Lowther, ON

1961 – Historical Report – USAF Historical Record

Historical Record
639th AC&W Squadron
Lowther, ON
1 January 1961 to 31 March 1961

Section I

REQUIRED DATA
  1. Unit and Location

639th AC&W Squadron
Lowther Air Station, Lowther, Ont., Canada
  1. Name and Grade of Commander

Arthur A Fox, Major, USAF
  1. Chain of Command (Superior Echelons)

    2. 30th Air Division (SAGE)
    Air Defense Command
  • Subordinate Units (Down to and including squadrons)

    • None
  • Mission (Give authority and brief statement of primary mission)

    • To operate and maintain a Direction Center facility as part of the integrated Air Defense System of the 30th Air Division (SAGE) for the purpose of conducting air defense operations within this system. (30th ADIVR 24-6, 2 July 59)
  • Personnel
    		•
       

    Officers

    Airmen

    Civilians

    Total

    		  
     

    Assigned

    17

    150

    7

    174

    		  
     

    Attached

    2

    0

    0

    2

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

    1 Search Radar AN/MPS-7 in Arctic tower; 1 Height Radar AN/MPS-14 in Arctic tower; 1 IFF AN/GPX-20A; 1 Video Mapper AN/GPA-30; 1 Telephone Equipment AN/GTA-6A; 2 Teletype AN/FGC-20; 1 Teletype AN/FGC-25; 3 Radio VHF BC640 BC639; 4 Radio UHF Multi Channel AN/GRC-27; 2 Radio HF AN/GRC-26D; 1 Crypto Account; 4 Radio UHF Single Channel AN/GRR-7; 4 Radio UHF Single Channel AN/GRT-3;

    Section II

    COMMENTARY

    The following officers arrived and departed during this reporting period:

    Major Walter S Jalk, Jr. arrived - Operations Officer.
    1st Lt. Eldon R Smith Jr. arrived - Chaplain.
    1st Lt. John P Wilz arrived - Communications Officer.
    Captain James M Dorsey departed - Weapons Controller.
    Captain John W Waller departed – Weapons Controller
    1st Lt. Steve M Guidry departed – Weapons Controller

    A New Years Day reception was held for all officers at the Officers Club.

    A Nine (9) stall heated garage was completed on the station.

    Colonel Richard W Davania, Commander of Sault Ste. Marie Air Defense Sector addressed approximately 100 local dignitaries, on the subject of NORAD, on 2 February 1961.

    A basketball tournament was sponsored by this station from 1 February through 4 February. Teams were entered from Ramore Air Station, Pagwa Air Station, Lowther Air Station, and Armstrong Air Station. Ramore emerged the victor, defeating Lowther 77 to 71 in the final game. A composite of the four (4) teams was then selected to enter the 30th Air Division (SAGE) tournament at Custer Air Force Station as the Pine Tree Line Team.

    4602nd Support Wing arrived on 23 February for a Staff Assistance Visit. The Squadron was evaluated as "Satisfactory", the highest rating which could be given.

    Typed Name and Grade of Commander

    Arthur A Fox, Major, USAF

    Signature