Newport, Maine GOC Post
\ncontributed by Harold Nelson\n
\nFrom behind the grounds of the American Legion Post 105, Newport, Maine, Fishing Derby Day, July 13, \n1953.
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\nClose-up of the building above.
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\nNewspaper clipping of the GOC building, and chief observer.
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Newport, Maine GOC Post
\ncontributed by Harold Nelson\n
\nFrom behind the grounds of the American Legion Post 105, Newport, Maine, Fishing Derby Day, July 13, \n1953.
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\nClose-up of the building above.
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\nNewspaper clipping of the GOC building, and chief observer.
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Ground Observer Corps
\nAircraft Warning Service, 1944
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contributed by John E. Clements\n
\nDuring World War II, the Ground Observer Corps, Aircraft Warning\nService was established by the War Department. This document describes\nsome early experiences with that service. Also included are\nWar Department letters announcing the discontinuance of the service\nin 1944, and a certificate of service.\n
\nMemory of the Ground Observer Corps
\nBy John Clements
\nMy memory has dimmed over the years so some of this may not be correct but\nno one is left that can help as most of the people that took an active part\nin our “post” as they were called, have passed away.\n
\nAs I recall in early 1942 the U.S army rep came to see my father, Charles\nM. Clements, to ask him if he would be an observation post chief observer\nin the town of Swanville, Maine. Agreeing to do so, the next step was to\nset up a post. Far the present my fathers garage would fit the mold. But,\nbeing too noisy and busy another more suitable location was needed.\n
\nTom Nickerson generously donated a building that he used for a logging\ncamp to serve as the observation post. The next step was to get the cabin\nmoved next to my father’s garage and filling station. Since patriotism ran\nhigh, volunteers were easy to come by and with the aid of a few skids and\nRussell Littlefields Mack Jr. truck, the 8 by 16 building was moved out\nof the woods and put on a proper resting place next to my fathers garage.\nThe cabin was wired to put in a few lights and a plug in or two with the\nelectricity coming from the garage.\n
\nThere was also a stove and a few chairs in the building that were donated\nand a telephone with the party line # 254W4 that was put in by the telephone\ncompany. Over the next few weeks there was another addition to the building,\na cot. This way pairs with night shift could take turns standing watch and\nsleeping. A table followed so that we could now play cribbage or any other\ncard game to pass some time.\n
\nAfter the initial request of a post and volunteers were met, the army came\nand ran a school of instructing. It was a one night session held at the\nGrange Hall. After that day of schooling everything was all set to go!\n
\nBeing a small town with not many people there was a limited number of\nvolunteers. It turned out though, that with night shift you only had a\nshift every two weeks or so. Everyone did all they could to help out and\neven traded shifts if necessary. My father, being chief observer had the\ntask of creating a schedule. Father, few of the elderly men and the\nneighborly women along with my brother Nicholas and I ( when we were not\nin school ) did most of the day shifts.\n
\nNicholas and I each received a medal for serving 500 hours and my father\nreceived one for over 1,000 hours! I couldn’t tell you where that is right\nnow it must have gotten lost over the past 55 years. We were each given a\nlapel pin for our service. The were arm bands available to be worn while\non duty.\n
\nThe army provided us with identification books and flash cards to help in\nidentifying the difterent types of U.S, German, Japanese, and Italian\nplanes. My brother an I got very proficient in our knowledge of the flash\ncards.\n
\nWe called in the sighting to a Filter Center located in Bangor, Maine.\nThis was before the dial telephone in our area was readily used, so the\ncalls were all operator assisted. When she asked "number please” our\nresponse was, "Army Flash 254W4.” Which told her to connect us to the\nFilter Center at Bangor. It gave her the number of who to charge the\ncall to.\n
\nAs I recall our post code number was “X-Ray 461” and later became “Gimble\n23”. When the Filter Center answered you would identify the post buy saying,\n“post code number X-Ray 461”. Then you would read from a sheet which was\nprovided which covered the following items ( which may not be in order ):\n
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- Number of Aircraft\n
- Identify if it is know or unknown\n
- Single or multiple engines\n
- Seen or Heard\n
- How far from post\n
- Direction headed\n
- Altitude: High, Med., Or Low\n
- Speed: Slow, Fast, Or Very Fast\n
The Filter Center would thank you and say that was all for now then every\nonce in a while they would call you back to verify something. (Number of\naircraft, or altitude, not who was winning the cribbage game.)\n
\nAnnouncement of the closing of GOC/AWS centers
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Closing letter of appreciation
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Certificate of Service
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The Ground Observer Corps Post 43-B, Swanville, ME
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contributed by John Clements\n
\nWritten by Charles M. Clements, CO in the last entry of the last log book of the post.\n
\n\nIn 1941 the war department knew that we were likely to have an air attack by Germany on our Eastern coast and decide some form of defense against this must be had. Already Great Britain had an Air Warning Service system in use against the air blitz that was working out very good. After a study of it was made by members of the American Air Force, the War Dept. decide to try out something over here along the same lines as was being used in England.\n
\nThe American Legion Posts were asked to try and set up observation posts along the coast from Maine to Florida and to cover the entire area back from the coast for about 400 miles. The posts were to be 6 miles apart or as near as could be due to telephone lines and roads to travel to and from them. Each post was to have a chief observer, two assistant chief observers, and as many observers as he or she needed or could get so the post could be manned on a continuous 24 hour basis if need be.\n
\nOne day during the last of June or the first of July 1941, Mr. Aubrey Ramsdell, Commander of the Frank Hazeltine Post of Belfast and Past Commander Mr. Lloyd Watson came to me and said, "Charles, we have a job for you." and I said , " Is that so, what kind of job is it?" Well, they told me the best they could about the A.W.S. (and to be frank it was very little) and asked me if I would try to set up an observation post and act as the chief observer. I said I would do the best I could. At that time the War Dept. planned to conduct a test of from 24 to 72 hours duration during the last week of August or the first week of Sept. to determine if civilians could do it if ever we were in need of A.W.S.\n
\nA.D. Moody consented to be my 1st Asst. and Margaret Clements my 2nd Asst. and16 men and women from town agreed to act as observers.\n
\nA short time later Mr. Ramsdell and Mr. Watson gave a demonstration of the workings of the A.W.S.at Comet Grange hall but it was pretty crude and I don’t think we came away with much more knowledge but we at least had a good time. As this was to be only a test, I suggested that we use my garage as an observation post and so it was to be.\n
\nWell the time came for the test and it didn’t take place due to the fact that many of the posts had not been set up due to many unlooked for difficulties. We went along until the next Spring and by that time a lot of us had forgotten all about it or thought maybe it had been given up. I knew better as I was getting mail from the War Dept. and knew some posts went on duty the day after Pearl Harbor.\n
\nIn the early Spring of 1942, both my assts. resigned due to ill health and R.S. Taylor and Ralph Robertson became my new ones.\n
\nOn May 12th,1942, I rec’d a letter from the War Dept. ordering my post to go into operation on a 24 hour basis beginning at 6a.m. the next morning. I made the rounds and called the two assts. and the observers to meet at my house. The inside furnishings that evening to work out a schedule for manning the post. I took it days from 6a.m. to 6pm. doing it along with my work in the garage. From 6p.m. to 6a.m. we had two observers on duty at a time on four hour watches.\n
\nWe went on as per order at 6a.m. May 13th 1942 and I took the first watch. Up to this time my post was known as 43-B but from now on the code was "Gimbel-2-3" pronounced "Gimbel - two three ".\n
\nWe used the garage for a little over a week for a post, but knew we must have a building to be used as a post only. Thomas Nickerson gave us a camp he had left in W. T. Beal’s pasture. Russell Littlefield came over June 2nd and a few of us went with him and he hauled the camp to the permanent location near the garage. We then had a bee among the observers and made the needed repairs. The inside furnishings were donated by various observers and town’s people. A telephone was installed and we moved in. My original no. of 16 observers didn’t prove to be enough so I expanded it to 36. In a short time, both Mr. Taylor and Mr. Robertson moved away and my next assts. were W.T.Beal and Herbert L. Small who continued to be such to the end.\n
\nWe also revised our schedule of watches to 6 to 8 a.m., 8 to 11 a.m.,11a.m. to 1p.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., 4 p.m. to 7p.m. and 7p.m. to10p.m.,one observer being on duty during these hours. 10p.m. to 6a.m. was done in one shift but two observers were on at one time.\n
\nMr. Lloyd Watson had been appointed district director for this district and he began to make regular inspections of the post. Our filter center was Bangor, Maine. About this time everyone was required to have an identification card. The chief observer filled them out, got the observer to sign his name on them and place a thumb print on the back. The cards were sent first to Boston and later to Bangor for the stamp of the U.S. Air Forces, after which they were returned to the chief observer who gave them out. Next we were all given arm bands to be worn on the left arm while on duty.\n
\nBeginning in the Fall of 1942, the post began to receive regular inspections by Army men. The first to come was S/Sgt. Fred Schammell, the next was S/Sgt. Wm. Clark, and the last one was S/Sgt. Edward Mantell.\n
\nDuring the first part of 1943 the Army decided we must try and add plane identification in reporting the flights, so I received a request to appoint a recognition officer. Margaret Clements accepted this job. It was planned that recognition schools of one weeks duration be held in Bangor during April and May, all expenses paid by the Army. Margaret planned to go the last week in April but due to a lack of the required number to conduct the school, it wasn’t held and the result being that we didn’t have a recognition expert at our post. I got a supply of recognition material during the summer and each member who was interested was given a manual to study. The result was that most of the grown-ups didn’t get far but the school age kids got so they could tell most of them in a very short time.\n
\nThe winter of 1942-43 was one of the coldest we ever had. There were very few nights that the thermometer didn’t register between zero and twenty below but the post was manned just the same. We burned over four cords of wood that winter.\n
\nDuring the month of June, 1943, it was announced that pins would be given each observer, the chief and his assts. Also a merit badge given to each who had served 500 hours or more. I sent my list of names in the first of July and the pins came the first week of Aug.\n
\nBesides a chief observer pin, I rec’d a merit medal with a 3000 hr. baron it. My boys, John and Nicholas rec’d one each with a 500 hr. bar.\n
\nOn the evening of Aug. 10th,Capt. Wollenburg and S’Sgt Clark came to Comet Grange hall and each gave a talk on the A.W.S. after which they showed motion pictures of the workings of the A.W.S. from the time we sent in the "Army Flash" to the time our fighter planes went out to meet the enemy.\n
\nThey also showed a captured German film showing the German invasion of France and the low countries. It was a very good show and we all came away with a much better knowledge of the part we were playing, and how it would help if we were ever attacked by the enemy by air.\n
\nOn July 17th 1943, the code was changed from Gimbel-2-3 to X.R.A.Y.-461 [xray four six one] and so remained until the end.\n
\nOn Oct. 4th, 1943, the post went off from a 24 hr. basis at 11p.m. and from then until May 29th, 1944 the post was manned each Wed. from 1 to 5p.m.. On May 29th, 1944 the War Dept. ordered all posts discontinued and thus the A.W.S. passed into history.\n
\nOur post was never a very busy one and many a night went by without a single plane being reported. The observers spent their time on duty many ways such as making baskets, writing letters, reading, sewing, knitting, doing crossword puzzles, and making model airplanes. One of the most interesting things was the "‘Alaskan Thermometer" that Duane Whitten , the game warden concocted one night during the winter of 1942-43.It was made from a piece of stove pipe wire, a stick of firewood, some tire tape, and two strips of birch bark, and was without a doubt the last word in workmanship and design. There was the morning that I relieved Carl Blake and Elmer Moore and soon after going on duty I discovered the clock to be missing although I could hear it ticking. The sound seemed to come from every where so I began to hunt for the clock. After a few minutes I found Carl had hung it behind the bulletin board by a string. I removed the clock and found he had set the alarm in half an hour. Another night, Herbert Small and Stanley Webster were on watch together and Herbert took his turn at sleeping first. After he got to sleep, Stanley built a roaring fire in the stove, closed up the door and windows and went out doors and waited. In due time Herbert came out looking like he had fallen into a pond. They both told me they couldn’t stay in the post for over an hour as it had gotten so hot inside. After that Stanley never slept even though he could, if he and Herbert were on together. Wouldn’t Herbert just loved to have gotten the chance to pay him back.\n
\nAnother time Margaret Nickerson and Bess the police dog who used to come with her, started out and Bess killed a skunk on the way. She had to do her watch out of doors that night.\n
\nThere were other incidents too numerous to mention, so there was a little fun in being an observer at times.\n
\nIn closing, I wish to thank everyone who served on the post, and I am glad we didn’t have to report an enemy plane. If they had sent one over , as soon as he had hit the coast, the flash calls of One, Unknown, High, Seen, XRAY-461-,North, 1 Mile West, and so on from other posts would have meant the end of that plane in short order. If our being on the job helped the enemy refrain from sending planes, it was well worth the time and effort spent.\n
C.M.Clements
\n Co.X.R.A.Y.\n
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\n\nUnder the waves, a reminder
\n\n\nDivers placed a memorial on a toppled Cold War tower.
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\nINQUIRER STAFF WRITER
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\n\n Called Texas Towers because of their resemblance to oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, the Air Force radar facilities were troubled from the start by a range of problems, not least of which was their vibrating like tuning forks even in the best of weather.
\n\n Then on Jan. 15, 1961, one of the platforms, Texas Tower 4, located 75 miles east of Barnegat Inlet, collapsed and sank during a nor\'easter, killing all 28 airmen and civilian workers aboard.
\n\n Yesterday, more than 38 years later, scuba divers who have been exploring the wreck for years joined there with friends and family of the Cold War casualties to stage the first memorial service at the site.
\n It took the 20 people more than 5
\n hours to sail to the unmarked spot, which lies at 39 degrees 48 minutes north latitude and 72 degrees 40 minutes west longitude.
\n\n\n\n The mourners included Donald Abbott, whose father, David, was a welder on the tower; Jeanette Laino, whose husband Louis Laino was an airman; retired Lt. Col. Robert Cutler of Broomall, who was the penultimate commander of the rig; and a two-man delegation from Boston\'s Pile Drivers Local Union 56, whose members included David Abbott and five other lost workers.
\n\n\n\n\n After a prayer and a reading of the names of the dead, two divers from Montgomery County -- Chuck Zimmaro of Harleysville, who has been diving at the wreck since 1974, and John Sgrignioli of Collegeville -- went into the water to attach a plaque to the sunken rig.
\n\n "Lest We Forget," reads the plaque, which bears the names of the men lost at the tower.
\n "It\'s sad, but yet it feels wonderful because there was no grave," said Laino, who was pregnant with her daughter, but did not know it, when her husband died.
\n\n "Now finally the men are being remembered. They were totally forgotten by the government," said Laino, who moved recently to Edgewater Park from Langhorne.
\n The memorial service came about because Donald Abbott, 59, got a computer in December.
\n\n One day while using the Internet, he found a site announcing a dive at the rig. He was surprised to learn that the rig still existed, and at the same time he thought it was wrong to be used for recreation.
\n\n He contacted Bernie Chowdhury of Chester, N.Y., the publisher and executive editor of Immersed, a diving magazine, and an e-mail correspondence began. In e-mails, Chowdhury explained that the divers learn the history of the wrecks that they visit and, by doing so, keep them alive.
\n\n In one e-mail, Chowdhury asked if Abbott would like to hold a memorial service at the deep-sea wreck site.
\n\n "I had to back up from the computer, and I cried," said Abbott, of Malden, Mass.
\n The towers cost $13 million each ($76.8 million in 1999 dollars) to build, and were designed to withstand winds of 125 m.p.h. and 60-foot waves. Their triangular platforms measured 210 feet on each side and rose 70 feet above the water, supporting three radar domes.
\n\n\n\n\n The rigs would be evacuated in very bad weather except for a skeleton crew because officials feared that Soviet trawlers would claim salvage rights to an abandoned platform and obtain top-secret equipment.\n\n\n Unlike Towers 2 and 3, which were driven into rocky seabeds off New England, Tower 4 stood on a sandy bottom in a deeper water of 180 feet.
\n\n It was soon nicknamed "Old Shaky" after it went into operation in 1957 and repeated efforts were made to stabilize the tower. It soon sported cross supports between its three legs.
\n\n\n\n\n But all the towers vibrated from currents, waves and the diesel engines used to turn the radars. Tours of duty were 45 days on and 15 days off, although arrivals and departures were delayed by rough weather.
\n\n\n\n\n "They all shook and rocked and vibrated and moaned and groaned," said Ken Taylor, who served on Tower 3 on Nantucket Shoal. "It was quite an experience."
\n\n Besides the movement, crews had to endure a horn going off every 29 seconds when fog set in.
\n\n In September 1960, everyone was evacuated from Tower 4 in advance of Hurricane Donna, which packed 132-m.p.h. winds.
\n\n\n\n\n The storm weakened the tower. A crew of 14 Air Force personnel and 14 civilian workers was stationed on it to perform repair work to stabilize the tower in advance of a temporary evacuation slated for Feb. 1, 1961.\n\n\n But on Jan. 14, a nor\'easter started battering the tower with high waves and winds of 85 m.p.h., and about 7:20 p.m. the next day, the tower disappeared off the radar screen of Navy ships steaming to the rescue.
