Saglek, Labrador

1969 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
924th AC&W Squadron
Saglek, Labrador
1 April 1969 to 30 June 1969

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

924th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
APO New York 09439

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

John R Coppage III, Captain, USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)
  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • The mission of the 924th AC&W Squadron is to conduct Air Defense operations within an 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

    84

    46

    136

     
     

    Assigned

    6

    67

    39

    112

     
                 
  • 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-6101, 3 SP-600, 1 GTA-6, 1 GLH-501.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Personnel and Administrative Branch:

    Key personnel gains and losses – Gains: 1st Lt. Thomas K Kennington. Losses: N/A

    Promotions – Demotions – 2nd Lt. Kennington to 1st Lt. On 17 May 69. Demotions: none.

    Awards and Decorations – (a) Major James J Kelly awarded Weapons Controller Badge (Master) and the Combat Readiness Medal. (b) 1st Lt. Thomas K Kennington awarded the First Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Force Commendation Medal. (c) S/Sgt. James H Welty awarded Zero Defects Award (First).

    Communications and Electronics Branch:

    CEM Section – During this quarter SM/Sgt. Banta has been on loan to the Commander to fill the First Sergeant vacancy pending arrival of a new First Sergeant. M/Sgt. Balthasar arrived to take over the Radio Maintenance Section and S/Sgt. Moore took over the Wire and Teletype Maintenance Section. The Quality Control Program has continued to function in an aggressive manner and as a direct result, all sections have shown a marked improvement.

    MCC Section – During this quarter S/Sgt. Kelly left PCS and S/Sgt. Scott was assigned to MCC from Radar Maintenance Section. During this quarter the Data Transmitting System changed to Total Electrical Transmission also the FPS-93A Search Radar came under the phased inspection system.

    Radar Maintenance – (a) PCS Losses: A/1C Gaughan and Robinson, Sgt. Maluai and Sgt. Perry. (b)Gains: Sgt. Gates, A/1C Lawrimore, A/1C Miller, and Mr. Joe R Miller, Jr. (c) Other: Sgt. Reeves and S/Sgt. Scott were transferred to MCC Section. (d) Replaced L3035 klystron in channel #2 of AN/FPS-93A #120. Removed UDB35 Diodes from AN/FPS-93A Serial #120 per TCTO 31P6-2FPS20-612C. A/1C Lawrimore, A/1C Gaughan and A/1C Robinson were upgraded to PAFSC 30352. A/1C Lawrimore was selected Squadron Airman of the Month for June.

    Radio Maintenance – (a) Personnel Changes: M/Sgt. Balthasar replaced Sgt. Stanley as NCOIC on 19 Apr69. (b) Gains/Losses: S/Sgt. Bebout arrived this station on 1 May 69. A/1C Hansen departed 19 Apr 69 and A/1C McDowell departed 16 Jun 69. Average strength of this section was 75% during this reporting period. (c)Promotions/Decorations: N/A (d) Pertinent Information: An additional Central Base Station (DJ-95) was received on 12 Jun 69 to supplement the Ground Services FM Radio Net.

    Wire/Teletype Maintenance – (a) Personnel Changes: Sgt. Lisuch, AFSC 36254, outside plant wire maintenance assigned 2 May 69; Sgt. Martin, AFSC 36251, inside plant wire maintenance assigned 20 May 69; S/Sgt. Moore, AFSC 36274, outside plant wire maintenance assigned 16 Jun 69. (b) Other: S/Sgt. Moore is assigned the position, OJT Supervisor Trainer this section.

