Sioux Lookout, ON

1961 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Report
915th AC&W Squadron
1 April 1961 to 30 June 1961

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

915th Squadron (ADC), Sioux Lookout Air Force Station, Sioux Lookout, Ont., Canada

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Thomas E Ashinhurst, Lt. Colonel, USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. HQ – USAF
    HQ – NORAD
    HQ – ADC
    HQ – 30th Air Division (ADC)
    HQ – Duluth Air Defense Sector

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

  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • Duluth ADS Regulation 24-7
    The mission of the 915th Squadron is to operate and maintain a radar and communications facility as a Manual Air Defense Direction Center for the Air Defense of the North American Continent..

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Assigned

    17

    142

    22

    181

     
     

    Attached

    1

    2

    0

    3

     
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • AN/FPS-20A (1 ea.), AN/FPS-6B (1 ea.), AN/TPS-502 (1 ea.).

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

     

    Operations Section:

    During this period two new directors were assigned to the Operations Section. They were 1st Lt. William A Harburg and 1st Lt. William West. Key personnel rotating to the ZI were Captain John S Willoughby, Captain James W Brundage, 1st Lt. Stephen E Barndt and M/Sgt. Maurice A Roberts.

    The only live mission performed during this period were "Think Ahead" missions.

    Approximately seven SSTM’s per month were run during this quarter.

    Upgraded to Combat Ready Skilled during this quarter were 1st Lt. Donald P Uhl and 1st Lt. Kenneth R Hughes.

    A total of 440 live intercepts were run during this period.

    The AN/FPS-6B was accepted during this quarter, along with a new table with four ten line units in the Operations Room and the Senior Director position. Another UPA-35 has been installed in the Surveillance Section of Operations. A new system of maintaining kill probability tables was devised. New charts have been installed in the Operations Office to increase efficiency, and to speed up processing of monthly reports, among these are quality control chart and the crew manning chart.

    A/2C Stephen G Milner and A/2C Robert E Reiker, both of Operations section were awarded "Pinetopper of the Month" during this period.

    Communications and Electronics:

    Depot Level Maintenance of all Radio Equipment was completed 3 April 1961. Installation Inspection Certificates for the AN/FPS-6B were signed on 24 April 1961. Emergency Depot Assistance was requested on 4 May 61 to correct slip ring trouble on the pedestal of the AN/FPS-6B. This trouble caused intermittent reception of height information. Team corrected trouble and departed the same day.

    During late April and early May, the semi-annual inspection of all TO’s in the squadron was completed by the C&E inspector, as required by ADCM 66-6.

    The 4602nd Staff Assistance Team arrived for their semi-annual inspection. First item for assistance was checking ECL 665 authorization for presently installed equipment, and equipment programmed for installation within 18 months. All test equipment additions and deletions to the UAL were approved on site. The Staff Assistance visit ended 12 May with this section receiving the highest rating (satisfactory) awarded by the Assistance Team.

    Emergency Depot Assistance was requested 2 June 61 to find and correct a break in the main communications cable which serves all base and tactical communications circuits. The team left Depot ten minutes after the request for assistance was initiated and arrived within six hours. Their prompt arrival and correction of the trouble enabled the site to remain operational.

    The Inside/Outside Plant Depot maintenance team arrived on station for IRAN of all antennas, the switchboard, and all communications cables. This IRAN was completed on 13 June.

    An additional AN/GRC-27 Radio Set was received from Armstrong on 19 June. The relocation of this equipment was directed by Duluth ADS.

    1st Lt. Harold R Hilker reported for duty on 21 June and has been assigned as the Communications Officer.

    Unit Supply:

    The AN/FPS-6B tower group and the rigid radome were shipped from this station. The 6B, weighing 98,615 pounds went to RCAF Station Moosonee, Ontario, Canada, while the radome went to RCAF Station Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada.

    Project "Money Tree" report was submitted outlining the various procedures being utilized to effect the conservation of supplies and equipment. This is a continuing project and requests for property are constantly being monitored to insure against waste and unauthorized use.

    One airman, AFSC 64550, and one airman AFSC 64650, rotated to the ZI during this period.

    Air Police Section:

    The Air Police section had no changes in personnel during this period.

    Two Staff Sergeants completed training and were administered the SKT 77170 test, with results still unknown at this time. One airman was administered the 77150 test, however, test results are unknown.

    A/2C John N Fullwood was selected from this section as Squadron "Airman of the Month" in April 1961, and was again selected as "Airman of the Quarter" for the second quarter, 1961.

    The Installations Section has started complete renovation of the Main Gate. We anticipate completion of this project by the end of July 1961.

    The status of discipline for the squadron remains very high. Air Police section morale is high.

    Food Service Section:

    T/Sgt. Charles E Knippel, NCOIC, departed for ZI assignment.

    The 4602nd conducted an inspection during this period and the Food Service Section received a rating of Satisfactory.

    No major problems were encountered by this section during this period of report.

    Motor Pool Section:

    M/Sgt. Paul E Ackerman arrived this unit from California on 10 April 1961 and replaced S/Sgt. Robert Butler as NCOIC of the Motor Pool. During this period of report this station received one TD-15 Tractor, S/P 61 Dodge and a 58 Ford Dump Truck. The following vehicles were let out on contract maintenance: Bus – went to Winnipeg for major overhaul; Station Wagon sent to Dryden for overhaul and the Ford-Wrecker let out on contract here in Sioux Lookout for new seals in all major gearboxes and brake cylinders.

    The following vehicles were turned in for salvage: Two S/P Chevrolet trucks, one Weapons Carrier, one TD-1 Caterpillar tractor and one Chevrolet Dump Truck.

    Installations:

    With the coming of spring and summer months this section was able to get underway the much needed painting program that had been planned since the previous fall. To date we’ve been able to complete 80% of the outside and inside painting of all buildings and structures.

    The Radar Improvement Program is well underway, bush clearing and ground breaking having been started on the new transmitter site and the Telco building site. Simultaneously, work has begun on the powerhouse expansion program and the new tower.

    The power production and heating work force has been increased in anticipation of the growing needs of the new radar sophistication program.

    During this quarter we have seen the approval of a long needed paving contract for a long stretch of gravel surfaced road. When this is finished we will no longer be responsible for its maintenance.

    Our Preventative Maintenance Program has entirely proved itself, with excellent showings all along the line during inspection visits.

    Summarily the base is in good shape and should continue to remain this way in the foreseeable future.

    Special Services:

    During the last quarter, the multi-purpose recreation building has become fully operational. All of the previous difficulties with contractor discrepancies have been corrected. The bowling alley particularly needed retro-fixes but is now an integral part of the 915th recreation program and incidentally, a wonderful source of income for the Unit Fund.

    Many minor modifications that were requested for the building have been disapproved due to the impending Canadian take-over of this unit. For this reason, the designed theater is being utilized as a general recreation area because necessary modifications were disapproved.

    During this period the 915th was awarded a Division Welfare Fund grant to purchase two eighteen foot boats and two 18 horsepower motors plus related equipment. This should greatly improve our facilities for the most popular summer recreation – fishing.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Thomas E Ashinhurst, Lt. Colonel, USAF

    Signature