St. Anthony, NF

1962 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
921st AC&W Squadron
St. Anthony, NF
1 July 1962 to 30 September 1962

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

921st AC&W Squadron
APO 370, New York, NY

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

James E Cashman, Major

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. Air Defense Command

  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)
  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • Authority: Goose Air Defense Regulation 20-4, 6 September 1960.

    Mission: The mission of the 921st AC&W Squadron is to conduct Air Defense Operations within assigned area of responsibility as outlined in ADC (RCAF) ASI 3/4/3, and function as a Direction center in the Air Defense System.

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Assigned

    11

    95

    27

    133

     
     

    Attached

             
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • AN/FPS-3(C), 1; AN/FPS-502, 1; AN/UPS-35, 1; AN/GPS-T2, 1; AN/GPA-30, 1; AN/GPS-T2A, 1; AN/UPS-T5, 1.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Command Section:

    A Dining-In was held in July. Honored guest was Colonel Victor Milner, Commander of Goose Air Defense Sector. Major Cashman was President of the Mess. Highlight of the Dining-In was the presentation to Major Cashman and the squadron by Colonel Milner, the first Quarterly Mission Performance Index Award for the first quarter of calendar year 1962.

    The squadron received a visit from the US Consulate General, Mr. Homer Lanford, St. John’s, Newfoundland, on 27 July 1962. Accompanying Mr. Lanford was Mrs. Lanford, Naval Captain (Doctor) and Mrs. Spencer and a young travelling companion, Miss Heather Brooks-Hill.

    The squadron held its annual Field Day on 17 August 1962. Eight events were held, all indoors because of the weather. The day was a success.

    Major Cashman spoke at the opening of the first scheduled airlines from Gander to St. Anthony, held as a special luncheon at the St. Anthony Athletic Club on August 30th. Present were distinguished personages, Messrs. Pickerskill and Granger (Members of Parliament), Mr. Lewington (President, EPA), Mr. Robertson (Mayor of Gander), Mr. Chester Dawe (Industrialist), and Mr. Nicholl (Mayor of St. Anthony).

    A recent water shortage in St. Anthony brought the station water truck into action for a period of three days. The truck supplied water to the wells of the townspeople until the shortage was relieved.

    Operations Section:

    During this reporting period the section lost 4 officers, 8 NCO’s and 5 airmen. We gained 3 officers, 1 NCO and 6 airmen and have a projected gain of 2 NCO’s and 5 airmen between now and the last of November 1962. At the end of this reporting period our assigned strength is equal to our authorized strength.

    Training continued at the usual pace during the reporting period. We began a new ICT Training Program in August to qualify new ICT’s to replace the qualified ones we lost during the period. The Director and ICT Academic Training Program is continuing as planned with 2 sessions per week.

    Captain Sanford M Moulder, Jr., and Captain Robert L Davis and Lt. Roy P Glass returned to the ZI during the reporting period and Captain Lonnie C Sitts assumed the duties of Operations Officer. Lt. James C Naylor, Jr., returned to the ZI in July and Lt. Lowell JK Davis assumed the duties of Operations Training Officer and Assistant Operations Officer. During the reporting period we gained two other officers in addition to Captain Sitts – Captain King and 1st Lt. Costin. Both officers are 1741B’s in training status.

    During this reporting period we were evaluated by the ADC Operational Readiness Inspection Team and attained a rating of Outstanding. We were also visited by the Goose Sector Pre-IG Team and advised on procedures concerning the 64th Inspector General Inspection due in November 1962.

    During the reporting period we participated in three live exercises – the Operational Readiness Inspection Exercise, Big Echo Blue and Sky Shield III and we are scheduled for Shockwave VII the 27th and 28th of September. We ran 5 Category III, 2 Category IV and 2 Category II STM’s during this period. Everything ran smoothly from this station during these exercises.

    Base Engineer Activities:

    Civil Engineering Activities for this past quarter were confined to maintenance and repair, with emphasis on outside work. Class "A" and "MC" type work were kept to a minimum in accordance with higher headquarters directives. There was no Mobil Maintenance Team activity, the Team departing on 5 July 1962. There was very little contractor activity. The following FY 1962, P458 Projects were awarded to Stateside Construction Company:

    (see the matrix at the end of this report)

    The Staff Assistance visit revealed no major discrepancies and minor discrepancies are being corrected. Under the normal rotation schedule Captain WA Rudat was replaced by 1st Lt. SB Csobaji as Station Civil Engineer.

    Fire Department – The quarterly fire inspection from Goose ADS was conducted in conjunction with an inspection by 64th Air Division and the Ernest Harmon AFB Fire Department. The discrepancies of these inspections are being corrected through scheduled training for the Fire Fighting Teams and vigorous indoctrination of all incoming personnel and Area Fire Wardens. During the normal rotation schedule A/1C H Chouinard was replaced by S/Sgt. J Byerly as Fire Chief.

