Saskatoon Mountain, BC

1960 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division

Historical Report
919th AC&W Squadron
1 April 1960 to 30 June 1960

Section I

REQUIRED DATA
  1. Unit and Location

919th Squadron, Saskatoon Mountain Air Station, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
  1. Name and Grade of Commander

James G Barnett, Major, USAF
  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)

    2. Administrative: 25th Air Division, WADF, ADC, NORAD
    Logistical: 4602nd Support Group (ADC)
  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)

    • None
  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)

    • To maintain radar surveillance for the purpose of providing early warning, identification, and continuous intelligence of all air activity detected within our assigned area of responsibility and to conduct training for the effective accomplishment of this mission.
  • Personnel
    		•
       

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

    		  
     

    Assigned

    9

    110

    16

    135

    		  
     

    Attached

    0

    0

    0

    0

    		  
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
    •

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

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    A building program continued to progress during this reporting period. Construction of a Rigid Radome on the FPS-6 Tower was started and installation of the FPS-6 is well underway. The C&E Section is stringing cable for the FPS-6 and a newly arrived UPA-35, universal scope. By the end of the next reporting period the FPS-6 installation should be complete. The Crypto Center built a new bench and put in a new floor.

    At end of report in May 1960, the Non-commissioned Officer’s Club was opened with full ceremonies by Major Barnett. This club had just been completely renovated and is now a club to be proud of. The ceremonies were attended by the Mayors of the two local communities, their wives, the Officers and wives of the squadron, as well as all the members of the station.

    In April 1960, the 4602nd Support Wing at Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, sent their team to this squadron for a Staff Assistance Visit. This squadron received a rating of excellent. In the same month 25th Air Division came to this Squadron on a staff visit and Pre-IG inspection. Colonel WD Zapponi, the Director of Communications and Electronics at 25th was the team leader. The Squadron’s rating as a whole was excellent, the Communications-Electronics Shop and the Heating and Power Plants were outstanding.

    During the month of June 1960, the 25th Air Division’s Inspector General Team looked over the squadron and again the squadron scored high. The rating given to the station as a whole was excellent to bordering outstanding with Personnel, C&E, and Food Service given an outstanding.

    The Operations Section was very busy during this period with seven exercises of various types being encountered. One of these being an actual alert. The Base Defense Plan was tested and everything worked smoothly. In April 25 NADD Exercise 7-6 and Western Exercise :Great Hope". There were four fighters scrambled for this station but all aborted. On 15 May 1960 a condition "1" put this station on an actual status and then a condition two. Western NORAD Region Exercise "Redhead" was also run during May. In June this station participated in Exercise 9-60, STM 707, and Desk Top III. Fighters started working with this site and averaged of about 8 to 10 intercepts a week.

    Technical Sergeant Raymond J Reetz and Staff Sergeant Jack C Shuler received the Air Force Commendation Medal on 24 June 1960.

    The last day of June was Major Barnett’s last day at this squadron. On 1 July 1960, Major Ben N Hagan is taking command.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    James G Barnett, Major, USAF

    Signature