Resolution Island, NWT

920^th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
Resolution Island AF Station, NWT, Canada

William R Sickman, Major, USAF

Primary equipment: AN/FPS-3(C) –1– Primary Search; Mark X (SIF) AN/GPX-7A –1; and Primary Height Finder; Back-up search; AN/TPS-502 -1.

Operations:

During the reporting period, airmen personnel strength of the Operations Section remained evenly consistent with the authorized strength. One director, (1744) Lt. James V Atkinson, who was AN/GPA-23 qualified, was exchanged for a director, (1744) Captain Lloyd R Armstrong, from the 931^st AC&W Squadron, Thule, Greenland, in accordance with a directive from Headquarters, 64^th Air Division.

A summary of the hours spent on training and training devices during the quarter is as follows:

AN/UPS-T5: Hours Scheduled 75:00; Hours Completed 105:10
AN/GPA-T2: Hours Scheduled 76:00; Hours Completed 56:00

During the reporting period, a total of one hundred and nine (109) man hours were spent on ECM and ECCM training.

Since there were no live intercepts available for the directors, all intercept training was accomplished on the AN/UPS-T5. Listed below, by month, are the number of simulated intercepts accomplished during the reporting period:

October: 68 Multiple; 166 Single
November: 101 Multiple; 217 Single
December: 74 Multiple; 193 Single
Total: 243 Multiple; 576 Single

Personnel:

The 702X0 and the 622X0 fields, are now adequately manned, however, several other fields are expected to become critical in the next quarter. For example: 551X1, 567X1A, 362X0, 361X0, and 30472's. 64^th Air Division is at present doing all possible to fill these requirements. One each 551X1 was sent TDY to this station during the reporting period to help alleviate a shortage temporarily.

The last quarter showed a normal personnel replacement rate, however, this rate is expected to increase considerably in the coming quarter.

At the end of the reporting period, the Operations Field was over manned in the lower NCO grades.

The retention rate for the quarter again averages approximately sixty-five percent. The majority of the personnel separating were airmen in the lower three grades.

Since the re-organization of the On-The-Job-Training Program, there have been no problems encountered in this activity. This unit placed second in the 64^th Air Division in unit OJT participation. The Unit Administrative Officer was commended for his administration of this program.

The average unit strength for the quarter was eleven (11) officers and one hundred and thirty (130) airmen. This includes personnel of the 1876^th Radio Relay Squadron attached to this unit.

Facilities:

Buildings and Equipment – Project GOS 371-9, Instrumentation of Heating Plant, was 80% complete at the end of the first month of the reporting period. All motors had been installed except the steam flow motor. This requires the service of a registered steam welder, and the installation will not be accomplished until next construction season. Mr. Howard Dyer, 64^th Air Division, made final acceptance inspection on projects contracted to Colonial Construction Company.

Heating Plant – The boiler air team arrived on 16 Oct 59 to re-tube the #2 boiler. Listed below is the amount of fuel oil consumed by month, during the reporting period:

October: 18,932 gallons
November: 22,650 gallons
December: 25,670 gallons

Power Plant – Number one (1) unit in the Pole Vault Diesel Building is deadlined at the end of the reporting period. It will be repaired by the Marconi Overhaul Company. Two Marconi engineers arrived on 28 Nov 59 to determine, if possible, the cause of the short life of the PT injectors in the diesel units. They ascertained that the low injector operational hours were due to faulty fuel oil. The engineers departed this station on 7 Dec 59.

Communications and Electronics:

Radar Maintenance – Personnel status of the Radar Maintenance Section has remained at a satisfactory level during the reporting period. This was due to an even flow rate of incoming and outgoing personnel. M/Sgt. McArdle, NCOIC, was replaced by M/Sgt. Albert S Clark. Mr. Dave Boyd, Philco Tech. Rep., also arrived during the reporting period.

During the month of October, one hundred and fifty (150) parts were placed in the radar equipment, as compared to approximately fifty (50) parts for each of the previous months. This was a result of increased maintenance activity and the goal is to bring the radar equipment to within operating specifications. The Electronic Officer requested Mr. RW Gradwell, Resident Inspector for the Dept. of National Defense, who was assigned to the 64^th at the time, to conduct an inspection of the radar and associated equipment. Mr. Gradwell’s findings in general were that all of the equipment was in need of an overhaul, even though it had been overhauled in September 1958. On December 17, 1959, The Electronics Officer, Captain Walter L Wichita, and T/Sgt. Richard A Harris began an evaluation of the primary search, the AN/FPS-3. At the end of the reporting period, the evaluation was complete except for analysis and completion of the results. During the evaluation it was found that the range could be increased by ten (10) percent by lowering the antenna tilt, without affecting the Quality Control figures. This was out into effect and has worked out very satisfactory.

