Armstrong, Ontario

1959 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
914th AC&W Squadron
Armstrong, Ontario
1 October 1959 to 31 December 1959

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

914th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron
Armstrong, Ontario, Canada

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Wilfred A Hafner, Major, USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. Headquarters United States Air Force
    Headquarters Air Defense Command
    Headquarters 30th Air Division
    Duluth Air Defense Sector
    914th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

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

  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • To operate and maintain a Direction Center facility as part of the integrated air defense system of the 30th Air Division (SAGE) for the purpose of conducting air defense operations within this system. Authority: Duluth Air Defense Sector Regulation 24-6, dated 7 July 1959.

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Assigned

    17

    155

    21

    193

     
     

    Attached

    1

    0

    0

    1

     
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • AN/FPS-3C Prime Search Radar; AN/FPS-502 Back-up Search Radar; AN/TPS-502 Height Finder; AN/GPX-7A Selective Identification Feature; AN/GPA-30 Video Mapper; NE-612 Telephone Center Office; AN/GPS-T2 Target Simulator; AN/UPS-T5 Target Simulator; AN/UPA-37 Jamming Simulator; 2 each M-19 Teletypewriter; 2 AN/UPA-35 PPI Scopes.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Personnel Administration:

    During the quarter this organization had gains of 9 Officers and 35 Airmen. Four Officers and 20 Airmen were rotated to ZI stations for reassignment or discharge.

    The personnel and administration section experienced a loss of 4 airmen through rotation, who were replaced by 4 new airmen with no loss of operating efficiency due to the change.

    The Commander attended a Commander’s Conference at Duluth Air Defense Sector on 24 November 1959. Purpose of the Conference was to receive briefing on SAGE operations and familiarization with administrative and operational procedures.

    Operations:

    In October 1959, 5 new directors were assigned to the section. The director strength for the quarter was 11 authorized with 12 assigned. Eight new airmen were assigned to the section during the quarter. There were 3 NCO supervisory personnel lost with only 1 replacement.

    Two of our directors went TDY to Tyndall AFB as Weapons Controllers with the Fighter Squadron deployed there for tactical evaluation and weapons proficiency at the 73rd Air Division, Tyndall AFB.

    SAGE phasing was begun the latter part of November, necessitating a revamping of the Operations "dark room". The two surveillance scopes were placed on the lower dias and 2 UPA 35’s were installed on the upper dias increasing our control capacity by 50%. A teletype machine for passing of SAGE information was installed directly behind the TMD board.

    An intensive training program for directors and airmen was geared to the needs of SAGE operation. Much of the training consisted of practice forward telling of information to the manual inputs section of DUADS. Several "Think Ahead", and "Big Blast" missions gave much needed live training to the crews.

    Communications – Electronics:

    During the quarter, the AN/GPS-T2, AN/UPS-T5 and AN/UPS-37 Training Equipment received IRAN. This was accomplished by a CAE Depot team 25 October 1959. Site personnel, assisted by a CAE representative, installed a new Motor Generator, PU 5004/TPS-502, on Height Finder Radar AN/TPS-502. Two AN/UPA-35 PPI scopes were received and installed by site personnel. Two tactical telephone land lines and one teletype receiver line were connected between this site and Duluth Air Defense Sector.

    The C&A section was inspected by the 4602nd Support Wing on 21 November 1959, and was given an excellent rating.

    The section gained 1 officer and 9 airmen and lost 1 officer and 11 airmen during the quarter.

    Supply:

    One Supply NCO was rotated to the ZI and 2 airmen were gained during the quarter.

    Additional BOQ furniture. Dining hall and messing equipment was received, including a standard set of chinaware. Adequate stocks of freezable type items were received and stocked prior to the arrival of cold weather to support functions of the organization until Spring. Outstanding purchase request action consisted of the purchase of a 1960 Chevrolet station wagon and repair of the Western Flyer bus. BOQ and airmen dormitory equipment was ordered to replace worn out and unsightly items.

    The transportation section accomplished administrative action necessary to complete movement of household goods of 2 families transferring PCS to the ZI.

    One supply NCO was delegated to assist the Salvage Officer to process salvage. All salvage on hand was identified, categorized and broken down into lots in accordance with existing directives.

    Supply personnel assisted the motor pool in establishing 84B card accounting procedures on stock applicable to the motor pool, as directed by the 4602nd Support Wing which rendered a staff visit during the quarter.

    Air Installations:

    The contractor completed the relocation of refrigerant compressors from the food storage area in the dining hall into the new addition to the building constructed for this facility.

    The construction of an 18 space trailer court was completed by the contractor on 21 December 1959. Four trailers are occupying spaces as of report date.

    A contract was awarded by the 4602nd Support Wing during the month of December for the Ceramic tiling of the kitchen area. This work is scheduled for completion during the latter part of January 1960.

    Motor Pool:

    During the quarter, the Motor Pool gained 2 operators and 1 mechanic with a loss of 1 operator.

    One 1960 Chevrolet station wagon was added to our fleet and our bus was returned from Western Flyer Coach Ltd., Winnipeg, where it underwent a complete overhaul. A Sun Tester was added to our shop equipment. A tool room was constructed thereby making more space in the parts room. Two Chevrolet 3 ton trucks were declared uneconomically repairable.

    The section received an overall rating of excellent during the 4602nd Staff Team visit.

    Air Police:

    The section gained 2 airmen and lost one NCO. The function of Provost Marshal was assumed by 1st Lt. Howard W Beanland.

    The 4602nd Staff Visit Team found no discrepancies for the section.

    Actions concerning the quarter include: 1 vehicle registered bringing the total to 22; 20 security clearances granted to newly arrived military personnel; 2 article 15’s given; several AF Form 49’s, all concerning minor discrepancies were submitted.

    The state of moral can be considered good and a satisfactory general attitude prevails.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Wilfred A Hafner, Major, USAF

    Signature