\n\n Only one body was found floating in the water. A second was found strapped to a seat in the radio room in the rig underwater.
\n\n In a tragic twist, the tower\'s commander, Capt. Gordon T. Phelan, had transferred to the Air Force from the Navy because he had grown tired of extended sea duty.
\n\n Two years later, Texas Towers 2 and 3 were shut down and dismantled, their work shifted to planes equipped with newer and better technology.
\n\n Yesterday, before weighing anchor for the long journey home, a diver carrying an underwater camera attached to a long line of cable dived to the rig and sent back video images of the plaque attached to a ladder in a hatch on the rig.
\n\n "When you go into that hatchway, it\'s the first thing you\'ll see," Zimmaro told the mourners, who were spellbound watching the images on a small television screen. "Anyone who goes there will know about the men who still serve there."
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\n© 1998 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc.\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE STORY BEHIND "TAPS"
\n\n\n\nIt all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men \nnear Harrison\'s Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of \nland.\n
\nDuring the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier who lay mortally wounded on the field. \nNot knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the captain decided to risk his life and bring \nthe stricken man back for medical attention.\n
\nThe captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the captain \nfinally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier \nwas dead. The captain lit a lantern. Suddenly, he caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the \ndim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his son. The boy had been studying music in the \nSouth when the war broke out. Without telling his father, he had enlisted in the Confederate army.\n
\nThe captain asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his \nenemy status. His request was partially granted. The captain had asked if he could have a group of \nArmy band members play a funeral dirge for the son at the funeral. That request was turned down since \nthe soldier was a Confederate. Out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only \none musician. The captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he \nhad found on a piece of paper in the pocket of his dead son\'s uniform. This wish was granted. This \nmusic was the haunting melody we now know as "Taps" that is used at all military funerals.\n
\nIn case you are interested, these are the words to "TAPS":
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\nGone the sun,
\nFrom the lakes,
\nFrom the hills,
\nFrom the sky.
\nAll is well.
\nSafely rest.
\nGod is nigh.
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932nd AC&W Squadron
History
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\nHere is some of the history:\n
\nOn May 1 1952, at Camp Edwards (Otis Air Force Base), Massachusetts, the 932nd\nAircraft Control & Warning Squadron was created. Its ranks were filled with\nofficers and airmen from the 103rd AC &W Sq., toughened and trained on such\noperations as Helpful, Sagamore and Snowfall. These operations, particularly\nthe latter were conducted to teach the men to operate sufficiently while\nexposed to such adverse environment as frigid temperatures and generally\nuncomfortable living conditons. By the time summer reached Cape Cod, the\nsquardron was fully manned having filled its roster with transfers from the\n101st AC&W Sq. and regular Air Force units throughout the country.\n
\nAfter summer preparations for overseas movements, the first part of the\njourney ended at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. After 8 days aboard the ship\nGeneral Stewart, the newly formed 932nd Squardron arrived at Rekavik,\nIceland. After landing we moved to Keflavik, where the 932nd built and\nmaintained a radar site complete with several semi permanent structures,\ntelephone and radio communications, etc. This\nsite was in operation within 3 weeks after our arrrival in Iceland.\nImprovements and refinements continued throughout the year. The 932nd\nsquardron became an integral part of the defense of Iceland. \n
\nAs I have mentioned before, I spent l year in Iceland as part of the 932nd. I\ncame home and spent l year as part of the 101st Air National Guard,\nMassachusetts. \n
\nHope this information has been useful or at least interesting. By the way,\nmy wife and I have just returned from a trip to Iceland. It was very\ninteresting. The base is now NATO. \n
\nSincerely, Bob Fitzgerald....\n
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Photos from Staumnes, IC - c. 1957
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\nThis photo was taken immediately after the storm in Feb 57. It\nshows an upside down trailer, and the building in front of the Radar tower.\nThere was never any Radar installed while I was there, I left in Sep 57.\n
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\nThis was taken before the storm, but it just shows a lot of snow.\nAt Top Camp.\n
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\nThis was taken in the summer of \'57, just shows a lot of rocks.\nAll the buildings were still under construction, only a few of the barracks,\ndining hall, and motor pool were completed.\n
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\nThis was the damage done to one of the tunnels by empty barrels\nblowing during the storm. This is Top Camp, by the motor pool.
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\nTop Camp, before the storm.\n
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\nThis is damage done to the roof of one of the buildings. The\nconcrete slab missing weighs about 200#.\n
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\nThis is the barge we unloaded oil from the boats with. All\nbarrels were hauled by truck to Top Camp. I drove a 21/2 ton truck for a 9\nmonths. I\'m a 303x2! We could get 400 barrels on the barge.\n
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\nWe originally had two barges, one was broken in half in \'56\nduring the storm that put this barge 30 feet above high tide. It took a\nmonth to re-float it.\n
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\nBase Camp. Some of the guys hauling garbage to the dump. The\nguy at the rear of the sled is an Icelandic civilian employee, the others\nare G.I.\'s.\n
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\nThis is a photo of our home-built radio station. We could only\nplay records, no mike! It was a signal generator used in Radio Maint. and a\nturn table, and about 100\' of coax. Range-200\'.\n
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Photos from Hofn,
circa 1979-80
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 | \nHofn AFS, IC, c.1979 looking north | \n
 | \nWallet card, proudly carried by those who served \n |
 | \nThis was only time in the year we had a helicopter from Keflavik on Site. \nIt had brought up a USO show. Cable clamp on hydraulic line was on backwards \nallowing hydraulic line to rub on Tail Rotor drive shaft. They came into site \nsquaking 7700 emergency. Low hydraulic warning light and interior of aircraft \nsoaked in fluid. Communication was lost during descent because luggage had been \nput up against radio cooling vent and all radios had burn\'t up. Helicopter was \non site for about 4 days waiting on parts and tools and mechanic to fix. \n |
 | \nThe contributor (SSgt Neil Enslen) pushing a broom cleaning the tower. In \nbackground you will see a can of Brasso. We had been polishing the copper \nlines in the Heat Exchanger cabinet. AC&W (Always cleaning and waxing) Second \nindividual in picture was Search Tower NCOIC, MSgt Jim Hewett. He was working \non FPS-6 receiver cabinet that was located in search tower. \n |
 | \nDeadly serious games played at high altitude with the able assistance of the\nAC&W troops down below. Further article on these \n"Close Encounters". \n |
Pinetree Line Reunion 2000
\r\nFrom Below the 49th
\r\nMy drive up from Minot to Gimli was uneventful, and I arrived in Gimli in the afternoon\r\nof Sunday, July 2nd. It struck me as kind of unusual that I was spending American\r\nIndependence Day, July 4th in Canada, having spent Canada Day in North Dakota.
\r\nI was relatively early at checkin at the Royal Canadian Legion hall, but already it\r\nwas a busy place. Registration was quick, and refreshments were ready.
\r\nI had met a number of the folks by email before coming to Gimli. It was a great treat to\r\nfinally get to put some faces on a number of email addresses. The only \'downer\' of\r\nthe whole event was that there were so few Americans in attendance. I only met two\r\nAmerican couples there. There was another couple who were wearing American Flag\r\nT-shirts on the 4th, whom I did not meet. I always seemed to be heading in the\r\nopposite direction from them.
\r\nA highlight of the Reunion, and a real treat for me, was the concert in the park\r\npresented by the 1 Canadian Air Division Band. Starting the show, and several times\r\nduring the show, the RCAF staged a small fly-over with a C-130 Hercules, and a\r\nsmall jet training aircraft. The first flyover came during the playing of "Oh, \r\nCanada", and the gooseflesh came, even though I\'m a Yank.
\r\nThere was the usual Canadian/American bantering back and forth with good-natured jabs. \r\nFunny how servicemen seem to get into this mode automatically.\r\nIt was great fun!
\r\nI was honored (honoured?) to give the toast at the banquet our last evening\r\ntogether. Thanks very much for allowing me this privilege. I have included the\r\ntext of my short address below.
\r\nSpecial guests at the banquet were NORAD Canada Commander Maj. Gen. Lucas, RCAF,\r\nand Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Gelwix, USAF, and their wives.
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\r\n\r\nTranscript of Banquet Toast\r\nby Gene McManus\r\n\r\nGood evening General & Mrs. Lucas; General & Mrs. Gelwix, ladies and gentlemen. \r\nMy name is Gene McManus (American, eh?). My small part in this event has been\r\nto act as U.S. coordinator. The very small American attendance leads me to\r\nbelieve that I could have done a better job. Incidentally, I\'m also the webmaster\r\nof the Online Air Defense Radar Museum, and founder of Radomes - The Air Defense\r\nRadar Veterans\' Association. \r\nFirst, I\'d like to recognize and say "Thank You" to the organizers of this \r\nreunion. Larry Wilson, who could not be in attendance, Pierre Parent, and \r\nGeorge Zullich are the ring leaders, whose very hard work has made this event\r\npossible. Gentlemen, thank you very much - nicely done! \r\nSunday afternoon, while sitting down by the Gimli harbor people-watching, I saw\r\na number of our group walking by. It occurred to me that you can still\r\ntell us from the "townies". I can tell from the chuckles I just heard that you\r\nknow what I\'m talking about. When I was young and in the U.S. Air Force, you\r\ncould instantly spot a fellow serviceman in town. Even in civvies, we simply\r\ndidn\'t look like the "townies". You know who they were, right? They were the\r\nlocal guys who hated us because we were dating the cute girls. In those days,\r\nwe stood & walked a little straighter, a little prouder perhaps. Our haircuts\r\nwere a dead giveaway. \r\nToday, you can still pick us out from the "townies". We\'re the ones who are\r\nNOT 20 years old; we\'re the ones whose ball caps are on the "right" way;\r\nwe\'re the ones who don\'t have our bodies pierced in strange places. And our\r\nhair is still a giveaway - only now it\'s because of the lovely grey patina\r\nthose of us who still have hair are blessed with. \r\nMany of us are no longer physically able to stand as straight, and we may\r\nwalk with a limp, or not at all. But in our hearts and minds, we\'re still\r\n"standing tall". We\'re the men and women who come to attention and salute\r\nour flag when our National Anthem plays at the football or hockey game.\r\nWe\'re the guys whose voices can no longer hold the tune to "Oh, Canada"\r\nor "The Star Spangled Banner". We\'re the people who are first to stand,\r\nhands over our hearts as the colors pass in the parade. \r\nIt\'s been said that "The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance". This\r\nweek we\'ve shared and remembered our common bond as members of a group\r\nwhose business was vigilance. \r\nOur work was anything but glamorous. Most people currently living in\r\nNorth America don\'t know our units ever existed. These remote radar sites\r\nknown as "The Pinetree Line" were not "choice" assignments - unless you\r\nhappened to like 55 below zero (apologies to my Canadian friends, I\r\ndon\'t think in metric) and snow ten feet deep in the winter; or roads\r\nwhich were impassable mud or nonexistant part of the year; or marauding\r\nblack flies - with fangs - which ran in packs - in the summer. \r\nBut we have much to be proud of having served our countries in these\r\nplaces. We were the eyes - part of a very large network whose eyes were\r\never watchful, always "bear" hunting. Thank God ours was a mostly boring,\r\nundramatic task. \r\nI\'m happy to report that ours was a successful mission. On our watch,\r\nnot one nuclear device found its way in anger to our shared continent.\r\nFor that, we can say to ourselves - "Thank You!" \r\nLadies and gentlemen, I\'d like to raise our glasses in salute to us -\r\n"Bravo Zulu!" - job well done!.\r\n\r\n\r\n |
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JOINT SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (JSS)
\n\nContributed by James E. Bollinger, SSgt, 353CTS/QAE\n
The JSS is a joint USAF/FAA radar use program. The ACC portion of the JSS is composed of four CONUS SOCCs equipped with FYQ-93 computers, and forty-seven ground-based FPS-93 Search Radars. FAA equipment is a mixture of Air Route Surveillance Radar (ARSR) 1, 2, and 3 systems. Collocated with the majority of radar sites are UHF ground-air-ground (G/A/G) transmitter/receiver (GATR) facilities. Fourteen sites have VHF radios as well. The GATR facility provides radio access to fighters and AWACS aircraft from the SOCCs.
\n\nThe JSS radars send surveillance data to the SOCCs who then forward tracks of interest to the CONUS ROCC and NORAD. Radar and track data are sent through landlines as TADIL-B data and through HF radio links as TADIL-A data. Both TADIL links are provided by the Radar Data Information Link (RADIL). CONUS SOCCs communicate with the CONUS ROCC and NORAD by voice and data landline circuits.
\n\nThe FAA/AF Radar Replacements (FARR) program is the CONUS JSS upgrade program. Forty-two FAA radars (ARSR-4 three-dimensional long-range radars) will replace older JSS two-dimensional surveillance and height finder radars with modem, more reliable systems. A replacement system is being planned for the aging AN/FYQ-93 SOCC computers.
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Recent Photos of Stateburg GFA, SC
\nAlex writes:
\nSunday, January 27, 2002
\n\nEarly in the morning Brian Hawley and Alex Cheek drove west on Highway 76 from Columbia, \nSouth Carolina, armed only with a topographical map and the existing satellite photo from \nthe Online Air Defense Radar Museum. At this time the marking from the website mentioned \na "possible" and "suspected" radar site, so the two of us were truly flying blind. \nWe turned onto state Road 261 looking for a side road that would take us as close as \npossible to the potential location. This part of the world, on the edge of the Wateree \nSwamp, is sparsely inhabited and thickly covered with pine forests, so we expected a \ntough trek through dense undergrowth. The few roads we saw were dirt tracks blocked \nby gates and prominent "Posted-No Trespassing" signs. Clearly, any attempt to search \nfor the site by following an abandoned dirt road would involve some risk. When we \ncame to the crossroads settlement of Wedgefield Brian suggested we stop and see if the \nlocals could offer any assistance. The kind woman behind the counter at the general \nstore took my odd request in stride and recalled a number of towers connected with \nnearby Shaw Air Force Base. She then telephoned a retired USAF flight engineer who \nlived nearby, and he told us to turn around and go back the way we came until we came \nto a large blue water tower. That tower had built by the County in 1980 on the old \nradar site, and was now abandoned. He encouraged us to "Take a bunch of pictures, \nbecause it\'ll all be torn down soon." \n
\nFive minutes later we stood at the gates to the former gap filler site, just a few feet \noff state road 261. The tower is on ground much higher than the road, so the building \nis not even visible to motorists. The woods were filled with what Brian swore were \n"the biggest briars I have ever seen," and roots from trees had literally covered \nthe four concrete foundations of a tower just outside the site fence. It seemed \nmuch too light to be from an old fire tower, so perhaps it once supported an antenna \nof some kind. At first it seemed we would have to be content with views of the site \nthrough the tall barbed wire-topped fence, but the opened doorways of the \ngenerator and equipment building proved irresistible. Through the \nunpleasant underbrush we walked the fence line, and at last found an opening made by \ncurious (and thin) locals.\n\nAfter we struggled through the fence and made our way through the briars and down the \nsteep embankment to our car, we loaded up our few "souvenirs." As we got back in our \ncar two things happened-it started to rain and two sheriffs deputies and a highway \npatrolman drove by. Luck was with us that day!\n
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\nThe water tower at right is clearly seen in the aerial photo on the Stateburg home page.
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\nTo the south of the building Brian found three concrete tower foundations, now overgrown.
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GREENLAND – SITE I
HISTORY
\n\nDuring the year 982 A.D., the famous Norseman, Eric the Red, a Scandinavian by birth, left Iceland with a band of sea-farers and sailed westward until he reached the southern tip of Greenland at Cape Farewell. Eric led his band northward along the western shore, seeking likely spots for settlements. Favorite areas of settlement by the Norsemen were on the west coast near Julianehaab, and in the vicinity of the present day capital of Godthaab.
\n\nFor some unknown reason the Norse settlements died out. Some historians say that the Norsemen were assimilated into the various Eskimo cultures which were there long before Eric the Red had landed. It is also possible that warfare between rival groups depleted the numbers of Norsemen, and the few remaining survivors gave up their settlements, and returned to Iceland and Europe.
\n\nThe next permanent link between the Eskimos and Western civilization began when the Danish Missionary, Hans Egede, came to Greenland in the year 1721. Although several Danish settlements were established during the years, Denmark’s Right of Sovereignty was not recognized until 1933.
\n\nThe present day inhabitant of Central and Southern Greenland is a combination of Scandinavian and Eskimo ancestry, and is called a Greenlander. His culture, like his ancestry, is a result of the assimilation of these widely divergent cultures.
\n\nUntil Western civilization came to Greenland, the Eskimos’s entire economy was based upon the natural resources of the land. Being a fierce and valiant hunter, he was able to supply his required needs of clothing, shelter, household implements,\nand hunting equipment from the skins, furs, bones, and teeth of the animals he killed. He found an abundance of seal, walrus, polar bear, and an occasional whale which wandered near the shore. The Eskimo ordinarily lives in huts made of sod and animal skins, using the snow hut only on hunting trips. Obviously, his diet was made up of the meat of the animals and fish that he killed. The Eskimo family .is a completely self-sufficient, self-sustaining economic unit. However, due to the gradual warming of the northward sea currents through the years, native Eskimos are today found only in the northern sections of Greenland, where the cold weather animals have migrated through the centuries.
