Saskatoon Mountain, BC

In December the new motor pool storage garage was completed. This new building has facilities for storing 9 vehicles, keeping them from the extremely cold weather when not in use. The new building is located directly across the street from the present location of the motor pool maintenance shop.

Additional work completed in December was the new multi-purpose recreational building. This new structure of modern and functional design boasts a 2 lane semi-automatic bowling alley, photo-processing lab, snack bar and library. The bowling alley and building were officially opened by Major General Von R Shores on the 23^rd of December when he rolled the first ball down the lanes.

The Non-Commissioned Officer’s Club completed work on their new annex room which houses a new bar and lounge with recreational facilities and a dancing area. On the 16^th of December the Officer’s Club also initiated a new facility. The lighting of a new fireplace constructed on the west end of the officers lounge was done by Major Hagan at a party commemorating the event.

The last reporting period has been a busy one for operations at the 919^th Squadron. During this period we participated in five live exercises. The first of these was held on the 8^th of October 1960, 25^th NORAD Region Exercise 4-60. During the exercise we had contact with one target. This target, however, was not neutralized by us due to the fact that we had no fighters available for our control at the time the target was penetrating our area.

On the 21^st of October 1960, 25^th NORAD Region Exercise 5-60 was participated in by our site. In this mission we encountered 6 targets, 3 of which we neutralized with Alpha Hotel 16, 17 and 01, three F-106’s from Geiger Air Force Base. The aircraft used as targets in this mission were T-33’s.

On the 2^nd and 3^rd of November 1960, a SAC/NORAD Exercise entitled "Top Team" was held. In this exercise there were three targets in our area, however no intercepts were made because we did not have any fighters under our control at the time the targets were in our area of responsibility. Two F-106’s from Geiger Air Force Base were scrambled for our control and placed on "CAP", however this was done prior to the time when the targets were in our radar coverage area.

The 15^th through 17^th of November 1960, 25^th NORAD Region Exercise 7-60 took place. We did not see any targets during the mission nor did we have any fighters scrambled for our control.

The 28^th of November through the 2^nd of December 1960, 25^th NORAD Region Exercise 8-60 was conducted. This mission had the station on full recall and was manned in this manner for an 18 hour period. During the mission there were 14 targets in our area. Included in these targets were T-33’s and SAC B-47’s. We had one fighter scrambled for our control, Hotel Kilo 06, an F-89J. This aircraft had a successful mission as he neutralized two targets. Both targets neutralized were T-33’s. During the second wave of strike aircraft, an attempt was made by SAC target B-47’s to jam our FPS-6B however, we were able to get an accurate flight altitude through the jamming. The only other jamming experienced was a chaff drop which affected our presentation on our search radar.

During the month of November two officers were evaluated for combat ready status as weapons controllers. On the 7^th of November 2^nd Lt. John A Pinkston was given his semi-annual evaluation for combat ready status with a written examination and live intercept. Both were completed successfully and Lt. Pinkston remained on the combat ready list. Captain Paul O Geske was evaluated on the 10^th of November and he attained his combat ready status. At the present time there are four combat ready controllers on base, and one who is at the expert level.

At 0001Z 1 December 1960 the track designator for C-21 was changed from RJ 150-199 to YO 450-499. This change was made in order that our station would be more compatible with the Spokane Air Defense SAGE Sector. The YO is a SAGE designator which can be accepted by the computer at the manual inputs level. By changing this designator the necessity of a track having its track number changed from a manual number to a SAGE number has been eliminated.

An attempt was made, with approval from headquarters, to coordinate a workable plan by which we can control CF-100 RCAF aircraft from Cold Lake, Alberta training base. If plans are finalized, intercept training for weapons controllers at this base will be increased. It is hoped arrangements can be completed in the near future.

The operational area of responsibility for control and surveillance for C-21 was changed by a message dated 5 December 1960 from Spokane Air Defense Sector. The area affected is the western sector boundary between Spokane Sector and Seattle Sector. The change was as follows: 59 north 00, 123 west 00. The boundary then extends south 57 north 00, 123 west 00. This boundary then goes southeast to 55 north 121 west. At this point it continues down the 121 west longitude.

On the 6^th of October the teletype cable over the new motor pool storage building had to be raised to prevent it from being damaged. The cable was coming in contact with the roof of the new building and any movement of the cable on the roof could have disrupted service.

The teletype machine in operations was modified on the 2^nd of November to receive manual data information pertaining to aircraft tracks direct from the SAGE computer at sector headquarters.

A telephone was installed in the Hobby Shop on the 6^th of November. This installation was done in keeping with the base disaster control plan. This phone is necessary in this building because it can get utilized as a shelter and a phone is a necessity in coordinating the disaster control activities.

All teletype equipment was overhauled during the period 8 November through 11 November.

There were two personnel changes in the communications section during the reporting period. A/1C Joseph M Atkinson, telephone operator, was transferred to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, on the 16^th of November. S/Sgt. Robert L Carter arrived from Stewart Air Force Base, New York on the 28^th of November as a telephone operator.

Construction of the new FPS-6B tower commenced during the first week of October. In the last week of December the tower was 60% complete.

AFTO Form 88, Facility Inspection Certificate, was signed on the operational FPS-6B radar facility. Only a few days after form 88 was signed, the FPS-6B went ROCP. The parts were received on the 27^th of October which reduced the height error to acceptable limits.

Supply support for ROCP equipment has been excellent. Until recently ROCP items normally took five to seven days to procure. An example of this excellent service was displayed when the FPS-6B went ROCP on the 10^th of November for a transformer cabinet. The part was ordered that afternoon and was received early on the 14^th of November.

The staff visit from the 4602^nd Support Wing on the 25^th and 26^th of October found the Communications and Electronics sections in good condition.

S/Sgt. Hornibrook returned from a TDY trip to Klamath, California on the 20^th of October. S/Sgt. Hornibrook made the trip to augment a radar maintenance technician shortage existing throughout the southern sites of the 25^th Air Division.

A/1C Grizmala also returned from a TDY trip on the 16^th of November. Grizmala was sent to North Bend, Oregon to augment radar maintenance technicians at that base.

On the 25^th and 26^th of October, a staff assistance visit was paid our squadron by personnel from the 4602^nd Support Wing at Ottawa. Their visit found the squadron activities in good condition.

The first week of November the squadron received a visit from Operations personnel from Spokane Air Defense Sector. The purpose of the visit was to discuss problem areas existing between the SAGE Sector Headquarters and the manual sites.

During the second week of November the squadron was host to the pilots of the 498^th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. The purpose of this visit was cross training and orientation for the pilots with a ground radar controlling facility. The visit proved beneficial to both pilots and weapons controllers.

During the week prior to Christmas, Major General Von R Shores visited our base overnight to bring Christmas greetings and presents for all personnel.

M/Sgt. William G Corpe, First Sergeant, was awarded the First Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Force Commendation Medal for outstanding performance of duty while he was assigned to Directorate of Plans and Assignments, Headquarters 25^th Air Division (SAGE). Sgt. Corpe was presented the award by Major Hagan during Commanders Call on the 30^th of November.