Resolution Island

1956 – Monthly Activity Report – USAF Historical Division


920th AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND WARNING SQUADRON
APO 677, New York, New York

3 May 1956

AHA

SUBJECT: Monthly AC&W Activity Report (RCS: 64-21)

TO: Commander
64th Air Division (Defense)
ATTN: ADCS
Pepperrell Air Force Base

In compliance with 64th AD (D) Regulation 55-35, dated 27 February 1956, the following report is submitted for the month ending 30 April 1956.

  1. Section I – Operations
    1. Status of Operations Team as of 30 April 1956.
    2. AFSC

      AUTH.

      ASSIGNED

      PRESENT FOR DUTY

      TDY

      LEAVE

      OTHER

      1644

      1

      1

      1

      0

      0

      0

      1124Q

      0

      1

      1 *

      0

      0

      0

      1121B

      0

      1

      1 *

      0

      0

      0

      3034

      1

      1

      1

      0

      0

      0

      3044

      1

      1

      1

      0

      0

      0

      27330

      6

      15

      15

      0

      0

      0

      27350

      10

      7

      7

      0

      0

      0

      27370

      5

      2

      2

      0

      0

      0

      29130

      2

      3

      3

      0

      0

      0

      29150

      6

      3

      3

      0

      0

      0

      29170

      1

      2

      2

      0

      0

      0

      30332C

      0

      3

      3

      0

      0

      0

      30352C

      5

      3

      3

      0

      0

      0

      30372

      5

      2

      2

      0

      0

      0

      30433A

      3

      3

      3

      0

      0

      0

      30433B

      3

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      30453A

      3

      1

      1

      0

      0

      0

      30453B

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      30473

      1

      1

      1

      0

      0

      0

      TOTAL

      53

      50

      50

      0

      0

      0

      * Cross-training from 59th for approximately 90 days.

