Saskatoon Mountain, BC

1960 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division

Historical Report
919th AC&W Squadron
1 July 1960 to 30 September 1960

Section I

REQUIRED DATA
  1. Unit and Location

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

Ben M Hagan, 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

    10

    128

    16

    154

    		  
     

    Attached

    0

    0

    0

    0

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

    GPS-T2, GPS-T2A, UPA-37, AN/FRT-502, AN/URG-60, AN/FRT-503, AN/FRT-501, CR-91A, T-282, T-217, R-36/C, R-278B.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Installations:

    The base expansion and building program continued to move rapidly. A multi purpose building was started in July to be finished on/or about 1 December 1960. A new vehicle storage building was started in July and will be finished on/or about 1 November 1960. There is an addition being made to the base steam heating plant which was started in July and to be finished on/or about 1 November 1960. Construction of the new AN/FPS-6 rigid dome radar tower was started 1 September which is to be finished on/or about 1 December 1960. Two miles of access road from Alberta Highway Number 2 up Saskatoon Mountain is being resurfaced by the Alberta Department of Highways. This work began in September and should be finished on/or about 1 November 1960. A contract has been let to construct a Butler Building which is to be placed over the fuel transfer pumps at the power plant. A staff visit from Ottawa was made on 19th, 20th and 21st of August 1960 for a Fire Marshal inspection of our facilities.

    Operations:

    Personnel Gains –

    There have been three new Weapons Controllers assigned to this base since 1 July 1960. These are: Captain Paul O Geske, 1st Lt. Edward R Berg, and 2nd Lt. John A Pinkston. There have also been two new NCO’s assigned to operations: M/Sgt. Charles D Bell, NCOIC Operations and M/Sgt. Gilbert G Reyes, NCOIC Operations Training.

    During the period from 1 July 1960 until 30 September 1960 the operations section has been busy with many live missions and division wide exercises. Fighters are now being sent to the Canadian sites each Tuesday for our control and training. There has been a combat team established in operations and is working very satisfactorily. On 10 September 1960 this base participated in a NORAD ADC wide exercise, "Sky Shield".

    Communications and Electronics Section:

    Personnel Gains –

    There have been two officers assigned to the Communications and Electronics section since 1 July 1960. 1st Lt. John D Kavinsky, Communications and Electronics Officer and 1st Lt. James E Mullady, Ground Electronics Officer. There has also been one NCO assigned since 1 July 1960. M/Sgt. Benjamin I Greene Jr., NCOIC Communications and Electronics Section.

    M/Sgt. Jerome D Siebert received his first Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Force Commendation Medal by Special Order number 26, Headquarters 25th Air Division, dated 19 August 1960. On the 11th of August 1960, the AN/FPS-6B was tested for acceptance, however, the antenna could not be levelled due to a tower deficiency. Acceptance is pending further action by Ground Electronics Engineering Installations Agency.

    Special Services:

    Special Services received a one quarter ton jeep from Mount Ranier Ordinance Depot. The vehicle will be used for recreation only and will be maintained by the unit fund. Additional outdoor recreation facilities have been installed since 1 July 1960 and are as listed: Horse Shoe Pit, Badminton Court, and Volleyball Court.

    Additional recreation and sports equipment was purchased by the ADC Welfare grants and they are as follows: Automotive Hobby Shop equipment, Shotguns and rifles, Lyman reloading equipment.

    The 919th Squadron is now publishing a monthly newspaper, "The Eagle", by S/Sgt. Grant Garvin.

    Air Police and Security Section:

    A weapons range was completed on the 8th of September 1960 for all base personnel. New decals for the privately owned vehicles have been ordered. The decals were issued to all personnel whose cars meet inspection requirements. All permanent party personnel are required to have a decal. In order for the base to increase its security program, security badges are being made and all persons must have a badge to enter the restricted areas. Visitors will be given special permission and will wear a visitors pass.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Ben M Hagan, Major, USAF

    Signature