    Transportation – Normal vehicle operations and maintenance were accomplished during this quarter. Vehicle miles during this period was 16,891 miles with 1,876 gallons of gasoline being consumed for an average of nine (9) miles/gallon per vehicle. New equipment received included two (2) 2 ½ Ton International Trucks, two (2) Track-Masters and two (2) Forklifts. The station is short one (1) D-8 Bulldozer. This is a critical deficiency in the snow removal and fire fighting capability of this station, if the D-8 does not arrive prior to the scheduled October deadline. Contract aircraft airlift was accomplished by EPA in accordance with the new contract effective 1 July 1962. DHC-3 Otter aircraft operated an average of three (3) round trips per week between St. Anthony and Harmon AFB. PBY aircraft started operation in September 1962 on a two (2) round trip per week schedule. The following statistics are furnished for this quarter:

    (see the matrix at the end of this report)

    Personnel rotation during the quarter found A/1C T Briggs being relieved by S/Sgt. G Brinkley. A/2C E Smith rotated back to the States without replacement. S/Sgt. Brinkley is a projected loss for December 1962.

    Communications and Electronics:

    General – In addition to normal maintenance and operational activities, the following special projects and activities were initiated, continued and/or completed during the months of July, August and September 1962.

    Re-organization has been accomplished to conform to the new Maintenance Management Concept under AFM 66-1 and ADC Supplements to the manual. A concentrated effort has been made through classroom training and OJT to conform to this new maintenance concept. Training will be continued for an indefinite period until our degree of error in reporting on AFTO Form 210 and 211’s are below 2%. An OJT section has been established and a training NCO appointed. This should increase our training capabilities both physically and administratively.

    During August and September, the Marconi DLM Team overhauled the AN/FPS-502, the AN/FPS-3 and all the ancillary equipment. This should give us several months of trouble free operation. Our maintenance personnel assisted the DLM Team on all phases of the overhaul. We took advantage of this opportunity to give our maintenance personnel more advanced training and to become more familiar with the equipment.

    During September we had a Staff visit from GADS. This was a Pre-IG Inspection. There were several minor discrepancies in the CEM Section. An all out project is now underway to clear these discrepancies and this is progressing satisfactorily.

    Radar Maintenance – During this reporting period we had one five (5) level upgraded to 7 level AFSC. We presently have six (6) three (3) level airmen on OJT to the five (5) level AFSC. Formal classroom training on the AN/FPS-502 was completed. Due to DLM on the Radar equipment, classroom training was suspended until the completion of the overhaul.

    There was only one RNFP during this reporting period. A switching relay between the FPS-502 and the FPS-3 failed. Operations was maintained by tapping the relay in the closed position.

    Radio Maintenance – No major repairs have been needed on the Radio equipment. However there has been considerable trouble with antennas shorting. These have been repaired if possible. GADS message, GSELC 4641 has advised us that AS-1097 antennas have been or will be shipped. This should alleviate our antenna problems.

    During this reporting period, the squadron intercom system was completed.

    Wire Maintenance – Operation "Lash-Up" for the station has been 75% completed. A telephone was installed in the home of Mr. Stevenson-Francis, Pole Vault Tech. Rep. The loss of A/2C Turley to the Wire Section has hindered Operation "Lash-Up".

    Personnel – There was no change in officer personnel status for this period. The following enlisted personnel changes were recorded: Arrivals: SM/Sgt. Cumberledge, M/Sgt. Cantu, S/Sgt. Abramowitz, A/1C Abbott, A/1C Barlow, A/1C Burt, A/1C Harris, A/2C Shuttlesworth, A/2C Pingel, A/2C Stickney, A/2C King, A/2C Teegardin, A/2C Huffman, A/2C Cole and A/2C Woodward. Departures: S/Sgt. Carrithers, A/1C Self, A/1C Dixon, A/1C Butt, A/1C Rott, A/1C Latta, A/1C Osborne, A/1C Owens and A/1C Henderson.

    Supply:

    The following personnel are newly assigned: Captain Robert I Tarlin, T/Sgt. Thelbert E Coleman, S/Sgt. Lyman N Joyal, A/1C Migual Gomez, A/1C Jerry E Anderson and A/1C Charles D Schaefer. The following personnel have been reassigned: 1st Lt. Eldon L Heidt, A/1C Larry Bahneman, A/1C Alfredo Espinoza and A/1C Leroy M Keller.

    Inspections and/or Assistance Visits were conducted by the following: GADS Supply and Services, GADS Pre-IG Inspection Team and the USAF Auditor’s Office. No major discrepancies were noted.

    Implementation of the BEMO (Base Equipment Management Office) concept began 1 October 1962.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    James E Cashman, Major, USAF

    Signature

     

    Stateside Construction Company Projects

    ANT 1-2

    Repair incinerator

    ANT 3-2

    Repair Sanitary Facilities – 25% complete

    ANT 8-2

    Alter Covered Walkways

    ANT 12-1

    Alter Heating Plant

    Commercial Transportation Statistics

    Personnel (In)

    151

    Personnel (Out)

    158

    Mail (In)

    5,089 lbs.

    Mail (Out)

    2,794 lbs.

    Cargo (In)

    39,723 lbs.

    Cargo (Out)

    14,874 lbs.