Stephenville, Labrador

1965 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
640th AC&W Squadron
Stephenville, Newfoundland
1 January 1965 to 31 March 1965

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

640th AC&W Squadron
APO New York 09864

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

William F Will Jr., Lt. Colonel, USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. 640th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, APO 09864, NY
    Goose Air Defense Sector, Goose Air Base, Labrador
    26th Air Division, Stewart Air Force Base, New York
    Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colorado

  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)
  • None

  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • The mission of the 640thAC&W Squadron is to conduct air defense operations within the area of assignment as outlined in (ADC) (RCAF) ASI 3/4/3, and function as a NORAD Control Center within the Air Defense System.

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Assigned

    15

    139

    19

    173

     
     

    Attached

    0

    0

    0

    0

     
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • Radio Telephone – 1 each FTA-13 Telephone Plant, 2 each M-19 Teletype Machines, Classified GRC-27 A/G UHF Radio, Classified GRT-3 A/G UHF Radio Transmitter, Classified GRR-7 A/G UHF Radio Receiver, Classified FRT-502 A/G Radio Transmitter, Classified URG-60 A/G UHF Receiver.
    Radar – 1 each AN/FPS-20A, 1 each AN/FPS-90, 1 each AN/GPX-7A, 1 each AN/GPX-14, 1 each AN/GPA-30, 1 each AN/GPS-T2A, 7 each 0A-175 PPI, 2 each UPA-35 PPI, 5 each 0A-99 PPI, 1 each AN/GPS-T-4, 2 each AN/GPS-T2, 2 each OA/929.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Operations:

    During the period 1 January 1965 – 31 March 1965, the 640th NORAD Control Center participated in 5 live, 12 STM and 8 ECM missions as generated by NORAD, Northern NORAD Region and Goose NORAD Sector. Major Rutheford, F/L Thorpe, GNS Director Center and Captain Bonnet, GNS AC&W Staff Officer, made a staff visit of the NORAD Control Center during 1-5 March 1965. Operations section was inspected by the 26th Air Division (SAGE) Inspector General Team during 9-11 February 1965. The overall evaluation was satisfactory with the SAC EWO and Two Man Control Program being rated as outstanding.

    Communications Electronics Maintenance:

    26th Air Division conducted an IG inspection of CEM during March 1965. We were graded satisfactory. (1) Radio – All equipment remounted and interior of building repainted. Radio, AN/TRC-75, for use with Operation Copper Head returned unusable. All AM-447 amplifiers relocated, and monitor tape recorders moved to radio building. DLM requested from GADS on antennas. Furnace in radio building operating unreliable. Forecast personnel gains and losses indicates a manning problem may develop. (2) Comm Center – The incinerator for destruction of classified waste was repaired. The quarterly inventory of the crypto account revealed no discrepancies. The cross-telling program of 291X0’s into crypto was stepped up. The Teletype Information Letter published by 641st has charged this unit with some errors caused by equipment and propagation problems. (3) Radar – One scope, OA-99, turned in as excess. (4) – MCC – Equipment Status Console completed.

    Unit Supply:

    The 26th AD IG team inspected supply, supply records, operations and facilities. The Supply operations were found to be in outstanding condition and without any discrepancies. Verbal comments from the Inspector were that supply staff was well qualified and the records and facilities efficiently maintained. Six Cost Reduction Programs have been prepared and submitted for the combined total of $43,571.00. A Cost Reduction Program "Working Group" has been established for the purpose of reviewing evaluating and developing potential CRP submissions, and to promote methods to induce personnel to participate consistently in the program. Supply is presently coordinating and assisting BEMO Supply Custodians in a program designed to consolidate several accounts. This action will eliminate four accounts and re-designate equipment within three others to consist of items specifically related to an accounts operations. Major Lentz, TDY to 921st AC&W Squadron, A/1C King TDY to Cartwright, A/1C Hood loaned to C&E, M/Sgt. Prather, A/2C Dinicola and A/1C King returned from TDY Cartwright.

    Food Service:

    During this period A/2C RH Parker was assigned, bringing the assigned strength to 9 personnel. A/2C Hayes spent 45 days in the hospital. During this period S/Sgt. King took a 15 day leave. The recent IG Inspection revealed no discrepancies in Food Service. Food Service received one promotion during this period: James M Davidson was promoted to A/1C. Improvements for the past three months are as follows: (1) new drapes were installed. (2) Dining room walls and planters were varnished. (3) Kitchen walls were repainted. (4) Store room walls were repainted.

    Security:

    Losses and gains (Personnel) 4 January 1965, two Air Force Police were assigned to this section: S/Sgt. Oliver R Craig and A/1C Larry G Silvis. This brought the assigned strength to six. An Air Police desk was constructed and wired placing the alert system, telephone, Intercom system, and radio in position to enable the Access Controller to perform his duties more efficiently. 23 March 65, an Airman was lost while departing the station. 29 personnel were involved in the search party. Security Control was set up as a temporary Command Post for directing the search. The search party operated for three hours before the individual was reported safe. As of 31 March 1965, 30 suggestions have been received. This unit is levied with 47 suggestions for the fiscal year. We anticipated no trouble in meeting the quota, but do anticipate surpassing it.

    Civil Engineering Section:

    Significant occurrences during the period 1 January 1965 through 31 March 1965 were as follows: The siren (installed in December) was made fully automatic, with controls at the switchboard. A new water chlorinator was installed at the water pumping station. The overhead power distribution lines to the TACAN site were replaced. The station Civil Engineer was TDY to GADS for 5 days for an orientation briefing. Approximately 150 inches (total accumulation) of snow have been removed from area roads. The 8th AF Mobile Maintenance Team installed protectowire system in building 1570 (Radio Maintenance) and completed the protectowire system in building 1504 (Operations). Several utilities improvements were made by Mr. Sean Kearns, under the Canadian Marconi contract including: (a) Installation of a Carrier 3-stage compressor in the Cold Storage plant, giving us improved operations on (1) Compressor, with (2) installed spares. (b) Modification of the controls in the central heating plant, so that both boilers are now fully automatic. This improves operations and safety. (c) Modification of the return air equipment in the Operations building air conditioning equipment, to improve air flow throughout the building.

    Transportation:

    During the period of this report the Motor Pool dispatched vehicles for a total of 13,692 miles and only experienced one minor accident. A suggestion was submitted recommending that night lights be installed at fire phones throughout the squadron. A night light has been installed at the fire phone in the office. S/Sgt. Heath was TDY to Goose AFB for two weeks OJT Trainers School. He also took the 7 level SKT test and was upgraded.

    Personnel:

    Stocks of ADC, 26th Air Division and GADS publications are now being maintained in 640 CAS. Det-4, 1932 AACS Squadron was assumed as a customer for publications and forms. One (1) Article 15 was administered for violation of Article 92. Captain Cyrus E Finley, AFSC 1744, arrived PCS from Adair AFS, Oregon. M/Sgt. Earle F Howard, 01090, arrived from Stewart AFB, New York and assumed duties as 1st Sergeant relieving SM/Sgt. Francis J Scaramucci, who acted as 1st Sergeant for 11 months. Twenty-three personnel were re-enlisted during this period. Six personnel were promoted to Airman First Class. One promotion to Staff Sergeant was received.

    Morale:

    The morale of this station is very satisfactory.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    William F Will Jr., Lt. Colonel, USAF

    Signature