    3. Director Activity for month of April 1956
    4. Name of Director

      Lacy 1/Lt.
      1644 Ops. O.
      5 Oct 56

      Castleberry 2/Lt.
      P1124Q Dy 1641
      11 Nov 56

      Richard 2 /Lt.
      P1121Q Dy 1641
      24 Sep 56

      90º Beam Intercepts

      0

      0

      0

      Identification Intercepts

      0

      0

      0

      No. of A/C Directed

      43

      40

      46

      Simulated Intercepts

      20

      34

      32

      GCI/GCA

      0

      0

      0

      GCI/NAVAIDS

      0

      0

      0

      Actual ECM

      1

      0

      1

      Synthetic ECM

      0

      0

      0

      Assist to Aircraft

      0

      0

      0

      FIS Cross Training

      X

      X

      X

      AC&W Cross Training

      X

      X

      X

    5. The 15-J-IC was operational during the entire month.
    6. The Surveillance section of Operations is still working on a three shift, seven day work week. Two 27370s were lost in this section during this reporting period, one due to a normal ZI rotation and one due to an emergency leave. One 27370 was gained. Eight 27330s were received this month as replacements for the large number lost last month.
    7. During the month an ECM Training mission was conducted against this station. Surveillance and Radar Maintenance received valuable experience in the recognition of jamming and the utilization of anti-jamming procedures.
  2. SECTION II – C &E MAINTENANCE
    1. Radar Maintenance:
      1. A new infra-red anemometer heating unit was constructed and placed in operation. However, one lamp broke within two days. It is believed that breakage was due to use of too heavy insulation between the bulb and the support can, creating a high temperature stress between the exposed face of the lamp and the insulated bottom portion. Two lamps had broken in another unit prior to this case. One lamp from a heating unit that had given trouble free service for over three months was removed when the wiring at the base of the lamp failed. Although the lamp was still serviceable the face was discoloured and the outside surface cracked, indicating temperature stresses. An experimental unit with no insulation has been in service three weeks with no difficulties to date. Any measure to lengthen lamp life that may be concluded from further activity reports.
      2. A new impeller blade was installed in blower #2 of the Sheldon pressurizing system for tower one. The replaced blade was out of balance causing moderate vibration and excessive heating of the motor bearings.
      3. Training was conducted twice weekly for all radar maintenance personnel on the 15-J-1C and the Sheldon pressurizing system Formal tests were given at the end of the month.
    2. Communications Maintenance:
      1. Communications during the month of April were maintained at a 100% level and this record was very gratifying to personnel who spent many off-duty hours on the installation and upkeep of our antenna systems.
      2. The frame room was given a general over-hauling which included painting.
      3. We are in the process of consolidating the switchboard with the teletype section, thus eliminating the necessity of employing two (2) personnel during the graveyard shift.
      4. Since the arrival from the ZI of a licensed amateur operator, our radio station has functioned smoothly and numerous phone-patches were established for personnel at this site. Since reactivation of the amateur station, schedules have been set up with various operators in the States for the purpose of making phone patches. Needless to say, this is a great morale builder.
      5. The transmitter site building is now in the process of being repainted and a lot of inside wiring is being removed and reinstalled.
  3. SECTION III – AIO MAINTENANCE
    1. Heading the list of activities for the month of April, involving personnel of Air Installations Section, was the retrieving of mail pouches, crates and packets dropped during two paradrop operations. These para-drops occurred on the 11th and 30th to augment curtailed services by helicopter out of Frobisher Bay because of adverse weather conditions, additional commitments to other isolated units and the normal maintenance that must be accomplished following a definite number of air hours.
    2. Following in importance is the near-completion of the re-decorating of the power plant office and the painting of eleven (11) engines, involving approximately 300 man hours.
    3. The M&R Section got a head start on the seasonal leaks resulting from occasional thaws. The Old Timers state leaking roofs seriously curtained operations a year ago this time. The removal of snow and ice from the roof of the BQ and other operational buildings has eliminated, in part, the serious deterioration of roofing and floor tile resulting from leaking roofs which occur when snow and ice start melting during the spring thaws.
    4. Joining the passing parade in the very near future are six (6) men from this section for whom there are no replacements immediately available. Two of these "rotatees" are civilian equipment operators out of the Motor Pool going home temporarily prior to signing a new contract to work on the DEW Line Sites.
  4. SECTION IV – SUPPLY
    1. This section received two (2) supply men in AFSC 64131 this month. Two (2) others, one 64131 and one 64173 are presently at Goose Air Base awaiting transportation.
    2. This section has operated with one 64173 and one 64010, category 12, for the past three months.
    3. Cap Dan. W. Hoffpauir, Supply Officer, rotates to Ent, Colorado, this month. Captain Lloyd E. Nordyke, who is also Communications Officer, will assume duty as Supply Officer.
  5. SECTION V – MISCELLANEOUS
    1. During the month of April, the Squadron was visited by Captain Haygood, Protestant Chaplain, stationed at Frobisher Bay. Chaplain Haygood conducted religious services and held conference periods for all those desiring to attend them.
    2. The dentist and his assistant, stationed at Frobisher, also visited the site during this period. The portable dental equipment was set up in the Dispensary. A dental survey of all personnel was accomplished and those requiring attention were administered treatments as necessary. A total of 116 persons received attention.
    3. The arrival of a Food Services Supervisor has greatly improved the quality of food in the dining hall. However, the loss of two cooks, one by rotation and one on moral leave, has caused a shortage of qualified Food Services Personnel
    4. The Squadron theatre was inoperative for the majority of the month due to a lack of projection lamps for the new Bell & Howell projectors which were previously installed. The new projectors came equipped with one lamp each. Attempts to procure these lamps through normal supply channels have not produced any results as this particular lamp is evidently a scarce supply item. An attempt to procure these lamps through commercial outlets in the U.S. was made utilizing "out-of-the-pocket" funds, but upon arrival, via paradrop, the lamps were found to be of the wrong type. A second attempt is in progress.
    5. One segment of the 64th Air Division Inspection Team, consisting of Lt. Colonel Cole, Captain Wilson, M/Sgt. Slade, and T/Sgt. Fransen, arrived at the site on 24 April for the purpose of conducting a general inspection. The team was split into two segments due to curtailed transportation and bad weather. The second segment has not arrived as of this date. The Inspectors were very helpful in giving advice on subjects in Administration, Operations, Supply and Maintenance procedures. Final results of the inspection are being held awaiting results of the visit from the second half of the team.

GEORGE A MIDDLETON
Major, USAF
Commander.