\n\nToday, Greenland has a population of more than 23,000 inhabitants. A sizable fishing and shipping industry, a southern grazing land with more than 10,000 sheep, a fish cannery, and the world’s only cryolite mine, compose most of Greenland’s modern economy.
\n\nGEOGRAPHY
\n\nConsidering Australia as a continent, Greenland is the world’s largest island, extending for more than 1700 miles from north to south The northern tip of the island is only 425 iles from\ntoward the coastal areas in slow moving streams of hard snow-ice called glaciers. These glaciers often cut deep gorges enroute to the sea. These gorges are called fjords. Where the distance from the ice cap to the sea is short, the slow moving glacier pushes huge chunks of ice into the sea, forming the large icebergs which menace North Atlantic shipping lanes. Although most icebergs are relatively small, some of them have been known to reach proportions of several square miles.
\n\nIf you are interested in complete details of Greenland’ B history and geography, there is excellent coverage in any of the many books about Greenland by the late Peter Freuchen. Mr, Freuchen, in fact, was a renowned authority on Grenland’s Eskimo cultures, having lived among the Eskimos in the Arctic regions for most of his life.
\n\nCLIMATE AND UNUSUAL CONDITIONS
\n\nAt your first thought of Greenland, the first thing that probably enters your mind is the year ‘round living in arctic and subarctic temperatures and snows. However, you will find the climate at Thule to be not quite as severe as imagined, It will probably be comforting for you to learn that summertime temperatures at Thule Air Base have reached as high as 62 degrees above zero. The lowest recorded winter temperature was 47 degrees below zero. However, these are extreme temperatures.
\n\nThe summer average holds at several degrees above the freezing point, while the coldest months, February and March, very rarely average colder temperatures than 12 to 15 degrees below zero. The humidity is extremely low during the winter months; even drier than the arid areas of the southwestern United States, This is good news to those of you who may have wished for a drier climate because of sinus or hay fever, The snowfall is relatively light, with most of the accumulation resulting from the snows drifting from the ice cap.\nThere is one severe aspect of Thule’s climatic conditions. This occurs during phase activity, which takes place when certain low pressure systems are so situated that a high velocity wind sweeps across the Base from the ice cap. Phase activity is divided into three categories, and a base-wide communication system involving radio, telephone, and television is used to inform all base inhabitants of the current phase, and of what precautions are necessary to safeguard personnel and equipment. These phase conditions are covered in more detail in the “Living at Site” chapter.
\n\nIf you arrive at Thule in mid-December, you will be “in the dark” for at least a month. For three months, beginning in November, the sun remains completely out of view below the horizon. Sunrise, which is eagerly awaited, comes after mid-February. During the dark period, there is a small sliver of light visible on the southern horizon. From late November until February this light is hardly more than a glimmer. During these dark months, the moon is usually visible, circling around the dark sky, and going through all of its regular phases.
\n\nOnce the sun makes its appearance, it stays in the sky longer each day until, in May, it completely replaces the moon. Then for three and one-half months, the sun remains above the horizon 24 hours a day. It circles the sky in the same manner as the moon does in the winter-high in its southern arc, and low in its northern sweep.
\n\nThe summer sun is extremely brilliant at Thule, and you are advised to wear sunglasses, especially during the period of light before the snow has melted. Glasses with dark lenses are recommended. Polaroid and other plastic lenses do not offer protection against snow blindness. Insufficient protection can result in ultraviolet burns on the eyes which usually causes temporary blindness, but can also cause permanent damage.
\n\nAlthough the snows at Thule do melt each summer, the permanent ice cap, which is located eight miles away, remains almost unchanged.\nThule is located on North Star Bay on Greenland’s west coast, 921 statute miles from the North Pole. On the bay’s edge there is a port for sea-going vessels, and adjoining the port are the air base buildings and flying-field area. You will be surprised to learn that Thule is actually closer to Seattle (2457 miles) than it is to New York(2477). Moreover, Thule is north of the Magnetic Pole, which is situated on Canada’s Prince of Wales Island, which is 724 miles west-southwest of Thule.
\n\nThule is centered along the most direct aerial routes from European Russia to the United States, and is only 2760 miles from Moscow.
\n\nScattered in all directions are the outlying stations which depend upon Thule for aerial supply. On the Canadian island of Ellesmere, which is north of Thule, there are two small, joint Canadian-American weather stations known as Eureka and Alert. The latter station in the northernmost permanently inhabited outpost in the world.
\n\nThere is a time differential of one hour between Thule and New York City. Eastern Standard Time in the U.S. is one hour behind Thule time. If it is six o‘clock in the evening in New York, it is seven o‘clock at Thule.
\n\n\nESPECIALLY FOR YOU
At most of its locations RCA extends to its employees various special services as follows:
\n\nSOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
\n\nIn most locations the BMEWS Recreation Association provides members with sports, social, and recreational activities.
\n\nMembership is optional, but the small monthly membership fee of 50 cents (voluntarily deducted from your pay) entitles you to all the privileges of the group, including sports events, and other activities, scheduled throughout the year. The company also contributes to the fund.
\n\nFAMILY STORE
\n\nRCA employees are given the opportunity to purchase at discounted prices many of RCA’s products through the RCA Family Store. The services offered by the Family Store are not intended to be in competition with authorized RCA dealers in the community. Purchases, therefore, must be for your own personal use. At Thule orders are taken in the Personnel Office. Employees with less than six months of service must make purchases on a cash basis. Once they have six months with the Company, they may initiate payroll deductions for purchases.
\nWHAT IS RCA?
Let’s begin with a few important facts. RCA stands for the Radio Corporation of America – world leader in radio-television and electronics.
\n\nRCA is a symbol of pioneering and progress, dating back to the day of its formation, December 1, 1919.
\n\nFor four decades, RCA has played a prominent role in developing and extending the usefulness. of electronics for the public, industry, and national security.
\n\nRCA’s activities today encompass virtually all phases of the electronic arts and sciences: research and engineering, development, design and application, manufacturing and distribution, d o m e s t i c and foreign sales, worldwide radio communications, radio and TV broadcasting, “Victrola” phonographs and recordings, technical training and servicing.
\n\nThese activities are conducted through 21 divisions and wholly-owned subsidiaries.
\n\nRADIO CITY
\n\nHighest of the towering steel and stone structures comprising New York’s Radio City, the RCA Building serves as headquarters for the Radio Corporation of America. The address is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20, New York.
\n\nThe 70-story building itself, constructed during the tense 1930’s rises as a prodigious achievement, an inspiring demonstration of American courage, vitality, and resource-fulness that came at a crucial and reassuring moment in the life of the nation.\nOn the 53rd floor of the RCA Building are. the Executive Offices of RCA and the RCA Board Room. Officials of the Corporation on duty here include Brig. General David Sarnoff, Chairman of the Board; Dr. Elmer W. Engstrom, President; and Frank M. Folsom, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board
.\n\nRCA’s progress has steadily gathered momentum. It began with only 457 employees, In 1947, the total reached 40,000. Today RCA and its subsidiaries employ approximately 85,000 men and women, with a total domestic payroll of more than $330,000,000.
\n\nTHE U.S. NAVY REQUESTS
\n\nFormed at the suggestion of the United States Navy to provide America with an independent international radio communications service, RCA has its roots deeply embedded in the history of radio. The first big step to bring radio into commercial use, it will be remembered, was taken by Guglielmo Marconi, inventor of wireless, when he transmitted signals across the Atlantic for the first time in 1901. RCA’s initial move was to acquire the properties, patent rights, and good will of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America. On March 1, 1920, RCA transmitted its first commercial trans-Atlantic messy, opening the first direct radio service between the United States and Europe.
\n\nRCA’s Charter covered five major activities: To send and receive signals, messages, and communications; to create, install, and operate a system of communication which may be international; to improve and promote the art and business of electronic communication; to radiate, receive, and utilize electromagnetic waves; to create and manufacture consumer goods, and to hold patent rights in radio, electronics, and other fields.
\n\nThus the foundation was laid for RCA’s growth not only in the vital area of international communications, but in pacing\nand extending the radio art through broadcasting, manufacturing and application of inventive genius.
\n\nBIRTH OF RADIO BROADCASTING
\n\nThe birth of radio broadcasting as a service to the American people was foreseen as early as 1916 by General Sarnoff. He urged that steps be taken to make radio a household utility, like the piano and phonograph.
\n\nRCA brought that plan to fruition in the early 1920’s and, under General Sarnoff’s direction, the National Broadcasting Company was formed in 1926 as the nation’s first radio network. Foreseeing also the possibility of enormous benefits to the public through a combination of radio science and recorded music, he initiated the move in 1929 through which RCA acquired the Victor Talking Machine Company, with its decades of prestige and achievement in the phonograph and recording field, and the revered trademark of the little terrier “Nipper” listening to “His Master’s Voice.”
\n\nThe transaction brought into RCA the colorful and magnificent history of Victor – the company of the great pioneer Eldridge Johnson, who had introduced the “Victrola” and brought to the public the voices of such immortals as Caruso, Scotti, Calve, Lucia, Melba, and Tetrazzini, and the artistry of Fritz Kreisler, Sousa, Toscanini, and Paderewski.
\n\nRadio “electronized” the phonograph and recording techniques, giving new vitality and growth to an industry that had suffered losses in popularity during the fast rise of broadcasting.
\n\nTHE CORPORATION EXPANDS
\n\nVictor’s plants and facilities at Camden, N.J., provided RCA with an important manufacturing setup, which was enhanced the same year of purchase by the acquisition of radio tube and radio equipment rights and facilities from the General Electric and Westinghouse Companies.
\n\nIn 1934, the various RCA units engaged in the manufacture and sale of products were unified as the RCA Manufacturing Company, Inc., and eight years later this company was merged into RCA as the RCA Victor Division.
\n\nTo keep pace with the continued growth of RCA, a further realignment of organizational structure occurred in 1954. Under this move, all manufacturing activities were grouped into two separate categories, namely, Consumer Products and Electronic Products. Sales and Services also were regrouped for more efficient operation.
\n\nAn overall view of RCA’s achievements since its formation reveals impressive advances through engineering research and pioneering, major contributions to progress in time of war and peace, continuous efforts to extend the usefulness of electronics for the public, industry, and national defense. It also reveals the immensity of the challenges and opportunities ahead.
\n\nIn meeting these challenges, every member of the RCA family can share in the crystallizing promises of. this, the most promising of all industries in the world today.
\n\nTRAVELING TO SITE
You will be flown at company expense to Thule, Greenland via Military Air Transport Service (MATS) aircraft fram McGuire Air Force Base near Wrightstown, New Jersey, The flight takes approximately six hours by jet and 14 hours if a prop plane is used. Your flight arrangements must be made through the Transportation Office at Project Headquarters.
\n\nThe following information is furnished for your information and guidance in preparing for departure.
\n\nCITIZENSHIP
\n\nYou will be required to carry on your person proof of your American citizenship, such as Birth or Naturalization Certificates, affidavits by a parent or near relative, or a signed affidavit by an attending physician at the time of birth. Passports and visas are not required for travel to Thule. You are also required to carry on your person your RCA Employee Identification Card.
\n\nNote: It is unlawful to reproduce copies of Naturalization Certificates, regardless of the method of reproduction.
\n\nCASH
\n\nIt is recommended that you have in your possession $50.00 to $100.00 in cash at the time of your departure from the United States.
\n\nSHOTS
\n\nWhether you are going to Site for a permanent assignment, or for a shorter visit to conduct Company business, you will be required to receive a series of immunization shots given\nat the dispensary. These shots should be scheduled as soon as it is known that you will be going to Site. If you have not received the shots and are not scheduled for them, remind your supervisor to make the necessary arrangements. This immunization is mandatory.
\n\nYou will receive an “International Certificate of Vaccination”, which will be referred to as U.S. Department of Health Services Form PHS731. All immunizations will be recorded on this form, and must be carried on your person at all times as proof of immunization. This is imperative when departing or reentering the United States.
\n\nBAGGAGE
\n\nYou will be authorized to carry only 66 pounds of luggage on your flight to Thule. Distributed with your offer letter is a list of clothing and personal items you may want to take with you.
\n\nThose who will be working for the most part in an office can leave out many of the heavy clothing items, and substitute lighter garments. Those going for shorter visits should alter the list according to the length of the visit and the time of year. Remember that it is a suggested list and should be altered to your own discretion.
\n\nAlthough the Thule Base Exchange (BX) sells many of the items included on the list, you should try to carry as many as possible with you, with the BX being used as a replacement source only.
\n\nFlammable items, such as cigarette lighters and fluid, matches, etc., are not to be included in baggage. Photo flash bulbs must either be carried on your person or included as cabin luggage, but cannot be packed in baggage to be stored.
\n\nAll baggage in excess of the 66 pound limit will be rejected at the McGuire MATS Terminal. To avoid embarrassment and inconvenience to others, please choose carefully items\nto insure a weight within the acceptable minimum. If you wish, you may have additional personal belongings sent to you through the following procedures:
\n\nParcel Post....If the package being sent is 70 pounds or less in weight, and 100 inches in combined girth, it may be sent to you via regular parcel post. Simply have the package properly addressed, with proper amount of postage, and send it through the mail.
\n\nParcel Post addressing should be as follows:
\n\n\n\nYour Name and Box Number\nRCA BMEWS Project\nc/o BMEWS Field Office\nAPO New York 09023\n\n
RESTRICTED ITEMS
\nThe following items cannot be transported to Site I:
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- Firearms or weapons of any kind.\n
- Alcoholic or malt beverages.\n
- Acids, chemicals, explosives, or flammables.\n
CUSTOMS
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Upon re-entering the United States, you will undergo a complete customs’ inspection. In view of this, be certain that all cameras and other expensive personal belongings are registered prior to departure at McGuire Air Force Base. If these articles are not registered, you may have to pay customs’ duty on them upon your return to the U.S.\nAt each re-entry you are allowed to bring with you, duty-free, one gallon of alcoholic beverages and a reasonable amount of cigars and cigarettes. If you expect to bring back other merchandise purchased outside the U.S., it would be advisable to secure specific information beforehand concerning U.S. Customs requirements. This information is available in pamphlet form at U.S. Customs Offices.
\n\nEYEGLASSES AND DENTURES
\n\nThere are no facilities for the replacement or repair of eyeglasses and dentures. It is highly recommended that you bring an extra pair of eyeglasses and dentures and that you leave a copy of your eyeglassea prescription with the Dispensary at Project Headquarters. In the event of a damaged or lost denture, impressions can be made at Thule and sent to the dentist you have designated in the U.S.
\n\nObviously, it will be to your advantage to see that your glasses and dentures are inspected and put in perfect condition prior to your departure.
\n\nTRAVEL DOCUMENTS
\n\nTravel to Thule is arranged through the Transportation Office at Project Headquarters. When you have satisfied the medical requirements for site duty and have received your dispensary clearance, you will receive confirmation of your transportation and departure date.
\n\nOn the day you leave, you must pick up your travel orders at the Air Force ATCO (Air Traffic Coordinating Officer) Office at the MATS Terminal, McGuire Air Force Base. Travel orders are only good for one-way trip for Permanent Change of Station Transfers.
\n\nIf for any reason it is necessary to cancel a scheduled trip, the Transportation Office at Prospect Headquarters must be notified as soon as possible. Failure to comply with this will\nresult in the BMEWS Project being charged with the cost of transportation even though the trip was not made:
\n\n\nDO NOT PACK YOUR PRIVATE FILE OF TRAVEL ORDERS, CITIZENSHIP DOCUMENTS, PERSONNEL FOLDER, EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION CARD, OR YOUR INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF VACCINATION WITH YOUR BAGGAGE. YOU MUST CARRY THEM ON YOUR PERSON AT ALL TIMES AND HAVE THEM ACCESSIBLE FOR IMMEDIATE PRESENTATION AT ANY TIME.\n\n\n
Site 1 Photos
\nThese photos were taken shortly after Site 1 went operational in October, 1960.
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\nThe photo below is from an unknown, but official-looking publication. This photo would be\nc. 1960, since the tracker has yet to be built.
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\nThe two photos below were contributed by John Sheehan who\nnotes that they were taken c. 1969-73.
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Tracker Radome Fire at Thule - June 1980
\nContributed by Larry Russell \n\n
\nHere is a bit of historical information that you may be interested in. In June of 1980, the \ntracker radar radome burned completely, leaving a naked, charred antenna. Investigators \ndetermined a loose bolt heated from RF energy pointed in one particular spot for an extended \nperiod of time and started the process. I remember seeing a brown spot, similar to a burned egg. \nIt developed into a smoking hole, and enlarged to complete destruction. The radome was honey \ncomb paper & resin and I watched the fire department handle the situation completely wrong. They sprayed \nwater on the dome, which I saw as futile. I suggested cutting out a large section, to contain the \namount of destruction since it was honey combed and water was not going to penetrate anything. \nNo one listened and the dome was completely lost. I was finishing my tour and left before it was \nrebuilt. However I was told it was repaired before the dark season arrived.\n
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SPECIAL PROGRAMS
RCA provides for or contributes to a number of benefit programs designed to ease the financial burden of its employees in time of accident, sickness, or advanced years. The benefits available vary according to length of employment, salary or wages, and other factors.
