Saskatoon Mountain, BC

919th Squadron, Saskatoon Mountain Air Station, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada

James G Barnett, Major, USAF

AN/FPS-20A (1), AN/TPS-502 (1)

The main accomplishment of this reporting period was the improving of base facilities and beautification of the grounds about the squadron and trailer park areas in order to provide better living conditions and increase morale among squadron personnel.

The base trailer park was enlarged. Nine (9) additional trailer parking pads have been constructed. This brings the total number of trailer pads to nineteen.

The base trailer park utility house was completed. Three new washing machines and dryers were installed and are now in operation.

Construction of vestibules for the nine additional trailer pads is well underway and will soon be completed.

Renovation of the mess hall and refrigerated storage room were completed. The air conditioning system in operations building was also completed.

An extensive squadron beautification program was undertaken. Several areas of new grass were put in and a large number of flowers and shrubs were planted.

Construction of a new Multi-purpose Recreation Hall, to include two bowling alleys, snack bar, post exchange, library and reading room, has been approved and should commence in the near future.

Four new buffers and four new power mowers were received. New furniture for the BAQ, BOQ, day rooms, lounges and clubs is expected to arrive soon.

The operations section successfully participated in one Western NORAD Tactical Evaluation, eleven 25^th NADD exercises and one NORAD wide Systems Training Mission providing excellent training for the personnel of the section.

The Tactical Action Plotting Board was reaccomplished to enable better reporting of tactical action. The Vertical Plotting Board was also reaccomplished increasing the section’s capability of plotting traffic south of the station and to correct movements and identification area to conform with 25^th NADD realignment.

The Disaster Control Officer attended a thirty day disaster control course given at Lowrey Air Force Base, Colorado.

Two directors attended the Controller/Director Proficiency Course at Perrin Air Force Base, Texas and received a considerable amount of valuable training.

A large storage cabinet for the storage of Systems Training Mission materials was designed and constructed.

A fourteen foot speedboat was received which completes the delivery of all items purchased with the ADC Grant money.

Another Grant was requested from ADC for funds to purchase equipment for an Automotive Hobby Shop and a Butler Building for storage of boats, motors and other outdoor equipment.

The squadron is attempting to obtain three jeeps from ADC Headquarters or Army Surplus stock to be used for hunting, fishing and other recreational activities.

A dependant assistance program has been established to provide some of the basic housekeeping items for married personnel arriving before their household goods are received.

The facilities of the base library were completed with the arrival of a complete set of Encyclopaedias and a shipment of two hundred library books.

The squadron baseball team is showing off their new uniforms in the south Peace Wheat-Belt league. At present they are in fourth place having won eight and lost twelve games.

Fishing season is in full swing and luck has been with most of the avid anglers. Sturgeon Lake and the streams and rivers south of Grand Prairie and Beaverlodge seem to receive the most attention and produce the best results.

On Armed Forces Day an Open House policy was extended to residents in the nearby communities. Interest in the base and work being performed was shown by the large number of visitors and special interest groups visiting the facility.