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 April 1958 through 30 June 1958

In April, Lieutenant Colonel Leonard B Scott Jr. commander of the 4731^st Air Defense Group made an inspection tour of this organization prior to his rotation date. Results were so favorable that the organization received a letter of appreciation from Lieutenant Colonel Scott.

Several new officers were assigned during this period including Captain Charles F Letsche, Captain Clarence V Barnett, First Lieutenant Jimmy J Smith, and Second Lieutenant John Y Mamula. The 640^th AC&W Squadron lost Captain Sigler who was rotated to the ZI. The overall good health of the squadron remained high. Everyone agreed that the winter had been a mild one with practically no damage to equipment or buildings. Activity in the sections is as follows:

Transportation:

This organization needs a total of 5 round trips to and from Harmon AFB. We have been running this number using 2 ½ ton, closed van truck with a seating capacity of 18. The terrain and condition of the road requires a minimum of 45 minutes to travel each way. Maintenance of the road has been either non-existent or inadequate. Private cars are unable to make the trip on numerous occasions during the winter and summer months due to road conditions.

Maintenance and Supply Problems:

The Supply Improvement program is still in effect. There has been a noted improvement in this effort.

Supply Support – (1) Support from Pepperrell AFB 2510 is still very good. (2) Support from Ernest Harmon Supply AFB 4685 showed a little improvement in accepting routine requisitions 1^st of April. But as of 30 June 1958 no action had been taken on these documents (Approx. 110) by Base Supply.

Transportation problems – Road conditions distance required to travel to and from Support base and conditions of vehicles.

Surplus – (1) We expect to have all our supplies properly turned in by 30 September 1958. Providing Base Supply will be open to accept property.

Supply personnel efficiency and experience – (1) During this time one airman was upgraded from 64010 to 6413.

Personnel and Administration:

There was no turnover in Personnel and Administration this period. We did, add a new Airman First Class Herbert F Fehnel. Airman Fehnel has had 10 years previous experience in the US Marine Corps and will prove to be a definite asset to this organization.

We have had visits by several of the Staff agencies of the 64^th Air Division. These visits have been made by the Adjutant, the Inspector General, the Provost Marshal and the Enlisted Personnel Officer.

No other events of historical nature have occurred during this period.

Operations:

A gradual rise of training operations personnel was seen during this period. Our OJT program took an active part in developing the number of 20330s we had received into capable radar operators and Direction Center Personnel. There were no heavy losses to our manning commitments to affect our primary mission. As a result of the program and under the supervision of trained personnel, one (1) S/Sgt. was elevated from 27350 to 27370 and fifteen (15) airmen from 27330 to 27350.

There was a total of 1,149 intercepts handled by our directors at this organization. These included profiles, multiple and single type intercepts. However, this number does not include those intercepts handled by our adjacent sites. We established a program whereby all controllers being assigned to St. Anthony and Red Cliff would spend a period of two weeks of training here at our squadron. This has proven to be very beneficial in strengthening our GCI system.

Radar Maintenance:

Three depot overhauled UPA-35 indicators have been received and installed. Operation has been satisfactory. The site engineer and one Airman was sent to Pepperrell, CMC deport, for a three week course on the UPA-35. Upon their return they gave formal C&E training to the rest of the section.

The PM system covered by TO 31-1-10 has been in effect since 1 July 1958 on all electronic equipment. Also the use of "required PM" has improved our radar time on the air to 93% in the network.

Communications:

"On Site" aerial cable, formerly used as part of the Harmon Tail Cable, developed a vertical osculation. A dangerous situation developed in that the poles had previously been loosened by this same phenomena and had the line collapsed, several high voltage lines would have been crossed. (a) Solution – The unused portion of the cable and messenger was lowered to the ground to prevent reoccurrence.

An excessive number of cable pairs within the containment areas are unserviceable. No spare pairs are available for utilization as replacements for new installations. (a) Solution – Command assistance was requested to affect a complete rehabilitation of our entire cable system and this installation of new cable should be completed during the month of August.

Use of desk type telephones at the Upper and Lower POL buildings presented a fire hazard due to the possibility of an explosion of oil fumes by the arcing present in the ringing of conventional phones. (a) Solution – Two weather proof telephones were installed.

John Aitken Jr., Lieutenant Colonel