\n\nGROUP INSURANCE
\n\nRCA provides Group Life and Accident-Sickness Insurance for you as well as Hospital-Surgical Insurance for you and your dependents. The “RCA Employee Insurance Benefit Plan” booklet explains in detail the benefits available under this program.
\n\nRCA RETIREMENT PLAN
\n\nAfter three years’ service with RCA, you are eligible to join the RCA Retirement Plan.
\n\nPlan members build up their retirement income by making payments into the Plan each pay period based on their base wages or salaries. The Company also pays a substantial amount toward each employee’s retirement benefits. Benefits from the Plan provide you with a retirement income for life and normally begin at age 65.
\n\nThe full details of the Plan are clearly explained in the booklet “You and the RCA Retirement Plan.”
\n\nFEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS
\n\nIn cooperation with your State and Federal Governments RCA contributes to and provides for a number of programs for\nyour benefit which are prescribed by law. Among these programs are:
\n\nSocial Security which provides for an allowance to be paid to you at retirement age. It is important that you keep the Social Security Administration informed of any change in your name or place of employment.
\n\nUnemployment Compensation laws provide for benefits in the event you are unemployed. The amount of benefits depends upon your past earnings and the provisions of your state laws.
\n\nWorkmen’s Compensation is carried by the Company on all employees. All injuries sustained at work must be reported to your immediate supervisor.
\n\nSPECIAL SERVICES FOR YOU
CHARITIES
\n\nRCA recognizes the importance to the community of many welfare and charitable organizations, known under varying names in different communities, and offers you the opportunity to consolidate and budget your gifts through the payroll deduction method. Your participation in the payroll deduction plan is encouraged.
\n\nBULLETIN BOARDS
\n\nLocated in strategic and prominent places in all sections, the bulletin boards serve as an additional medium of communication. You should make it a daily habit to read notices for information affecting you and your interests. To assure that all material is both current and of general interest, the Personnel office reserves the right to approve all material for posting.
\n\nPUBLICATIONS
\n\nAt regular intervals, employees receive without cost the employee publication. This is the official Company news publication designed to give interesting information about the Company and the people with whom you work.
\n\nU.S. SAVINGS BONDS
\n\nRCA strongly urges you to invest a portion of your savings in U.S. Savings Bonds through payroll deduction. Forms authorizing the Payroll office to deduct a specified amount each payday are available from your supervisor or Personnel office. Your savings will be accumulated and a bond purchased for you as soon as the deductions total the price of the bond.
\n\nTo BMEWS Service Project Employees Assigned to a Forward Site...
\n\nYou can be justifiably proud of the vital work which you will be performing as an employee of RCA Service Company, BMEWS Service Project.
\n\nThis booklet describes and summarizes the many benefits provided for you by RCA and, in addition, presents a picture of what you can expect as a forward site employee.
\n\nIn using this booklet, remember several things:
\n\nNo such summary can be all inclusive, nor can it anticipate every possible circumstance.
\n\nProgress involves change; thus, the Company may from time to time add to or revise the policies, practices, and rules summarized here.
\n\nYour supervisor is your source of information and of interpretation of policy with respect to your individual situation.
\n\nI trust your assignment at site will be mutually satisfying to yourself and the Company.
\n\nW. F. Given, Manager
\nBMEWS Service Prospect
LIVING AT SITE
Upon your arrival at Thule, you will be met at the Air Terminal by a Company representative, assigned to living quarters, and be advised of the requirement to attend the next Site Orientation Program.
\n\nHOUSING
\n\nAccommodations will be provided free of charge in modern dormitory buildings or military-style barracks. Most personnel are assigned two to a room. This may vary depending upon room availability and position title. All buildings have furnished rooms, lavatory facilities, free automatic washers and dryers, and lounges with television.
\n\nDINING
\n\nFood will be provided without cost to you in a clean, attractive dining hall operated by the RCA Service Company. Well-balanced meals are planned and prepared by professional cooks and restaurant personnel. A wide variety menu, including such items as beef, seafood, and a complete variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, is made possible through a unique airborne food supply system, Food service is available on schedules which will accommodate all work shifts.
\n\nIn addition to the large dining hall at the base, a small but equally attractive cafeteria is located at the Technical Site where full-course luncheon meals are served to those working in that area.
\n\nMEDICAL SERVICES
\n\nMedical service will be provided by the RCA Medical Staff. An infirmary is operated for the treatment of minor illnesses and injuries.\nIn the event of serious injury or illness, you will be admitted to the Air Force Hospital. Emergency dental treatment will also be available at the Base Hospital.
\n\nIn the interests of preventive medicine, a complete health program is administered by trained RCA personnel for the protection of all Site employees. Periodic physical examinations are administered by qualified medical personnel, Routine inspections of all operational locations are made for the arrest and prevention of communicable diseases, and for monitoring the occupational health program. Sanitary and industrial hygiene engineers of the operating command make regular health surveys of the entire Site and its facilities.
\n\nRELIGIOUS SERVICES
\n\nReligious services are provided by Thule Air Base in a chapel that is staffed by Catholic and Protestant chaplains. Jewish services are usually conducted by a Jewish layman. Schedules of weekly services are available at the base.
\n\nTRANSPORTATION
\n\nAdequate, free transportation is provided by shuttle buses which run at 30-minute intervals to all major points of operation on the base. Regularly scheduled buses are also provided for traveling to and from work at the Technical Site.
\n\nWEATHER
\n\nThe weather phase conditions are hereby listed with precautionary measures as follows:
\n\nPhase I: A period designated by the Base Commander when initial preparstions will be made for an impending storm. It will normally be a period when winds are in excess of 30 knots and/or when weather is considered a hazard to life and property.
\n\n\n\nPhase I Precautionary Measures:
\n\n
\n- Personnel are alerted for a possible Phase II and III.\n\n
- All personnel are restricted to the base proper with the exception of emergency maintenance and utility operations.\n\n
- Vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be limited to essential service activities necessary to maintain operation of the base.\n\n
- Precautions will be taken to secure all loose equipment.\n
Phase II: A period of restricted activity designated by the Base Commander when full precautions will be taken to safeguard life and property because of existing hazardous weather conditions. This will normally be a period when winds are between 30 and 50 knots and/or when weather is considered a hazard to life and property.
\n\n\n\nPhase II Precautionary Measures:
\n\n
\n- Personnel are alerted for the possible announcement of Phase III.\n\n
- All personnel will return to their quarters except those who are required to perform essential operations.\n\n
- All personnel are restricted to the base proper.\n\n
- In the early part of this phase, the motor pool may be called upon for movement of\ngroups of personnel. Bus and taxi service will be maintained as long as possible.\n\n
- Vehicles not designated by unit commanders as essential will be returned to the appropriate motor pool, Water and waste trucks, ambulances, and fire and crash vehicles will be operationally available for use at all times during this phase.\n\n
- Dining halls will continue to serve on regular schedules.\n\n
- Community areas, including all clubs, theaters, hobby shops, the gym, chapel, and Base Exchange will be closed.\n\n
- Essential and emergency base functions will continue as is necessary for the health and protection of personnel and equipment.\n
Phase III: A period of very closely restricted activity designated by the Base Commander when full precautions will be taken to safeguard life and property because of existing hazardous weather conditions. This will normally be a period when winds exceed 50 knots and/or when weather is considered a hazard to life and property.
\n\n\nPhase III Precautionary Measures:
\n\n
\n- All personnel will proceed to the nearest\navailable shelter and remain there for the\nduration of Phase III.\n\n
- Designated emergency or. essential indoor activity is permitted.\n\n
- Only personnel designated to perform specific emergency or essential operations are authorized to engage in outside activity,\n\n
- Vital functions will continue limited operations as directed.\n
FAILURE TO OBSERVE THESE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES MAY NECESSITATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION OR POSSIBLE TERMINATION.
\n
CLOTHING
\n\nUpon your arrival you will be issued a parka, boots, gloves, Arctic pants and suspenders. These items must be carried with you when traveling to J-Site from October 1 to May 15. You must return this clothing at the completion of your tour. Naturally, if you lose any of these items, you will be required to pay for their replacement.
\n\nTOOLS AND TOOL KITS
\n\nDepending upon the nature and extent of your particular job, some of you may require specialized tools and tool kits. These will be iesued to you on Site on a loan basis, being signed for and returned upon completion of your tour.
\n\nMAIL SERVICE
\n\nFor incoming personal mail you will be assigned a numbered individual mail box located at the mail room in the dining hall. For outgoing mail, there are conveniently located letter drops. Although postage stamps may be purchased at the mail room, all other postal services are handled through the Base Post Office.
\n\nLetters and parcel post packages from Thule to the United States normally take three to seven days. If you have a package that exceeds parcel post weight and volume limitations described under Baggage, contact the Base Transportation\nOffice. You will only have to pay the cost of postal or freight charges from the MATS Terminal to the destination in the US.
\n\nAll personal mail sent to you should be addressed as follows:
\n\n\n\nYour Name and Box Number\nRCA BMEWS Project\nAPO, New York 09023\n\n
COMMUNICATIONS
\n\n
Morale telephone calls may be made by BMEWS employees on the Company tie-line from Thule after PHQ working hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.). Since there is a long waiting period, you are asked to limit your calls to five minutes. Your private telephone number will be billed for the charges from Project Headquarters to your home. Please tell your family that there may be an occasional interruption in the service because of cable breaks.
\n\nPrivate cablegrams may be transmitted to Europe and the United States through the Danish radio station OZZ via commercial circuits.
\n\nThis service is available in the Base Communication-Center. Your message, which must be paid in advance, will be relayed by Danish radio. Wire orders for flowers are also excepted.
\n\nPersonal messages from the U.S. to Thule Air Base should be filed with Western Union, marked “via RCA” and addressed as follows:
\n\n\n\n\nYour Name and Box Number\nRCA Service Company\nBMEWS Project\nThule Air Base, Greenland\n\n
It is also sometimes possible to place personal phone calls from Thule to your home via the Military Affiliated Radio\nSystem (MARS). This is accomplished through a scheduled hookup with amateur radio operators in the U.S., who in turn make it possible to talk to your families through a combination of radio and telephone. The cost consists of the long distance charge from the amateur radio station in the U.S. to the location of the telephone exchange called; all calls are made collect.
\n\nBANKING FACILITIES
\n\nThere are no banking facilities at Thule Air Base. In view of this, it is highly recommended that you maintain a stateside personal checking account and carry an adequate supply of checks. For those of you going to Site for short visits, it is recommended that you make arrangements with your supervisor to have your paychecks deposited in your checking account while you are at Site. This is most important, since there is always the possibility of unexpectedly prolonging your stay due to business, weather conditions, etc.
\n\nPersonal checks up to $200 maybe cashed by the Site Finance and Office Services activity with the prior approval of your supervisor. This privilege can be revoked if it is abused. The service clubs and the base exchange can also accept personal checks in payment for purchases.
\n\nPAYCHECKS
\n\nThose of you on permanent assignment at Site I will receive partial paychecks, with the remainder of the amount due deposited in a Stateside bank of your choice, or sent to your home if you wish. You will be asked to complete Payroll Authorization Cards, on which you will designate where your check should be sent while you are at Site.
\n\nBASE EXCHANGE
\n\nAt the Base Exchange you may purchase toiletries, tobacco, candy, stationery, and many other small items. Many luxury\nitems, as well as basic items, are available at considerable savings over prices for similar merchandise in the U.S.
\n\nAlthough the Base Exchange has been authorized for your use, the Base Commander has requested that you use moderation in your purchases. Due to resupply problems, the availability of this facility can at any time be restricted to the purchase of necessities only.
\n\nLAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANING
\n\nIn addition to the laundry equipment available in the housing area, laundry and dry cleaning services are available at nominal cost through the Base Laundry. These services generally take seven days.
\n\nMISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
\n\nThe following shops are available at Thule Air Base:
\n\n\n\nBarber Shop Shoe Repair Shop
\n
\n\nTailor Shop Jewelry Repair Shop
Site-2, Clear, AK
\nContributed by John Sheehan
\nThe attached article was published in the 9th Aerospace Defense magazine "Q \nPOINT" August 1967. (9TH was the predecessor of 14th Aerospace Force)\n\n
\n
\n
\n\n
\n
YOU AND YOUR JOB
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
\n\nThe starting point of all RCA employee relations is the policy that there shall be no discrimination based on race, color, creed, age, sex or national origin.
\n\nOriginal employment depends upon the applicant’s fitness and suitability for the work to be done. Selection of new employees of RCA is based on these main factors: ability, skill, experience, training, character, and physical fitness. Job retention and promotion to greater responsibility are based on these same qualifications.
\n\nEqually important, RCA makes every effort to place the right person in the right job. Training opportunities are made available to help employees assume their responsibilities and perform their jobs satisfactorily.
\n\nThe incentives for good work throughout the Corporation include fair salaries and wages, recognition of work well done, reasonable job security, and opportunity for advancement.
\n\nThe final aim of these policies is a happy, unified organization of people, alert to its responsibilities of producing more and better products and services.
\n\nWe hope that you, as a member of this organization, will want to work for its continuing success and help maintain our important position in a highly competitive industry.
\n\nWORK SCHEDULE
\n\nThe nature of our business makes it impractical for BMEWS Service Project to maintain inflexible working schedules.
\n\nThese schedules may vary from one location and one department to the next. The schedule of hours of employment will be arranged to give you the most desirable working hours consistent with job requirements. In all instances, hours of employment conform to Federal and State laws and regulations.
\n\nPAY POLICY
\n\nIt is a basic principle of RCA to pay wages and salaries equal to, or in most instances better than, those paid by other companies engaged in similar industries in the area in which you work. To assure the success of this principle, RCA has a plan of wage and salary administration based on job evaluation and occupation classification.
\n\nThe duties and requirements of each job are constantly weighed and compared with those of other jobs, Job descriptions and job classifications are periodically reviewed to make certain that they represent the current nature and scope of work performed.
\n\nIn accordance with our policy of paying wages and salaries comparable to those currently being paid for similar work in similar organizations, the Company regularly surveys industry and area wage and salary practices.
\n\nPAY CHECK
\n\nWage and salary payments are made in the form of a company check. BMEWS Service Project uses a bi-weekly pay period.
\n\nAll checks represent the employee’s gross earnings for the particular pay period minus various deductions required by law or authorized in writing by the employee. Deductions required by law vary from state to state but may include the following: withholding tax, state non-resident tax social security tax, unemployment insurance, state disability benefit insurance.
\n\nVoluntary deductions will also vary with the desires of each employee and may include the following: tuition loan and refund, BMEWS Recreation Association dues, combined charities deductions, retirement, payments for purchases at the Family Store, and U.S. Government Bond purchases.
\n\nIn all cases, each employee receives with his check a statement of earnings and an itemized listing of deductions made during the pay period.
\n\nThe Company is required by law to inform the Government of the annual earnings of each employee. A copy of your annual earnings’ statement including the amounts withheld for income and Social Security taxes is supplied you for information in preparing income tax reports.
\n\nHOLIDAYS
\n\nBMEWS Service Project recognizes the following holidays: New Year’s Day. Good Friday, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
\n\nVACATIONS
\n\nRCA recognizes the importance of the annual vacation as a period of rest and relaxation, and the policy of granting vacations with pay exists throughout the Corporation. Your supervisor will be happy to give you complete information about the vacation practice at your location.
\n\nOne week’s vacation with pay is given to employees with three months of service who are hired before April 1 of the current year. Two weeks vacation with pay is granted in the next calendar year to employees with six months of service who were hired before October 1 of the previous year. Note: Should you terminate prior to the completion of your six months of service, your two weeks of vacation entitlement will be reduced, and you will only be reimbursed for one week. Vacations are paid at your stateside rate. After\nfive years and nine months with the Company, an additional day’s vacation is allowed each year starting with the following calendar year. After ten years’ service with RCA, you will be entitled to three weeks vacation with pay. When you have 19 years, 9 months with the Company, you will receive four weeks vacation.
\n\nABSENCES
\n\nThe current work schedule calls for you to work seven days per week, eight hours a day. Our customer, U. S. Air Force, could change this schedule to satisfy operational demands. Because Thule must be maintained on a 24-hour basis, there is more than one shift in most work areas.
\n\nThe only allowable paid absence for U.S. employees at Thule is for personal illness or injury as certified by the Site Physician. Allowable paid absences from Thule will be approved for death in the immediate family or of a near relative and for special or unusual circumstances which absolutely require your presence. The latter reason must be approved by the BMEWS Service Personnel Manager.
