Saskatoon Mountain, BC

The Operations Officer for the squadron, Captain Homer H Schindler, was transferred to Richards Gebaur Air Force Base 4 June 61. Captain Paul O Geske was then assigned as the Operations Officer.

M/Sgt. Charles D Bell was reassigned as the NCOIC of training, trading places with M/Sgt. Gilbert G Reyes who then assumed the position as NCOIC of Operations.

Captain Jack R Crawford was evaluated as a Controller and certified combat ready 9 May 61. Captain Crawford was then made Senior Director of the Combat Team.

1^st Lt. John A Pinkston was evaluated for combat ready skilled and certified as skilled 22 June 61. Lt. Pinkston was then assigned the additional duty as Instructor Director.

1^st Lt. GL Morgan was evaluated for combat ready and certified 26 June 61. Lt. Morgan was then made Senior Director of "C" Crew.

This reporting period saw the beginning of the new operations training briefing room located in the bottom of the FPS-6B tower #1. As of the end of the period, the room was not yet completed. All formal training for Operations and Communications and Electronics personnel will be held here.

During this reporting period, the squadron participated in seven exercises. These exercises included a Tactical Evaluation and Pre-Tactical Evaluation for SM-153.

The first exercise entitles 25^th NORAD Exercise 1-61 was 21 April 61. The objective of the mission was to concentrate on ORI deficiencies discovered in the recent ORI of 25^th Air Division. The target force consisted of B-57’s, T-33’s and A-3B type aircraft; however, only T-33’s and B-57’s penetrated our area. During the mission, 13 targets entered our coverage. Of these, there were seven MA’s claimed by fighters under our control. Fighters scrambled for our control were F-106’s and F-89J’s.

The second mission in which we participated was not a normal NORAD Exercise. This mission was to test the vulnerability of the Mid-Canada radar line against air-borne ECM. The test was conducted by an RCAF Team from St. Hubert, Quebec, utilizing our radar and directors for control of their aircraft making the ECM runs on the MCL.

Early in May, the 919^th was required to participate in the Project Mercury flight. Prior to the firing, we were required to place a portion of our radar equipment in the stand-by position.

The next mission in which the squadron participated was 25^th NORAD Exercise 1-61. The mission objective was to exercise each Sector in the Division against low, medium and high level penetration in a maximum ECM environment. SAC aircraft operated in the area jamming ground radar. No intercepts were allowed during the mission on any of the SAC aircraft. During the mission, the targets consisted of T-33’s and B-57’s. Four F-106’s were scrambled for our control, but only one track was committed with the resultant of 1 MA.

Grass Shack 5 was the next exercise held 1 June through 4 June. This exercise was in joint operation with the 28^th and the 29^th Air Divisions. The objective of the mission was to test the capability of the regions against low level and medium level penetrations. Coordination between the Divisions on the mission was stressed. The target force consisted of B-57’s, T-33’s, A-3D’s, E-3D’s, F-89’s, A-4B’s and AD-7 type aircraft. During the mission, F-89J’s were the only fighters scrambled for our control.

On the 15^th of June 61, SPADS conducted an exercise for the purpose of working out difficulties observed during the last ORI. The mission served as a pre-tactical evaluation for SM-153. The target aircraft consisted of T-33’s and F-106’s. During the exercise there were ten F-89J’s scrambled for our control. There were nine MA’s claimed by ORI.

The last mission in which the squadron participated during this reporting period was the Tactical Evaluation for SM-153 from 19 June to 23 June 61. During the exercise, there were again ten F-89J’s scrambled for our control with 20 MA’s claimed.

The station was relieved of its identification function for Mid-Canada line penetrations during the middle of June. All MCL identifications now come from SPADS. As a result, no flight plans have been passed to us from Edmonton DOT for track correlation.

ADC Commendation Certificates were awarded to SM/Sgt. Green and M/Sgt. Seibert for outstanding achievement during the first week of January 1961 when the radome collapsed which housed the FPS-20 radar antenna. (See attachment at end of this report)

During April, SPADS made a staff visit to the base. The visit found the Section in good condition. Colonel Welburn represented SPADS during the visit.

In May, the C&E Section was given a Pre-IG Inspection by Major Roeber.

The 9^th through 11^th of June the 4602^nd Support Wing made a staff visit and found the quality of the section to be very good.

M/Sgt. Seibert departed PCS in June for McChord Air Force Base, Washington. Sgt. Seibert was NCOIC of the Communications Maintenance for the base.

On Armed Forces Day, the 919^th held open house and saw a good turnout by the local population. The visitors were given tours and refreshments during the day.

Once again the base has a baseball team which plays in the Wheat-Belt League. Much interest is displayed in this activity throughout the local area which generates better Canadian-American relations.