Stephenville, NF

Subject: Historical Report, RCS: 1-AF-D2A (64-1)

To: Commander,
64^th Air Division (Defense),
Pepperrell Air Force Base

The Commander, Major William H Sheppard, attended the Commander’s Conference at Headquarters, 64^th Air Division (Defense), Pepperrell Air Force Base during this reporting period.

During September the annual general inspection of the squadron was performed by the 64^th Air Division Inspector General and his team. The squadron was found to be in excellent condition.

Orderly Room:

During this reporting period M/Sgt. John L Ingram arrived at the squadron and was assigned to the Administrative Section as First Sergeant to replace T/Sgt. Fred Harris who rotates to the ZI in November 1955. A regrettable loss during this period was S/Sgt. Clenard Stewart who was transferred to a ZI hospital for treatment of a serious illness. S/Sgt. Stewart had also been promoted to his present grade during this period.

The principle project during this period for the Administrative Section has been the conversion of the new airmen military personnel records sections. All administrative personnel "pitched in" on the project, and at present the conversion is eighty-five (85%) percent complete.

A/1C Charles H Hurst, Administrative Clerk, was chosen as Squadron Airman-of-the-Month for September 1955. A/1C Hurst was also promoted to his present grade during this period.

No major problems have been encountered in the Administrative Section during this period.

Medical Section:

The health of this unit is satisfactory. Everyday medical problems with which we are confronted are similar to any other unit of this type and site. (a) There was one (1) accident requiring hospitalization during this period. (b) The most common problems with which we are confronted are upper respiratory infections. During this reporting period there were two cases of pneumonia, one confirmed tubercular patient, one case of tonsillitis and one accident patient, all admitted to the USAF Hospital, Ernest Harmon AFB. Other common problems that are frequent are: Common colds, minor injuries and skin disorders. (c) The relationship of this unit and the medical personnel is good. The unit gives us all the co-operation possible.

Medical Organization – The primary purpose of this dispensary is to give medical support to this unit by rendering medical treatment on an outpatient basis, or if necessary, hospitalize and treat as a bed patient any personnel for a period, not to exceed four (4) days. Personnel who require longer treatment and/or hospitalization will be evacuated to the USAF Hospital, Ernest Harmon AFB.

Replacements – At the present there are three (3) medical personnel assigned to this section. One (1) 90270 with rank of T/Sgt, one (1) 90250 with rank of S/Sgt., and one (1) 90250 with rank of A/1C. Rotation dates will not affect this section until May 1956.

Professional Services - (a) Outpatient Care – Daily Sick Call is held in the morning so that patients who are referred to our support base hospital will arrive at that installation in time to attend the scheduled sick call for that unit. However, the dispensary is kept open during normal working hours and persons desiring treatment or advice may report to the dispensary at any time period. After normal duty hours, the dispensary is closed, and a medic is on the site 24 hours a day and may be located by telephone or by checking the front door of the dispensary to see who is on "Stand By" for that night. (b) Drugs and Supplies – Drugs and supplies are maintained in sufficient quantities, and on a two-week stock level. The stock is replenished every two weeks by requisitioning from the Medical Supply, Ernest Harmon AFB.

Dental Services – Dental service for this organization is performed by the Dental Clinic, EHAFB. Personnel desiring any dental treatment of any type, must report in person to the Dental Clinic to make appointments. During the month of September a dental team, consisting of two officers and two technicians were at this station for two days. A survey was made on all personnel and some emergency extractions were performed. All persons examined were classified and appointments were given to those in need of dental treatment. This resulted in a cut-down of man hours lost going to and from the support base.

Veterinary Services – The veterinary and sanitary inspections of foods and food products are being conducted by the EHAFB Veterinary Staff. Organoleptic inspections of questionable products are performed by the medical technician at this installation. Investigation of food borne disease is performed by the medical technicians of this unit, in conjunction with the Ernest Harmon AFB Medical and Veterinary Services.

Summary and Conclusion – It is the opinion of the medical staff of this unit that the medical service program is working very well, regarding our mission within the unit and to the Air Force. The medical services of this unit is offering immediate service to all personnel of this unit under semi-isolated conditions.

Air Police Section:

New helmets are now being worn as part of the Air Police uniform. The helmets are painted white with a blue stripe and the letters "AP" painted in blue and "640^th" in black on the front.

Five squadron standing operations procedures pertaining to this section were revised during this period to comprehend with the daily changing work requirements.

The sentry house is presently being shingled with asbestos shingles to eliminate the draft which, in the past, has made it difficult to keep the house warm enough for sentries to stay in during inclement weather.

Three airmen were recommended for promotion during the month of August and two more were upgraded to the primary Air Policeman career level after successfully completing formal On-the-Job Training and passing their APT test.