\n\nYOUR SUPERVISOR
\n\nYour supervisor is the person who will direct your working activities, and who will provide official contact for you with the rest of the Company, He will introduce you to the other members of your department, explain your duties in the department, and answer any questions you may have about the Coznpany, its policies, practices, and your assignment. Matters concerning recommendations for increases, promotions, and transfers are generally handled by your supervisor in conjunction with members of the personnel department. You will find your supervisor friendly and well-qualified, eager to assist you in becoming familar with your new environment.
\n\nFOR YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY
\n\nGood health is one of the best guarantees for the successful performance of your work. Your earning power and your whole future depend on your personal safety both on and off the job. RCA is interested in helping you maintain both. To do this, the Company maintains clean, healthy working conditions in all of its locations and provides well-equipped dispensaries and other medical services in all major locations.
\n\nWe earnestly solicit your cooperation in seeking improved safety methods. We ask that you think and work safely, using the safety devices and equipment provided for your protection. Sound rules and regulations for the safety of our employees are in effect in all RCA operations. You are urged to protect yourself and your fellow employees by closely observing all safety precautions.
\n\n\n\n\nBEARDS ARE NOT PERMITTED AT THULE FOR HEALTH AND SECURITY REASONS. THE EFFECTS OF FROST BITE COULD BE CONCEALED BEHIND A BEARD. IN ADDITION, THE IDENTIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES ENTERING CLASSIFIED AREAS AT THE TECH SITE IS DOUBLY DIFFICULT WHEN AN I.D. PHOTOGRAPH DOES NOT MATCH THE FACIAL APPEARANCE OF A BEARDED EMPLOY EE.
\n
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
\nWith a firm conviction that the Corporation’s greatest asset is its employees, RCA has long been a leader in employee benefits and services. In addition, on the BMEWS Project, you will enjoy excellent starting salaries, plus added com-pensation for field assignments.\n
\nTAX INFORMATION\n
\nSince the payment of income taxes is a responsibility of a citizen to his Government, the Company cannot enter into personal income tax problems. Any questions you may have about overseas income tax exemptions are authoritatively answered in the U.S. Government Printing Office publication number 54, “Tax Guide for U.S, Citizens Abroad”.\n
\nThe Company will not honor Exemption Intent Forms; taxes will be withheld as usual, with your benefits being realized in the form of refund upon completion of your tax return.\n
\nEDUCATION\n
\nIt is the policy of RCA to encourage its personnel to strive for self-improvement and thus prepare themselves for ad-vancement. The concrete expression of this policy is to be found in the Tuition Loan and Refund Plan.\n
\nThis plan provides for the full or part payment for evening or correspondence courses of instruction which will improve the employee’s performance in his current occupation and/or will equip him to succeed in related occupations. The Train-ing and Organization Development Manager is the final word on a course’s suitability. See your Training and O.D. representative on site for further details.\nAny member of the Company who is considered a permanent employee may apply for this plan.\n
\nWhen you become interested in making use of this plan you should first consult your supervisor to determine if the desired courses will benefit you in your present job or in a related group of occupations.\n
\nIn order to obtain permission to participate in the plan, you must prepare in detail, and prior to taking the course, the RCA application for Tuition Loan and/or Refund. The course or courses elected must increase your qualifications in your present job or in a related group of occupations. The $225.00 maximum allowance does not include books, lecture notes, extra fees, etc. After completing the application, you should obtain your supervisor’s signature, sign it, and then forward it to the BMEWS Administrator – Training & Organization Development at Site.\n
\nTraining may be taken at any accredited resident college or university and the following approved correspondence schools:\n
- \n
- RCA Institutes\n\n
- Capital Radio Engineering Institute - one part of one section per application may be taken.\n\n
- Holmes Institute - one group of courses per appli-cation.\n\n
- International Accountants’ Society, Inc.\n\n
- International Correspondence Schools - a loan must be taken for all ICS courses and you may not take more than 15 instruction units per application.\n\n
- Cleveland Institute of Radio Electronics - one sec-tion per application may be taken.\n\n
\nIf employment is terminated for any reason other than military service, the unpaid balance of the load will become immediately due and payable, and no refund will be made.\n
\nEMERGENCIES\n
\nIn the event of an emergency at your home, such as critical illness or the death of a near relative, your family should contact the Personnel Services Office at Project Headquar-ters. The telephone number is 963-8000, extension PJ 6284, or during non-business hours Area Code 609, 829-7090.\n
\nIf the emergency is not serious enough to necessitate your return home, the Company, if requested, will make every effort to assist in the situation. If your family should desire such assistance, have them contact the Personnel Services Department at Project Headquarters.\n
\nAlso, instruct your families that, in the event of hospitaliza-tion, surgery, or any other medical situations covered by your employee insurance, they should direct all insurance claims to the Administrator, Insurance and Retirement, at the PHQ address. This will insure the most efficient pro-cessing and payment of claims during your absence.\n
\nHUNTING AND FISHING\n
\nHunting is strictly forbidden due to the scarcity of game and the necessity of preserving the small numbers of Arctic animals for the native Eskimos, who depend upon these ani-mals for both food and clothing. This restriction has been outlined and agreed upon in the Danish-U.S. agreement. However, fishing is permissible, at the nearby bays and fjords in the summer. Fishing parties must consist of two or more persons for safety reasons.\n
\nHOLIDAYS AND VACATIONS\n
\nThe eight approved Company holidays are not observed at Thule and you will be asked to perform your duties on a normal workday schedule, for which you will receive the normal Company pay allowances for working these holidays. In addition, you will receive regular holiday pay for these days worked.\n
\nThe standard vacation policy will be in effect at Thule. (See page A-7 for further details.)\n
\nEach employee whose expected tour of duty at Site I is 18 months is eligible for vacation between the fifth and fifteenth months. (No vacation of less than one calendar week may be taken by a Site I employee.) It is recommended that you schedule two vacations in your 18-month tour, Any unpaid extensions of vacations must have prior management approval. Days of travel to and from Thule are not counted against your vacation.\n
\nFor those of you who may be interested in spending your vacation in Europe, arrangements can be made for you to make connections at Sondestrom, Greenland. You can pro-ceed to Europe from that point via commercial airlines; however, the commercial flight will be at your own expense. Make certain to arrange with the BMEWS Transportation Coordinator at Site for the flight to Sondestrom and the time for your pickup and return to Site. If you intend to spend a vacation in Europe, you must obtain a passport before leaving for the foreign country. The Department of Defense has also directed that if your vacation will involve travel to or through a Sino-Soviet bloc country you must report such intentions to the Site Safety and Security Administrator 30 days prior to your intended travel. At this time you will receive a security briefing on the potential security hazards involved in such foreign travel.\n
\nSITE SECURITY\n
\nThe BMEWS Project has been designated by the Department of Defense as one of the top priority projects in this nation. and, as such, the security requirements are very stringent. Control of entry of all personnel into designated restricted areas is by the Air Force Installation Commander. Points of entry are manned by Air Police.\n
\nEmployee badges are issued and controlled by the Air Force on Thule Air Force Base and are the property of the Govern-ment. It is your responsibility to report the loss or mutilation of badge and/or pass to the Site Safety and Security Admin-istrator. You are required to wear your security badge in. plain view at all times while in designated restricted areas. You are required to challenge the presence of any un-authorized individual in your work area and report this presence to responsible military and/or contractor personnel. You must be prepared to properly identify yourself if challenged within restricted areas.\n
\nYou also have a moral and legal responsibility to report immediately any suspected espionage and/or sabotage to the bite Safety and Security Administrator.\n
\nACCIDENT PREVENTION\n
\nHigh on the list of required activities are those which will keep you from being involved in an accident. The basic principles of accident prevention are common sense, good judgment, and compliance with established procedures.\n
\nTo prevent injury to employees, damage to equipment, and loss of time due to accidents, RCA has provided safety de-vices, safety equipment, and safe operating procedures. Signs restricting access to certain areas have been placed there for your protection. Unless you are authorized to enter these areas, for your own safety do not attempt to gain admittance. Employees whose assigned duties require them\n
\nto enter will be fully trained in the safe procedures to be followed while in these areas.\n
\nArctic hazards can be avoided by following the principles learned during your Arctic Indoctrination. Chance-takers seldom get as many chances in the Arctic as they do in warmer areas.\n
\nRadiation hazards have been kept to a minimum through suitable design of equipment and structures. Radiation incidents can be prevented by sticking to established procedures and heeding all posted warnings.\n
\nSince a fire at Thule can take on the proportions of a major disaster, the fire prevention program must have the complete cooperation of all participating personnel. During your stay at Thule, you will receive training in the prevention, reporting, and emergency fighting of fires.\n
\nAll Protective Services personnel are fully qualified fire-fighters. They are kept ready for emergencies by a continuing program in the use of the latest specialized fire-fighting and fire prevention methods.\n
\nIn the event of fire or other disaster, the BMEWS Protective Services Office are used as the central point for all channe1s of communication.\n
\nThe safety record at Thule has been outstanding. Since your entire future can depend upon your personal safety during your tour at Site, it is to your advantage to think and work safely, using the facilities, equipment and procedures provided for your protection.\n\n
\n
Danish Female Lost, Summer 1977
\nContributed by Larry Russell \n\n
\nDuring the summer of 1977, a Danish female wound up missing. The ice breaker had just arrived \nand two or three days later she was reported unaccountable for. A large search party was formed \nand most of the base took part. No signs of her were found. When I returned to Thule in 1979, \nher picture was still in the Air Police station as a missing person. It was very strange. It \ncured me of walking from J-Site during nice weather!\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
PERSONNEL SERVICES AND FACILITIES
\n\n
The recreational facilities and services at Thule are among the finest to be found anywhere and have all been made available to you.
\n\nGYMNASIUM
\n\nThule has a large gym with facilities for a wide variety of sports activities including boxing, handball, basketball, gymnastics and weight-lifting. There is also a steam room, a sun room, and a weight-lifting room.
\n\nTHEATER
\n\nFor a nominal admission fee you can see the latest films in this 500-seat theater which is equipped with Cinemascope.
\n\nCLUB FACILITIES
\n\nYou will be authorized membership, based entirely upon your occupation, in the Airmen’s, NCO, or Officers’ clubs. All clubs offer an extremely pleasant atmosphere and serve food and refreshments at nominal prices. Professional stage shows and other forms of entertainment sponsored by the clubs are brought to Thule periodically. The wearing of a coat, shirt, and tie is mandatory in these clubs.
\n\nThe Base Service Club is not a private club and individual membership is not required. There is a snack bar within the club and several rooms have been set aside as stereo, library and recreation rooms.
\n\nBMEWS RECREATION ASSOCIATION
\n\nB.R.A. activities are programmed in addition to the established Site activities. You must be a B,R.A. member to participate. Present Site I activities which receive B,R,A. support are the Ham Radio Club, the Photo Club, the Press Club, the Bowling League, and the Bridge Club. Various athletic teams, including basketball, volley ball, and softball, also receive B.R,A. support. Ping pong tournament, handball tournament, monthly drawing of prizes, and the Site I newspaper “The Polar Views”, are other examples of activities receiving B.R.A. sponsorship.
\n\nTELEVISION AND RADIO
\n\nA television set is located in a lounge in each housing area, Reception is from the Thule station which transmits top-notch taped programs from the United States,\nThere is an AM radio station at Thule, KOLD, 1425 KC. In addition, there is an FM radio station, KFMT, 100 MC, which is operated by off-duty RCA employees.
\n\nHOBBY SHOP
\n\nThis facility is stocked with complete sets of electrical and manual tools for woodworking, leathercraft, radio and TV repair, photography, and model railroading.
\n\nTOURS AND OFF-BASE ACTIVITIES
\n\nDuring the summer months, tours and hikes to the glaciers, ice cap, and ice cave are coordinated by RCA Personnel Services. These tours afford the photographic enthusiasts excellent opportunities of capturing some of the beauty of Northern Greenland through the camera lens.
\n\nLack of transportation to surrounding areas, rugged terrain, and climatic conditions restrict individual recreation activity to the immediate area of the Base. In addition, the\nvisiting of neighboring native villages is discouraged for reasons of health. Common virus diseases, which are of a minor consequence to Americans, are often fatal to Eskimos. Although not necessarily infected, most Americans are common carriers of such viruses.
\n\nLIBRARY
\n\nFor those of you interested in literature, education, and extra-curricular reading, the Base Library has an excellent selection of fiction, nonfiction, and technical material.
\n\n\nINTRODUCTION
THE BMEWS PROJECT
\n\nEarly in 1958, the United States Air Force announced the selection of the Radio Corporation of America as Weapons System Manager for the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System Project. The overall management responsibilities for the creation of this powerful space radar net was delegated to RCA.
\n\nThe RCA Service Company is responsible for the operation and maintenance of this BMEWS system.
\n\nThe project is a momentous endeavor to establish a giant electronic system to probe thousands of miles over the polar wastes, to detect and track an invading missile raid and to predict its point of impact. The success of such an endeavor depends greatly upon the cooperation and teamwork of the organizations working within the Project.
\n\nBrute force radar transmitters illuminating small cross-section targets at extreme ranges; ultrasensitive radar receivers, reading microvolt echoes through intensive electromagnetic disturbances, and generating precise position information; data converters, translating data to digital information; complex solid state computing systems, making microsecond decisions – these are the basic components of BMEWS.
\n\nTHE PURPOSE
\n\nBMEWS is an epoch-making endeavor that was inspired through common purpose and need. The problems of environment, capacity, and performance inherent in the development, design, and installation of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System make it unique in the history of military electronics.
\n\nThe swift advance warning provided by BMEWS is the most effective known deterrent of surprise missile attack, and thus plays a major role. in maintaining the security and well-being of the free world.
\n\nAs an employee of RCA and a member of this gigantic BMEWS team, you should find your assignment at Site I an exciting and rewarding challenge.
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Site-2, Clear, AK
\nContributed by Todd Smith\n
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RCA\'S OPEN DOOR POLICY
You want to receive fair treatment and to give fair treatment to those who work with you.
\n\nYou undoubtedly wish to feel assured that problems which arise from time to time on your job will be given the kind of consideration they deserve. Everyone wants this assurance.
\n\nYour Company is reemphasizing ways and means whereby we can understand each other better and thereby become an even stronger working team. This is being done by a free discussion of job problems, with full confidence that these discussions will in no way jeopardize your job standing.
\n\nReflecting this is the following procedure set up and encouraged by the Company:
\n\nEach supervisor shall encourage his people to discuss freely with him any suggestions, questions, or criticisms relating to his job. In such discussions the supervisor shall give the employee a specific answer on the point at issue, or indicate his intention of obtaining an answer within a short period of time.
\n\nIf the employee is not fully satisfied, the matter is to be presented to the next level manager and, if satisfaction is not achieved, to the Site Personnel Manager for final determination of a course of action.
\n\nThis procedure gives you sound basis for “talking things out.” The better understanding that both employees and supervisors have of each other’s problems and responsibilities, the greater will be the respect each has for the other – and the greater the benefits for all.
