St. Anthony, NF

921^st AC&W Squadron
APO 862, New York, New York

John A Rushlau, Major, USAF

AN/FPS-3(C), 1; AN/FPS-14, 1 (Gap Filler); AN/TPS-502, 1; AN/FPS-502, 1; AN/UPA-35, 1; AN/GPS-T2, 1.

1 January 1960 through 31 March 1960

Command Section:

During this reporting period this squadron had a change of Commanders and Personnel Officers. Major John A Rushlau replaced Major Robert K Douglas on the 4^th of March 1960. Lieutenant Eugene M Choen replaced Lieutenant Jerald Elias on 26^th of February 1960.

During this quarter an announcement was made of the Phase Out of Pepperrell AFB and 64^th AD (D). There was a good deal of rumor concerning new support Base or Bases. Some of these matters were resolved by deactivation orders, and by message of 64^th AD (D) (NORAD/CONAD) and activation of Goose Air Defense Sector.

Electronics support was announced as Goose Logistic, Supply, and Administrative support passed to Harmon AFS, Stephenville, Newfoundland.

Operations Section:

During this reporting period there have been several changes in arrangement of the Operations Room. The internal communications system was revamped and has improved operations procedures considerably. The remote video consoles (0A947) were removed from operations. The surveillance consoles were moved and a surveillance communications console was placed between them allowing the surveillance supervisor to operate more effectively. The control consoles were relocated to the left of the operations room. This new arrangement reduces the noise level a great deal.

The ACTOR Program was integrated into the STP system and gives very satisfactory training in ECM procedures.

Base Engineer Activities:

Power Plant – There has been no mission change during this reporting period. No equipment has been added. Canadian Marconi personnel installed modified governors on all plants, with a resultant increase in power quality. No difficulties of any major nature have been experienced. Housekeeping is maintained at a very high standard.

An OJT program to instruct assigned personnel in operating the spare plants at the Radio Relay site and at the transmitter and receiver sites has been completed.

Heating units were installed in the power plant at the Radio Relay site to provide for preheating water temperatures. This arrangement has proved very satisfactory.

Heating Plant – The mission of this sub-section has not changed during the period of this report. Normal and preventative maintenance has been kept up to date, and housekeeping standards have been maintained at a very high level.

Maintenance Shop – The mission of this sub-section has not changed during this reporting period. The preventative maintenance program has received increased emphasis. This resulted in better utilization of assigned personnel and equipment, and has eliminated the requirement for emergency maintenance except on rare occasions.

The workshop area has been modified to provide for a more efficient work area and adequate office space.

Transportation Office Activities – Transportation was carried out for the last three months without any major difficulties. Due to heavy snows and frost the Snowmobiles were used frequently and no difficulties were encountered. This type of transportation is very efficient for this location during winter months. The transportation section located a lake south-west of the site and with assistance of an EPA representative, tested the ice thickness and size of the lake and found it to be a very good place for ski-type aircraft to land. Due to the location and size of this lake the DC-3 aircraft was able to operate here for the first time. This saved the Air Force considerable manhours and money.

Maintenance – Maintenance on vehicles was very efficient enabling this section to have 100% utilization at all times. All preventative maintenance was carried out on schedule. The following is a consolidated list of personnel, mail, and cargo shipped in and out of this squadron for the last three months, ending 31 March 1960.

(see matrix at end of this report)

No accidents were encountered during this reporting period. All shipping and receiving was carried out in the best possible manner.

Communications – Electronics:

Continued improvement in the entire C&E area was experienced during the past quarter. The improvement was noteworthy in the radar maintenance outages, radio capability and outages and the realignment of the telephone system within operations.

Manning has been generally excellent with the exception of the Comm. Center personnel (291X0). Of an authorized strength of seven, we have been reduced to four operators. Arrangements were made to relieve these personnel from extra duties and crypto and teletype personnel assist on the switchboard whenever possible. Relief is expected via TDY personnel from 64^th AD and replacements are expected in April or early May.

