Red Cliff, NF

The mission of the Squadron during this period remained basically the same as the previous period, i.e. GCI, Air Surveillance, Navigational Aid, and aid to Air Sea Rescue.

Personnel – There has been a net paper gain in the section of seven new operators with an actual count of thirteen new men and five departures. Due to the fact that many of the new men did not have a final clearance, there was a period in which there was a shortage of personnel on the operating teams. One new supervisory level NCO position has been filled. The old Operations Officer rotated and the position has been filled by the old Assistant Operations Officer. A position that has been vacant for some time has been filled, namely that of Intelligence Technician.

Operations – The various status boards in operations have been redone on accordance with 64^th Manual 55-2.

Training – A seventy five question test covering all phases of operations was given to all Air Surveillance and Control Technicians. This test was initially given as an open book test. It was thought that by allowing the men to take the test in that manner it would enable them to learn and remember more information.

Communications Maintenance – Operation of the FM and Carrier Equipment has been discontinued. Tech Supply requested that the equipment be prepared for shipment. This was accomplished along with a complete inventory. The equipment is now stored in the Communications Quonset Hut.

Annual overhaul has been performed on eleven teletype machines. Four of these machines have been sent to another station because the amount of circuits we have did not keep these machines in operation.

Radio Operations – A permanent Tech power supply has been installed in the radio monitor room. This did away with the old problem of power failure on the line amplifiers.

Personnel – The section has shown a gain of two people for the period with four men reporting and two leaving. At the present time, the section is five men over strength.

Maintenance – The annual overhaul of the radar equipment was completed during January by the Canadian Marconi Company overhaul team. During the overhaul the CMC radome painting team arrived and painted the interior of all radomes with a sealer.

On 17 February as the prime equipment was being returned to normal operation the main radome failed. Based upon an inspection conducted by the Commander, it is surmised that the following chain of events occurred which resulted in a de-icer lamp bank being pushed through the side of the radome. "The bottom side of a waveguide section (on the rotating structure of the antenna) showed considerable abrasion caused by repeated contact with the sanded surface of the floor section located on top of one of the tree stacks stored inside the radome. Apparently, as a result of constant vibration, one of the stacks shifted from its original position into the path of the rotating gear. The constant rotation of the antenna eventually pushed the top floor section past its center of balance causing the section to stand on one end. The high end of the floor section was then struck by the reflector element of the rotating antenna causing it to become entangled in the antenna gear and pushed the lamp bank through the radome. The resulting loss of air was too great a quantity to enable the Squadron to save the radome. The Canadian Marconi Company was called upon for assistance in the erection of the new radome air lifted from Harmon Air Force Base. Poor weather and difficulties encountered raising the radome to the roof of the tower delayed completion of the repair work. After the radome had been positioned on the roof and the winds became favorable, the radome was erected without difficulty."

During the month of January, two anemometers were damaged by a wind-storm, one of them damaged beyond repair. New anemometers were placed on order, but have not been received to this date. During February, the two remaining anemometers were installed on a 90 foot pole which was erected near the main tower. This installation gives the anemometers sufficient clearance from all buildings and radomes and assures more accurate wind velocity readings.

Considerable trouble has been encountered in keeping the Mark X IR units in good operating condition. During the annual overhaul, parts for the units were not available but Canadian Marconi Company has promised assistance as soon as parts become available. The UPM-4A which has been in the depot for repair and which has reduced the caliber of maintenance on the IR units, has been returned to use.

At the present time the CPS-6B is operating on 300 RPF because of the EW kit being REF. We are working with the plumbing section of the EW kit during PM periods. The upper hub section of the waveguide is badly corroded and will be cleaned and replaced. We received a sufficient quantity of spare magnetrons for the EW kit during this period.

The TPS-502 and FPS-502 have been operating without any major difficulties.

Training – During the month of January, the second Canadian Marconi Company site resident engineer was assigned to this Squadron. He replaces the Philco Tech Rep who was transferred to the States. The new site resident engineer takes over the training program previously handled by the Philco Contract Technician.

The publications file was inventoried and a complete file was reordered to assume automatic distribution in sufficient copies to supply a central file and working copies to the section. Some of the publications with complete revisions have arrived and a central file will be established as soon as there is sufficient quantity.

The new day room furniture arrived during the month of March and now the recently repainted reading room, television room, and the other lounge areas in the squadron all are furnished in fine style. A music room is being set up and will be furnished with a new Hi-Fidelity radio phonograph and also some of the new lounge furniture. Television is gradually becoming one of the most popular forms of off duty recreation especially with the Non-Commissioned Officers.

