Stephenville, Labrador

640^th ACWRON
APO 864, New York, NY

Charles E Hall, Lieutenant Colonel

Radio Telephone – 1 each 611 Telephone Plant, 11 each M-19 Teletype Machines, 1 each M-28 Teletype Machines, Quantity GRC-27 A/G UHF Radio, Classified GRT-3 A/G UHF Radio, Classified FRT-502 A/G VHF Radio Transmitter, Classified VRG-60 VHF Radio Receiver, Classified BC-610 HF Point to Point.
Radar – 1 each AN/FPS-20A Primary Search, 1 each AN/TPS-502 Height, 1 each AN/GPX-7A SIF, 1 each AN/GPA-30 Video Mapper, 1 each AN/GPS-T2A Trainer, 1 each AN/UPS-T5 15-J-1C, 1 each Target Simulator.

The fall and winter season has changed the face of the 640^th AC&W Squadron in many ways.

An IG Inspection was held during the week of 7 December 1960. The results were excellent in comparison with all previous inspections.

The CPS-6B Radar Set has been dismantled and disposal accomplished. In its place an FPS-20 has been installed and is functioning properly.

Transportation to and from the station has become difficult. As 1960 drew to a close, snow removal has emerged as a major operation. The Commander has complimented the Motor Pool for the fine job they are doing, the end result of many hard hours of hard work and overtime. The Ground Safety program has also been favorably recognized. With the co-operation of all personnel, a fine record is taking shape.

Operations:

For the last three months, the Operations Section’s manning remained at 100% plus. One reason for this is the new UMD they received which cuts the section authorization by four officers and eleven airmen.

The percentage of MA’s on live and simulated exercises while relatively high has dropped slightly over that of the previous quarter; (from a total of 96.2% to 93.5%). Of 276 attempted, 261 were successful. There were 24 STM’s scheduled of which 20 were actually run. Operations was inspected by the 64^th Air Division IG team and received a satisfactory rating.

Equipment Performance:

Communications and Electronics – Considerable progress has been made in the Radar Improvement Program. New equipment was inventoried early in October and construction was started on 10 October 1960. The first construction project was to modify the old tower installations for the new search radar. This included re-routing of steam pipes and construction of footings for columns in the old tower. Construction of this phase was completed in November. The new search radar installation has been completed much to the pleasure of both operations and maintenance personnel.

In October, excess HF equipment was turned into salvage. We now have more room for UHF/VHF equipment.

UHF antennas have been found inadequate for Air/Ground Radio operation. An emergency depot maintenance team arrived 7 November, and command assistance was requested from GADS to obtain new antennas. The station was RNFP 8 December for UHF A/G Radio due to the antenna difficulty.

By November, a new tower had been completed and installation of a rigid radome was undertaken early in December. The radome was damaged by winds in excess of seventy-five knots before the installation was completed.

In December, plans were made to re-install the Amateur Radio Station. This project is expected to be completed by 20 January 1961.

Unit Supply:

Several changes have been made in supply. Tech Supply is now relocated in the TPS-502 tower, Unit Supply is relocated in the building vacated by Tech Supply and Captain John S Poulson, will be rotating at the end of January. 1^st Lt. Bernard L Prior who will assume the duties of supply officer is becoming familiar with the overall operation of supply in this area.

During this reporting period, no maintenance problems have occurred and electronic support from Goose AB, and supply support from Ernest Harmon AFB, have been excellent.

AIO:

One of the four projects approved in the FY 61 O&M program STE 211-1, repair of the station water supply, was contracted to Frank’s Electric in Stephenville. The temporary 5,000 gallon water tank was delivered and installed. The target date for beginning installation of the steam coil has been delayed due to materials.

Approval was obtained for the installation of a two lane bowling alley in one half of the Motor Pool. The contract with the installer was reported ready for signing by the end of the calendar year.

Eighteen projects were submitted to higher headquarters on the FY 1962 O&M Program. Two were disapproved by GADS, three others programmed for the mobile maintenance team. The remaining 13 were submitted to 64^th Air Division with approval recommended.

In the Motor Pool, a UMD change reduced the number of authorized drivers to two. Justification is being prepared to increase the authorization to six. UAL changes are submitted to increase the station UAL adding, among other vehicles, a station wagon, fire truck and a caterpillar.

A contest, open to all personnel on the station, was held to select names for the street in the squadron. Four streets were named, the first being the road leading to the station which was reserved by the Commander to be named Maxey Drive. This was in memory of A/2C Louis W Maxey who lost his life while on leave from this station. The three winners and their entries are as follows:

(see the matrix at the end of this report)

As is traditional, we had a white Christmas at the 640^th AC&W Squadron. The married personnel and their children were entertained in the Service Club at Ernest Harmon AFB at a party sponsored by the 640^th NCO Club and Officers Club. Santa was present and gave presents to all of the children. The airmen of the 640^th were the guests of the officers at a steak dinner with all the trimmings held in the dining hall. They were served a full course meal topped off with home baked cookies, pies and cakes by the officers wives while the officers helped out with the coffee. After dinner entertainment was provided in the form of skits and Christmas singing.

Charles E Hall, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF