Goose Bay, Labrador

1966 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
641st AC&W Squadron
Goose Bay, Labrador
1 April 1966 to 30 June 1966

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

641st AC&W Squadron (ADC)
APO New York 09677

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Donald A Zeine, Lt. Colonel, USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. Air Defense Command
    26th Air Division (SAGE)
    Goose Air Defense Sector
    641st AC&W Squadron

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

  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • The mission of the 641st AC&W Squadron is to operate a Master Direction Center for the Air Defense Command, to man and operate a NORAD Control Center under a NORAD Command, to operate a minor relay communications center, to provide logistical support to the Goose Air Defense Sector’s Direction Center and TROPO and BMEWS Communications Systems which are located on the station.

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Authorized

    19

    150

    15

    184

     
     

    Assigned

    19

    141

    14

    174

     
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • AN/FPS-93A – Two Channel Prime Radar, AN/FPS-90 Radar Height Finder, AN/GPX-7A Radar Identification, 16 Cummins Diesel Generators, 8 AN/GRC-27 Multi-Channel UHF Transmitter-Receivers, 6 AN/GRR-7 Single Channel UHF Transmitter, 3 MF/URG-60 VHF Receivers, 6 AN/GRR-7 Single Channel Receivers, 6 T-5002/FRT-502, Two 225 HP Steam Boilers.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Operations:

    Officer manning in the Operations Section, authorized strength 13, assigned strength is 13. New Officer assigned are Lt. McCaskill, Lt. Davis and Lt. Boller. Airman manning in the Operations Section for this quarter is 33 Non-commissioned officers authorized, 41 assigned; 31 airmen authorized, 37 assigned. There were 10 new airmen assigned this quarter. During this quarter the 641st AC&W Squadron participated in 6 live exercises and 8 STM missions. Training hours accomplished during this quarter, Weapons Controllers 790 hours of Academic and ECM training, Airmen 1,792 hours of Academic and ECM training. During this quarter 6,282 flight plans were processed by this section. There were 26 unknowns, 3 active air scrambles and 620 practice intercepts.

    Communications and Electronics:

    This quarter has had several events of importance occur in the CEM Section. The one that affected the section most was the Inspector General’s visit. With the help of his team the section has corrected most of the deficient areas that led to an unsatisfactory rating. The remaining uncorrected areas are being corrected with dispatch. The 4754th Radar Evaluation Squadron out of Hill AFB, Utah, conducted an evaluation of the Height and Search radars. This evaluation resulted in a realistic appraisal of the capabilities and the limitations of the radar. The Depot level overhaul of the GPA-35 PPI scopes has been completed. This overhaul has resulted in more time being available to train the inexperienced maintenance personnel recently assigned. The Zero Defects Program was initiated within the section. Parts support which has been a problem within the last quarter has eased somewhat with the approach of a new fiscal year. Division quality control also conducted the semi-annual inspection during May. Personnel who arrived during the quarter are: 1st Lt. Carlstead, SM/Sgt. Snapp, S/Sgt. Kiser, A/2C Cleveland, A/2C Corriveau, A/2C Kotlowski, A/2C Lincoln, A/2C Purvis, A/2C Scali and A/2C Truisen. Personnel who departed in this quarter are: T/Sgt. Henn, S/Sgt. Guttierren, A/1C Bybee, A/1C Eckard, A/1C Hines, A/1C Grainger, A/1C Pollard, A/1C Roberts and A/2C Lester.

    Civil Engineering:

    Most routine preventative maintenance jobs have been completed this quarter. The PM program has been hampered by lack of materials which is due to year-end fund shortages. The MMT completed the following projects this quarter: WO 118-66 – Interconnect transformers – BMEWS – 100% complete. WO 119-66 – Repair oil drum loading dock – 100% complete. WO 112-66 – Replace steam and condensate lines under serving line – 100% complete. WO 123-66 – Repair incinerator – 100% complete. WO 81-65 – Install header in cooling system – Power Plant – 100% complete – (Goose Civil Engineering work order completed by MMT). WO 120-66 – Maintain theater – 100% complete. WO 100-66 – Repair equipment removal panels – BMEWS – 25% complete – panels were removed by MMT and are being repaired by support base. WO 111-66 – Maintain and repair kitchen – 80% complete. Awaiting arrival of panelling for completion. Canadian Marconi Company accomplished minor and major overhauls on seven (7) diesel engines during this quarter. O&M Project Status: FY-66 project MEL 2-6, paint interior and exterior of various facilities is approximately 97% complete. FY-67 – Project MEL 4-7, paint various facilities is now under contract. Work should begin in the near future. Personnel losses: S/Sgt. Ezell. Personnel gains: S/Sgt. Turley, S/Sgt. Jackson, A/2C Aikens, A/2C McDonald and Mr. Aiden Ward. S/Sgt. Jackson is assigned in the Preventative Maintenance Section against an authorization for General Maintenance Mechanic, AFSC 35530. Fire Prevention – There was one actual fire this period. This was a mattress fire in B barracks. Seven fire drills were conducted. There were twelve auxiliary firemen training classes and seven indoctrination classes for newly assigned personnel.

    Unit Supply and Food Services:

    The main theme for this quarter was the Inspector General’s Team from Headquarters First Air Force. Both Unit Supply and the Dining Hall were rated as satisfactory. The theater seats which arrived last quarter were installed this quarter by squadron volunteers. New Custody Receipt Listings were received from BEMO during this period. All listings were checked, verified, and forwarded back to BEMO. Action has been initiated to consolidate the present twelve BEMO accounts into six. Rehabilitation of the kitchen area in the Dining Hall has started, but is not yet completed. There has been considerable improvement in the appearance of this area. Contract painters have painted the Dry Storage Area in the Dining Hall as well as the hallways and the Dining Room. During this quarter Unit Supply has lost one airman and gained one. Four cooks have been lost and five gained.

    Administration:

    The most important event of this period was the General Inspection of the 641st AC&W Squadron conducted by Major George H Anderson and personnel from the Office of the Inspector General First Air Force during the period of 7-8 June 1966. This is the first general inspection of this unit since 1963. The overall evaluation of the unit was satisfactory, but there were several areas that were unsatisfactory and these areas are receiving priority attention and will be corrected just as soon as possible. The Air Police Section and personnel, the Communications Center and personnel were lost to the 4630th Support Squadron on 1 April 1966. However, both sections are still housed and supported by this squadron. The Air Police Section still comes under the supervision of the 641st. There were no departures during this period. S/Sgt. Jimmie E Callahan was the only arrival for this section during this quarter.

    Prepared By: Morris Elder, CWO-4, USAF

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Donald A Zeine, Lt. Col., USAF

    Signature