Goose Bay, Labrador

1967 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
641st AC&W Squadron
Goose Bay, Labrador
1 April 1967 to 30 June 1967

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

641st AC&W Squadron
APO New York 09677

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Lee M Trowbridge, Lt. Colonel, USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. Air Defense Command

    First Air Force
    37th Air Division

  • 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 establish and maintain the functions necessary to provide the Commander, 37th NORAD Division with an operational combat control force, to exercise operational control over all air defense forces assigned, attached or otherwise made available by proper authority, within assigned area of responsibility, and to function as a NORAD Control Center.

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Authorized

    15

    146

    20

    181

     
     

    Assigned

    11

    157

    23

    199

     
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • AN/FPS-93A – Two Channel Prime Radar, AN/FPS-90 Radar Height Finder, 0A840A/GPX-7A Radar Identification, 16 Cummins Diesel Generators, 8 AN/GRC-27 Multi-Channel UHF Transmitter-Receivers, 6 AN/GRR-7 Single Channel UHF Transmitters, 3 MF/URG-60 VHF Receivers, 6 AN/GRR-7 Single Channel Receivers, 6 T-5002/FRT-502, 1 AN/GPX-27, Two 225 HP Steam Boilers.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Operations:

    During this quarter 1 Lt. Theodore departed PCS bringing the Officer manning structure down to its authorized level of 5. There are 85 enlisted personnel authorized with 84 assigned. In May, an Operational Evaluation was conducted by NORAD and the section was rated as satisfactory. There were 3 live exercises, ten live ECM training missions and nine STMs. There were 4,774 flight plans processed by this section for the quarter. Further there were 22 unknown tracks in the complex, 373 practice intercepts, no active Air Defense scrambles and no practice scrambles.

    Communications and Electronics:

    The CEM section had two officers, Captain Edward L Lussier and Captain James E Carlstead depart the station PCS with one officer, 1st Lt. Robert H Watkins reporting for duty. The authorized officer manning remains at two, with two assigned. One contract technical services slot was converted to a civil service slot with Mr. Richard B Quimby replacing Mr. Raymond Gagnon in that area. Eleven enlisted men departed the station with ten enlisted men reporting for duty. Authorized airman manning remains forty-two with forty-one assigned. The search radar (FPS-93A) was subject to Depot Level Maintenance during this quarter. The entire unit was thoroughly cleaned. All system components were checked and defective components were replaced. The Klystron coolant system was completely overhauled. Also, a new azimuth drive motor and gear reduction assembly was installed in the system. The radar set was finally aligned and made fully operational. The Interrogator Set (UPX-14) was also subject to Depot Level Maintenance during this quarter. The unit was thoroughly cleaned and overhauled. All Video Decoders (GPX-7A) were cleaned and overhauled. Two individual SIF Decoders (KY-118) and one common SIF Decoder (KY-120) were replaced with rotational spares. Three new sub-components were installed in the Height Radar (FPS-90) during this quarter; a pressure dehydrator (HD-187), a voltage regulator (CN-187) and a pulse transformer (T-601). Three Plan Position Indicators (UPA-35) were moved from position upon receipt of deletion instructions. These units will be shipped out as soon as some disposition instructions are received. Installation of the radio antenna couplers (CU-547) was completed during this quarter. These units are fully operational with two units "on line" and one unit as "back-up". These units will permit four transmit-receive inputs to a single antenna. Reconfiguration of the antenna farm for use with these couplers is presently being attempted. Two UHF channels (31 and 32) were deleted during the quarter. Excess equipment generated by these deletions is being disposed of.

    Civil Engineering:

    During this quarter one officer, Captain George E Adams, departed PCS with one office, 1st Lt. Thomas F Parsons reporting for duty. Officer manning remained at one officer with one assigned. Two airmen and one civilian departed with three airmen and one civilian reporting for duty. This section accomplished all routine preventative maintenance with the following results: MEL 119-65, electrical facilities maintenance, 65% complete; MEL 11-66, rehabilitation of kitchen area, Bldg S-1577, 96% complete; MEL 107-66, ceiling repair, Bldg S-1579, 2% complete; MEL 116-66, repair stairways S-1570 and S-1571, 30% complete; MEL 129-67, repair Day Room, S-1570, 100% complete. The Canadian Marconi Corporation performed inspection and repair to refrigeration and air conditioning control systems. They also performed the semi-annual Inspection on the No Break, power system and made necessary repairs. The following O&M projects are still in the planning and design stages: MEL 3-7, water line construction; MEL 3-8, painting and MEL-4-8, maintenance of roadways and parking areas. All heating and power plant equipment was 100% operational.

    Station Support:

    During this quarter Captain James A Harper departed and was replaced by 1st Lt. Norman V Morris. All material located in Civil Engineering bench stock, located in supply was inventoried, labelled and brought up to standards. The cost reduction goal was reached and affected property was turned in to Base Supply. A project was initiated to turn in supply excesses and a large volume of material determined to be excess has been turned in to Base Supply. Ten washers have been ordered for the squadron and a valid due in now exists.

    Administration:

    Lt. Colonel Donald A Zeine, Squadron Commander departed PCS and was replaced by Lt. Colonel Lee M Trowbridge. M/Sgt. Jacob B Fry was transferred to Detachment 1, HQ 37 AD and was replaced by M/Sgt. John B O’Malley as Squadron First Sergeant. The unit was evaluated by NORAD and a lengthy Disaster Preparedness exercise was accomplished and rated as exceptional. Command Management programs and improved squadron management programs were re-accomplished and initiated respectively.

    Food Services:

    Improved housekeeping, minor painting and repair were accomplished in the dining hall with no other noteworthy events.

    Security and Law Enforcement:

    One enlisted man departed the station with one reporting for duty. There were no noteworthy events during the quarter.

    Medical:

    M/Sgt. Harvey Hudson departed the station PCS and was replaced by T/Sgt. Harlan Littleton as NCOIC of the Site Dispensary.

    Prepared By: Francis B Brake, Captain, USAF, Historian

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Lee M Trowbridge, Lt. Col., USAF

    Signature