Armstrong, Ontario

1960 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
914th AC&W Squadron
Armstrong, Ontario
1 October 1960 to 31 December 1960

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

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

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

William H McKinney, 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

    15

    141

    20

    176

     
     

    Attached

    0

    0

    3

    3

     
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • 1 ea. AN/FPS-3C Prime Search Radar; 1 ea. AN/FPS-502 Back-up Search Radar; 1 ea. AN/TPS-502 Height Finder; 1 ea. AN/GPX-7A SIF; 1 ea. AN/GPA-30 Video Mapper; 1 ea. NE-612 Telephone Center Office; 1 ea. AN/GPS-T2 Target Simulator; 1 ea. AN/UPA-T5 Target Simulator; 1 ea. AN/UPA-37 Jamming Simulator; 4 ea. AN/UPA-35 PPI Scopes; 5 ea. GRC-27 VHF Radio; 2 ea. GRR-7 VHF Receivers; 2 ea. GRT-3 VHF Transmitters; 5 ea. VRG-60 VHF Receivers; 4 ea. FRT-501 Transmitters; 4 ea. M-19&28 Teletypewriter; 5 ea. FTR-503&2 VHF Transmitters.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Personnel Administration:

    During the past reporting period, this section lost one (1) officer and five (5) airmen. Also this section gained four (4) airmen. The projected gains will fill all vacancies of the UMD.

    During 19-21 November 1960 this squadron received a general inspection. The inspection report was rendered as satisfactory for this unit on 6 December 1960, and dispatched on 23 December 1960.

    During this reporting period project "Paper Screen" was conducted throughout the squadron and was monitored by the administration section. Two cubic feet of records were eliminated in the personnel section and similar results were noted in other sections within the squadron.

    Personnel records are being screened and brought up to date. The AF Form 7 and 11’s are being re-accomplished.

    Operations:

    During the period of this report, Operations lost four officers and gained two. One officer is projected for January 1961. The Unit Manning Document for officers reflects eleven authorized and ten assigned. Five officers are qualified combat ready – Skilled, four are combat ready and one is in a training status. The section is authorized fifty-six 273X0’s and there are fifty-five assigned. We are presently over-manned with 7 level NCO’s, however this will be alleviated during the next quarter.

    Since the last report, Operations has developed an extensive and detailed training program for all AC&W Operators on formal and informal training. This training program was initiated in October 1960 and a definite improvement in the effectiveness of the operations crews since the implementation of the training program is apparent. In addition there were seven live missions, consisting of 30th Air Division "Think Ahead" missions, "Big Blast" missions and the Operational Readiness Mission "Caper Eight". "Caper Eight" was a 30th Air Division Operational Readiness Inspection for the entire Division. There were four evaluators at this site during the liability period. Operations received two outstanding ratings during "Caper Eight", which were the surveillance section and briefings conducted during the ORI. There were 42 filmed missions conducted during the reporting period. We are still performing several manual input missions weekly to maintain our proficiency in telling rapidly and accurately to Duluth Air Defense Sector. Actual intercept totalled 168 singles and 66 multiples. We are anticipating more intercepts during the coming quarter in that Duluth is now publishing a weekly schedule as to what Direction Center will accomplish the intercepts.

    Anew plotting board and framework has been received and we are now in progress of laying it out preparatory to installing it. We also installed a heavy duty combination type door latch in order to provide better security for the Operations Building.

    The installation of our new height finder is progressing satisfactorily and we expect it to be operational during the next quarter. This will give us greater relative height information which is extremely necessary while conducting intercepts. We are programmed for another height finder, the AN/FPS-26 and a new Radar set, the AN/FPS-27, which will increase our operational capability tremendously. No target date has been released as to when the new equipment will be operational.

    Communications – Electronics:

    In November 1960, our site underwent an Operational Readiness Inspection and an annual 4602nd Support Wing Inspection. Both inspections revealed a minimum of discrepancies and in both instances our overall rating was excellent.

    Technical assistance was requested from CAE on 18 December 1960 to repair our 25KW Perkins Diesel which is our standby diesel for emergency power at transmitters. The ring gear, starting motor and Bendix gear were replaced and the Diesel is not operational.

    The DMCC position has been set up in accordance with ADCM 66-3.

    The tower for the AN/FPS-6B has been completed and we are now awaiting the General Electric Installation Team’s arrival. The AN/FPS-6B should be operational by 1 April 1961.

    Para 5 was not readable. Detail for Supply and Air Police was not readable.

    Motor Pool:

    In October, the exhaust system in the maintenance shop was improved by the installation of hoses which can be attached directly to the tail pipe of vehicles on which maintenance is being performed.

    Transfer of automotive maintenance service stock from the Motor Pool to Squadron Supply was started in October, and completed in early November. Since the completion of the transfer, only a bench stock is maintained in the Motor Pool.

    As a result of the 4602nd Support Wing Staff Assistance Visit in November, the automotive maintenance section received clarification of authorized shop equipment and hand tools.

    In December, major contract maintenance was performed on the 1957 Ford Station Wagon, 1951 Three-Ton Stake-and-Platform Truck, and 1953 Ford Wrecker.

    System for the controlled use of the stalls in the automotive maintenance section, as an automotive hobby shop after normal duty hours, was established in early December.

    During this period, one automotive maintenance technician and two drivers were lost, and one automotive maintenance technician and three drivers were gained.

    Food Service:

    The major improvement noted during this reporting period was realized with the receipt of two new deep fat fryers in November to replace the condemned model.

    The Food Service Section received an excellent rating on all facets of operation, as a result of a Staff Visit by personnel from the 4602nd Support Wing in November.

    In keeping with tradition, the Dining Hall added to the celebration of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with the serving of delicious large turkey and "All the Trimmings" dinners. The dinners were enjoyed by all Air Force personnel, and the families of those residing with their sponsors, in the attractively holiday decorated dining hall. Many complimentary comments were received on the holiday decors, which were ingeniously arranged by the Wives Club for the Thanksgiving Holiday, and the Food Service personnel for the Christmas holiday.

    A definite shortage of Food Service Personnel was noted during this period. Four airmen each with a 62250 AFSC were lost on reassignment, whereas, just one 62230 Level AFSC airman was assigned to fill the losses. The section is two men short of the UMD Authorization of nine personnel.

    Installations:

    Claydon Construction Company Ltd. Is progressing very well with the construction of the dormitory, multi-purpose building, power house extension and the new radar tower.

    Completion date for the new dormitory, multi-purpose building and the tower has been tentatively set for 31 January 1961.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    William H McKinney, Major, USAF

    Signature