Red Cliff, NF

1960 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
642nd AC&W Squadron
Red Cliff, NF
1 April 1960 to 30 June 1960

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

642nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
APO 862, New York, New York

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

William A Nansen, Major, USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. 4731st Air Defense Group
    64th Air Division (Defense)
    Air Defense Command.

  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)
  • Detachment #1, 642nd AC&W Squadron, Elliston Ridge, Bonavista, Newfoundland.

  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • Authority: Paragraph 1, Section V, General Orders 25, Headquarters Northeast Air Command, dated 5 June 1953.
    Primary Mission: The mission is to conduct Air Defense Operations within that area assigned by Headquarters 64th Air Division Regulation 55-24, and function as a Direction Center Station in the Air Defense system.

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Authorized

    13

    133

    41

    187

     
     

    Attached

    0

    4

    0

    4

     
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • AN/GPS-T2 (1); AN/UPS-T5 (1); AN/GPA-30 (1); 0A-947/FST-1 (1); 0A-99 PPI (10); BC-610 (1); URG-60 (6); SP-600 (10); 0A-98 HRI (4); AN/FPS-502 (1); AN/GRT-3 TRX (3); AN/GPX-6A (1); AN/GPS-501 (1); AN/GRR-7 (11); AN/FRT-502 (5); AN/FRT-503 (1); AN/GRC-27 (6); CR-91-A (1); AN/CPS-6B (1).

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    The 642nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is attached to the 64th Air Division (Defense). It is a GCI station responsible to the 640th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (ADDC).

    Operations:

    Problems – Inadequate cooling of the room housing the T-2 and the 15-J-1C equipment is still a problem and is due to the non-functioning of the supplementary Air-Conditioning equipment which was installed last winter.

    Projects – The change in mission and consequent loss of certain communications lines enabled the Communications Section to remove the Chief Controllers floor mounted Console so that all necessary lines are now available at the Senior Directors position, on 12 line key units.

    Accomplishing the Mission – Negative.

    Joint Operations with Other Units – A study is being made by this and an adjacent site to determine the cause of variations in plots of identical targets.

    Support Given Tactical and Defense Operations – Negative.

    Personnel:

    During this period, the Personnel Section has been delegated additional duties of Testing, Classification, Education, and Personal Affairs. These additional duties were delegated due to the phasing out of Pepperrell Air Force Base, which has been supporting this squadron. These extra duties have created somewhat of a hardship upon this section in that no additional personnel was given us.

    Administration – Additional duties have been delegated to this section with no additional personnel assigned us. These duties are publications and blank forms, reproduction and postal. However, one (1) Postal Clerk has been attached for this purpose.

    Equipment Performance:

    0A-345 Early Warning – Fuse F-3 in the phase #3 output line of the 400 cycle generator C-101B kept blowing. Visual inspection disclosed oil leaking from Z-21401 HV transformer. Depot assistance was required and a replacement modulator T-332 was obtained. Replacement of the faulty modulator restored the EW beam to normal operation.

    The EW magnetron would arc excessively and drop out of radiate. Visual inspection disclosed no burnt or damaged components. Further checks revealed that the magnetron current, when arcing, would draw less current instead of drawing more current. Suspected a bad HV transformer in the modulator. Called CMC requesting technical assistance. Replaced the modulator T-332 with like item. This restored the EW channel to normal operation.

    The height finder portion of the CPS-6B was removed from operation.

    The CPS-6B and FPS-502 radomes received Depot Maintenance during the month of May.

    The FPS-502 operated satisfactory during this reporting period.

    The TPS-502 was removed from operation and dismantled.

    The GPS-T2A, and UPS-T5 trainers operated satisfactory during this period.

    Equipment maintenance for the period consisted of: Depot maintenance 125:20; Routine Maintenance 150:20; and Emergency Maintenance 7:18.

    Communications:

    Radio Maintenance – All work has been completed on 64th Air Division (Defense) project 1-59 involving relocation of the Air-Ground transmitters from White Hills to Red Cliff.

    The 64th Air Division HF Nets which were maintained and operated by this unit were shut down on 1 April 1960. Turn in of all TH-41B transmitters has been accomplished and disposition instructions are being awaited for the remaining HF equipment.

    On 15 June 1960 this unit lost all tactical channels due to a change in the unit mission. Guard, 10, Dog and Fox are the only remaining air/ground frequencies presently being utilized. Crystals for the remaining frequencies have been turned into supply.

    Communications Center – On 15 June the Communications Center assumed responsibility for all traffic sent from or to Pepperrell AFB.

    The abnormal traffic load has required placing additional men on the swing shift and putting the Cryptographic men on 12 hour shifts. The work load has been slackening as activities at Pepperrell are closed down. A "pony" teletype circuit was installed between this unit and Pepperrell AFB to facilitate delivery of messages when vehicle transportation was not readily available or road conditions made travel to Pepperrell difficult.

    Maintenance and Supply Problems:

    Supply Support – From Support Base – Effective 1 May 1960, supply activity was discontinued from Pepperrell AFB and transferred to Ernest Harmon AFB for logistical support and Goose Bay AFB for electronics support. The Canadian Marconi Company at Pepperrell AFB was designated as supply support for the AN/CPS-6B Radar Spares. No difficulties were encountered during the change over. From Division – Upon the activation of the Goose Bay Air Defense Sector Supply Support was assumed for this unit. Excellent support is being received.

    Transportation Problems – The transportation support function was assumed by Ernest Harmon AFB. No problems were encountered.

    Surplus Property – All surplus property is turned into the support base on a monthly basis.

    General – During the reporting period, manning with the C&E Section has been good. All sections except wire maintenance are up to authorized strength and the experience level of assigned personnel is high. No major problems were encountered during the period.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    William A Nansen, Major, USAF

    Signature