Cartwright, Labrador

1960 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
922nd AC&W Squadron
Cartwright, Labrador
1 October 1960 to 31 December 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 an assigned area of responsibility and function as a Direction Center in the Air Defense System.

  • Personnel
  •  

     

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     

     

    Assigned

    15

    174

    43

    232

     

     

    Attached

    0

    0

    9

    9

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • 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); BC-610 High Frequency Transmitter (1ea).

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

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

    Total tracks: October 2188; November 1574; December 1269
    Unknowns: October 54; November 38; December 28
    Total Intercepts: October 191; November 185; December 415

    During this period, the operations section participated in 36 training missions, of which 27 were Systems Training and 9 were live exercises. During the reporting period, a total of 791 intercepts were completed by this squadron. A total of 29 hours of Electronic Counter Measures were applied against this squadron. Exercise "Top Team" was conducted in early November and was observed by Captain Wilson of our MDC. Captain Wilson commended the squadron for its outstanding performance during the mission.

    During the month of November our plotting board was repainted and plans were received for future modifications of the operations section.

    The BC-610 transmitter and associated High Frequency radio equipment were moved from the van into the main building at the transmitter-receiver site. A spare HF antenna was also installed.

    One AN/FTR-502, VHF transmitter and two AN/URG-60 VHF receivers have been installed by the radio maintenance section.

    Wire maintenance section installed 150 speakers for the WRTS closed circuit radio system. Telephones were installed in the upper and lower POL pump houses.

    Teletype maintenance personnel made trips to Detachment #1 and Detachment #2 to repair the machines in use at those stations and to give instructions on the teletype machines.

    The AN/TIQ-3, public address system was repaired, rewired and returned to operations.

    The tower for the AN/FPS-6B height finder was completed in November. No final inspection has been made on this structure.

    The AN/GPS-T4 trainer was received at this station minus four tables and the cabling. This equipment is scheduled for installation in the first quarter of 1961.

    Canadian Marconi Company wire team was on the station to repair the telephone cable to the dockside warehouse area.

    An inventory and re-warehousing program conducted by the supply section of its dockside warehouse was completed 23 December 1960.

    Re-organization of the shipping and receiving section was completed 12 December 1960.

    Diesel oil from the lower POL was pumped to the upper POL to insure an adequate supply during the winter months. This procedure required seventy two hours and was completed 10 December 1960.

    A program to standardize all outdoor signs was initiated and completed in December. A wooden louver fence was placed at the main entrance to the squadron and a flood light was erected to light the entrance.

    A new ceiling was installed in the squadron library along with new book shelves.

    The Mobile Maintenance team accomplished considerable repair work to ready the squadron for the long winter months.

    The Base Civil Engineering activity accomplished approximately 75 projects for maintenance, repair, and improvement of the squadron and answered 203 trouble calls.

    In the week beginning 4 December 1960 a rearrangement and repainting program was conducted by personnel of the Administrative Office on the Orderly Room.

    Changes in key personnel during this quarter were as follows:

    Captain William Borowick reported to the squadron on 15 December 1960.
    Lt’s. James J Graham and James E Trammell rotated to the ZI during this period.
    Senior Master Sergeant Everette R Baker replaced Senior Master Sergeant Poirier as NCOIC of the Operations Section in October.

    Other incoming personnel to the Operations Section included T/Sgt. Irell Clifford and S/Sgt. Earl B Fallwer.

    Major Floyd J Hoenselaar, Commander, received an ADC Commendation Certificate, 12 December 1960 for vast improvement of the squadron outside area.

    In the later days of December three captains in the squadron were informed of their promotion to Major. Captain Donald W Hylton, Captain William R Landis, and Captain Jack K Allen were happy recipients of the news. Captain Hylton’s promotion will become effective 1 January 1961, with the remaining two effective during the remainder of the calendar year.

    Out at Detachment One the shortage of one radar operator has been a continuous problem. When only five men are authorized a shortage of one man continuously is critical. Particularly when the men are A/2C and subject to various details. The home squadron knows of this problem and have sent a fifth man PCS to the Detachment.

    A local modification by the Philco Technician and a Radar Maintenance man eliminated an inherent internal interference which was quite disturbing when high voltage was being applied during maintenance on the 0A-99 PPI scope. The modification was submitted to Philco Canada and reproduced for use at other Gap Filler stations.

    The Supply NCOIC was sent to Goose during October to the SUNEC conference and all but a few of the requested items were approved.

    During October the last surface vessel arrived and picked up the retrograded property.

    Out at Detachment Two a two man Marconi team arrived to assist Detachment personnel in relocating the high frequency radio equipment. Prior to the move this equipment was located on the first floor of the radar tower. Movement of this equipment to the disaster shack, a short distance away from the main building, provide an emergency means of communication in the event that the main building has to be abandoned.

    The Commander, Captain Jack C Shupert reports that on Saturday, the 29th of October, the second monthly commanders dining in was held. It has become a policy for the commander to invite all personnel to dine with him on the last Saturday of each month. This program has been very successful in boosting morale and consequently making an isolated tour a little better for everyone.

    The mobile maintenance team consisting of a plumber, one electrician, two carpenters and one laborer arrived on 26 November 1960 at Detachment #3. They departed on the fifth of December after completing all programmed projects.

    Morale over the past quarter has been good. In addition to basketball games in the motor pool, weather permitting, many men go skiing or tobogganing.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Floyd J Hoenselaar, Major, USAF

    Signature