Baldy Hughes, BC

1960 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division

Historical Report
918th AC&W Squadron
1 January 1960 to 31 March 1960

Section I

REQUIRED DATA
  1. Unit and Location

918th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
Baldy Hughes AFS, Prince George, BC
  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Major Kenneth Coleman
  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)

    2. Commander In Chief – Dwight D Eisenhower
    Secretary of Defense – Thomas W Gates
    Secretary of Air Force – Dudley C Sharp
    Chairman of Joints Chief of Staff – General Nathan F Twining
    Air Force Chief of Staff – General Thomas D White
    Commander NORAD – General Lawrence S Kuter
    Commander Air Defense Command – Lt. General Joseph H Atkinson
    Commander Western Air Defense Forces – Major General John D Stevenson
    Commander 25th Air Division (SAGE) – Major General Von Shores
    Commander Seattle Air Defense Sector – Brigadier General Frank. W Gillespie
  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)

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

    • Maintain radar surveillance and report surveillance information to Seattle Air Defense Sector for identification and action. Exercise control fighter interceptors within the limited capacity provided as directed by Seattle Air Defense Sector. Render emergency assistance to distressed aircraft.
  • Personnel
    		•
       

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

    		  
     

    Assigned

    10

    108

    22

    140

    		  
     

    Attached

    		  

    0

    		  

    0

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

    Primary Search FPS-20; Height Range Indicator TPS-502; STP Trainer AN/GPS-T2; Fighter Trainer AN/GPS-T4.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Chronological Order of Historical Events for Baldy Hughes Air Station

    30 Jan 60

    British Columbia Telephone Company increased the rates of Prince George trunk line to $317.00 per month.

    An extension was made to the Base Exchange and is now considered to be one of the top Exchanges on the Pinetree Line.

    5 Feb 60

    Construction is now scheduled to start on the proposed $120,000 Multi-Purpose building in the spring with the opening hoped for by September. The building will include a bowling alley, basketball court, snack bar, theatre, barber shop, library, dark room and hobby shop.

    13 Feb 60

    Airmen of Baldy Hughes "Marched for Dimes" to lend a helping hand to the Prince George March of Dimes for the Children’s Hospital of Vancouver. The monies collected were presented to the President of the Prince George Guild to Children’s Hospital.

    14 Feb 60

    Ginter Construction Company completed construction of one FPS-6B Radar Tower.

    15 Feb 60

    Two civilian C&E augmentation personnel were assigned to Radar Maintenance which relieved the shortage of maintenance personnel.

    17 Feb 60

    A big remodelling project has begun for the Airmen’s Lounge. The lounge is in the process of being transformed into the "San Francisco Room". There will be cable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge on the wallpaper, menus from the city’s famous restaurants on the wall, and mahogany panelling and indirect lighting as special features. Completion date should be the first week of April.

    20 Feb 60

    Supply has been busy requisitioning supplies to bring the squadron facilities to the highest possible standard. New tables and chairs have replaced the outdated furniture in the Dining Hall.

    25 Feb 60

    Testing began on equipment in the Communications Sections to bring it up to SAGE specifications in accordance with ADCM 66-7.

    29 Feb 60

    Much interest has been created in a new sport to the majority of squadron personnel. The sport is curling and the base has two teams entered in the Prince George Commercial League.

    1 Mar 60

    On this date at 0001Z this squadron comes under the operational control of the Seattle Air Defense Sector (SAGE). The 918th has been operationally responsible to the 823rd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron. The manual inputs system to SAGE has presented many problems, but they are being ironed out with the Seattle Air Defense Sector.

    Radar Maintenance was placed under SAGE Maintenance Control, Seattle Air Defense Sector and a Maintenance Control Center (MCC) is partial operational. Complete organization of the Maintenance Control Center will be as outlined in 25th Air Division (SAGE) Maintenance Electronics Plan Number 1-60.

    15 Mar 60

    Equipment for one Radar Search Set AN/FPS-6B has been received and is awaiting installation by Philco.

    17 Mar 60

    Supply and the Unit Fund have purchased numerous supplies for Special Services. Skates, rods, reel and many other articles has made Special Services extremely valuable to the squadron.

    18 Mar 60

    The highlight of the period was a visit to operations by the new Commander of the Seattle Air Defense Sector, Brigadier General Frank W Gillespie and several members of his staff. As a result of this visit a better understanding was reached on the SAGE manual inputs systems.

    30 Mar 60

    A WNR Exercise was conducted and this squadron had no major difficulties in functioning under the mission of Manual Inputs to the Seattle Air Defense Sector.

    31 Mar 60

    Modification instructions were received for the NE-612 equipment to prevent trouble from idle line terminations.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Henry C Bussell, Captain, USAF

    Signature