One Air Policeman was assigned to the arms room and the annual range firing for familiarization firing of assigned weapons.

Special Services:

Plans are now underway to include a squadron basketball team in the Ernest Harmon AFB league.

Additional books have been received from the support base and have been added to the squadron library.

Five movies are obtained weekly from the support base and each is shown twice during the week.

The Special Services account has been changed from our squadron supply to the Special Services Office at Ernest Harmon AFB and we now draw equipment directly from them.

Through the Squadron CNW Fund new covers and equipment were ordered from a billiard supply company and the squadron pool tables were recovered and repaired. These tables were repaired by squadron personnel on their own time. New magazines also were ordered for the squadron.

Information Services:

A closed circuit radio station is now in operation within the squadron and is operated, voluntarily, by qualified personnel during their off-duty hours.

During Fire-Prevention week, a joint effort of Ernest Harmon AFB and the community of Stephenville, this squadron’s Fire-Prevention float was awarded first place in the parade through the town and the base.

The Information Services Office of this installation co-operates with the support base ISO in all community relation projects and both internal and external news releases.

Training and Education:

The main project of the training section during this reporting period has been the preparation for, and the consequent annual range firing. This squadron was given three days to complete the annual firing on the range at Ernest Harmon AFB. The squadron was divided into six groups, each group spending one-half day on the range. By scheduling our firing in this manner only one-sixth of our personnel were off the site at any one time. This was a good arrangement in that each man received personal instruction on the range. Also, the squadron was able to carry on its normal operation with a minimum of personnel off the site for rifle firing.

A new OJT manual was received from the 64^th Air Division. It is a complete program and will be of great value to us as practically all requirements are contained under a separate cover. We also received a new manual for general military training. At present we are revising our training program in accordance with these two manuals.

Due to a shortage of personnel in the Education Center at the support base, we were forced to call off the group study classes held here at the site. These classes and all GED testing are currently being carried on through and at Ernest Harmon AFB. We expect to be able to resume these functions, in the near future, on the site.

Direction Center (ADDC):

During the reporting period, this section had a large turnover of personnel. At the present time this section has five 27370’s, thirty 27350’s, and eighteen 27330’s. With the increase of workload assigned to this section, this is not enough personnel to run a Direction Center of this capacity. A request for change to the Unit Manning Document has been submitted.

The following promotions were made this period:

First Lieutenant Bernard K Kobosky, A03016331, has been TDY with the NEAC Rocketry Team during the entire reporting period.

Captain James C Sigler, A0667862, was assigned to this station during this period. His previous assignment was at Tyndall AFB, as an instructor.

A new OJT system has been started and is working out very well. With our shortage of personnel, a good OJT system means a better Operations.

The Direction Center handled one GOC exercise during this period. This was a three-day exercise, and we received 150 GOC plots of which 13 were not correlated.

The Direction Center experienced one Fast-Freight mission during this reporting period.

During this period, the Direction Center had many refuelling missions, as well as several assist to aircraft.

Electronics:

Personnel – During the past quarter there has almost been a 100% turnover of personnel in the section. The only experienced enlisted man remaining is T/Sgt. Buddy Blair, originally a crew chief and now NCOIC of the section.

The following personnel have rotated:

Thirteen new airmen have been assigned to the section. All are 30332D maintenance men, direct from tech school.

New personnel are:

Promotions – Staff Sergeant Buddy L Blair was promoted to Technical Sergeant, a well-deserved promotion.

Training – All new personnel were placed on the day shift and full-time OJT for one week prior to going on shift. (a) After this indoctrination, OJT was limited to on-the-spot training in the most vital phases of each of the radars. (b) The spirit, ambition, and progress of these new people is encouraging. (c) The following airmen passed their "5" level test in radar:

Maintenance – Form 208B’s have been initialled for the AN/TPS-502 and the AN/FPS-502. However, in view of the uselessness of these forms, it has been decided to draft our own CADS System to implement them.

Projects – The heavy jamming encountered on the AN/FPS-502 due to GCA has been completely eliminated by the installation of a 4J32 magnetron. This magnetron removed this particular radar from the frequency range of GCA.

Summary – An almost complete turnover resulted this quarter bringing with it the difficulties which are most commonly associated with inexperience. A definite OJT program was put into effect to combat this inexperience. The major accomplishment this quarter was the elimination of the GCA jamming problem.

Communications:

The communications picture is much improved over the last report of 5 July 1955. The manning part of the picture has brightened considerably with forty-nine airmen and two officers authorized. Airmen slots are approximately 86% filled and the officer slots are 100% filled, giving an overall manning of 93%.

