodate the new UAL’s and to correspond with them, the 1120 stock record has been rearranged, and a colored Tab System has been instituted on the stock record. This was done in order to maintain a better record of UAL property.

The squadron received several letters of commendation during the period of work accomplished during prior historical reporting intervals. Commands which sent letters of commendation include SAC, TAC and Department of National Defence, RCAF.