Stephenville, Labrador

1966 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
640th AC&W Squadron
Stephenville, Newfoundland
1 April 1966 to 30 June 1966

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

640th AC&W Squadron
APO New York 09864

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

John H Fuss, Lt. Colonel, USAF

  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)
  2. 640th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, APO New York 09864
    37th Air Division, Goose Air Force Base, Labrador
    1st Air Force, Stewart Air Force Base, New York
    Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colorado

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

  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)
  • The mission of the 640thAC&W Squadron is to conduct air defense operations within the area of assignment as outlined in (ADC) (RCAF) ASI 3/4/3, and function as a NORAD Control Center within the North American Air Defense System.

  • Personnel
  •    

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     
     

    Assigned

    15

    124

    58

    197

     
     

    Attached

    0

    0

    0

    0

     
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • Radio Telephone – 1 each FTA-13 Telephone Plant, 2 each M-19 Teletype Machines, 6 GRC-27 A/G UHF Radio, 6 GRT-3 A/G UHF Radio Transmitter, 6 GRR-7 A/G UHF Radio Receiver, 4 FRT-502 A/G Radio Transmitter, 7 URG-60 A/G UHF Receiver.
    Radar – 1 each AN/EDS-93A, 1 each AN/FPS-90, 1 each AN/GPX-7A, 1 each AN/GPX-14, 1 each AN/GPA-30, 1 each AN/GPS-T2A, 6 each GF-175 PPI, 4 each UPA-35 PPI, 2 each GA-99 PPI, 1 each AN/GPS-T-4, 1 each AN/GPS-T2, 2 each GA/929, 3 each RD-142A.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Commanders:

    The morale and welfare of personnel remains excellent. Rehabilitation of the airman’s dormitories has been approved and funded and should be under contract by the middle of July. The squadron has converted all support functions from military to civilian under mix-fix.

    Operations:

    The 1st Air Force IG Inspection was completed on 7 May 66, with this section rated Outstanding. This section participated in 4 SSTM and 3 Live Division exercises, 2 SSTM and 1 Live Region exercises and 1 SSTM and 1 Live Multi-Region Exercises. Director gains were Lt. Wittel, Lt. Shaffer, and CWO Travsky, and losses were Captain Carlino, Lt. Briddle, and Lt. Pickering. The new radar Quality Control limits were established by radar evaluation team and new Radar Coverage Indicator was brought into use on 28 June 66.

    Communications Electronics Maintenance:

    The CEM section under went a 37th Air Division semi-annual Quality Control Inspection during the month of April and received an overall rating of satisfactory. The Maintenance Control and Training Control sections received outstanding rating. This section was inspected by the 1 AF General Inspection team during the period 5-7 May and received an overall rating of satisfactory. Supervision, management and training received exceptional ratings. The TCTO Compliance and Control function and equipment status reporting was outstanding. The Pinetree Tail cable scheme was completed, however several discrepancies were listed and the AFTO Form’s 88 were not signed. These discrepancies were weakened condition of several power poles on which the cable is installed and the messenger cable presently installed is too small for the cable size and prevailing weather conditions. The Pinetree Cable termination was also changed from the Harmon Base main frame to Station "M", the commercial relay station due to the closing of Harmon AFB. This transfer added an additional 3,800 feet of cable. All materials for the KW-7 scheme have been received and installation is scheduled to begin in October 1966. The Radar equipment underwent a Radar Station Evaluation by the 4754th Radar Evaluation Squadron during the period 15-28 June. The Radio Maintenance work center and all radio equipment was relocated from Bldg. 1521. Purpose of the move was to centralize all work centers, protection of radio antennas from the elements by installing all antennas inside the AN/FPS-90 Radome and reduce line losses and noise levels on the remote radio lines. The Operations Dias was completely rewired to facilitate maintenance and improve the efficiency of communications service to the Operations Section. The CEM Maintenance Section achieved a Zero error rate in Maintenance Data Collection documents for the month of June, a feat never before achieved in 37 Air Division.

    Unit Supply:

    During the period of this report the following personnel actions occurred: Lt. McHaney, Supply Officer departed this station PCS, A/1C Spears continues his duty as Unit Mail Clerk, A/1C Robinson, A/2C Boone and A/2C MacFarlin personnel TDY this station have returned to their respective organizations. Lt. McHaney’s BEMO account was inventories and accountability transferred to S/Sgt. McCann and all necessary paperwork has been made ready for the new Supply Officer, due to arrive 5 July 66, so that he may assume his position promptly and efficiently. The IG Inspection Team inspected the Supply Complex and found no major discrepancies. All supply support has been transferred from Harmon AFB to Goose AB and all manuals, regulations and forms required for our increased responsibilities plus those required for a Commercial Transportation section have been placed on order.

    Food Services:

    Manning – A total of ten (10) Civilians, nine cooks and one (1) baker were hired during the month of June to replace Military Cooks. Six (6) each mess attendants were hired 1 July 1966 which eliminated 640th Airmen from the much dreaded job of pulling KP. The new manning document authorizes nine (9) cooks, one (1) baker, six (6) mess attendants and one (1) T/Sgt. Supervisor. Lounge chairs and end tables were procured with ADC Grant Funds in July. The furniture was used to set up a lounge in the Airman’s section of the dining room. Both dining room and kitchen was freshly painted during this period. This section was inspected by the 26th IG team and received an outstanding rating. This facility was nominated the best dining facility in 37th Air Division and will represent this division in the upcoming 1st Air Force Hennessy trophy competition. This facility operated within the prescribed monetary allowance during the past three months and all reports to higher headquarters were correct and submitted on time. No problems exist in this section and morale is at an all time high.

    Security and Law Enforcement:

    Personnel losses during this period were: A/2C William A Henry, S/Sgt. Everett J Williams departed station on Emergency leave and was reassigned to Ent AFB, Colorado. Gains for the period were: A/2C Donald L Rudnick and 1st Lt. KG Keith was assigned this station and assumed the duties as System Security Officer.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    John H Fuss, Lt. Colonel, USAF

    Signature