\n\nThule Times
\nc. 1969
\nContributed by Peter Komada Jr.\n
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| \n\n\nFeb 21, 1969:\n\nMay 9, 1969:\n\nMay 16, 1969:\n\nMay 23, 1969:\n\n\nMay 30, 1969:\n\n\nJune 6, 1969:\n\nJune 13, 1969:\n\nJune 20, 1969:\n\n\n | \n
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Montana Gap-Filler Authorizations
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Eureka GFA is\nlocated at the site of the lookout tower on Black Butte, west and south of\nthe town of Eureka.\n
Eureka is about 20-25 miles east and a little north of Yaak. It\'s also \nabout 90 miles northwest of Kalispell on Hiway 93.\n
\nHere\'s the article, word for word:\n\n
"Through the courtesy of Sen Mike Mansfield, information has been received relative to radar installations near Eureka and other places in Montana from Major General Joe W Kelley, USAF, Director, Legislative Liaison.\n
A radar installation for aircraft control & warning projects is scheduled for the Eureka area with the design in process; scheduled contract award, May, 1956; scheduled beneficial occupancy date, October 1956.\n
Sites at Lewistown and Kalispell have been recently approved and the design is scheduled for completion about June 30, 1956 with the construction contract to be advertised and awarded some time during the first quarter fiscal year of 1957. Construction requires about one year for completion.\n
The Brockway site design is in process with the scheduled contract award, May, 1956; scheduled beneficial occupancy date, September, 1956"\n\n\n\n
Langenes AS, IC
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Ground Observer Corps
\nAircraft Warning Service, 1944
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contributed by John E. Clements\n
\nDuring World War II, the Ground Observer Corps, Aircraft Warning\nService was established by the War Department. This document describes\nsome early experiences with that service. Also included are\nWar Department letters announcing the discontinuance of the service\nin 1944, and a certificate of service.\n
\nMemory of the Ground Observer Corps
\nBy John Clements
\nMy memory has dimmed over the years so some of this may not be correct but\nno one is left that can help as most of the people that took an active part\nin our “post” as they were called, have passed away.\n
\nAs I recall in early 1942 the U.S army rep came to see my father, Charles\nM. Clements, to ask him if he would be an observation post chief observer\nin the town of Swanville, Maine. Agreeing to do so, the next step was to\nset up a post. Far the present my fathers garage would fit the mold. But,\nbeing too noisy and busy another more suitable location was needed.\n
\nTom Nickerson generously donated a building that he used for a logging\ncamp to serve as the observation post. The next step was to get the cabin\nmoved next to my father’s garage and filling station. Since patriotism ran\nhigh, volunteers were easy to come by and with the aid of a few skids and\nRussell Littlefields Mack Jr. truck, the 8 by 16 building was moved out\nof the woods and put on a proper resting place next to my fathers garage.\nThe cabin was wired to put in a few lights and a plug in or two with the\nelectricity coming from the garage.\n
\nThere was also a stove and a few chairs in the building that were donated\nand a telephone with the party line # 254W4 that was put in by the telephone\ncompany. Over the next few weeks there was another addition to the building,\na cot. This way pairs with night shift could take turns standing watch and\nsleeping. A table followed so that we could now play cribbage or any other\ncard game to pass some time.\n
\nAfter the initial request of a post and volunteers were met, the army came\nand ran a school of instructing. It was a one night session held at the\nGrange Hall. After that day of schooling everything was all set to go!\n
\nBeing a small town with not many people there was a limited number of\nvolunteers. It turned out though, that with night shift you only had a\nshift every two weeks or so. Everyone did all they could to help out and\neven traded shifts if necessary. My father, being chief observer had the\ntask of creating a schedule. Father, few of the elderly men and the\nneighborly women along with my brother Nicholas and I ( when we were not\nin school ) did most of the day shifts.\n
\nNicholas and I each received a medal for serving 500 hours and my father\nreceived one for over 1,000 hours! I couldn’t tell you where that is right\nnow it must have gotten lost over the past 55 years. We were each given a\nlapel pin for our service. The were arm bands available to be worn while\non duty.\n
\nThe army provided us with identification books and flash cards to help in\nidentifying the difterent types of U.S, German, Japanese, and Italian\nplanes. My brother an I got very proficient in our knowledge of the flash\ncards.\n
\nWe called in the sighting to a Filter Center located in Bangor, Maine.\nThis was before the dial telephone in our area was readily used, so the\ncalls were all operator assisted. When she asked "number please” our\nresponse was, "Army Flash 254W4.” Which told her to connect us to the\nFilter Center at Bangor. It gave her the number of who to charge the\ncall to.\n
\nAs I recall our post code number was “X-Ray 461” and later became “Gimble\n23”. When the Filter Center answered you would identify the post buy saying,\n“post code number X-Ray 461”. Then you would read from a sheet which was\nprovided which covered the following items ( which may not be in order ):\n
\n- \n
- Number of Aircraft\n
- Identify if it is know or unknown\n
- Single or multiple engines\n
- Seen or Heard\n
- How far from post\n
- Direction headed\n
- Altitude: High, Med., Or Low\n
- Speed: Slow, Fast, Or Very Fast\n
The Filter Center would thank you and say that was all for now then every\nonce in a while they would call you back to verify something. (Number of\naircraft, or altitude, not who was winning the cribbage game.)\n
\nAnnouncement of the closing of GOC/AWS centers
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Closing letter of appreciation
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Certificate of Service
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Pinetree Line Miscellaneous
\n1961 – Construction of Western Radar Sites – National Archives of Canada
\n(From the former pinetreeline.org web site)
S10-100-80/5 TD 0354(CCE)
24 Mar 61
The Secretary,
The Treasury Board,
Department of Finance,
Ottawa, Ontario.
Attention: Mr. JA MacDonald
Dear Sir:
Re: Prime Radar Construction at Penhold,
Alsask, Gypsumville, Yorkton and Dana
Reference is made to the following construction items at the subject stations as approved by Treasury Board Minute 560345 dated 24 March 1960.
Station | Serial No. and Item | Cost |
Penhold | 13(60-61) FPS-7 Search Radar Tower | $800,000.00 |
Alsask | 21(60-61) FPS-27 Search Radar Tower | $800,000.00 |
Gypsumville | 23(60-61) FPS-27 Search Radar Tower | $800,000.00 |
Yorkton | 21(60-61) FPS-28 Search Radar Tower | $1,000,000.00 |
Dana | 21(60-61) FPS-7 Search Radar Tower | $800,000.00 |
At the time of presentation of the Treasury Board submission it was planned to install FPS-7, FPS-27 and FPS-28 Search Radars at the various western heavy radar stations as indicated in the above approved items. However, for technical reasons it has been decided to eliminate the use of the FPS-28 at Yorkton and replace it with the FPS-27. Also, for technical reasons, the FPS-7 at Penhold is to be replaced by the FPS-27, the FPS-27 at Alsask is to be replaced by the FPS-7 and at Dana the FPS-27 replaces the FPS-7. No change of search radar for Gypsumville is required.
Further to the above, it has been determined that there is also a requirement for an additional building known as a Technical Annex which will house support facilities for the FPS-7 and FPS-27 radars. This building is in effect, a function of the search radar tower and therefore will be built adjacent to the tower. The structural designs of the radar towers are such that they preclude the possibility of accommodating the support facilities within the towers proper.
The Technical Annex houses a small heating plant of 720 square feet; a technical stores area of 1590 square feet; a telecommunication room of 1200 square feet; a switch room of 160 square feet; a radar workshop of 450 square feet; and a lunch room of 487 square feet. The general construction is of concrete block.
The $8000,000.oo approved for the construction of each FPS-7 and FPS-27 search radar is sufficient to include the construction costs of a supporting Technical Annex.
As the FPS-28 search radar is being replaced at Yorkton by and FPS-7, the $1,000,000.00 authorized for the FPS-28 may be reduced to $800,000.00.
In consideration of the foregoing, the following amendments to Treasury Board Minute 560345 are recommended:
Station | Serial No. and Item | Cost |
Penhold | Delete 13(60-61) FPS-7 Search Radar Tower | $800,000.00 |
Alsask | Delete 21(60-61) FPS-27 Search Radar Tower | $800,000.00 |
Gypsumville | Delete 23(60-61) FPS-27 Search Radar Tower | $800,000.00 |
Yorkton | Delete 21(60-61) FPS-28 Search Radar Tower | $1,000,000.00 |
Dana | Delete 21(60-61) FPS-7 Search Radar Tower | $800,000.00 |
Yours sincerely,
Signed by:
(EB Armstrong)
Deputy Minister
Countersigned:
(LV Carver) W/C
CEC-2
(CL Inglis) G/C
DCEC
(RB Whiting) A/C
CCE
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1999 Texas Tower Association Reunion
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\nMeeting Minutes
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Reunion Notes
\nby Don Abbott, 1999 Texas Tower Association President\n\nOn Thursday the 26th of August, the "Texas Tower Association"\nheld\n it\'s first reunion at the Ramada Inn on Sinton Rd, in Colorado\nSprings,\n Colorado. The following is my description of what took place.\n
\nI arrived sometime after 2:00p.m., because of a comedy of\nerrors\n with respect to transportation snafu\'s and my own inability to try to\nescape\n paying the tolls on E-470. I really didn\'t do this on purpose but it\n happened, but everything came out in the wash. As I arrived there\nwere a\n lot of people gathered outside of what turned out to be Ken & Pat\nTaylor\'s\n suite. I tried to get past the suite, to get rid of my suitcase\nthat\n resembled a small U-Haul, but to no avail. I was told that people\nwere\n waiting for me because they had heard that the airlines had lost my\nluggage\n in Denver International Airport and wanted to know when I arrived. I\nput\nmy\n suitcase in the upright position and went into the room and was\nchecked in\n within 10 seconds, I had signed the roster and was given my envelope\nof\n goodies including discount tickets etc. I went around the room and\ngot a\n little comfortable, but was a little jiggly with what had happened to\nme,\n prior to getting there. I met a lot of people in a very short time\nand I\n know some of the peoples names that were there and some others I can\'t\n recall because I don\'t have all the lists and I wouldn\'t want to miss\n anyone. However, Ken Taylor was there with his bride Pat. two of the\nvery\n nicest people I have ever met in my life. When I saw Ken I had a\nfeeling\n that that was him. He gave me a very warm and friendly greeting,\nfollowed\n by a very kind greeting from his wife Pat. He gave me my hats and all\nthe\n other things I didn\'t get from the front desk. I don\'t know if he had\n a\n theme going, at this reunion ,when I got there, but if I could have\nnamed\n it, I would have called it " Efficiency ". Shortly after that I got\nthe\n opportunity to check in and go to my room. It was a great room with\nall\nthe\n trimmings including an iron/board, Hair dryer and all the comforts of\nhome.\n Fifteen minutes later I was back talking with everybody and I\'ll tell\nyou\n what, there wasn\'t a grouch in the group. We finally watched some\ntapes,had\n some refreshments and went back to our respective rooms to get ready\nto go\n on the trip to Cripple Creek. I was too tired to go, being about four\nhours\n off schedule, I decided to pass.\n
\nThe next day we went on a trip that was called the "Mystery"\ntrip,\n we didn\'t realize just how much of a mystery it was until we couldn\'t\nfind\n the leader and I\'m sure in every car or truck everybody had an opinion\nas\nto\n which way we should be going. We went to the Olympic Training\nVillage,\nbut\n it seemed to be closed. Then we went to the Peterson Air and Space\nMuseum.\n Wow, was that something to see. As we walked in, the most prominent\nexhibit\n was the model of the Texas Tower. Len Wallace, the assistant Curator\n treated us like royalty and had Mae Robertson Farrow and I autograph\nthe\n picture of my Dad and the picture of her and her family and\ndesignating\nwho\n was who, with an arrow. He also opened the RC-121-D- Super Connie so\nwe\n could go in and take pictures and then reopened it to help me find my\nlens\n cap for my camera, but to no avail. Electronic gadget to take\npictures in\na\n group, which we all forgot to do. Mr. Wallace is one of the best\nhosts\n you\'ll ever come across in any museum!\n
\nLater we met for a meeting and I was very fortunate and very\nproud\n and honored to be elected President of the "Texas Tower Association".\nI\n thank each and every one of you for your support and I will do my very\nbest\n to make this years business go very smooth and have a great reunion at\nCape\n Cod, Massachusetts.\n
\nWe returned and went to the Flying W Ranch and had an absolute\nball\n with there comedy, their music and their food. Everybody seemed to\nenjoy\n themselves. When they said they could feed everybody, about 1400\npeople,\nin\n about 20 minutes, they weren\'t to far off. Everyone was taking\npictures\nand\n walking around looking in the different stores and just browsing. The\n ladies and the gents were retelling stories and renewing old\nfriendships.\n It seemed to me, that this might be the best reunion, on the planet,\n everybody seemed to really be getting along and it seemed that\neverybody\nwas\n happy\n they came.\n
\nSaturday, we were on our own and everyone seemed to have a\nplace\nto\n go or two or three. We were told to be at the Lobby at 17:45 hrs to\nprepare\n for the Memorial Service and Banquet. Everybody was on time and\ndressed\nto\n the hills. Every hair in place, gig lines straight as could be,ties\nknotted\n in the military fashion, shoes polished and pants creased. Of course\nthe\n Ladies, as usual, were at their very best and a beautiful group they\nwere.\n We\n were ready for anything, until the memorial service started with their\n twenty-one gun salute in front of the motel. The Honor Guard set up\nacross\n from the front at an angle and the riflers at another angle facing the\n "Tower Men & Women". They raised their rifles and shot off one salute\neach,\n reloaded and shot off another salute and then reloaded and shot off\none\nmore\n salute to make it a twenty-one gun salute and it was moving to say the\n least.\n
\nWe then went into the banquet room and there the Honor Guard\nset\nup\n a four person Flag and Rifle bearing Guard. The rest of the Honor\nGuard\nwas\n holding a flag open with five troops on each side keeping it tight,\n throughout the ceremony. The Chaplain opened the Service and a\n Bagpipe Grenadier came just a step into the room from the doorway and\nplayed\n "Amazing Grace", backed up, and disappeared. Chaplain Tony gave a\nvery\n moving testimony and had everybody in that banquet hall riveted to the\n podium. He was very much in tune with what was going on, especially\nbecause\n he had not known about it, before he was asked to do it. He read up\non it\n and rearranged his schedule, because he was so moved, by this whole\ntragedy.\n He didn\'t flinch on even one name. He was an absolutely\nperfect\n Chaplain,\n you couldn\'t have scripted for a better or more honorable and sincere\n gentleman. After he gave his address, he called off the names, of the\n32\nmen\n who were killed on the three Towers. As he did in my case, He called\noff\n the name Mr. David W. Abbott. I stood up and walked over to the\ntable,\n where there had been placed a large candle and 32 other red, white and\nblue\n candles, all smaller than the first one that was lit, for all of our\n "Towermates" who have died in the past from all causes. I lit my\nFather\'s\n candle and then came back to my table. He proceeded to call the other\n31\n names and a mixture of troops and Ladies did the honors of lighting\nthe\n candles and a great job they did. I could see on their faces, the\ninner\n emotions that were coming out. I know from a few of the ladies, who\nwere\n there, that it was in their thoughts, that there but for the grace of\nGod,\n would have been their husbands candle and flag. Then it was time to\npresent\n the flags, to all the families and friends gathered. It was decided\njust\n like at the Memorial Service, out at the wreck that every family,\nwould be\n represented, by someone to stand in their stead. The first name\ncalled\nwas\n Mae Robertson Farrow. Mae stood up with her granddaughter Harmony in\nher\n left arm. Her Daughter-in-law Jessica Farrow, wife of Airman\nChristian\n Farrow and herself a Airman/1class did the slow cadence to the flag\nshe\nwas\n to present to her Mother-in-law. She continued now to her\nMother-in-laws\n position and stood very still reciting the words "The President" etc.\nand\nas\n she did her little Daughter Harmony reached over to her white gloves\nand\n touching them said, "Mommy ?" Jessica didn\'t waver or flinch and\nHarmony\n did\n it exactly the same way a second time and Jessica didn\'t flinch.\nContinuing\n to do her piece, Jessica didn\'t expect Harmony to softly put her hand\non\nher\n Mothers cheek and say one more time, "Mommy ?" Jessica finished her\npiece\n and slowly did a hand salute to Mae and a very slow about face and\nslow\n cadence back for another flag to present to someone else. This ended\nup\n with my Fathers name being called and I stood silent and still. I\nwatched\na\n very sharp looking E-nine Sergeant, come over to me and present to my\nfamily\n through me, his flag. Needless to say, I was deeply honored to\nreceive\nthis\n flag for my Mom of 90 years old. My emotions were so welled up I just\n thanked him in the most whispered voice. He said in a whisper, "Your\n welcome".\n
\nMae Farrow gave a very emotional speech and presented Ken\nTaylor\n with a much deserved plaque. She also thanked everyone for what they\nhad\n done, for her and all the families. When she finished, Rose Higgins\ntalked\n about her Dad, Colonel William Higgins and read a special poem for the\nwives\n that she had written for this occasion. It was wonderful and so was\nher\n family, she brought with her.\n
\nIt was my turn to speak but following these two ladies was not\ngoing\n to be easy. I could only express my gratitude to Ken and Pat and the\ntroops\n and their wives, for all they had done. If I remember correctly I\n especially complemented them on their "hearts" and that I especially\nthought\n of this organization as having "Heart". When I got back to my table\nMae\n Farrow and I hugged for what seemed like two minutes just sobbing in\neach\n others arms. I had seen Mae shortly after her Dad, Edward T.\nRobertson\nwas\n killed with my Dad in 1961. She being seven, I think and I being 21\nat\nthe\n time. I visited all the families around Boston at that time. I being\n station at Otis and assigned to the 551st Supply Squadron, POL Section\nas\na\n Fuel Supply Specialist.\n
\nCeremonies over, we all went across the hall to dance and have\na\n couple of cocktails and talk about old times. Arnold Gilman and I\ntoasted\na\n mutual friend we knew 40 years ago who is now deceased but we had fond\n memories of by the name of Sergeant "Lash" Larouix.\n
\nA special guest of Honor was Colonel Kallman\'s wife. He did\nan\n awful lot for the Texas Towers. Mrs. Kallman lit the first candle\nthat\n represented all the men who have died of all causes.\n
\n Before ending this very long message, I would be remised if I\ndidn\'t\n say that everyone that attended this reunion, was very impressed, by\nall\nthe\n work that had been done, by all the people who were responsible. The\nwords\n "Thank You" seem to be not enough, so how about a very special "Thank\nYou"\n to you all.\n
\nTo the two people who started this quest, Pat & Ken Taylor.\nYou\n have gone beyond the call of duty. You have made all this possible.\nYou\n have shown that two people working together can get a lot of people to\n realize just how much they want to be together, not only this year,\nbut\n already excited about the reunion next year. And I do mean everyone.\nWhat\n you have done for the 32 families of the men who were killed and also\nsome\n whose bodies were never recovered, is, to maybe, give them some degree\nof\n closure. That my friends is a gift I can\'t describe, especially after\n38\n years. We don\'t know how to repay the two of you for giving us that\nexcept\n to say, We love you both very dearly for what you have done. The rest\nof\n the troops and their wives are just happy to be together again, they\nknow\n the hardship that was a part of being married to a "Towerman".\n
\nI have talked to a lot of you and have always realized how\ntough\nit\n was on the three towers, but a lot of you have more stories to tell\nand I\n found them to be incredible. Keep remembering them for the next\nreunion.\nBy\n the way the theme of the next reunion will be the "Spouses".\n
\n God Bless you all and please keep well for the next get\ntogether\non\n the Cape. We will promise now to have a "Great Time" next September.\nUntil\n then, I remain,\n
\n\n\n Yours most sincerely,
\n\n Donald R. Abbott, President
\n\n Texas Tower Association
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\nThis report submitted by Ken Taylor
\nWe had honored guest at the Reunion. State Representative Richard Decker and \nhis wife Arlene. Mrs. Virginia Kallman, wife of Rod Kallman, Commander of \n762nd AC&W Squadron and Texas Tower 2. Victor J. Toney, Chaplain, Major, \nUSAF, Peterson AFB Honor Guard.\n
\n\nAugust 26th, Thursday:
\nSome people had arrived earlier to be at the Reunion. We had ordered food \ntrays the week before after a meeting with Doc and Therese Cornell, Ron and \nAnne Gustafson. We found the best deal at Sam\'s. We picked up the trays and \nheaded for the Hotel. People were waiting for us to show up. Everyone \nhelped unload my car. We set up the hospitality room which was in the lower \nroom of my suite. We did not have room to display all the information that I \nhad received. We taped full page newspaper clipping and design drawing to \nthe front large picture windows. We also had requested a VCR be in the room. \n The hotel staff had all changed so I was dealing with all new people. I \nshould have had everything in writing which I didn\'t? Different people tried \nto get the VCR most of the day. When I had a chance I went and spoke with \nthe staff. We received the VCR. We had a short meeting prior to going to \nCripple Creek. Several people decided not to take the trip. The Doerr\'s and \nFarrow\'s had not arrived as yet. We left at 5PM and arrived at 6:25 in \nCripple Creek. People were given a coupon book when they got off the bus. \nThe coupons were for cash $15 up front, and other items. Everyone thought \nthat was great. People scattered to the winds, some went to eat. We went \nand had prime rib and met with some of the troops at a hotel across the \nstreet. Service was not that great? We went back to Bronco Billy\'s and \npeople were playing the machines. You could tell the winners they had a \nsmile on their faces. Around 8:30 people were getting tired and started \nwaiting for the bus. The bus arrived and we left at 10PM. We had a movie on \nthe bus coming back telling about all the sites to see in Colorado Springs. \nWe were back at the hotel at 11:30. We went of bed and some people went to \nthe lounge.\n
\n\nAugust 27, Friday:
\n\n\n07:30AM: Farrow\'s had arrived late last night due to a traffic jam on the \nhighway and the Doerr\'s were in the mess at O\'Hare Airport. We went to the \nbanquet room for breakfast. People were there, but the room was not ready. \nThe head waitress said that the breakfast was schedule for 8 AM. I was \nreally getting upset about this time. Had to talk to staff again. Told them \nwe had to eat because of planned trips. The head waitress had breakfast out \nin 10 minutes. 07:40 people had their breakfast. The head waitress turned \nout to be an asset for us later. Ron and Doc\'s group was told to eat first \nso they could leave to go to Schreiver AFB. We found out two days before \nthat they couldn\'t drive their own cars out to the air base. I told Ron to \nrent a bus and the cost turned out to be $10 per person. I asked Ron to \nasked the people if they would like to help pay for cost of the bus. They \ncontributed to the cost of the bus. The Mystery ride was next and we had \neight cars lined up. I gave them the finale destination the Olympic Center. \n"It used to be Ent AFB." In case anyone got lost? I led the way and we went \nto the Garden of The Gods. We made a pit stop and people headed for the gift \nshops and took pictures of the rocks. We then went to Starr Kemp\'s home he \nhad made all of these windmills out of cast iron. His daughter came out and \nspoke to the group and handed out flyers. She then turned some of the \nsculptures by hand because of no wind, they are perfectly balanced. We then \nleft for The Olympic Center. We went straight through road construction and \nwe lost half of the group? We waited and they never did show up so we went \nto the Center. We waited at the Center and decided it was getting time for \nlunch so we went back to the hotel. We had so much food left over we decided \nto have a picnic lunch. We went to Palmer Park found a picnic site and had \nlunch. We called for a meeting prior to going out to the Flying W Ranch. \nThis was at 4PM, It was decided to hold elections at this time. I presented \ntwo different types of by-laws. Director, Hank Henricksen read them over and \none set of by-laws was selected. Elections were held by a show of hands. \nDon Abbott was elected President, Ken Taylor was elected 1St Vice President, \nMae Farrow was elected Secretary, Patricia Taylor was elected treasure. April \nThorson CPA volunteered to help with the books. It was decided that if a \ncheck was needed a warrant had to be issued before the treasure will send out \nthe check. We then went to our autos and drove out to the Flying W Ranch. I \nmet everyone at the gate and gave out there meal tickets and told them what \ntables we would be at. 100-104. People had questions about the Texas Towers.
