Lowther, ON

1958 – Historical Record – USAF Historical Division

Historical Record
639th AC&W Squadron
Lowther, ON
1 January 1958 to 31 March 1958

Section I

REQUIRED DATA
  1. Unit and Location

639th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
Lowther Air Station, Lowther, Ont., Canada
  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Leo R Scoles, Captain, USAF
  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)

    2. Headquarters, United States Air Force
    Air Defense Command
    Eastern Air Defense Force
    37th Air Division (Defense)
  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)

    • None
  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)

    • Mission: To operate and maintain a Direction Center facility as part of the integrated air defense system of the 37th Air Division (Defense) for the purpose of conducting air defense operations within this system".

    Authority: 37th Air Division (Defense) Regulation 24-2, 1-4, 21 April 1958.
  • Personnel
    		•

     

     

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     

     

    Assigned

    7

    110

    7

    124

     

     

    Attached

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
  • 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 less SIF equipment; 1 Video Mapper AN/GPA-30; 4 Radio UHF Single Channel AN/GRR-7 AN/GRT-3; 1 Radio HF AN/GRC-26A

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    The Squadron’s progress to operational status was greatly retarded because of electronic equipment shortages. The radar equipment had been completely installed by the 15th of January but very little telephone and teletype apparatus had been received. The Communications and Electronics section was partially hampered by a lack of cables of sufficient length.

    Esprit de corps and personal morale was extremely high. Community relations were outstanding. Our basketball team, undefeated against local opposition, invited the 913th AC&W Squadron of Pagwa to play a game at the Kapuskasing Community Club. The game was played on the 25th of the month with over 300 residents of Kapuskasing forming an extremely partisan audience. They were overwhelmed by the skill of our team.

    They were equally impressed in a much different manner when our base volleyball squad participated in the Community Club’s league. The "Lowther Men" displayed only the best sportsmanship while compiling a mediocre won and lost record.

    Brigadier General William H Wise, the commander of the 37th Air Division (Defense), made his annual visit to the base on March 17th. He gave the men an inspiring talk and an explanation of the mission of the Division and the part that this squadron would play in it.

    The quarter was concluded with a tour of the site by 60 engineers from the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association. The engineers were very impressed with the tour and repeatedly expressed their thanks.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Leo R Scoles, Captain, USAF

    Signature