    Communications Center – (a) Personnel: A/1C Armbruster selected April Airman of the Month. A/1C Christensen selected May Airman and Division Airman of the Month. (b) The 37th Air Division Staff Assistance Team inspected this site and this section was rated as "Outstanding". Inspection was conducted by SM/Sgt. Russell Yoder. (c) Promotions/Demotions: During formal ceremonies T/Sgt. Earl Minor was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. Sergeant Minor’s commendation came from his last duty station which was Ent AFB, Colorado. (d) The manning situation was at the critical stage at this communications center during the last two months and will last approximately until more 291X0s are assigned here. During the first week of June, A/1C Christensen departed on a 30 day leave. Sgt. Jerry Williams, our teletype maintenance man, and part time relief operator also departed at the same time, leaving the communications center with 6 personnel to cover a 24 hour operation, 7 days a week. A/1C Kennard, who had been working at the supply section, awaiting his clearance has been assigned to the Comm. Center and has been a relief, temporarily. S/Sgt. Gorman returned from leave during the first week of June. A/1C Armbruster was relieved of duty at this section on the 17th of June and departed this station on the 21st. Sergeant Minor departed this station at the same time for 30 days leave, leaving the station with four personnel. S/Sgt. Martinez assumed duties as NCOIC during the absence of T/Sgt. Minor. All supervisors and operators have been working extra hours to operate the center on a 24 hour basis. Sgt. Williams returned from leave on the 26th of June, which will be of some very badly needed help to our section. During the last promotion cycle two communications personnel, T/Sgt. Minor and A/1C Kennard were selected for promotion for the fiscal year 1970.

    Training and Quality Control – This unit received an "Outstanding" rating by the 4630CBPO-OJT/37th Air Division Staff Assistance Visit/Inspection conducted on 7-10 April 1969. The overall evaluation of the Squadron Upgrade OJT Program was also considered "Outstanding".

    A review of the OJT statistical data for this unit during this quarter reveals a definite and continued sharp upward trend. The 924th AC&W Squadron is presently the leader in the 37th AD OJT competition program.

    This unit established a local squadron upgrade review board during this reporting period. A squadron regulation has been formulated which specifically defines the procedures employed by the review board in its consideration for upgrade action. The contents of the 924th AC&W Squadron regulation 50-1, are being applied to all units within the 37th AD by 4630CBPO-OJT due to its extremely high quality.

    Significant improvement of the squadron OJT facilities at this unit have continued during this reporting period. An unused tower area was renovated into one of the finest squadron OJT sections in the 37th AD area. This new facility provides the following new features: (1) A favorable formal/informal classroom and training environment which is available to any duty section upon request during the day or evening for training, test, and study purposes. (2) A highly favorable ECI Volume Review exercise VRE and ECI course examination testing area for voluntary base education ECI courses and mandatory ECI career development courses. (3) A study area (group or individual).

    The currently operating L-3035 Klystron tube, SN R12161, which was installed 9 Jan 63 and is presently functioning in channel "A" of the AN/FPS-93A Search Radar Equipment, has surpassed the ADC productive goal of 30,000 hours, the existing tube life trying to exceed the existing 37th Air Division high power tube life of 41, 019 hours. This klystron has accumulated 46,000 hours (total plate hours) and is currently challenging the existing First Air Force/ADC all-time world record of 52,615 hours for this particular type klystron tube.

    Supply and Services Branch:

    Personnel losses and gains for this reporting period.

    (see the matrix at the end of this report)

    Total number of aircraft processed: 23 DC-3 flights, 4 DC-4 flights and 2 Otter flights. Total incoming cargo, including mail was 92,473 pounds and 128 passengers. Total outgoing cargo including mail was 25,202 pounds and 134 passengers.

    The Base Exchange had sales totalling $11,866.90 for this period. The breakdown as follows:

    (see the matrix at the end of this report)

    Promotions – Mr. Dalton received a promotion during June. A/1C Rehl was promoted to Sgt. effective 1 Jun 69.

    Medical Services Branch:

    There were a total of 118 patients seen during this reporting period. Eighteen patients were referred to Goose AB Hospital for evaluation and treatment; 10 requiring medical and 8 requiring dental. During the months of May and June a total of four patients were hospitalized. At the end of the reporting period one remained and will be transferred to Andrews AFB hospital for evaluation. Four hours of "First Aid Buddy Care" was given to newly arriving personnel. There were no changes in personnel status.

