Stephenville, Labrador

640^th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
APO 864, New York, NY

John Aitken Jr., Lieutenant Colonel

CPS-6B, FPS-502, TPS-502

1 January 1958 through 31 March 1958

The beginning of the new calendar year at the 640^th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron began with a healthy group of Military Personnel. The climate for the month of January was mild and a lesser amount of snowfall than normal was recorded.

Major Wilcox, the executive officer and First Lieutenant Chapman the adjutant rotated the first part of January and first Lieutenant Walter L Smith reported for duty. Lieutenant Ferrin was rotated and released from active duty, in February 1958.

Other new officers reporting for duty were Second Lieutenant Michael J Moore, and First Lieutenant James Holcomb.

Personnel and Administration:

Staff Sergeant Lowell B Frasier, Chief Clerk, was replaced by Staff Sergeant Carl J Hughes. Sergeant Frasier started retraining into the 273X0, Aircraft Control and Warning Operations career field.

Two new clerks came in during this period. Both were assigned Primary AFSC 70010 with a Directed Duty Assignment to the 70230 level.

The Inspection by the 64^th Air Division was conducted in January 1958 and the Administrative Section was rated satisfactory.

Operations:

During the 1^st period of the year, there was a lack of skilled personnel to accommodate our normal manning schedule. Within a period of ninety days, there was a loss of seven (7) radar operators, all at the 50 and 70 level. However, we did gain one (1) 27370, one (1) 27350 and ten (10) 27330s. Since this was one of our main problems, it was difficult to operate at 100% efficiency. Strong emphasis was placed upon the directors to monitor, supervise and operate the MID section to eliminate all personnel errors.

Recommendations were made after a detailed survey to provide our operations section with more suitable communications to perform our mission. To conform with ADC, a new plotting board was installed and a rearrangement of our Operations layout was completed.

Cross-training and coordination between our associated CGI Sites and adjacent ADC went smoothly to strengthen our capabilities. Several visits were made by our directors to the ADC and Fighter Squadron. A programmed schedule was followed to accommodate our GCIs with training flights and to include them in our exercises.

A great deal of attention was given to other components of the Air Force. Routine and priority traffic (SAC) was handled quite well to help support tactical and defense operations.

Maintenance and Supply Problems:

A Supply Improvements program was started this quarter for the solvement of all Supply problems. This program will stay in effect indefinitely.

Supply Support – (1) Support from Pepperrell AFB 2510 continued to be outstanding. (2) Support from Ernest Harmon Base Supply 4685 continued to be very unsatisfactory due to their own problems in attempting to establish a Supply Improvement Program.

Transportation problems – (1) The only transportation problem we have is travelling the round trips of 26 miles over rough terrain to and from our Support base.

Surplus – (1) This organization will continue to have supply property on hand until Base Supply stays open. The reason is due to normal authorization changes plus life of property.

Supply Personnel Efficiency and Experience – During this period Supply operated with four airmen, one Staff Sergeant and one Lieutenant. The four airmen had little or no experience in Supply before being assigned here.

Communications:

Communications via the Harmon Tail Cable have been disrupted on numerous occasions. High winds frequently result in unusual flexing of the cable. This additional strain usually results in a broken sheath which allows moisture to enter the cable, shorting the individual cable pairs.

Due to the location of this cable in settled areas, it has been used as a target in testing youngsters shouting ability. As a result, we encountered a disruption of communications for 3 days during the month of February. (a) Solution – 64^th Air Division has requested a system (Classified) to preclude the use of the Harmon Tail Cable.

Difficulties have been encountered in the destruction of classified waste inherent in the operation of a Crypto and Teletype section. Our request for construction of an inside incinerator was disapproved by 64^th Air Division. (a) Destruction was previously accomplished using a discarded oil barrel. Unfortunately this barrel was exposed to the elements and high winds frequently prevented destruction for several days, thereby presenting an unacceptable fire hazard in the storage of waste paper awaiting destruction. (b) Solution – An incinerator was constructed by our personnel with salvaged metal and cinder block. This local fabrication offers protection from the elements and has proven a satisfactory arrangement.

AN/TRC-8 equipment has previously been located in the Radar Towers. However, climatic conditions often prevented maintenance personnel from responding to trouble calls as rapidly as necessary. (a) Solution – This equipment has been relocated in the transmitter building where maintenance personnel are available 24 hours a day.

Implementation of 64^th Air Division Operations Plan 2-57 would have been inadequate due to a leaky roof and steam pipes in the room which housed the communication equipment. The moisture present caused corrosion on the equipment and resulted in short circuits. Solution – Roof and steam lines were repaired. Communication equipment was overhauled and returned to use. The equipment is checked for operational capabilities on a weekly basis and visually checked for moisture each day.

John Aitken Jr., Lieutenant Colonel