A breakdown by sections show:

In the way of equipment, two re-perforators which were not being used were located at the 931^st AC*W Squadron and paper-work was initiated to have them transferred to this squadron. However, it was felt by higher headquarters that only one of them should be sent to us. Transfer of the re-perforator was begun in August, but it has not yet arrived.

The MARS BC-610 was moved down to the transmitter for use in Net 12 because it was the only transmitter the Comm Section had available with the out-put authorized in this Net. Cable pair has been allocated to this circuit and the 610 is being moved back to the MARS room.

The entire outside telephone plant was rehabilitated during this reporting period. Most of the work was done by the 1^st Comm Construction Squadron. The TX cable, a 101 pair cable with 40 bad pair was cleared, as was the RX cable, a 101 pair cable with 10 bad pair. All outside cables have been lashed, and the O/C is ready for winter.

Work has been started on the re-hab of the Tail Cable to EHAFB. Three poles have already been re-guyed.

The framework for the telephone booths to be placed along the roadway on the hill has been built. Wire Maintenance Section is doing the building of these booths. Booths will offer shelter as well as telephone service in case of emergencies along the road during the winter. Work is temporarily halted by lack of the siding to be used on the frames. Siding will be picked up 6 October.

Antenna re-hab team from CMC arrived and has begun work.

Security training was stressed throughout the sections during this quarter. All airmen are required to continue this training until a mark of 90% was made on the NEAC test form. Only eight men out of forty-nine assigned have failed to raise their test score this high.

Wire maintenance men were sent TDY to EHAFB on alternate weeks for training in cable splicing and wiping.

Radio Maintenance training has been concentrated mostly on the UHF and VHF equipment during this period. HF and LF equipment is not being used at this site now due to conflict over licensing of the station, so it is felt that the VHF and UHF training is more pertinent.

A completely new Monitor system has been designed by the Wire and Radio Maintenance Sections and is being built by EHAFB AIO.

Work orders have been submitted to EHAFB, AIO, and approved by them for installation of acoustical tile in the Crypto Center.

Technical Supply

For this quarter an average of only two RNFP requisitions were submitted per month, an all-time low for the squadron.

The inventory initiated in the last quarter was continued in an attempt to bring all stock levels up to date. The inventory is now 70% complete.

All lubricants were consolidated in the lubricants storage building, a visual lubricant selection system set up, and a brief distributed all through the squadron explaining the characteristics and uses of each lubricant stocked by Tech Supply.

The Hardware Storage Building was arranged in anticipation of stockage of the most common hardware items under a visual selection system. Included in this will be antenna spares for the TX and RX antenna farms.

A stock level for the AN/TXC-1, Facsimile Set, was set up in anticipation of its being placed in operation.

Tube count cards were distributed to the maintenance sections to obtain a list of all tubes used in the equipments. This should reduce the number of tubes which must be stocked in Tech Supply by 30%.

A visual control system for repairable and serviceable MF-10 handsets, and MF-12 handsets, was initiated to remove the confusion which has existed over their handling.

A pamphlet entitles "Did You Know That" is now being prepared bi-monthly and forwarded to the maintenance sections. It contains information on items stocked by Tech Supply, maintenance hints, proper use of tools, and safety procedures.

Unit Supply:

During the past quarter Unit Supply submitted the annual UAL Inventory to Headquarters, NEAC. Much time was spent on this project by personnel of this section. Numbers of items had to be checked before UAL changes could be submitted.

New lineoflex custody hand receipts were made for equipment component lists of the 10 series and put into use.

With the receipt of a new UAL on approximately 12 September much time has been spent in checking it. Conversions to Federal Stock Numbers from Air Force Numbers is taking place now and this section is trying to keep its UAL up to date at all times. Shortages on the UAL are being requisitioned by Unit Supply at the present time.

One airman was assigned to this section during the quarter. A/3C Winters arrived from the AI and has shown good possibilities in the short time he has been with us.

The morale of the section is at an all time high.

A/3C Robinson was gone for a period of 30 days on leave to the ZI. A/2C Rhinehart spent 10 days on leave, in Sydney.

A/3C Robinson spent five days at EHAFB going to the base driver’s school. This section now has two drivers and more time can be spent in cross training than ever before.

Food Service:

The doughnut machine is back in order. Doughnuts will now be served frequently.

A/1C John Gallow and A/1C Leon Doiron were promoted to Staff Sergeant during this period.

We now have a smooth cement finish on the back door of the dining hall. This was to prevent accumulation of waste and water.

We have forwarded our ration requisition for the three-month period of October, November and December.

For the Commander:

Joseph B McGinty, Jr.
1^st Lt., USAF
Adjutant