Communications Operations and Maintenance:

Radio – The annual depot overhaul was accomplished in January and February on all radio equipment. All modifications on equipment were brought up to date including the full duty cycle modification of the multi-channel transmitters.

Plan 63, our radio teletype net, was discontinued. Disposition instructions have not yet been received for disposing of the equipment.

Severe weather conditions on several occasions created some difficulty in transportation, loss of HF antennas and on one instance loss of prime power to both RX and TX. Road conditions were not so severe however that, had emergency maintenance been required, the personnel could not have reached either remote locations.

Rehabilitation work at both locations continued as a result of the relocation. Bench stocks, maintenance records, etc., have been re-accomplished and new daily logs were initiated. Minor building repairs however, have not yet been accomplished by installations engineers.

Three C-807, remote control units, were installed in Operations and connected to three multi-channel transmitters and receivers. This permits operations to change equipment and channels from the Control Tech position and has proved to be an extremely valuable installation.

Radio capability and dependability has shown a marked improvement. This is due primarily to the overhaul and the revitalization of maintenance practices and procedures brought about by recently assigned personnel.

Wire Maintenance – A depot overhaul of the NE-612 teletype system was accomplished in January and February. During this overhaul the internal communications within Operations was realigned in accordance with the local operations procedures presently in effect.

The telephone cables to the TX and RX buildings were re-lashed and, in some areas, lowered by Marconi Depot personnel. This should reduce some of the wind damage to the lashing that had previously been experienced.

It was necessary to send a teletype maintenance man to detachment 2 at La Scie to effect minor repairs on their one machine. The repair took only ½ hour, however, the TDY trip took 20 days. All other TTY maintenance problems were routine.

Communications Center - The gradual loss of personnel in the Communications Center has not seriously affected the operation although personnel have, of necessity, been required to work additional hours.

A general increase in traffic has been noticed particularly in relaying messages to La Scie and from Cartwright to their Fox Harbour gap filler site.

Radar Maintenance – The average percentage of in commission time for all the various radar, trainers, and associated equipment has increased to better than 95%. The fine OJT program presently established within the section assures continual increase in the percentage of in-commission time.

A two man team from Canadian Marconi Corporation performed an overhaul on the two PU-5004, motor generators and securely fastened the generators to the floor. This work was quickly and satisfactorily accomplished.

Several radar scopes were relocated within the operations room to facilitate ease of operation and to provide easier access for maintenance purposes. In addition, disposition instructions were received for the UPA-42 (Height Attachment) portion of the UPS-T5 (Radar Trainer), and this equipment was returned to Air Force Stock. The UPA-37 (ECM Simulator) was replaced by installation of the new SM-146, (ECM Simulator). Maintenance personnel have been thoroughly trained in the maintenance and operation of this equipment. The initial impression is that this equipment is easy to maintain and adequately performs the job for which it was designed.

Supply support during this period has been excellent. There have been no ROCP requisitions. By establishing a supply liaison position considerable time has been saved in the cross-referencing from the Canadian terminology to the 16PT catalog.

The FPS-6B Height Finder scheduled for installation and commissioning was cancelled due to reappraisal of the future operational status of this organization.

Personnel Services Program – During this period we completed group study classes in English, Spoken Spanish I, Algebra II, Physics I, and American History. New group study classes were initiated in Electronics Fundamentals, and Spoken Spanish II.

We reached our highest participation level with 96.8% of our assigned personnel activity engaged in either correspondence study or off duty group study classes.

Community Relations – No community relations problems have been experienced during the reporting period here at St. Anthony. The squadron personnel took part in several events during St. Anthony’s annual sports day held on the 24^th of March 1960. No organizational problems have been reported from our detachment at La Scie. Community relations between that unit and the village are reported as excellent.

John A Rushlau, Major, USAF