St. Anthony, NF

1963 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
921st AC&W Squadron
St. Anthony, NF
1 July 1963 to 30 September 1963

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

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

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Archie M Rockwell, Lt. Col.

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. Goose Air Defense Sector
    26th Air Division
    Air Defense Command

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

  • 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

    13

    102

    31

    146

     
     

    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 September. Guest speaker was Mr. Richard Charles, a CTSP, who recently transferred here from Frobisher Bay. President of the Mess was Captain Jess B Sylvis in the absence of Lt. Col. Rockwell, Commander. The Outstanding Unit Award was presented to Technical Sergeant Peter Stephanis.

    In August, Lieutenant Governor Fabian O’Day of Newfoundland was given a personal tour of the station by Lt. Colonel Rockwell. Lieutenant Governor O’Day was on an orientation tour of Newfoundland and Labrador.

    In August, the section received a satisfactory rating by the 26th IG Team, headed by Major John J Connell.

    Airman First Class William H Amos was assigned PCS to this unit as Postal Clerk, replacing Airman Bosher, who was TDY from E Harmon AFB.

    Operations Section:

    During the period between 1 July 1963 and 30 September 1963, Operations was normal with the following activities: Captain Alan J Altznauer assumed the duties of Operations Officer, vice Captain Lonnie C Sitts. M/Sgt Harris V Vaughn assumed the duties of Operations Training NCOIC, vice S/Sgt. Cletus E Aynes. This section participated in four (4) live missions and 25 simulated missions. Two Directors were assigned and placed in a training status, with one of them being upgraded to Combat/Ready Status. Three NCO’s were placed on training for a seven level AFSC, and two airmen were upgraded to the five level AFSC. Academic training was administered to the crews and Intercept Control Technician classes were conducted. In addition to OJT, 15-J-1C training was given to crew members. The section is over strength one officer and under strength three enlisted personnel.

    Base Engineer Activities:

    The Civil Engineering activities for this quarter have resulted in the completion of one project.

    During this reporting period, all corridors are in the process of being modified with Mahogany Plywood Wainscoting, four (4) feet high. This job is being accomplished by the Dominion Construction Company.

    Fire Department – Normal fire prevention was accomplished during this quarter. An inspection was conducted by the Harmon Fire Department. No major discrepancies were discovered. The training of the fire fighting teams has progressed satisfactorily.

    A garage was built for the new water tanker. The garage was built for the purpose of preventing freezing of water during winter months. Materials (Clement Panelling, etc.) used in the construction of this building was in excess status.

    Transportation – Normal vehicle maintenance was accomplished during this quarter. Total miles on vehicles for the quarter was 14,165 and 1,960 gallons of gas was used for an average of 7.4 miles per gallon. As stated in the last historical report, considerable difficulty is still being experienced in obtaining parts for deadlined equipment. (D-8 Tractor, Grader, Travelettes, etc.)

    Contract airlift has been accomplished by EPA with EYO and LEA aircraft up until 1 September 1963. Laurentian Air Service from Ottawa, took over the contract 1 September 1963. Up until the present, services provided by Laurentian has been satisfactory. During the quarter, the following quantities were flown by air:

    (see the matrix at the end of this report)

    Communications and Electronics:

    General – In addition to normal maintenance and operational activities, the following special projects and activities were initiated, and/or completed:

    During September the CEM Section was inspected by the AFM 66-1 Inspection Team from Goose Air Defense Sector. The overall rating was favorable.

    GEEIA Teams have made two surveys concerning the FPS-6, FPS-20 and GTA-6 installation. GEEIA still has hopes of installing the FPS-6 antenna and radome in October. Materials for the schemes are not yet complete. GEEIA personnel visiting the site are listed as: Team #1 – CM/Sgt. Hecker and S/Sgt. Huckleroad.