The Squadron basketball team completed the season by winning the American Division championship in the Pepperrell Air Force Base Intramural League. Another trophy was added when the basketball team finished as runner-up in the recent 10 team 64^th Air Division tournament. The seasons record for the team shows 27 wins against 7 defeats. There is no doubt that this is the best basketball team that ever represented this squadron. Another good team next year can be anticipated as eight of the ten players are scheduled to be back. The team made a fine showing and should be commended for their fine play and sportsmanship throughout the season.

The Officer’s and Airman’s bowling teams are still quite active and from the present league standings the Airman’s team has a chance to finish in first place in both leagues in which they are entered. The Officer’s team record is not quite as good as the Airman’s because rotation of several of their top bowlers has taken its toll.

Personnel – The strength at the end of the reporting period was eight airmen and one additional duty officer. During the period two airmen rotated to the Zone of Interior and one airman was re-assigned Air Police School at Beale Air Force Base, California.

Operations – The Air Police Section relieved the Operations Section of the responsibility of manning the guard post in the Operations Building. The Air Police man two twenty-four hour posts, Main Gate and Operations Building. The Roving Patrol is manned on the basis of 2030 hours to 0800 hours.

The Roving Patrol reported that during the months of January, February and March, a total of twenty-one instances of buildings being left open occurred in the Squadron area. This includes doors and/or windows being left open.

Security – A lecture was given during the month of March. All Squadron personnel attended one of the two lecture periods. The topics covered were: Air Force Regulation 205-6 (Security), Squadron Defense Plan and Guard Duty. Emphasis was placed on the importance of Security and how to challenge and apprehend suspects while on guard duty. A live demonstration was given on how to apprehend and search a subject. Instructions were also given on the handling of prisoners after capture.

A check of all squadron safes was made and each Custodian advised of any discrepancies noted. All safes are now in order as prescribed by Pepperrell Air Force Base Regulation 205-6.

Only four airmen have not completed their "Statement of Personnel History" for security clearance. There are a total of seventeen men who do not have a security clearance. Paper work on thirteen of the seventeen has been forwarded to 6604^th Air Base Wing.

Personnel – Two five level cooks have been lost to the squadron through rotation with no replacements as yet. One five level has been put on seven level OJT in anticipation of supervising the mess hall in the near future. When one cook was admitted to the Base Hospital for an operation, the Mess Hall went on two shift operation with two cooks on each shift. Arrangements were made with the Base Bakery to take over the supply of fresh bakery products when the squadron baker was confined to the Base Hospital with a broken ankle.

Dining Hall – The drapes in the Dining Hall were cleaned, dyed and re-fireproofed. All baseboards in the dining hall have been repainted with the anticipation that the whole inside area of the dining hall will be renovated in the near future.

Due to the lack of interest in the personnel concerned, the monthly Rotation Dinner was discontinued.

During this period, three USO shows were presented in the Dining Hall.

For this report period there were three admissions to quarters, transferred to the support base hospital at Pepperrell Air Force Base, for hospitalization. The break down is as follows: Small, indirect, spontaneously reducing right Inguinal Hernia, 1; Small indirect left Inguinal Hernia, 1; Fracture, Fibula, Anterior Tip, 1. There were one hundred and thirteen treatments on the basis of General Medicine. Seven cases of Dermatology. Fifty patients for Surgical Dressing, and thirteen for treatment of ear, nose and throat, for a total of one hundred and eighty-three.

During four days of this period immunizations were given. The breakdown is as follows: twenty-eight typhoid, twenty-three smallpox, seventeen tetanus, for a total of sixty-eight immunizations.

Personnel – The unit assigned strength on 1 January 1956 was twelve officers and one hundred thirty-three airmen. At the end of the reporting period, the assigned strength was thirteen officers and one hundred fifty-four airmen against a UMD authorized strength of sixteen officers and one hundred fifty-two airmen.

Even though the assigned strength at the close of the period compared favorably with the authorized strength, it was due to over strength in the operations and radar maintenance sections. Shortages existed in the mess, air police and communications career fields which seriously hampered the accomplishment of the respective section duties.

Ninety percent of all newly assigned personnel are of the three skill level creating a specific training problem. Number-wise, new assignees have out numbered personnel rotating, however skill-wise, we are deficient in most career fields as the new assignees lack the breadth of experience necessary to perform their duties adequately.

All files and publications were reviewed and with the assistance of personnel from Headquarters Northeast Air Command, new publications files have been set up accurately.

The 1120 Stock Record Cards reflecting UME property were converted to USE status as authorized by General Order Number 4, Headquarters, Northeast Air Command, dated 21 January 1955.

This organization received a new UAL number which is 1964. The 1120 Stock Record Cards were reviewed and re-accomplished to correspond with the new UAL.

The Local Purchase Store which opened 15 March 1956 is being utilized. All Class 25B items that were on back order have been cancelled.