Kamloops, BC

1958 - Historical Record - Anonymous


RCS: AU-D5


HISTORICAL RECORD

of the

825th AC&W Squadron

for the period ending

30 June 1958


Section I REQUIRED DATA

1 Unit and Location

825th AC&W Squadron, Kamloops, BC, Canada

2 Name and grade of Commander

Ralph F. Gerdes, Major

3 Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)

825th AC&W Squadron, Kamloops, BC, Canada
25th Air Division (Defense), McChord Air Force Base, Washington
Western Air Defense Force, Hamilton Air Force Base, California
Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Headquarters, United States Air Force, Washington 25, DC

4 Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)

Not Applicable

5 Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)

Reference message /Confidential/ from WDCBA 7C 1670, dated 4 September 1957. This message directed a caretaker status for the Squadron until operational date of Fiscal year 2/59.

6 Personnel

Officers Airmen Civilians Total
Assigned 4 10 15 29
Attached 0 0 0 0

7 Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)

Not applicable


Section II COMMENTARY

Looking back from the end of June, we see a Squadron still rapidly progressing. Spring rains and subsequent run-offs caused considerable excitement and an additional workload. Several slides occurred along the operations road which filled the ditches and threatened to wash out the road. The small creek which runs southeast of the containment area turned into a torrent which threatened to undermine the foundations of four buildings. Quick action by the Commander, Captain Corning, and Installations Engineer held damage to the operations road and lower area to a minimum.

Installations, shed of the responsibility of snow removal, concentrated on a spring clean-up and building campaign. Two new parking lots were built and graveled. A hard stand for heavy equipment was leveled and graveled. Modification to the lower heating plant which would move the installations office was begun. Several rooms in the General purpose building were switched to allow a larger snack bar and a base exchange with more control and a larger stock. A small compressor house was built outside the dining hall to house the refrigerator compressor which was relocated. The lawn, deemed as a contractor discrepancy, was reworked and reseeded, and appears to be growing. The never-ending stock build-up and replenishment was not neglected. More bins and benches were procured and utilized.

Re-organization of the motor pool was initiated. This was originally under supervision of IEO. Vehicles were de-winterized and prepared for warm weather operation. A motor pool spare parts room was built and shelves installed. Standard Operating Procedures for use and maintenance of vehicles was published.

Supply began to dig itself out of its smothering amounts of paper work only to find itself initiating numerous 104P-3s. Hundreds of local purchase requests were screened and action completed. Service stocks were coordinated and procurement action initiated.

Transportation assumed a role of importance during this period. Numerous articles arrived daily via freight and express. These required appropriate action on the part of the Transportation Officer. Government Bills of Lading had to be processed as well as customs entry blanks prepared. This procedure, though relatively simple, consumed much time.

Various other sections assumed importance during this period. The dispensary was modified and made useable. T/Sgt. Oas, TDY from Blaine AFS, Washington, set up the publications files and initiated requests for authorized medicines and equipment. Special services came into being, and many man-hours were expended here in anticipation of Phase II personnel.

The Dining Hall, with a firm opening date of 15 August, became a beehive. The cold storage cooler, deemed inadequate, was enlarged to permit both a freezer and a cooler. Equipment was cleaned and shined and unnecessary articles removed as well as necessary equipment ordered. More storage area was realized through the installation of center-aisle bins in the storage room. Plans for future feeding of 150 military were discussed and initiated.

Personnel and administration geared itself for an additional 26 military during July. These included Air Police, mess personnel, and additional build-up for the existing sections. Major Gerdes, still TDY, picked up his gold leaf on the 3rd of April.

A visit by personnel of 5 Air Division, Vancouver, BC, brought Operations into prominence, especially when it became known that SM-153 was to be utilized as an alternate Command Post for 5 Air Division.

Communication and electronic equipment installation began during the latter part of May. Several hold-ups were encountered and were a direct result of improper coordination between the Squadron, Ogden AMA, and contractors. To date, 30 June, thirty-five percent of the equipment on both the AN/FPS-6 and AN/FPS-3 has been installed. AN/GTA-6 telephone installation is thirty percent complete. Outside telephone plant is complete except for final testing. Inside lines are thirty-five percent complete, but here again, coordination was lacking and difficulties encountered.

The initial of the Squadron will be that of an early warning station. This will progress to include control capabilities, and subsequent prime Direction Center. The operational date of November 1958 can be met only if no delays in equipment installation are encountered.