Sioux Lookout, ON

1962 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Report
915th AC&W Squadron
1 April 1962 to 30 June 1962

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

915th Squadron (ADC), Sioux Lookout AS, Sioux Lookout, Ontario, 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, dated 5 October 1960
    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

    16

    132

    22

    170

     
     

    Attached

    2

    4

    0

    6

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

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

     

    Operations Section:

    Personnel – During this period three directors, Captain Harner, Captain Buttermore and 1st Lt. West were reassigned to the ZI. We have gained one director, 1st Lt. Ericson.

    Operations – This section has participated in an average of three Systems Training programs per week during this period. In addition to the Systems Training Programs this section has participated in three Shock Wave Exercises. These exercises have been beneficial in increasing the efficiency of this section. This section has received a total of twenty-one enlisted men and two officers from Baudette AFS and Finland AFS for the purpose of cross training. This cross training has been conducted to qualify these personnel in manual AC&W activities.

    Improvements – During this period all ten line communication boxes have been relabelled.

    Awards – Captain Fetherlin and Captain Gilbert were upgraded to combat ready skilled.

    Disciplinary Action - None.

    Communications and Electronics Section:

    During this period personnel losses included 1st Lt. Hilker, two civilian augmentation personnel and two enlisted men from Radar Maintenance, one enlisted man from Communications and one enlisted man from the C&E Office. Diesels in the power house have a malfunction in the cooling systems causing a delay in acceptance. The AN/FPS-6 radome caulking team completed re-caulking and painting of the exterior of the radome. The AN/FPS-7 Tower was accepted and at present major equipment is being installed. The 30th Air Division IG Team arrived. Procedures for control and storage of classified material was thoroughly inspected. The 4602nd Support Wing Staff Assistance team arrived to answer any questions and work out any difficulties in respect to change-over.

    Unit Supply Section:

    Project 082X equipment for the AN/FST-2 was completed with the exception of three line items. Budget was prepared for the period 1 July 1962 to phase out on 1 October 1962. Assistance was received from 4602nd Support Wing in reviewing and updating CAN/MEAL and UAL. All Tech Supply Cards were screened and all cards with no issues in the past 18 months were withdrawn and approximately 2,200 line items were sent to salvage. Category II items were returned to USAF Depots. Warehousing and rearrangement of property section was also accomplished. AF Form 538’s were completely reaccomplished and turn-in of Arctic Clothing was begun. An/FPS-7 and AN/FPS-26 Test Equipment began arriving on the site and is being stored in the AN/FPS-20 tower. Redistribution of excess ammunition to Pagwa and Puntzi Mountain was accomplished.

    Air Police Section:

    There were no changes in personnel during this period. The 30th Air Division IG conducted an Annual Inspection. This section obtained a satisfactory rating. Necessary repairs were made at the firing range, and qualification firing is now conducted regularly. Morale of assigned Air Police is high. There were no serious accidents or incidents involving squadron personnel during this period.

    Food Service Section:

    Captain Hogan, Food Service Officer, was reassigned to the ZI and Captain Ottaviano was assigned as Food Service Officer during this period. The 4602nd Support Wing personnel visited this section to co-ordinate phase-out activities. 18,761 meals were served during this period.

    Motor Pool Section:

    One enlisted man was lost through discharge, no new personnel were assigned. New engines were installed in the Willys Carry/All, Western Flyer Bus and Plymouth Station Wagon. The Oshkosh Snow Plow was repainted and the engine was rebuilt. The Fire Truck, Galion Grader and Willys Pick-Up Trucks were repainted.

    Installations Section:

    During this period no new projects were started due to the phase-out of the unit. The sections operation consisted of routine and preventative maintenance, paint touch-up and grounds maintenance.

    Medical Services Section:

    M/Sgt. Sine was reassigned to the ZI. No new personnel were assigned during this period. 522 outpatients were treated during this reporting period.

    Administration and Personnel Section:

    During this reporting period the section had no gains or losses of personnel. The Annual General Inspection was conducted on 23 May 1962. All areas of Personnel and Administration inspected received a satisfactory rating. This section is phasing down in preparation for turn over of this facility to the RCAF on 1 October 1962.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Thomas E Ashinhurst, Lt. Colonel, USAF

    Signature