Lowther, ON

1960 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division

Historical Record
639th AC&W Squadron
Lowther, ON
1 January 1960 to 31 March 1960

Section I

REQUIRED DATA
  1. Unit and Location

639th ACWRON
Lowther Air Station, Lowther, Ont., Canada
  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Arthur A Fox, Major, USAF
  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)

    2. 30th Air Division (SAGE)
    Air Defense Command
  • 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. (30th ADIVR 24-6, 2 July 59)
  • Personnel
    		•
       

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

    		  
     

    Assigned

    18

    189

    7

    214

    		  
     

    Attached

    0

    0

    0

    0

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

    1 Search Radar AN/MPS-7 in Arctic tower; 1 Height Radar AN/MPS-14 in Arctic tower; 1 IFF AN/GPX-20; 1 Video Mapper AN/GPA-30; 1 Telephone Equipment AN/GTA-6A; 2 Teletype AN/FGC-20; 1 Teletype AN/FGC-25; 3 Radio VHF BC640 BC639; 4 Radio UHF Multi Channel AN/GRC-27; 1 Radio HF AN/GRC-26A; 1 Crypto Account; 4 Radio UHF Single Channel AN/GRR-7 AN/GRT-3;

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    The following Officers, replacing Officers indicated, reported for duty in this reporting period:

    1st Lt. Ralph J Maruca, Jr. assumed the position of Communications Officer.
    1st Lt. Jax A Baker replaces Captain Paul V Stahlman as Ground Electronics Officer.
    1st Lt. James N Bower replaces 1st Lt. Wayne H Thomas as Weapons Controller.
    1st Lt. Lee A Smith replaces 1st Lt. Neil E Schultz as Personnel Officer.

    The airmen personnel picture remains stable. Morale remains excellent. Over 100 dependants have joined, the majority living in Kapuskasing. The base trailer park is nearing completion and spaces for eighteen (18) trailers are expected to be available by 1 July 1960. Many families are already buying trailers and parking them in Kapuskasing until the Station Trailer Park is completed. Housing in Kapuskasing, Hearst and surrounding villages remains critical and is expected to be critical for several years. Community-Air Force relationship is excellent.

    Supply actions have been consistent, with high productivity.

    The 4602nd Staff Visit, conducted from 16 to 19 March 1960 indicated an overall rating of excellent for the Squadron.

    Action is pending on modification of the ADCC from the 4602nd Support Wing. The main areas of modification are a reworking of all furniture and the plotting board.

    Rehabilitation of AIO was completed.

    An individual basketball tournament was held in Kapuskasing on 3, 4, 5 March 1960. Teams participating were Ramore AFS, Pagwa AFS, Lowther AFS and a community team from Kapuskasing. The tournament was conducted on a two loss elimination agreement, Lowther AFS winning on the third day.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Arthur A Fox, Major, USAF

    Signature