Saglek, Labrador

1967 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
924th AC&W Squadron
Saglek, Labrador
1 October 1967 to 31 December 1967

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

924th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
APO New York 09439

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Jerry G Smith, Captain, USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. 37th Air Division
    First Air Force
    Air Defense Command

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

  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • The mission of the 924th AC&W Squadron is to conduct air defense operations within assigned area of responsibility; support the Melville NORAD Control Center; function as a Surveillance Station with limited control capability in the air defense system; operate and maintain the air strip at Saglek Bay, Canada.
    37th Air Division Regulation 23-7

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Authorized

    6

    80

    51

    137

     
     

    Assigned

    5

    63

    37

    105

     
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • 1 AN/FPS-93A; 1 AN/UPX-14; 1 AN/GPS-T2/T2A; 2 AN/UPA-35; 5 OA-175; 1 GPX-7A; 1 GPA-30; 4 GRC-27; 6 FRT-502; 3 URG-60; 1 BC-610; 3 SP-600; 1 GTA-6.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Civil Engineering Branch:

    Civil Engineer’s IG inspection overall rating was Satisfactory with Outstanding ratings bestowed on the station power and heating plants and Fire Prevention Program. On 4 Oct 1967, winds were in excess of 200 knots. These winds tore off an 8’ x 12’ section of roofing and tore a large hole in the north wall of the gym. On 7 Dec 1967, high winds struck again in excess of 200 knots. An 8’ x 16’ section of roofing was torn off the gym. In both cases repairs were completed in two (2) days. The Mobile Maintenance Team completed various repairs and projects while on station, including the project which consisted of modifying the gym exterior north wall to lessen the possibility of high wind damage. The team departed 21 Nov 1967. The road to Lower Camp has been open to wheeled vehicle traffic from 13 Sep 67 to 13 Dec 67, a first at Saglek. Heavy snow and poor visibility forced a temporary closure during Saglek’s worst storm that lasted from 12 Dec to 15 Dec 1967. During this reporting period the Squadron received a Two Year Safety Certificate for non-reportable accidents.

    Personnel and Administrative Branch:

    During the quarter, 1 October through 31 December 1967, the Orderly Room experienced significant changes in personnel. The Commander, Lt. Colonel Dahly, departed PCS on 30 November. Captain Smith assumed command on that date until the arrival of the new Commander Major Fieder, who is expected in early January. A/1C Soinski also left PCS during this period. Shortly after his departure, he was selected as Airman of the Quarter for the preceding quarter. The OJT program throughout the quarter was praised by First Air Force for its outstanding results. Because of this achievement the unit was on the 1st Air Force OJT Honor Roll the entire quarter. The squadron was inspected by the 1st AF IG Team during 9-12 October. The IG team was highly impressed with the effectiveness and operational capability of the unit. The high regard of the unit was reflected in the IG report, which contained a few major discrepancies.

    Medical Services Branch:

    There were a total of 173 patients seen during this period. Five patients were referred to Goose AFB for further treatment. One patient was sent to Westover AFB Hospital for more tests, but is expected to return to duty shortly. One hour of buddy care was given. The losses for this period was T/Sgt. Billy E Garnett. There were no gains.

    Operations Branch:

    The 924th AC&W Squadron Operations Branch participated in five live exercises and seven systems training missions during this quarter. In addition the unit ran five internal systems training exercises. One hundred percent of academic training requirements were accomplished. A change of Operations Officers occurred during this period. 1st Lt. Jack W Gregg, Jr. replacing Captain Richard R VanderSlik. Eight airmen were assigned in this quarter. Seven NCOs and seven airmen departed on PCS.

    Information and Recreation Branch:

    During this quarter several new improvements were realized, including the recovering of the pool table, repair of the stereo console and the arrival of some new equipment. The basketball team played in the Turkey Tournament at Goose Air Base. A sportsman Plaque was awarded to the squadron for the team. The Information Office submitted its annual scrap book on the American Heritage Program. Saglek IO won first place (ADC) for its contribution, in the radio and TV publicity campaign. Information Officer (additional duty) Captain Richard VanderSlik departed this station and was replaced by 1st Lt. Jack Gregg.

    Armed Forces Radio and Television – The AFRTS facility still continues to experience maintenance and supply problems. Sgt. Tony Roach from CFLA-TV at Goose came to realign, adjust, and repair malfunctioned TV equipment. Five hours "off the air" time was necessary for maintenance repairs. Losses: Sgt. Barry Hobart returning to civilian life and station manager T/Sgt. George E Landry assigned to Maxwell AFB. Gains: Sgt. Mike Lieb and Sgt. Roger Hargens. Seven home town news releases were sent to Tinker AFB for further dissemination. Five stories were sent to 37th Air Division for further dissemination.