\n I would say they had many different groups of people there around 1400 total \npeople. The MC spoke highly of the Texas Towers and the hero\'s they were. \nWe were one of the last groups to eat. I guess because we were right next to \nthe stage. They served BBQ Beef or Chicken, bake bean, bake potatoes, apple \nsauce and biscuit, cake, coffee, and lemonade. The show was country western. \n We returned to the hotel around 10PM and I went to bed.\n
\n\nAugust 28. 7:30 People at my door waiting to get in to hospitality room to \nshow and look at slides. This went on most of the day looking over pictures. \nPeople met Justin a 5 year old grandson of Rose Higgins Hargrove, who knew \nall about he Texas Towers that his great grandfather served on. 3pm started \nto get banquet room set up with candles. Don and Joy Flynn and I think it was \nRose that also helped. I had to go change my clothes. I was having car \ntrouble so I asked Don Abbott if he would take his rental car to go with Pat \nand me to pickup Mrs. Kallman. We went and picked up Mrs. Kallman and what a \nnice lady. We arrived back at the hotel and met with the chaplain and \neverything was a go. 17:45 people assembled in the Banquet room. Patricia \nmy wife read the story about Tap\'s that JR. had sent via e-mail. The group \nwas very serious and seem strain. They needed to relax a little so I told a \njoke. At 1800 we started the ceremony. I gave a brief welcome and turned it \nover to the Chaplain. He did an outstanding job and I have his program which \nI will somehow send out. The Honor Guard came in and presented the colors. \nWe then went outside for the 21 gun salute and Taps. We then came back in \nfor the presenting of the flags and lighting of the candles. The Chaplain \nsaid grace and had to leave. I introduce our honored guest and Rep. Decker \nwho presented a Colorado Tribute to the members and the Association. Mae \nFarrow wanted to speak to the group. I was then surprised by the group when \nMae presented me with a plaque. I don\'t know if you all know what it says? \nIt is beautiful. It Reads Texas Tower Association and the emblem, To: Ken \nTaylor with grateful hearts and thanks for your hard work in establishing the \n1st Texas Tower Association Reunion 26-29 August 1999. From the members and \nFriends of all Texas Tower Veterans. I have to share this with my wife Pat \nbecause it was her idea that started all of this. Pat presented gifts to Bev \nMandoza and Mae Farrow who had help me with mail and information. Rose \nHiggins Hargrove recited a poem that she has written and it was also \nbeautiful about her dad and the Texas Towers. Don Abbott our new President \nwas given a chance to say a few words. It was a great evening. We, Pat and \nI want to thank everyone for making this a great event. We are looking \nforward to seeing and meeting you all again on Cape Cod. We met so many nice \npeople in such a short period of time. It is hard to believe it happened so \nfast after waiting all these years. May God Bless and watch over you and \nyour family.\n
\n\nRespectfully submitted: Ken Taylor, September 9, 1999\n
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Fort Fisher Deactivation - 6/30/1988
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Keesler and Columbus Survive Katrina
Keesler Air Force \nBase, Miss., survived a direct hit by Hurricane Katrina, but initial estimates \nshow it suffered extensive damage to industrial and housing areas. At Columbus \nAFB, Miss., about 290 miles north of Keesler, base officials said the pilot \ntraining base suffered only moderate damage to one building. However, assessment \ncrews are just starting to evaluate the damage there. There were no deaths or \ninjuries at either base, according to preliminary reports by base officials. Click \nhere for story.
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123011479
For more information on how you can help, go to the Air Force Association \nwebsite:
http://www.afa.org
KEESLER AIR \nFORCE BASE, Miss. -- As Hurricane Katrina struck the base, rising waters \nswallowed parked cars. The base and the 6,000 sheltered military students, \npermanent party, civilians and their families survived the Category 4 hurricane \nwith no casualties. The initial damage was catastrophic to base infrastructure. \nThe base is currently in the assessment and recovery stage. (U.S. Air Force \nphoto)
KEESLER \nAIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Record low pressure, 125 mph winds and high tides \nconverged to create a storm surge that raised the level of the Back Bay nearly \n30 feet above normal. This restroom lies between the 12th and 13th holes on back \nnine of the golf course here. (U.S. Air Force photo)
COLUMBUS \nAIR FORCE BASE, Miss. - The 14th Logistics Readiness Division mobility \nprocessing hangar was the only building to receive moderate roof damage from \nHurricane Katrina. Although the hurricane did not pass directly over the base, \nthe base sustained more than $765,000 in damage. Maximum winds reached 50 knots. \n(U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Jeremy Cotton)
AF Clarifies Hurricane Evacuation Entitlements
The Air Force wants \nto ensure that Airmen, their families and Department of Defense civilian \nemployees evacuated during Hurricane Katrina are aware they may be eligible for \ncertain entitlements. Eligible members may be entitled to limited evacuation \nallowances and expenses for lodging, transportation, meals and incidentals. The \nallowances can be viewed by visiting the Air Force Personnel Center\'s Personnel \nReadiness Web site at https://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/readiness/.
Military Providing Full-Scale Response to Hurricane Relief \nEffort
Joint Task Force Katrina set up Aug. 31 at Camp Shelby, Miss., as \nthe Defense Department\'s focal point to support the Federal Emergency Management \nAgency\'s relief efforts along the Gulf Coast. Click \nhere for story.
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123011498
Air Force Helping Hurricane Victims
Units and people from across \nthe Air Force are supporting FEMA and helping victims of Hurricane Katrina from \nLouisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Helicopters from the 920th Rescue Wing at \nPatrick Air Force Base, Fla., flew to Jackson Miss., Aug. 30 carrying FEMA \nassessment teams to areas affected by the hurricane. A C-130J transport aircraft \nfrom the 403rd Wing at Keesler AFB, Miss., flying out of Asheville, N.C., \nreturned home to the base delivering supplies to the base hospital. The 908th \nAirlift Wing at Maxwell AFB, Ala., geared up two C-130s, aircrews and \naeromedical evacuation people to help move people. A C-5 Galaxy from the 60th \nAir Mobility Wing, Travis AFB Calif. and a C-17 Globe Master III from the 305th \nAMW, McGuire AFB, NJ transported tanker airlift control elements and contingency \nsupport groups to Gulfport and New Orleans International Airports respectively. \nAnother C-5 from Travis helped search and rescue teams from California get to \nthe affected area.
Fifteen HH-60s helicopters and crews from the 347th Rescue Wing at Moody AFB, \nGa., and the 16th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field., Fla have been \npositioned near the affected area in Jackson, Miss., and crews were credited \nwith saving stranded survivors of the hurricane. Additionally, Critical Care Air \nTransport teams and an obstetrics team from Wilford Hall Medical Center, San \nAntonio, Texas, helped patients and expectant mothers evacuate Keesler AFB, \nMiss., on Tuesday. The patients and pregnant women were evacuated to Wilford \nHall.
\nDAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZ - Approximately 100 Airmen and four \nHH-60G "Pave Hawk" helicopters from the 55th Rescue Squadron headed to Jackson, \nMiss., to conduct search and rescue missions in support of hurricane relief \nefforts. This deployment is in addition to the more than 20 Airmen from the \n943rd Rescue Group who departed earlier to conduct rescue missions in the region \nhit by Hurricane Katrina.
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LAFAYETTE, \nLa. -- Members of the California Governor\'s Office of Emergency Services Special \nOperation Urban Search and Rescue team unload emergency equipment here from a \nC-5 Galaxy from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on Aug. 30. The vehicle will be \nused for Hurricane Katrina relief operations in Mississippi and Louisiana. \n(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Candy Knight)
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILL - The Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott \nstarted generating missions that Air Mobility Command aircrews will fly \nsupporting Hurricane Katrina relief operations in Louisiana and Mississippi. \nFEMA, through Northern Command and U.S. Transportation Command, asked for \nairlift support to fly relief supplies to the stricken region. "We\'ve already \ntasked two aeromedical evacuation airlift missions to fly from Keesler Air Force \nBase in Biloxi, Miss., to Lackland AFB, Tex." , said Col. Jeff Franklin, the \ncenter controller working hurricane relief mission taskings. "In addition, AMC \nhas been tasked to fly five other strategic airlift missions into Lafayette \nRegional Airport in Lafayette, La. Four of those are C-5 (Galaxys) and the other \nis a C-17 (Globemaster III)."
\nA mix of total force Airmen from active-duty, Guard and Reserve bases \nnationwide are flying the missions. They will move everything from inflatable \nboats to urban search and rescue team members and their equipment. Because \nairports and airfields in the Biloxi and New Orleans areas are without power \nbecause of extensive damage from the hurricane\'s high winds, rain and flooding, \naircraft are primarily flying cargo and people into Lafayette, located northwest \nof the coastal areas.
\nThe 615th Contingency Response Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., is \nflying into Lafayette on the first C-5 Galaxy aircraft. "They will serve as an \nadvance team to help receive the aircraft and cargo, and will stay there \nthroughout," Colonel Franklin said.
\nHURLBURT FIELD, Fla. - Air Force Special Operations Command flew an \nMC-130 aircraft into New Orleans International Airport with a team of special \noperations forces to work to reopen the runway.
\nA team of combat controllers and a small medical team will work to establish \noperations at the airport, which has no electricity or air traffic control. \nCombat controllers are certified air traffic controllers and special operators \nwho can open airfields deep behind enemy lines or in other hazardous areas. The \ncombat controllers will set self-powered lights and other navigational aids, \nthen function as air traffic controllers with portable radios so that other \nmilitary aircraft can land and help evacuate ill or injured persons from the New \nOrleans area.
\nAFSOC has also flown more than 34 aircraft to Jackson, Miss., to support \nHurricane Katrina relief. The deployed aircraft include 19 HH-60 Pave Hawk \nrescue helicopters specifically designed to find and recover individuals in \nhazardous areas. AFSOC has also deployed 11 C-130 aircraft with various special \nmission capabilities, including helicopter refueling and the ability to operate \nfrom dirt or unimproved airfields.
\nAFSOC has sent pararescuemen and combat controllers to Jackson to work in \nconjunction with the aircraft. Pararescuemen are highly trained emergency \nmedical technician special operators. Combat controllers and pararescuemen are \naccustomed to operating in the most difficult and hostile conditions and are \ntrained in numerous special operations skills such as SCUBA and parachute \noperations.
\nBEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Beale sent a U-2 Dragonlady out to \ncollect needed imagery for disaster relief efforts. The Optical Bar Camera, or \nfilm-based imagery equipment used, is ideal for photographing very large areas \nwith high resolution. In a six-hour mission, a U-2 employing the OBC can collect \nimagery over 90,000 square nautical miles.
\n4th Air Wing-Texas State Guard - Airmen of the 4th Air Wing have been \ncalled to unpaid state active duty to support the relief efforts for victims of \nHurricane Katrina. The airmen are serving as Red Cross shelter managers in the \nBeaumont-Port Arthur, Orange and Baytown, TX area. They are part of a 200-person \ncontingent of the Texas State Guard from across the state that has been \nactivated for the effort. All the air wing personnel are trained shelter \nmanagers in addition to being fully qualified security forces technicians. They \nserve a 4 hour on 4 hour off duty schedule, 24 hours per day providing for the \nneeds of the shelter residents.
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LACKLAND AIR \nFORCE BASE, Texas - Airmen and their families depart a C-17 Globemaster III \nafter being evacuated from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., in the wake of \nHurricane Katrina here Aug. 30. The C-17 and aircrew are from the Mississippi \nAir National Guard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Heather M. \nNorris)
Guard, NORTHCOM respond to Hurricane Aftermath
Twenty-four hours \nafter Hurricane Katrina battered the Gulf Coast, about 7,500 National Guardsmen \nfrom Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi were on duty supporting civil \nauthorities, distributing generators, providing medical care, and setting up \nshelters for displaced residents. In addition, National Guard units and \nservicemembers in 17 more states were on standby, ready to provide assistance as \nrequired in the wake of extensive damage, rising floodwaters, and power and \ncommunications outages throughout the region. Click \nhere for story.
