Hopedale, Labrador

923^rd AC&W Squadron,
APO 434, New York, New York.

John T Nelson, Major, USAF

AN/FPS-3C; AN/TPS-502; AN/FPS-502; AN/FPS-14.

The squadron has been selected to receive a 64^th Air Division "A" award for outstanding accomplishment in the recent ADC tactical Evaluation. The squadron is presently undergoing extensive training for an anticipated tactical evaluation in November 1959.

Operations:

Throughout then1959 third quarter there were no serious operational problems encountered. A total of seven (7) assists were given by operations to aircraft in distress. On 13 July Examine Brown #2 declared an emergency after engine explosion and navigational assistance was provided. On 27 July, after emergency was declared by MATS 13823, Air Rescue was diverted to a join up. On 28 July MARS 71610, declaring emergency, was given navigational assistance and control passed to the 641^st AC&W Squadron. On 28 July Examine Green #1 was vectored to Goose Air Base and control passed to 641^st AC&W Squadron.

On 25 August MATS 21012 declared emergency and Air Rescue was directed to join-up as control was passed to 641^st AC&W Squadron. On 14 September AF 5548 and AF 0146 were both given emergency assistance.

Communications and Electronics Maintenance:

While there were no major problems encountered in radar maintenance during July, the prime search was off the air in August 70 hours and 55 minutes for scheduled maintenance. Sixty three hours and 35 minutes of this time was required to paint and recondition the radome and hatchway on the FPS-3 tower. Also in August the prime height was off the air 269 hours and 26 minutes, 25 hours and 40 minutes of which was spent painting and reconditioning the radome and hatchway of the TPS-502 tower.

Difficulties with the prime search radar continued throughout September. The difficulties were varied – defective switch in the azimuth starter box, inoperative antenna speed position. Total time off the air amounted to 241 hours and 40 minutes of which only 4 hours 25 minutes was used for preventative maintenance. A total of 237 hours and 15 minutes was required for overhauling the set. There was no unscheduled or red time.

In radio maintenance a CMC overhaul team arrived on 15 July to overhaul communications equipment. Only 13 hours and 18 minutes of outage time was experienced, considerably less than previous months. In August, outage time was reduced to 55 minutes on Channel 10 receiver. Outage time in September was reduced to nothing in all communications channels.

Installations and Engineering Maintenance:

The poor condition of site roads caused by the severe winter weather was remedied as roads were graded and levelled during the quarter. Meanwhile, to improve the heating plant, new fuel lines were installed to both boilers. This was accomplished in such a manner that only one meter is now needed to record fuel consumption. As this work progressed, carpenter shop personnel were engaged in constructing partitions for the drafting room, electrical ship and storage room for the Base Exchange. Major plumbing work included repair of the water line to the lower camp. During the month of September the roads to the lower camp were graded and levelled.

Supply:

As the quarter opened, Project Clean House was nearing completion. Approximately 200 tons of miscellaneous items, representing 90% of all retrograde, were collected. This material was shipped out in August and September.

In August the USNS Towle discharged 400 tons of SUNEC supplies during the period 4-7 August. The new property was promptly processed and stored. By the end of August approximately 85& of SUNEC 59 supplies had been received. And by the end of the quarter SUNEC 60 requirements had been accomplished for approximately 1400 line items.

General:

An outstanding personnel accomplishment during the quarter was reflected in the selection of A/1C (then A/2C) Pink J Bunn as 64^th Air Division Airman of the Quarter. Airman Bunn received the congratulations of the Division Commander and was awarded a trip to New York City.

John T Nelson, Major, USAF