Pagwa, ON

913^th Squadron, Pagwa Air Station
Pagwa River, Ontario, Canada

Rogers D Littlejohn, Major, USAF

Radar and Communication Equipment

AN/FPS-20A; AN/GPX-7A; AN/GRC-27 5ea; AN/FRT-501 4ea; AN/FRT-502 2ea; AN/GRR-7 2ea; AN/FRT-503 1ea; AN/GRT-3 2ea; CR-91A 4ea; URG-60 5ea.

Personnel:

During the period of 1 October through 31 December 1960 the squadron gains and losses were as follows: Gains – Officers, 7; Airmen, 55; Losses – Officers, 11; Airmen, 40.

Operations:

The Operations section experienced a heavy rotation of both officer and airmen personnel but through an extensive training program, all weapons controllers except one were upgraded from training to combat ready or a higher skill level. During the period, 19 airmen were gained with a subsequent loss of 13.

Operational activities during the period included an Operational Readiness Inspection by ADC TAC Evaluation Team, which was successfully completed; eleven sector level or higher level directed exercises; and a total of 341 training intercepts.

Renovation of the break-room, including a new coffee bar, had a positive effect upon the morale of operations and other personnel working within the Operations Building. Equipment was rearranged in the DC to provide space for the R4I scopes and equipment due to arrive and be installed soon. The operations office was relocated in the projection room to provide space for a training and briefing room.

Communications and Electronics:

The C&E section received a new officer to take over the duties of C&E Officer. Overall, the personnel manning reached a low ebb during this period, with only 33% of the authorized strength of 43. This resulted in an accelerated program in the Radar Maintenance section to provide the maintenance necessary to insure good radar performance and personnel qualification.

A greater use of rotational stock items of equipment was implemented in order to obtain more hours for preventative maintenance of the equipment. A comprehensive training program was undertaken to qualify the five airmen in the Radar Maintenance section with the AN/FPS-6B equipment soon to be installed. A new public address system (AN/TIQ-2) was received and installed and the Wire Management section was relocated in the old Operations break-room.

HF, VHF, UHF and FPS-20 equipment was modified. A starter motor malfunctioned and burned causing failure of the Receiver Diesel Unit, and a replacement was ordered. Contractor work caused several power failures, accounting for 8 hours of "red" time in October. Guided tours of both radio sites and operations were exchanged by personnel of both sections.

To prevent deflation of the pressurized radome during power failures, a diesel unit was installed in the FPS-20 tower. The rigid radomes and associated equipment for the two FPS-6B towers were erected and accepted by the Air Force, and the installation team was expected to arrive at the station in the near future.

Supply:

The Supply section lost 1 airman and gained 1 airman during the period. All AN/FPS-6B Antenna equipment was unloaded and stored at designated areas as directed by the Squadron C&E Officer.

Air Installations:

During the period concerned, the Installations section gained 3 airmen and lost 2. This period also marked a vast improvement in the field of work control, supply/services control, and office management through the efforts and co-operation of the Installation Officer, NCOIC and NCO’s of the section.

The majority of the major problems encountered by this section have been successfully solved; however, there are still some problem areas remaining. These areas consist of protection of base plumbing in extreme cold weather, street lights are not readily accessible, delays in obtaining supply items from suppliers (lumber, machinery and parts).

Hill-Clark-Francis Construction Company is presently in the process of constructing a multi-purpose type building with a two-lane bowling alley and a new barracks. This company completed a new nine-stall motor pool storage building and two AN/FPS-6B tower foundations and towers. These buildings have been accepted and were ready for immediate use. Plans devoted to several other projects were initiated and were expected to be completed during the next fiscal year.

Provost Marshal:

The Provost Marshal section lost 1 officer, gained 1 officer, lost no airmen and gained 1 airman. 913^th AC&W Squadron Identification passes were prepared and issued to all personnel, and necessary equipment was ordered to enable this station to issue DD Form 2AF locally. No familiarization firing was conducted for squadron personnel because of severe weather conditions. However, lectures were given concerning the use of the M-1 Carbine and the .45 calibre pistol to the Airmen assigned to the Provost Marshal section as augmentation guards.

Motor Pool:

The Motor Pool had no personnel gains or losses during the period. No new equipment was received and no vehicles were returned. The new Motor Pool nine-stall storage building was completed, accepted, and put into immediate use. It is felt that inestimable value will be derived from this heated storage building in savings of equipment and man-hours, especially during the periods of extremely cold weather conditions.

Rogers D Littlejohn, Major, USAF