    Operations Branch:

    The 924th Operations Section participated in seven STM exercises during this quarter. Operations personnel received very little training due to the small part we are now playing in exercises.

    Two NCO’s departed PCS. Newly gained personnel were three NCO’s.

    Promotions – T/Sgt. Rhoades to M/Sgt., Sgt. Shelly to S/Sgt., A/1C Stringer and A/1C Olson to Sgt.

    Civil Engineering Branch:

    Personnel Changes – 1st Lt. John J Kazmarski, Site Civil Engineer, on 1 May 69. Sgt. Patrick P Sowers, Work Control Specialist, on 14 Apr 69. Departures: Sgt. Gerard L Bernard to S/Sgt. effective 1 Jun 69. Captain James A McKineley, Site Civil Engineer on 5 May 69.

    The 924th AC&W Squadron power plant received an Honorable Mention in the Annual Power Plant awards program.

    No fire incidents occurred during the past quarter.

    One reportable accident occurred during the past quarter.

    Information Branch:

    Information Division – (a) The Information Division has continued to meet and surpass its requirement. Timely releases of information and full coverage of local news and feature stories have marked this sections performance. (b) S/Sgt Lance J Tlustos and Sgt. Earl E Murton were assigned during this period. A/1C John J Del Pozzo arrived for duty 2 Jun 69. His arrival brought this section to the full authorized manning of 3 personnel. However, due to our mission requirements, we still continue to work in an undermanned section. (c) The Information Division has absorbed the following function: (1) Outgoing letters to the families of newly assigned personnel, recipients of awards and newly promoted personnel. (2) Photographs of squadron personnel for the squadron photo chain of command chart. (3) All official site photography. (d) Squadron photography is being conducted by Sgt. Murton.

    AFRTS - (a) S/Sgt. Tlustos, NCOIC, Sgt. Murton, program director, and A/1C Del Pozzo, chief announcer, were assigned during this period. (b) The AFRTS section continues to reflect the unity and team work necessary to provide and produce timely and professional radio and TV shows. This is accomplished by numerous off-duty hours of work volunteered by the assigned personnel. (c) A "radio marathon" lasting 168 hours, was presented during this reporting period (1-8 Jun 69). With the aid of 9 volunteers from other sections, the radio station played "live" music and disc jockey shows around the clock. This was the first actual 24-hour "live" programming this section has ever accomplished. It reflects what could be done with the addition of more assigned personnel. (d) Equipment failure has plagued this section as much as, if not more than it has in past reporting periods. Due to the absence of assigned maintenance personnel this section has relied heavily upon the off-duty support of S/Sgt. Ross Bebout of the radio maintenance section. He has done a superb job of literally keeping our television station on the sir with both his know-how and integrity in fabricating parts to keep our equipment operational until new parts could be ordered. (e) Although the entire sections equipment remains sub-standard by current AFRTS broadcast standards, the off-duty efforts of the assigned and volunteer personnel have done much to improve the quality of all AFRTS broadcasts.

    Prepared by: Earl E Murton, Sgt., USAF

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    John R Coppage III, Captain, USAF

    Signature

     

    Supply and Services Losses and Gains

     

    Losses

    Gains

    Supply

    Mr. St. Croix

    Mr. Duggan

     

    Mr. Morrissey

    Mr. Walsh

    Food Service

    Sgt. Rockafellow

    Mr. Normore

     

    Mr. Morrissey

    S/Sgt. Sorrell

     

    Sgt. Edwards

    Sgt. Hunter

     

    Sgt. Handy

    S/Sgt. Schadl

    Base Exchange Sales

    April

    $5,291.26

    May

    $3,461.98

    June

    $3,113.66