Beausejour, MB

1960 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division

Historical Report
916th AC&W Squadron
1 July 1960 to 30 September 1960

Section I

REQUIRED DATA
  1. Unit and Location

916th Squadron (ADC) Beausejour AS
18 miles NE of Beausejour, Man., Canada
  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Alvin Israel, Major
  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)

    2. During the period of this report the 916th Squadron is operationally responsible to the Grand Forks Air Defense Sector (SAGE) and the 29th Air Division (SAGE). It is logistically responsible to 4602nd Support Wing, 119 Moss Avenue, Ottawa 3, Ontario, Canada.
  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)

    • N/A
  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)

    • The 916th AC&W Squadron will operate and maintain a radar and communications facility as a Manual Air Defense Direction Center for the Air Defense of the North American continent. Authority: GFADS Regulation 24-2, 25 July 1960.
  • Personnel
    		•
       

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

    		  
     

    Assigned

    13

    153

    12

    177

    		  
     

    Attached

    0

    0

    0

    0

    		  
                 
  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
    •

    AN/FPS-3C (1); AN/FPS-502 (1); AN/TPS-502 (1); AN/GPS-T2 (1); AN/UPS-T5 (1).

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

     

    Command and Administration:

    Major Alvin Israel was the Commander during the entire period of the report. Captain James M Thompson was assigned and appointed Squadron Executive Officer replacing Captain Robert A Mitchell who was reassigned to Richards-Gebauer AFB, Missouri during the reporting period.

    The activities of the Orderly Room remained normal during this period. Decentralization of the Master Reference Files was initiated during this period. In line with this project, all clerks in the Squadron were engaged in an intensive report to bring publications management, posting of publications, maintenance of operational files, etc. up to the highest standard.

    The entire Administrative procedures of the unit are being reviewed coincidental with the forthcoming staff visit and in conformance with Grand Forks Air Defense Sector Staff visit checklists.

    Communications and Electronics:

    During this period, this section completed installation of one AN/UPS-35, Plan Position Indicator, and an interim installation of two single channel UHF radio sets.

    A 10 Watt PS system was constructed and installed in the operations section for briefing purposes. Also, work was started in constructing a common battery switchboard to be used for maintenance coordination center, and data quality control monitor positions.

    Operations:

    During the third quarter 1960 the Operations Section has experienced a considerable gain of enlisted personnel. The early part of July, we were operating with approximately sixty percent of authorized UMD strength. This situation has been relieved due to input of personnel. At the close of the reporting period we had reached a 90 percent manned status of our UMD authorizations.

    There were two staff assistance visits from the 29th Air Division to this unit in preparation for the NORAD/ADC Operational Readiness Inspection. The ORI was conducted during the period 15-22 September 1960. Overall evaluation of satisfactory was awarded to this unit. This is the best possible rating which could be given a unit by the Evaluation Team. Special commentary in the report rendered by the ADC ORI Evaluation Team indicated that had it been possible to rate this unit as in the past, an outstanding rating would undoubtedly be given this unit as their evaluation of this operational assessment.

    Supply:

    The lighting system in the Automotive Maintenance building has been converted from incandescent flood lighting to a florescent lighting system.

    Steel, sheeting and installation kits have been received for the new AN/FPS-6B radar towers. Delivery dates on the AN/FPS-6B radar sets are 30 September 1960 for the first and 30 October 1960 for the second.

    New dining hall furniture has been received for the Airman’s and NCO dining rooms.

    Installations:

    The construction of Tower #4, Tower #5, Multi-Purpose Recreational building, Vehicle Storage building, and the addition to the Power House building was started 25 July 1960. The estimated completion date on all five projects is 25 November 1960.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    A Israel, Major, USAF

    Signature