Cartwright, Labrador

1959 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division

Historical Record
922nd AC&W Squadron
Cartwright, Labrador
1 October 1959 to 31 December 1959

Section I

REQUIRED DATA
  1. Unit and Location

922nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron,
APO 433, New York, New York
  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Daniel A Leonesio, Major, USAF
  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)

    2. 4732nd Air Defense (Group)
    64th Air Division (Defense)
    Air Defense Command
  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)

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

    • 4732nd Air Defense Group, Regulation 20-3
    The mission of the 922nd ACWRON is to conduct Air Defense Operations within the area assigned by Headquarters, 64th Air Division (Defense) and function as a GCI station in the Air Defense System.
  • Personnel
    		•
       

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

    		  
     

    Assigned

    14

    160

    37

    211

    		  
     

    Attached

    0

    30

    1

    31

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

    AN/FPS-20A Search Radar (1ea); AN/FPS-14 Search Radar (3ea); AN/TPS-502 Height Finding Radar (1ea); GRC/27 Multi-Channel UHF Transmitter and Receiver (4ea); GRT-3 Single Channel UHF Transmitter (4ea); GRR-7 Single Channel UHF Receiver (4ea); FRT-502 Single Channel VHF Transmitter (4ea); FRT-503 Single Channel Transmitter (1ea); URG-60 Single Channel Receiver (5ea); BC-639 Single Channel VHF Receiver (3ea – 1 at each detachment); BC-640 Single Channel VJF Transmitter (3ea – 1 at each detachment).

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    The Ric-Wil line which had been in poor shape since last spring has been repaired. A mobile maintenance team from 64th Air Division completed repairs during November.

    Work on Project GOS 403-9, Tile in Latrines, was halted in December due to bankruptcy of TDK Rooney Company. Work at this time was 65% completed. Other TDK Rooney Contracts not completed are: GOS 365-9, Explosion Proof fixture in POL pump house (40% completed) and GOS-315-8 Modify Fire Detector System (75% completed).

    The following changes in key personnel were made during this period: Captain Ward A Rose replaced Captain Marion C Mickelson as Installation Engineer. Captain Mickelson has returned to the States. Captain Albert G Trost replaced Captain Robert W Hopkins as Operations Officer. Captain Hopkins was assigned to the 926th ACWRON as Operations Officer of that squadron. Master Sergeant Lake R VanReenan replaced Master Sergeant Thomas J Harrison as First Sergeant. Sergeant Harrison has returned to the States. Lt. James J Graham has arrived as a director. Captain Norbert Hoerl and Lt. Donald E Mead have returned to the States.

    Supply functions for this period have been normal. The USNS Sagitta and USAF C-50 made their final trips during November. The Sagitta has gasoline and oil in addition to general cargo. The C-50 had general cargo and received the FPS-3 set that was being shipped out.

    On the first of November the 22nd Helicopter Squadron at Goose Air Base quit supplying this squadron. The resupply by helicopter is now under contract with Wheeler-Darvel Airlines.

    The Squadron’s performance of its assigned mission has remained high during the quarter. We have increased the number of scopes in the Operations room, and the communications is being reworked to improve efficiency. During live missions we now have one track initiator and two track monitors. During this period one director was upgraded to Skilled.

    The radar equipment has operated very well over the past quarter. Quality Control checks are carefully taken and the median for these is now 97% on the FPS-20A. Part of the HRI wave guide was replaced and this has also increased the range pickup on this equipment.

    "December Bride" missions were resumed during October. The squadron also ran a "Cue Ball" mission. The squadron participated in the ORI’s for the 640th and 641st ACWRONs. During December Exercise "Quick Kick" was conducted. This exercise involved approximately 200 aircraft over a forty-eight hour period.

    Installation of the ECM Acter AN/GPS-T2A was completed in November 1959. Upon completion of the installation, the Sylvania engineer, Mr. Robert H Fish, conducted two OJT classes for maintenance personnel, demonstrating proper alignment and preventative maintenance procedures.

    Mr. James Young, the Bendix Field Engineer completed a series of four formal OJT classes on the AN/FPS-20A. 95% of the assigned radar maintenance personnel successfully completed this course.

    One GRC-27, one FRT-502, one UCR-60 and associated equipment were installed in the vacated FPS-502, radar tower in accordance with 64th Air Division directive for the purpose of experimenting to determine if there would be any blind spots in radio coverage with equipment so located. A "Spotted Dog" check is now being made. At present the limited number of tracks prohibits conclusive determination of radio coverage. Once sufficient information can be learned from the "Spotted Dog" check, the feasibility of locating more radio gear in the vacated tower will be studied.

    Morale has been good over the last quarter. The leather craft and photo lab have been in constant use. The Squadron has received two shuffle board tables and two bumper pool tables. These tables will be placed in a new recreation room now being painted and fixed with florescent lights.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Daniel A Leonesio, Major, USAF

    Signature