Cartwright, Labrador

1966 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Division


Historical Record
922nd AC&W Squadron
Cartwright, Labrador
1 January 1966 to 31 March 1966

Section I

REQUIRED DATA

  1. Unit and Location

922nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron,
(ADC)

  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Clifford N Keith, Major, 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)
  • 37th Air Division Regulation 23-5. The mission of the 922nd AC&W Squadron is to conduct Air Defense Operations within an assigned area of responsibility and to function as a Direction Center in the Air Defense System.

  • Personnel
  •  

     

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

     

     

    Authorized

    10

    106

    20

    136

     

     

    Assigned

    10

    96

    20

    126

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Equipment (Give official nomenclature and quantity of mission-type equipment)
  • AN/FPS-87A; AN/FPS-90; APV-14; R-361 (6); AN/URG-60 (6); GA-175 (5); AN/GRC-27 (4); AN/G7A-6A; OA-99 (2); OA-2325-A; SSM-7 TT-21; AN/GAS-T2; AN/GPX; AN/FRT-502 (3); H-15 (2); AN/GPS-T2A; AN/GRT-3 (5); AN/GRC-27 (5); AN/FRT-503; AN/GPA-35 (31); GA/929 (2); M-19.

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    Personnel and Administration:

    During the first quarter of 1966 Major Merle E Stafford departed this station PCS to Hamilton AFB, California. Major Clifford N Keith, formerly with the Washington Air Defense Sector arrived in February and assumed the duties and responsibilities of the Commander. Since that time, increased emphasis has been placed on preparing for various forthcoming administrative and operational inspections and evaluations.

    The Commander of 37th Air Division, Brigadier General Archie M Burke spent the 16th and 17th of February at this station on a routine visit.

    Lt. Cope, the Personnel Officer participated in the GADS Promotion Board held at Goose Air Base in March. There were six promotions in the squadron. An Administrative Clerk, A/1C Rudolph Reeves was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

    In March, the Northern NORAD Region at North Bay hosted a Commanders Conference and Major Keith attended.

    An increased emphasis has been placed on the morale of all personnel, especially airmen. Work was begun and completed on an Airman’s Lounge employing available materials and self-help. During its brief period of operation it has proven to be highly successful.

    The squadron Dining Hall, called the Polar Room, was redecorated in a marine theme with nautical finishings. In enhances the beauty of a still over-crowded facility.

    Operations:

    On 2 February 1966 the Goose NORAD Sector conducted a sector exercise with the purpose of evaluating the Northern complex. Team members were Major Oechsle and Captain Kopecky from GADS and Lt. Ellis from the 921st. The team complimented the personnel involved on the way they conducted the Air Battle.

    Lt. James Nelson arrived on 10 March 1966 from Adair AFS, Oregon as a long over-due replacement for a Controller who departed in December 1965. His arrivals brings Controller manning up to UMD authorizations.

    During the reporting period the Weapons Section controlled 113 sorties and attempted 258 intercepts. Of these 191 were successful and only 66 were missed intercepts due to the following reasons: Pilot Error 6, Director Error 2, Flying Safety 8, Airborne Equipment Failure 41, ECM 6 and Weather 3.

    The Surveillance Section tracked a total of 2006 tracks through their assigned area of responsibility.

    Operations personnel participated in 8 live and 20 simulated Air Defense exercises.

     

    Communications and Electronics:

    Captain Richard E King departed PCS for the CONUS on 8 Feb 66. He was replaced by 1st Lt. Ralph E Owens, Jr., who arrived on 18 Feb 66. 1st Lt. Bernard Nopko departed to McGuire AFB for separation on 8 Feb 66.

    During the period 7-11 March 66 Goose Air Defense Sector conducted a quality control inspection resulting in a marginal report.

    A mobile PMEL calibration team completed on-site calibration of all test equipment during the period 23 Feb through 29 Mar 66.

    During this quarter 1 Master and 5 A/2C reported for duty. Mr. Darryle A Eagles, Technical Representative formally with Canadian Marconi is now employed by the US Civil Service.

    Because minimum Supply level items are received at a slow rate there are a number of priority supply requisitions from this section. This problem will continue unless an increased emphasis is placed on filling MSL at radar sites.

    Civil Engineering:

    M/Sgt Posey, NCOIC of this section, departed PCS in January and M/Sgt. Pruett departed in March 66.

    During the first quarter of 1966 a total of 191 trouble calls were completed by station preventative maintenance personnel.

    In March, Mr. Sean Kearns, CMC representative completed an overhaul of the Air-Conditioning equipment in the Operations buildings.

    The Station Power Plant was awarded 1st Place in Category I of the 26th Air Division competition for electrical power generating plants.

    The Station Heating Plant was awarded Second Place in Category I of the 26th Air Division for Heating Plants.

    During the reporting period Motor Pool vehicles were driven a total of 9,764 miles.

    Supply:

    1st Lt. Lawrence G Costanzo departed this station for Otis AFB, with TDY enroute to attend Supply Officers Staff School at Amarillo, Texas. His replacement, 1st Lt. George E Berry arrived from McClellan AFB on 11 Feb 66.

    The section NCOIC, S/Sgt. Donald Napier departed for the CONUS on 18 Feb 66 with no replacement due until April. S/Sgt. Melvin Randle, Fuels Supervisor, assumed the duties of NCOIC.

    Dispensary:

    Early in the quarter M/Sgt. Coil departed for the CONUS leaving the section staffed by one technician, A/1C David Leavesly. The section treated 34 Air Force and 12 civilian medical cases.

    Ten Air Force personnel were referred for treatment to the 4082nd Hospital at Goose AB.

    The weigh-in procedure of newly assigned personnel still continues. At the present time, four airmen are on the weight reduction program.

    Key personnel at this section consist of:

    (see matrix at end of this report)

    Because of prevailing weather the squadron personnel participated in several outdoor sports like ski-dooing and skiing. Military personnel have fine relations with members of the local community and frequently socialize with them in their homes.

    The squadron Dining Hall is being redecorated with a nautical décor and work continues in the hope of having it completed in April 1966.

    Because of area excess of leisure time personnel continue to take advantage of the many and varied courses of study that are available through ECI, USAFI and Group Study.

    Squadron morale is at an all time high. This is due primarily to the establishment and re-decoration of an Airman’s Lounge operated by airmen under the NCO Club. It has been a huge success due to the diligence of the Commander and all others concerned.

    Prepared By: Michael P Sheehan, 1st Lt., USAF

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Clifford N Keith, Major, USAF

    Signature

     

    Key Personnel

    a

    Commander

    Major Clifford N Keith

    b

    Operations Officer

    Major Charles J Allen

    c

    CEM Supervisor

    1st Lt. Ralph E Owens Jr.

    d

    Supply Officer

    1st Lt. George E Berry

    e

    Personnel/Administrative Officer

    1st Lt. William L Cope

    f

    Civil Engineering Officer

    1st Lt. William H Davis

    g

    First Sergeant

    SM/Sgt. Phillip H Ballou

    h

    NCOIC CEM

    SM/Sgt. Walter W Ouimette

    i

    NCOIC Preventive Maintenance

    None

    j

    Medical Technician

    A/1C David Leavesly

    k

    MCOIC Fire Prevention

    M/Sgt. Terry S Pruett

    l

    NCOIC Operations

    M/Sgt. Luke H Green

    m

    NCOIC Food Services

    T/Sgt. Robert T Ashe

    n

    NCOIC Communications Center

    T/Sgt. Richard T Gillis