Listed below is all maintenance performed on the equipment for the quarter ending 31 Dec 59.

AN/FPS-3:
Preventative Maintenance: 163:26 hours
Emergency Maintenance: 5:25 hours
Radome Replacement: 114:40 hours
Evaluation: 24:59 hours
RNFP of Upper Beam for pulse cable part: 288:40 hours
Total: 597:10 hours

AN/TPS-502:
Preventative Maintenance: 58:47 hours

AN/FPS-502:
Preventative Maintenance: 15:14 hours

AN/GPX-7, IFF/SIF:
Preventative Maintenance: 31:30 hours

All other equipment operated satisfactorily during the reporting period with the exception of the AN/UPS-5. Target #5 was inoperative for 37:05 hours during the month of November awaiting parts. The FPS-3 radome installation was completed 4 Oct 59.

Communications Maintenance:

Radio – The Canadian Marconi Overhaul Team departed the station on 25 Oct 1959. A total of 2510 man hours were expended on the overhaul. Evaluation of the overhaul: Unsatisfactory. The following men deserve commendation for the fine quality of their work: Mr. Harry Hague, Mr. John Kane, Mr. William Omera, Mr. J Barfoot, and Mr. Frank Pickles. The remainder of the team’s work was unsatisfactory. One man required 16 days to overhaul a BC-610 transmitter, which proved to be inoperative at the conclusion of the overhaul. The team erected seven different antennas without success, in an attempt to get the equipment back on the air. The DND Inspector, Mr. Roy W Gradwell, arrived 23 Oct 1959 to perform his inspection and he departed 31 Oct 59. On 27 Oct, an ice storm destroyed LF, MF, and HF 61 Net antennas. In addition, the following antennas were lost: Ship to Shore, Net 61 receiver, one VHF AS/5003, and one MARS Hi Gain Tri-Band. Five guy-wires broke loose due to insufficient tension when installed by the overhaul team. However, all antennas had been replaced by the end of the reporting period.

Teletype, Wire and Communications Centre – During the reporting period sufficient personnel were present to complete assigned duties satisfactorily.

Supply and Air Transportation:

During the reporting period, this station experienced on RNFP during the month of October due to a pulse cable part, #N-212718-6, for the upper beam of the AN/FPS-3. One cable was received from the 926^th AC&W Squadron which had been used on their equipment. However, it immediately shorted out. A new cable was received from Goose Air Base Supply on 30 Oct 59, and is operating successfully.

The USNS Sagitta unloaded four (4) conex containers and approximately three (3) long tons of cargo on 29 October 1959.

The project of re-accomplishing all 84B Cards was started on 23 October 1959. The project has been divided into three (3) phases. Phase 1, convert all RCAF numbers back to 16PT, Phase 2, arranging cards in stock number sequence, Phase 3, a complete inventory and re-warehousing of all electronic spares, i.e. all resistors in one area, all capacitors in another area. By the end of the reporting period, the project was well into Phase 3, and the date of completion remains firm at 1 Feb 60.

Over 12,000 pounds of excess redistributed SUNEC requisitions, ammunition and hold baggage was shipped out by air during the reporting period.

The support missions flown by the supply aircraft, a De Havilland Otter, are listed below by month:

(see matrix at end of this report)

Special mention is made at this point of the two Wheeler Airlines pilots, Mr. Jack Hunter and Mr. Dan Dempster, whose exceptional tenacity and flying ability enabled this site to enjoy continuous mail service, plus eliminating the backlog that had accumulated at Frobisher Bay during November. They made many successful trips to the site through predominately inclement weather, and their efforts were greatly appreciated by all personnel of the 920^th AC&W Squadron.

Inspections:

No inspections were conducted outside of the normal inspection conducted by the Squadron Commander.

Morale:

The morale of the station was very good during the reporting period. Although the Christmas and New Year holidays fell during this period, the morale remained high. This was due in part to the presence of Chaplain (Father) Milner, who was present on the site during the holidays. His presence greatly enhanced the morale of the personnel on the site at a time when it would have been at a very low ebb. His presence was greatly appreciated.

Prepared by: Harbin D Combee, 1^st Lt., USAF, Historical Officer

William R Sickman, Major, USAF