Pagwa, ON

1962 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
913th AC&W Squadron
Pagwa, ON
1 January 1962 to 31 March 1962

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

913th ACWRON, Pagwa Air Station
Pagwa River, Ontario, Canada

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

John B McLaughlin, Major, USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. Sault Ste. Marie Air Defense Sector (ADC)
    30th Air Division (SAGE)
    4602nd Support Group (ADC) – (Support functions only)
    Air Defence Command

  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)
  • None

  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • Authority: 30th ADIV Regulation 24-13, dated 3 July 1959
    Mission: To operate and maintain a Direction Center Facility. To conduct Air Defense Operations as part of the integrated air defense system of the Sault Ste. Marie Air Defense Sector.

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Assigned

    18

    173

    0

    191

     
     

    Attached

    0

    0

    0

    0

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

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Personnel:

    During the period of 1 January 1962 through 31 March 1962, the squadron personnel gains and losses were as follows: Gains – Officers, 4; Airmen, 32; Losses – Officers, 3; Airmen, 35.

    Operations:

    During the period 1 January through 31 March 1962, the Operations section gains and losses were as follows: Gains – Officers, 2; Airmen, 4; Losses – Officers, 2; Airmen, 8.

    Facilities and Equipment: None.

    Budgetary and Fiscal Matters: None.

    Innovations, Plans and Projects Undertaken: Steps and plotter benches behind the Vertical Plotting Board were re-constructed to increase plotter efficiency and decrease the accident potential that existed. Racks were constructed and installed for the storage of Headsets and Hand-sets when not in actual use. These racks prevent damage due to improper storage. All Operations Operating Instructions (OOI’s) were re-accomplished to reflect current information contained in various directives pertaining to the AC&W operations career field.

    Personnel Training – Crew training for newly assigned personnel is continuing at a rapid pace and new personnel are able to become a part of the team in the minimum amount of time.

    During this reporting period, the section participated in numerous actual and simulated missions at both Division and Sector level. Actual and Simulated intercepts obtained during these missions areas follows: Actual 464, Simulated 155.

    Communications and Electronics:

    During the period of 1 January through 31 March 1962, the C&E Sections gains and losses were as follows: Gains – Officers, 1; Airmen, 6; Losses – Officers, 0; Airmen, 11.

    Facilities and Equipment: The new SAGE Annex building has been accepted.

    Budgetary and Fiscal Matters: This section operated within their budget for this period of report.

    Problems: Depot Level Maintenance assistance was requested on 15 February 1962. The CAE Team installed the dry seals and gaskets in the azimuth rotational couplet, CV-501/AN/FPS-20A. The equipment outage time amounted to a total of six (6) hours and fifty (50) minutes.

    Innovations, Plans and Projects Undertaken: Project "Tech Supply" was completed during this quarter and was visited by the 4602nd Support Wing Staff Visit Team. The efforts expanded by the personnel of the C&E and Supply Sections were rewarded by an Outstanding Evaluation.

    Supply:

    During the period of 1 January through 31 March 1962, the Supply Section gains and losses were as follows: Gains – Officers, 1; Airmen, 2; Losses – Officers, 1; Airmen, 1.

    Facilities and Equipment: The FST-2B project is approximately 80% on hand. This section has received approximately one-third of the SAGE and GATR equipment. Authorization was received to replace several major items on the food service equipment. Items are on order.

    Budgetary and Fiscal Matters: None.

    Problems Encountered: None.

    Innovations, Plans, and Projects Undertaken: Office equipment was re-arranged and the Petty cash function moved to create a much more efficient operation. Paint has been ordered for interior redecoration and spring clean-up. Construction of bins and re-arrangement of facilities was initiated to establish a consolidated services stock for Installation Engineer; Automotive; Office Supplies and cleaning supplies. Project is 50% complete.

    Civil Engineering:

    During the period of 1 January through 31 March 1962, The Civil Engineering Section gains and losses were as follows: Gains – Officers, 0; Airmen, 0; Losses – Officers, 0; Airmen, 4.

    Budgetary and Fiscal Matters: None.

    Problems Encountered: None.