    Communications and Electronics Branch:

    Supervision – During this quarter several changes were made in supervision due to PCS’s. AM/Sgt. Howard L Hanks assumed the duty as MCC Supervisor, M/Sgt. Ralph Jones took over as NCOIC of Radio Maintenance and M/Sgt. John A MacDougall took over as Radar Maintenance NCOIC.

    Radar Maintenance – Two AN/GPA-127 scopes were removed and prepared for shipment. TCTO 31P4-2GPX-501 was complied with. The AN/GPA-30 parts are installed, and equipment is undergoing alignment and performance checks. A three man PMEL team from Canadian Marconi Company performed test equipment calibration and repair on all equipment during the period 1 Nov 67 through 25 Nov 67. No excessive downtime or major problems were encountered with assigned equipment during this period. Personnel gains: Two 7 levels. Personnel Losses: One 7 level; one 5 level.

    Communications Center – During this quarter the Communications Section has experienced no unusual or difficult problems. With the addition of S/Sgt. Chavez, who came from Sheppard AFB, Texas, where he was an instructor in the Communications Career Field, we are now up to full strength, manning wise. We welcome S/Sgt. Chavez to the section and feel that he must have been a highly qualified instructor as evidenced by A/1C Bob Buntjer, who is doing a fine job in the section and was one of S/Sgt. Chavez’s former students. We will be losing Sgt. Bucks and A/1C DelleFaye in January and wish them luck in their new assignment. Projected gains for the coming quarter is one Sgt. and one T/Sgt. in February.

    Radio Maintenance – During this quarter the First Air Force IG inspection was held and a rating of Satisfactory was received by this section. One each receiver R-278, two each transmitters T-217 and one each Modulator MD-129 were declared excess and were turned into unit supply for redistribution. On 5 Oct 67 high winds in excess of 200 MPH were experienced at this station. Due to these high winds the Base MARS Beam antenna was completely destroyed beyond repair. A report of survey was submitted and we are now waiting for final approval so that action may be taken on a replacement antenna. An inspection was made of all outside antennas in preparation of the coming winter months. All antennas were found to be in satisfactory condition. During this reporting period no maintenance problems causing downtime were encountered. Personnel Gains: One 30474, one 30454. Personnel Losses: None.

    Wire Maintenance – During this reporting period five main line extensions were installed and 25 extensions removed for a cut-down on maintenance activities. After an accident, which took place during a road clearing operation, a 26 pair cable which ran to Lower Camp was spliced. This section handles the installation of speakers in rooms for the reception of AFRTS radio and six installations were completed during this quarter. Also, an installation of a voice news circuit which is used by the AFRTS news studio was installed. A GEEIA Team was called in to install cable H which is for better telephone distribution throughout the site. As a last item, the wire maintenance section has a loss of T/Sgt. Geyer, who was the section supervisor and a gain of A/1C Robert Welch.

    Teletype Maintenance – In this section we had a loss of A/1C Williamson and a gain of A/1C Richard Poluck. Since airman Poluck’s arrival there have been a few changes made on the equipment. Among these changes the TT55 has been put back into usable condition and the connector cable between SSM-7 and the M-19 has been reconnected which has proved to be an added prevention against unneeded trouble shooting. Both Wire and Teletype Maintenance received ratings of Excellent during the Fist Air Force IG.

    Supply and Services Branch:

    The following is a list of personnel losses and gains for this reporting period: Supply Losses: Captain Lillie, Sgt. Blake, Sgt. Harding, A/1C Franklin. Supply Gains: Captain Duncan, civilian Hewitt, civilian Clarke. Food service losses: None. Food service gains: Sgt. Bynum and civilian Martin.

    The total number of aircraft processed by supply during this period was: 20 DC-3’s, 5 DC-4’s, 2 C-119’s and 1 HU-16. The total incoming cargo including mail and produce was 113,015 lbs. and 132 passengers. The total outgoing cargo including mail was 30,489 lbs. and 198 passengers.

    The Base Exchange had sales totalling $10,577.92 for this reporting period. Monthly breakdown is as follows:

    (see matrix at end of this report)

    The Materiel Control Section processed 26 NORS on priority request, and 4 pieces of test equipment was processed for calibration and return.

    Summary – As previously indicated, this quarter supply experienced the handling of a large amount of incoming cargo. The supply warehouse is still in the process of being revamped and bench stocks rearranged. During this period Food Service has painted the office and the entranceway to the Dining Hall area.

    Prepared By: Roger L Hargens, Sgt., USAF

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Frederick W Fieder, Major, USAF

    Signature

     

    Base Exchange Sales by Month

    October sales

    $3,056.16

    November Sales

    $4,002.88

    December sales

    $3,518.88