St. Anthony, NF

1966 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
921st AC&W Squadron
St. Anthony, NF
1 July 1966 to 30 September 1966

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

921st AC&W Squadron
APO NY 09370

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Ward L McCombs, Lt. Col., USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. 37th Air Division
    1st Air Force
    Air Defense Command

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

  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • Authority: Air Force Regulation 120-3/ADC Sup. 1.

    Mission: Conduct Air Defense Operations within assigned area of responsibility as outlined in ADC (RCAF) ASI 3/4/5 and function as a Direction center in the Air Defense System.

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Authorized

    10

    102

    26

    138

     
     

    Assigned

    10

    90

    26

    126

     
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • AN/FPS-6, 1; AN/FPS-93, 1; AN/GPS-T2, 1; AN/GPS-T2A, 1; AN/GPS-T4, 1; UPX-14, 1; OA-2325A, 1; GPA-30, 1; UPA-35, 6; OA-175, 7; GPX-7A, 1.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Command:

    Report of Audit 1392-22 was answered on 26 Sep 1966.

    Administration/Personnel:

    Lt. Col. Ward L McCombs assumed command on 25 July 1966.

    All eligible personnel were screened under the Human Reliability Program.

    1st Lt. Cecil A Thompson was assigned as Personnel/Administrative Officer.

    A total of 21 persons arrived versus 35 departing.

    Promotions – The following personnel were promoted to grade indicated: William C Cabaniss – S/Sgt; William W Glaze – A/1C; James J Jones – A/1C; Richard J Simms – A/1C; John R Neuerburg – A/1C; Michael W McKeon – A/1C.

    Security:

    All incoming personnel were briefed on Security. All departing personnel were properly debriefed.

    Civil Engineering:

    Project/Contract Activities – Changes to project/contract status are as follows:

    (see the matrix at the end of this report)

    Power Plant – All required preventative maintenance checks were performed. During this period the power plant assumed responsibility for all maintenance and housekeeping of the Pole Vault stand-by power plant and the NAVAID stand-by generators. During September 1966, we were informed that the Power Plant won first place in the Air Defense Command Power Plant Operation and Maintenance Awards Program.

    Heating Plant – All required preventative maintenance checks were made. In September 1966, a new chlorinator was installed.

    Transportation:

    Motor Pool – Vehicles were driven a total of 10,387 miles and used 1,481 gallons of gasoline for an average of 7.10 miles per gallon. Construction and material handling equipment was operated a total of 480 hours and consumed 797 gallons of fuel for an average of 0.6 hours per gallon operated. One new 66 model International pickup and a 65 model Snowblower were received during this period. Parts support from Goose AB during this quarter is considered fair.

    Commercial Transportation – Air/Ground transportation operations went fairly smooth during this quarter with the exception of minor difficulties that were solved through coordination with 37th Air Division Transportation Section. On the first of July 1966, Eastern Provincial Airlines was awarded the air transportation contract to support this station. During this quarter Eastern Provincial Airlines flew thirty round trips between Goose AB and St. Anthony Air Station. They transported the following loads:

    (see the matrix at the end of this report)

    In addition to these flights, one person was air evacuated by an USAF HU-16 aircraft to the hospital at Goose AB on 28 September 1966.

    Supply:

    Quarterly Base Exchange net sales $12,276.93.

    We were visited by Loring AFB, Maine Base Exchange Personnel on 8-9 July.

    Operations:

    The following is a summary of the operations section activities for the quarter:

    Major Accomplishments – (a) Underwent ORI’s by ADC and NNR with satisfactory on both. (b) Underwent a TAC Evaluation by First Air Force also with satisfactory result.

    Exercises – (a) Live 6 (b) Simulated 7

    Problems – In July a large part of the experienced personnel departed and were replaced by new personnel. These new and comparatively untrained personnel were utilized in the evaluations, however the fact was taken into account by evaluating teams. Both the Operations Officer and the Training Officer were replaced by normal rotation during this period. Many personnel were transferred out and no replacement transferred in which resulted in a shortage of ten personnel. The imbalance between airmen and NCO grades is also improving slowly with incoming personnel.

    Intercepts – (a) Live 466 (b) Simulated 525.

    Communications and Electronics:

    Major Accomplishments –

    The AN/FPS-6 Height Finder underwent an IRAN (Inspect, Repair as Necessary). This was performed by a Canadian Marconi DLM team during mid July through the first part of August.

    During the period of 22 July through 4 August a GEEIA Installation team installed Engineering Scheme O453A6B-UT48-2A22C-B0011-17. This entailed the replacement of a 51 pair cable for the Base Wire and Telephone Development Systems (BTWD). Upon the completion of this scheme they also performed an outside plant survey of all radio antennas and radomes.

    All electronic test equipment was calibrated and/or repaired by a contract team from Canadian Marconi Company (CMC).

    A GEEIA team installed Engineering Scheme 2086A5B-C2-UT48-EH2A21C7-K6511-45. This scheme is engineered to provide an improved cryptographic facility at St. Anthony Air Station.

    Presently the AN/FPS-93A, Search Radar is undergoing an IRAN by a Canadian Marconi Company (CMC) DLM Team. They have completely overhauled one channel of the Search Radar and all of the AN/GPX-7A, (SIF equipment). Still to be completed is one channel of Radar, AN/UPX-14, AN/GPA-30 and associated radar scopes.

    Cable splices were made in the 25 pair cable running from site to the dock area to prevent loss of cable pairs during winter months.

    A new house cable from the main frame to the Pole Vault area is in progress. This should eliminate problem areas that have occurred with the carbon blocks in the terminal blocks.

    Inspections and Staff Visits -

    An ORE, tactical evaluation was conducted by First Air Force. The inspection was considered satisfactory with favorable comments in all areas.

    An ORI was conducted by Headquarters ADC team. Here again favorable comments were given in all areas.

    Prepared By: Cecil A Thompson, 1st Lt., USAF

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Ward L McCombs, Lt. Col., USAF

    Signature

     

    Civil Engineering Project Status

    Project No.

    Title

    ANT 1-6

    Maintain POL Tanks and Lines

    ANT 2-6

    Maintain Exterior of Buildings

    ANT 8-6

    Paint NAVAID Towers

    Commercial Transportation Statistics

    To

    No. of Pax.

    Mail

    Cargo

    St. Anthony AS

    134

    5,388 lbs.

    21,134 lbs.

    Goose AB

    146

    2,513 lbs.

    6,129 lbs.