    GEEIA Team #1 was contacted with regard to installing the 26 pair dockside cable concurrently with the FPS-6 radome installation. They agreed to install this cable in September, however with the delay of the FPS-6, GEEIA did not desire to send a team for the one small dockside cable scheme. Lt. Waterman (GEEIA Team Chief – Wire and Outside Plant) was contacted at Harmon AFB (Extension 5222) about installing the dockside cable. He informed us that our FPS-6 sail is supposed to reach us by ship on 10 October. Then the GEEIA Team will begin the FPS-6 scheme and also complete the dockside cable scheme. However, if the FPS-6 sail does not arrive, his own team will install the dockside cable when they complete their work at Harmon, sometime in November.

    Radar Maintenance:

    During the month of August, the FPS-3C Radome was painted by a team from Canadian Marconi. The interior of the AN/FPS-502 tower was painted.

    Radio Maintenance – The maintenance on the squadron mobile radios with the exception of two, has been excellent. Three radios (one primary and two spares) are being sent to Harmon AFB, for Depot level maintenance. The scheme for installation of the two RD-142A/U Sound Recorder/Producers was completed 23 September 1963.

    Wire Maintenance – Three public address speakers were installed to satisfy the requirements of the fire inspector.

    Communications Center:

    Fire procedures have been changed IAW the new Squadron fire plan. This has been coordinated with the fire marshal.

    A Squadron locator file has been initiated. This will include all personnel.

    Back-up Power (Transmitters):

    The stand-by Auxiliary power unit is still in a state of temporary repair. The DC electrical system is presently a lash-up.

    Personnel – The following personnel changes in the CEM Section are recorded.

    (see the matrix at the end of this report)

    Supply:

    The Gap-Pine Resupply Operation was accomplished on 8-9 August 1963. Three vessels, M/V Sir John Crosbie and M/V Theron discharged a total of 284 short tons of equipment and supplies. An estimated 63 tons of equipment and supplies are due in and will be delivered 1 October 1963. Our annual resupply of POL was completed on 15 July when the M/S Sea Transport delivered 11,808 barrels of diesel arctic #2 fuel oil.

    On 25 August, Major BD Percy, Director Supply and Services GADS, made an orientation visit to this unit. He toured unit supply and the materiel control section during his brief visit.

    Over five tons of excess property including five items of excess test equipment were turned into R&M and Base Supply at Harmon AFB.

    The Supply section received an excellent rating from the IG inspection of 7-9 August 1963.

    S/Sgt. Joyal was TDY to Headquarters ADC during the period 8-12 July for the purpose of reviewing and up-dating this units Equipment Authorization Inventory Data (E-AID) listing.

    In July the Base Exchange inventory and supply account was transferred from Major Robert I Tarlin to Captain Dale F Adams.

    The two Gap-Pine civilian overhire personnel were extended to 31 October due to shippage of the Gap-Pine Resupply schedule.

    T/Sgt. Thelbert E Coleman, NCOIC, departed this station PCS on 20 August 1963, with no replacement. S/Sgt. Lymen Joyal, property records NCO, and A/1C Charles Schaefer, fuel specialist, departed this station on 17 September 1963.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Archie M Rockwell, Lt. Col., USAF

    Signature

     

    Air Transportation Statistics

    Personnel (In)

    141

    Personnel (Out)

    153

    Mail (In)

    4,130 lbs.

    Mail (Out)

    1,948 lbs.

    Cargo (In)

    33,778 lbs.

    Cargo (Out)

    10,241 lbs.

    C&E Gains and Losses

    Arrivals

    Arrivals

    Departures

    Departures

    S/Sgt. Kirkland

    A/2C Witzel

    SM/Sgt. Cumberledge

    A/2C Huffman

    S/Sgt. Turner

    A/2C Gassman

    M/Sgt. Cantu

    A/2C Pingel

    S/Sgt. Wilkins

    A/2C Ehrlich

    S/Sgt. Abramowitz

    A/2C Shuttlesworth

    A/1C Sampson

    A/2C Sack

    A/1C Cole

    A/2C Teegardin

    A/1C Lewis

    A/2C Pratt

    A/1C Burt

    A/2C King

    A/2C Dunkleberger

    A/2C Molnar

    A/1C Barlow

    A/2C Woodward

       

    A/1C Abbott

    A/3C James

       

    A/2C Stickney