Cartwright, Labrador

1960 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
922nd AC&W Squadron
Cartwright, Labrador
1 July 1960 to 30 September 1960

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

Floyd J Hoenselaar, Major, USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. Goose Air Defense Sector
    64th Air Division (Defense)
    Air Defense Command

  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)
  • None

  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • GADS Regulation 20-5.
    The mission of the 922nd ACWRON is to conduct Air Defense Operations within the assigned area of responsibility and function as a Direction Center in the Air Defense System.

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Assigned

    15

    180

    26

    221

     
     

    Attached

    0

    16

    1

    17

     
                 
  • 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 (3ea); GRT-3 Single Channel UHF Transmitter (2ea); GRR-7 Single Channel UHF Receiver (2ea); FRT-502 Single Channel VHF Transmitter (6ea); FRT-503 Single Channel Transmitter (1ea); URG-60 Single Channel Receiver (6ea); 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

    During the period of this report, the operations section had the following operational summary:

    Total tracks: July 1932; August 1660; September 1843
    Unknowns: July 42; August 54; September 48
    Training Missions: July 12; August 14; September 14
    Total Intercepts: July 88; August 93; September 184

    In August 1960, the operations section participated in 14 training missions of which 12 were systems training and 2 were live exercises, classified as Big Echo Papa. During the Big Echo Papa exercises, this station attempted 16 intercepts and completed 16 successfully. During August, 46 hours of Electronic Counter Measures and 48 minutes of communications jamming was applied against this station.

    On 10 September1960, exercise "Sky Shield" was conducted. This exercise required on 2 attempted intercepts, but of the 18 fakers programmed for this area 18 were detected.

    On 26 September 1960 exercise "Get Up" was conducted with 12 successful intercepts completed from 12 attempted.

    On 27 and 28 September 1960, the 59th FIS Combat Ready Test was conducted. Out of 56 attempted intercepts 52 were successful.

    During September this Station experienced 93 hours and 45 minutes of Electronic Countermeasures and 1 hour of communications jamming.

    Search and height finder radomes were painted by the Canadian Marconi Radome Paint team.

    The radar evaluation team from Hill AFB, Utah completed an evaluation on the AN/FPS-20A search radar set.

    Construction was started on the tower for the AN/PS-6B radar height finder. At the end of September the tower was 50% completed.

    Canadian Marconi Inside Plant Maintenance Team accomplished the overhaul of the mainframe, switchboard, and associated telephone equipment.

    A request was submitted to higher headquarters for the replacement of the existing telephone line to the dockyard area.

    Ten civilian overhire personnel were employed to assist supply during the summer, they began to arrive on 8 July 1960.

    The first re-supply vessel arrived at Cartwright on 4 July 1960. A total of eight vessels were off-loaded during July, August and September. During the three month re-supply period, no problems were encountered.

    SUNEC 61 ordering commenced on 1 August 1960.

    Approximately 85 tons of salvage were authorized for destruction in accordance with 64th Air Div. Sup 18 to AFM 67-1. Destruction was accomplished during the months of July, August and September.

    A fork lift, 6 x 6 water tank truck, and a Sno-Go vehicle were retrograded during the period. A replacement fork lift and 6 x 6 water tank truck arrived on a SUNEC shipment. The replacement 6 x 6 water tank truck required a new engine and transmission.

    In the second week of August a 150 KVA transformer burned out in the power plant. This transformer supplied all the power to our Ric-Wil water line, pump house, and lower POL. All power requirements are now supplied by three 37 ½ KVA transformers which replaced the 150 KVA transformer that was burned out earlier. At the end of this reporting period replacement transformers have not arrived at the squadron.

    The dirt road from the base to the dockside, approximately 3 miles, was re-surfaced with dirt and gravel.

    A system of dikes was built around the lower POL tanks. This project will alleviate the fire hazard to the village of Cartwright resulting from a broken or leaking tank. Prior to the dike system fuel oil could drain through part of the village.

    On the 1st of September a project was started to remodel the dining and kitchen facilities. A temporary kitchen and dining area was set up in the dry storage loading dock area and adjacent hallway.

    A project to remodel two latrines was started in September. At the end of the reporting period this project had not been completed.

    A project to standardize all signs on base was started and will be completed shortly.

    During the period 26-30 July 1960 the 64th Air Division conducted its annual General Inspection of the squadron.

    During the last two weeks of September, Colonel Victor Milner Jr., Goose ADS Commander and Major General Dale O Smith, 64th Air Division Commander, visited the Squadron.

    Changes in key personnel during the quarter were as follows:

    Captain Raul B Ares replaced Major Albert Trost as Operations Officer who rotated to the ZI.
    Major Floyd J Hoenselaar assumed command on 20 August 1960 relieving Major Thomas L Wright who had served as interim Commander when Major Daniel A Leonesio rotated on 26 July 1960.
    Captain William R Landis replaced Captain Ward A Rose as Base Civil Engineer on 30 July 1960.

    On 6 September 1960 Robert A Fasulo replaced Captain Raul D Ares as Operations Officer who rotated to the ZI.

    Captain Donald H Stensrud relieved Captain Donald H Wimberly who had spent sixty days TDY in relief of Captain Richard H Anderson at Detachment #1, Cut Throat.

    Captain Jack C Shupert replaced Captain Donald W Hylton at Detachment 2, Spotted Island.

    Captain Jack K Allen relieved Captain Charles G Walker at Detachment #3, Fox Harbor.

    Senior Master Sergeant Louie Poirier replaced Senior Master Sergeant Alfred Donnellan as NCOIC of Operations.

    Morale has been very good during the past quarter. The squadron boats have been readily available for many hunting and fishing trips.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Floyd J Hoenselaar, Major, USAF

    Signature