    Innovations, Plans and Projects Undertaken: Better utilization of shop space and materials have been realized by building a new container to hold assorted sizes of pane glass, and a new lumber rack has been constructed for better utilization of lumber and man-hours. Renovation of the drafting room has increased morale resulting in an increase in efficiency. One corner of the tool storage room was re-arranged to provide a new office from which work orders and PM Schedules are now initiated for better utilization of men, materials, and time involved. A diesel preventative maintenance wall chart is being used to schedule the periodic PM’s. Use of this chart increases the efficiency of scheduling and decreases the time formerly expended searching through logs to compute the running time of the engines. This chart is kept current by making daily entries taken from the daily logs as they are submitted to the office. Bids have been requested by 4602nd on two contracts for cleaning the water storage tank and to repair the security fence on this station. Action is being taken by this section in the preparation for the summer season by procuring additional lawn equipment, and turning in excess equipment that is beyond economical repair.

    Transportation:

    During the period of 1 January through 31 March 1962, The Motor Transportation Section gains and losses were as follows: Gains – Officers, 0; Airmen, 5; Losses – Officers, 0; Airmen, 6.

    Budgetary and Fiscal Matters: None.

    Problems Encountered: None.

    Innovations, Plans and Projects Undertaken: None

    Security and Law Enforcement:

    During the period of 1 January through 31 March 1962, SIO gains and losses were as follows: Gains – Officers, 0; Airmen, 1; Losses – Officers, 0; Airmen, 1.

    Budgetary and Fiscal Matters: No reportable changes.

    Problems Encountered: None.

    Innovations, Plans and Projects Undertaken: The utilization of Air Policemen as Security Gate Guards at Gate Number Two terminated as of 11 February 1962. This duty is now being performed by Squadron personnel on a roster basis, A/1C and below. Air Policemen are performing duty at the Main Gate only, and are responsible for control of vehicle and visitor circulation on the base. In addition, the physical layout of space and equipment at the main gate has been re-arranged in an effort to facilitate administrative and supervisory functions. In so doing, the equipment storage room has been converted into an office, establishing a more favourable atmosphere for the conduct of administrative procedures.

    Food Service:

    Personnel gains and losses for this period of report are as follows: Gains – Officers, 0; Airmen, 1; Losses – Officers, 0; Airmen, 1.

    Budgetary and Fiscal Matters: None.

    Problems Encountered: None.

    Innovations, Plans and Projects Undertaken: Tile was installed on walls and floor in the garbage room in the dining hall. New draperies for the dining rooms were purchased and installed. A new set of China Ware and plastic trays were ordered and received during this period of report. Two milk dispenser cabinets were locally manufactured and installed in the dining rooms. A work order request has been submitted to the Squadron Installation Engineering Section for new tile to be installed in the entrance Hallway and Store Room. Action still pending.

    Medical Dispensary

    Gains and losses for this period of report are as follows: Gains – Officers, 0; Airmen, 1; Losses – Officers, 0; Airmen, 0.

    Budgetary and Fiscal Matters: None.

    Problems Encountered: None.

    Innovations, Plans, and Projects Undertaken: A new sink has been installed but the water is unconnected. The water will be connected in the very near future. The shelves in the treatment room have been installed.

    Administrative Section

    The Administrative Section gains and losses for this period of report are as follows: Gains – Officers, 0; Airmen, 3; Losses – Officers, 0; Airmen, 3.

    Budgetary and Fiscal Matters: None.

    Problems Encountered: None.

    Innovations, Plans, and Projects Undertaken: During this period an on base education program was set up, using materials furnished by USAFI. Three college level courses are in progress through group study; Algebra, English Composition and Psychology. Interest has been high, and it appears that a sizeable number of enrolees will complete the course of study successfully.

    Special Services:

    The Special Services gains and losses for this period of report are as follows: Gains – Officers, 0; Airmen, 1. Losses – Officers, 0; Airmen, 0.

    Budgetary and Fiscal Matters: None.

    Problems Encountered: None.

    Innovations, Plans, and Projects Undertaken: The Base Bowling Alley has installed Brunswick Foul Lights which should improve our quality of bowling, and also help our beginning bowlers learn the game in a more realistic manner.

    Base Exchange:

    The Base Exchange Section gains and losses for this period of report are as follows: Gains – Officers, 0; Airmen, 0; Losses – Officers, 0; Airmen, 0.

    Budgetary and Fiscal Matters: None.

    Problems Encountered: None.

    Innovations, Plans, and Projects Undertaken: None

    Flight Operations:

    The Flight Operations gains and losses for this period of report are as follows: Gains – Officers, 0; Airmen, 0; Losses – Officers, 0; Airmen, 0.

    Budgetary and Fiscal Matters: None.

    Problems Encountered: None.

    This organization flew a total of 90:50 hours in the L-20 aircraft during this period. Flying time was utilized for Chaplain transportation, and for support of the squadron mission.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    John B McLaughlin, Major, USAF

    Signature