Goose Bay, Labrador

1969 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division

Historical Record
641st AC&W Squadron
Goose Bay, Labrador
1 October 1969 to 31 December 1969

Section I

REQUIRED DATA
  1. Unit and Location

641st AC&W Squadron
APO New York 09677
  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Norton E Byrd, Major, USAF
  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)

    2. Air Defense Command
    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 function as a NORAD Surveillance Station detecting and identifying all airborne objects entering or operating within the units defined area of responsibility; to provide surveillance information to the Commander 37th Air Division concerning unknown, hostile and friendly airborne objects; to flight follow all air traffic operating within the scope of its radar coverage; and to function in a supervisory capacity over three outlying sites.
    Authority: 37ADR 23-2 dated 26 June 1968.
  • Personnel
    		•
       

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

    		  
     

    Authorized

    6

    82

    40

    128

    		  
     

    Assigned

    6

    73

    38

    117

    		  
                 
  • 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 Set, AN/GPX-27 Interference Blanker Group, AN/UPX-14 Radar Interrogator Responder, AN/GRR-7 Single Channel UHF Receivers, AN/GRT-3 Single Channel UHF Transmitters, AN/GRC-27 Multi Channel UHF Transmitter-Receivers, AN/FRT-502 Dual Channel VHF Transmitters, AN/URG-60 Single Channel VHF Receivers.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Command and Administration:

    No significant occurrences.

    Radar Operations:

    During the past quarter, 641 OOP has been in the process of consolidating its functions and administration with the 37th Air Division Direction Center (37 OCC). This has necessitated a considerable amount of changes in filing systems and publications reference systems and has eliminated much unnecessary duplicity. This consolidation is projected to be completed approximately 15 Jan 70 and should greatly simplify operating procedures at this level.

    The squadron participated in five exercises during this period.

    CEM Maintenance:

    This section has been awarded the 37th Air Division Quarterly Achievement Award for excellence in ground radar and is also qualified for award for the 37th Air Division Achievement Annual Trophy under the same criteria.

    Civil Engineering:

    The 8th Mobile Maintenance Team installed a new septic tank during December and has modified the terminal sewage system on the site.

    Station Support:

    Supply – In accordance with "Project Better Living", we have received 25 refrigerators and various amounts of ranch-type furniture which are being distributed to the Airmen’s and NCO barracks. There is a project underway to have all rugs cleaned.

    Dining Hall – A policy has been initiated to eliminate the necessity of returning trays and dirty dishes to the mess hall kitchen after meals. Since we are now fully manned in this section, it is possible to have the KPs perform this function which has increased the Airmen’s morale considerably in this area.

    A new ice machine has been received and will be installed during the month of January.

    Personnel:

    Overall manning in the unit has increased to approximately 92%. We are projected to reach 100% during the month of February 1970.

    Prepared By: Bernard W Pitkin, Captain, USAF

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Norton E Byrd, Major, USAF

    Signature