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123011492
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\nSAGE Building Layouts
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\n1956 Career Exhibit at Lackland AFB
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Washington Split Deepens in Debate Over Missile Plan
\nBy STEVEN LEE MYERS
\n\n\nWASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Pentagon and the State Department are\nsharply divided over how far work on a limited national missile \ndefense system could proceed before the United States would be\nrequired to give formal notice that it was violating a crucial\narms control treaty with Russia. \n
\n\n Officials in the Pentagon and State Department said that\ndisagreement within the administration was a primary reason for\nDefense Secretary William S. Cohen\'s delay in making a \nrecommendation to President Clinton this month on the project. \n
\n\n The debate has focused on the point at which construction of the \nmissile system, which involves elaborate radar installations, would\nviolate the Antiballistic Missile Treaty of 1972, which lies at\nthe heart of the arms controls built up over the cold war. \n
\n\n The Russians have steadfastly refused any changes in the pact to \npermit elaborate new radar installations, fearing that they would\nlead to a larger system that would undermine Russia\'s strategic\nnuclear force. \n
\n\n \n\n\n Officials from both agencies said Mr. Cohen was wrong when he\ntold the Senate Armed Services Committee last month that\nadministration lawyers had reached a consensus. Mr. Cohen said\nthen that there was agreement that building a crucial radar\nstation in Alaska could continue until 2002 before the United\nStates would violate the treaty. \n
\n\n That represents just one of three interpretations drafted by\nadministration lawyers, the officials said. But senior policy\nmakers at the State Department and the National Security Council\nare strongly opposed, the officials added. The opponents contend\nthat this interpretation would be overly aggressive and\nunilateral, and would surely anger the Russians and European\nallies. \n
\n\n A Pentagon spokesman, Rear Adm. Craig R. Quigley, said Mr. Cohen\nand his aides declined to discuss his Senate testimony. Mr. Cohen\nis the administration\'s leading advocate of building missile\ndefenses. \n
\n\n Aides to President Clinton declined to discuss the internal debate \nbut confirmed that officials were considering several options and\nthat Mr. Cohen\'s statement last month did not reflect a consensus\nview. "It is true that there are a number of options available to\nthe president," said P. J. Crowley, a spokesman for the National\nSecurity Council. \n
\n\n The question of when the United States would violate the treaty\nis a pivotal one that Mr. Clinton has to answer before approving\neven limited steps to begin building a radar station on Shemya\nIsland at the western edge of the Aleutians. The Russians would\nsurely object to the United States and its allies. \n
\n\n Mr. Cohen is now widely expected to make a recommendation to Mr. \nClinton in a few weeks on how to proceed. But the officials said\nthe legal questions could delay a decision to move ahead further. \n
\n\n The division is so sharp that Mr. Clinton may be forced to\nchoose among conflicting advice, if he decides to move ahead at\nall. \n
\n\n \n\n\n "This is really squishy business," a senior military officer\nsaid. "Smart lawyers can disagree." \n
\n\n Under the Pentagon timetable, the first contracts for the Alaska\nradar work, as well as a site for the missile interceptors, would\nhave to be awarded this year so that work can begin next spring\nand a working system can be in place within the administration\'s\ngoal of 2005. \n
\n\n Intelligence officials have warned that the United States could\nface a threat from some countries, including North Korea, by then.\nThere is universal agreement that building the radar site would\namount to a treaty violation. The administration had hoped to\nnegotiate amendments with the Russians that would permit the\nlimited system now being developed, but Moscow has refused. \n
\n\n Officials had previously said Mr. Clinton would decide this\nsummer on deploying a system. But with the Russians objecting and\neven the allies expressing concern, the officials have signaled\nthat Mr. Clinton simply planned to decide whether to move ahead\nwith an initial development. He would leave a final decision to\ndeploy -- and break the treaty -- to the next administration,\nwhether that of the Democratic nominee, Al Gore, or the\nRepublican, George W. Bush, who has advocated a much more\nencompassing system. \n
\n\n That is why the legal interpretations have become so important,\nbecause each interpretation sets a different moment when Mr.\nClinton must, as the treaty requires, give the Russians six\nmonths\' notice of American intent to withdraw from the antimissile\nrestrictions. \n
\n\n \n\n\nAt the White House request, State Department and Pentagon lawyers \nhave drafted the three interpretations of the treaty that, in their\nview, would let some work begin without breaking the treaty. \n
\n\n In his appearance before the Armed Services Committee on July 25\nand at a news conference the next day, Mr. Cohen said that the\nadministration\'s lawyers had reached a consensus that the United\nStates would not violate the treaty until workers had laid rails\nto support the Shemya radar, a move scheduled for 2002. \n
\n\n Mr. Cohen emphasized that Mr. Clinton had not yet made a\ndecision. But at the news conference he added, "There is a\nconsensus that until such time as the construction is under way\nthat would lay the rail, so to speak, for the actual radar being \ndeployed there, that would not constitute a breach." \n
\n\n Defense and administration officials said Mr. Cohen, the lone\nRepublican in the cabinet was expressing his support for the most\nliberal interpretation of the treaty. That view, the officials\nsaid, is being challenged by senior aides to Secretary of State \nMadeleine K. Albright, including the under secretary of state for\narms control, John D. Holum, who is the chief arms control\nnegotiator. \n
\n\n "You have to have an aggressive interpretation of the treaty to\nargue that the rails are the point at which you would be in\nviolation," a senior administration official said. \n\n
\n \n\n\n All the lawyers\' interpretations would overturn a legal\nunderstanding dating from the Reagan administration that even the\nmost minimal steps to build parts of a missile defense, including\npouring concrete, would breach the treaty. For years in the 80\'s,\nReagan aides insisted that a half-built radar station near\nKrasnoyarsk in Siberia violated the treaty and eventually forced\nthe Russians to halt work there. \n
\n\n The second interpretation holds that the United States would be\nin violation at the point workers begin pouring concrete, which\nis scheduled to begin in May. Given the fact that the treaty\nrequires either the United States or the Russians to give six \nmonths\' notice of an intent to build, Mr. Clinton would have to\nthen notify the Russians by December, just as his second term\nends. \n
\n\n Officials have said Mr. Clinton is loath to be the president who\nbrings an end to the ABM Treaty, which has been strongly\nsupported by arms control advocates since it was negotiated in the\nNixon administration. \n
\n\n The third interpretation argues that a violation would not occur\nuntil the concrete foundation for the radar site is complete.\nThat is expected later next year or even in 2002, depending on\nweather and other potential delays. That would leave the decision\non breaking the treaty to the next president. \n
\n\n The senior administration official said the question was proving\nespecially difficult, because the treaty does not specify what\nexactly would amount to a violation. "There is some room for\nlegal interpretation," the official said. "But I think it\'s fair \nto say that not all of the options are equally defensible." \n
\n\n Opponents of the proposal said moving ahead -- while arguing that \nthe first steps toward a missile defense would not be a violation\n-- would amount to a diplomatic disaster. \n
\n\n The Pentagon schedule has increasingly been called into question \nbecause of test failures and delays in building a booster rocket\nfor the missile interceptors. "If the technology isn\'t there, you\ndon\'t have much of a choice," one official said. "If you can \nforesee that the system won\'t be ready until 2006 or 2007, why\nwould you push it now?"
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Systems Training Program/STP
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The first I heard of STP was in August 1955, when I got orders to go TDY to the STP Indoctrination Laboratory, 1905 Armacoat Ave, Santa Monica, CA, for 51 days. There were four of us on the orders: 2/Lt James A. Powers, A/3c Samuel C. Barnes, A/3c Richard G. Fulkerson, and me, A/3c Brian A. Coy. Lt Powers was a 1741 and the rest of us were all 27330’s, just 2 months out of Keesler. We were stationed at the 792nd ACWRON, North Charleston, SC, and we had just gone operational. Our Ops Officer, Capt Collins, did us a favor by sending guys from the LA area, so we could get home for a while.
\n\nAt the STP Lab we were part of a group of radar personnel of varying grades and proficiencies, from all over the US. We were split into 2 crews, and we worked a four-hour shift, one day in the morning and the next day in the afternoon. Our job was to run a simulated Direction Center for testing and refining the STP problems being developed there. Each shift consisted of a 1-hour briefing, a 2-hour STP exercise, followed by a 1-hour debriefing. The briefing/debriefing was guided and monitored by STP personnel.
\n\nThe idea behind STP was to train radar personnel in combat situations but in a controlled environment, so that errors and problems could be discussed and analyzed. The exercises could be run for a single site, a sector, a division or nationwide.
\n\nEach exercise package consisted of a roll of 70mm film and scripts for each 5 or 10 minutes of the exercise. Radar maintenance had a piece of equipment called the T-2 which read the film and projected the aircraft tracks onto the scopes. In normal operation we kept one scope on live radar for surveillance during an exercise, and the other scopes received the STP traffic. The presentation was very realistic, with blips appearing at the appropriate range and altitude, following the flight characteristics of whatever Russian aircraft they were supposed to represent. They would dispense chaff or emit electronic interference, change course and altitude, and be headed for a specific target. There was another piece of equipment in maintenance called a 15-J-1C. This was the interceptor simulator. The weapons controller could scramble a sortie, communicating with the 15-J-1C operator acting as flight commander. The 15-J-1C could be set to simulate the interceptors currently available, and the simulated flight would perform as an F-86, F-100, etc. It would have the performance characteristics, fuel capacity and consumption and weapons load as appropriate. The simulated interceptor track appeared on the scopes along with the STP traffic. When the weapons controller signaled an intercept we used a thing that looked like a Bingo board to determine if a kill had been made. After each exercise we had a local debriefing, and for multi-site exercises there would be a phone debriefing between the sites, on up the chain.
\n\nThe STP exercises were designed for each specific site, and reflected the local terrain and conditions. All the exercises were designed to interlock with adjacent sites, so that cross-telling, hand-offs and lateral telling could be practiced. The key to an effective multi-site exercise was the starting count-down. The films at all participating sites had to be started simultaneously. There were many exercises, with varying degrees of intensity, so that a training program could be designed to have a progression from easy to difficult. The coordination of the exercises fell on the training personnel at the highest level involved. This was usually done by means of a Frag Order spelling out the exercise number, starting date/time, and rules of engagement.
\n\nI do not know if the STP program was extended to SAGE, but I do know that STP was still being used in the manual radar environment in August 1975, when I left King Salmon.
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The Ground Observer Corps Post 43-B, Swanville, ME
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contributed by John Clements\n
\nWritten by Charles M. Clements, CO in the last entry of the last log book of the post.\n
\n\nIn 1941 the war department knew that we were likely to have an air attack by Germany on our Eastern coast and decide some form of defense against this must be had. Already Great Britain had an Air Warning Service system in use against the air blitz that was working out very good. After a study of it was made by members of the American Air Force, the War Dept. decide to try out something over here along the same lines as was being used in England.\n
\nThe American Legion Posts were asked to try and set up observation posts along the coast from Maine to Florida and to cover the entire area back from the coast for about 400 miles. The posts were to be 6 miles apart or as near as could be due to telephone lines and roads to travel to and from them. Each post was to have a chief observer, two assistant chief observers, and as many observers as he or she needed or could get so the post could be manned on a continuous 24 hour basis if need be.\n
\nOne day during the last of June or the first of July 1941, Mr. Aubrey Ramsdell, Commander of the Frank Hazeltine Post of Belfast and Past Commander Mr. Lloyd Watson came to me and said, "Charles, we have a job for you." and I said , " Is that so, what kind of job is it?" Well, they told me the best they could about the A.W.S. (and to be frank it was very little) and asked me if I would try to set up an observation post and act as the chief observer. I said I would do the best I could. At that time the War Dept. planned to conduct a test of from 24 to 72 hours duration during the last week of August or the first week of Sept. to determine if civilians could do it if ever we were in need of A.W.S.\n
\nA.D. Moody consented to be my 1st Asst. and Margaret Clements my 2nd Asst. and16 men and women from town agreed to act as observers.\n
\nA short time later Mr. Ramsdell and Mr. Watson gave a demonstration of the workings of the A.W.S.at Comet Grange hall but it was pretty crude and I don’t think we came away with much more knowledge but we at least had a good time. As this was to be only a test, I suggested that we use my garage as an observation post and so it was to be.\n
\nWell the time came for the test and it didn’t take place due to the fact that many of the posts had not been set up due to many unlooked for difficulties. We went along until the next Spring and by that time a lot of us had forgotten all about it or thought maybe it had been given up. I knew better as I was getting mail from the War Dept. and knew some posts went on duty the day after Pearl Harbor.\n
\nIn the early Spring of 1942, both my assts. resigned due to ill health and R.S. Taylor and Ralph Robertson became my new ones.\n
\nOn May 12th,1942, I rec’d a letter from the War Dept. ordering my post to go into operation on a 24 hour basis beginning at 6a.m. the next morning. I made the rounds and called the two assts. and the observers to meet at my house. The inside furnishings that evening to work out a schedule for manning the post. I took it days from 6a.m. to 6pm. doing it along with my work in the garage. From 6p.m. to 6a.m. we had two observers on duty at a time on four hour watches.\n
\nWe went on as per order at 6a.m. May 13th 1942 and I took the first watch. Up to this time my post was known as 43-B but from now on the code was "Gimbel-2-3" pronounced "Gimbel - two three ".\n
\nWe used the garage for a little over a week for a post, but knew we must have a building to be used as a post only. Thomas Nickerson gave us a camp he had left in W. T. Beal’s pasture. Russell Littlefield came over June 2nd and a few of us went with him and he hauled the camp to the permanent location near the garage. We then had a bee among the observers and made the needed repairs. The inside furnishings were donated by various observers and town’s people. A telephone was installed and we moved in. My original no. of 16 observers didn’t prove to be enough so I expanded it to 36. In a short time, both Mr. Taylor and Mr. Robertson moved away and my next assts. were W.T.Beal and Herbert L. Small who continued to be such to the end.\n
\nWe also revised our schedule of watches to 6 to 8 a.m., 8 to 11 a.m.,11a.m. to 1p.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., 4 p.m. to 7p.m. and 7p.m. to10p.m.,one observer being on duty during these hours. 10p.m. to 6a.m. was done in one shift but two observers were on at one time.\n
\nMr. Lloyd Watson had been appointed district director for this district and he began to make regular inspections of the post. Our filter center was Bangor, Maine. About this time everyone was required to have an identification card. The chief observer filled them out, got the observer to sign his name on them and place a thumb print on the back. The cards were sent first to Boston and later to Bangor for the stamp of the U.S. Air Forces, after which they were returned to the chief observer who gave them out. Next we were all given arm bands to be worn on the left arm while on duty.\n
\nBeginning in the Fall of 1942, the post began to receive regular inspections by Army men. The first to come was S/Sgt. Fred Schammell, the next was S/Sgt. Wm. Clark, and the last one was S/Sgt. Edward Mantell.\n
\nDuring the first part of 1943 the Army decided we must try and add plane identification in reporting the flights, so I received a request to appoint a recognition officer. Margaret Clements accepted this job. It was planned that recognition schools of one weeks duration be held in Bangor during April and May, all expenses paid by the Army. Margaret planned to go the last week in April but due to a lack of the required number to conduct the school, it wasn’t held and the result being that we didn’t have a recognition expert at our post. I got a supply of recognition material during the summer and each member who was interested was given a manual to study. The result was that most of the grown-ups didn’t get far but the school age kids got so they could tell most of them in a very short time.\n
\nThe winter of 1942-43 was one of the coldest we ever had. There were very few nights that the thermometer didn’t register between zero and twenty below but the post was manned just the same. We burned over four cords of wood that winter.\n
\nDuring the month of June, 1943, it was announced that pins would be given each observer, the chief and his assts. Also a merit badge given to each who had served 500 hours or more. I sent my list of names in the first of July and the pins came the first week of Aug.\n
\nBesides a chief observer pin, I rec’d a merit medal with a 3000 hr. baron it. My boys, John and Nicholas rec’d one each with a 500 hr. bar.\n
\nOn the evening of Aug. 10th,Capt. Wollenburg and S’Sgt Clark came to Comet Grange hall and each gave a talk on the A.W.S. after which they showed motion pictures of the workings of the A.W.S. from the time we sent in the "Army Flash" to the time our fighter planes went out to meet the enemy.\n
\nThey also showed a captured German film showing the German invasion of France and the low countries. It was a very good show and we all came away with a much better knowledge of the part we were playing, and how it would help if we were ever attacked by the enemy by air.\n
\nOn July 17th 1943, the code was changed from Gimbel-2-3 to X.R.A.Y.-461 [xray four six one] and so remained until the end.\n
\nOn Oct. 4th, 1943, the post went off from a 24 hr. basis at 11p.m. and from then until May 29th, 1944 the post was manned each Wed. from 1 to 5p.m.. On May 29th, 1944 the War Dept. ordered all posts discontinued and thus the A.W.S. passed into history.\n
\nOur post was never a very busy one and many a night went by without a single plane being reported. The observers spent their time on duty many ways such as making baskets, writing letters, reading, sewing, knitting, doing crossword puzzles, and making model airplanes. One of the most interesting things was the "‘Alaskan Thermometer" that Duane Whitten , the game warden concocted one night during the winter of 1942-43.It was made from a piece of stove pipe wire, a stick of firewood, some tire tape, and two strips of birch bark, and was without a doubt the last word in workmanship and design. There was the morning that I relieved Carl Blake and Elmer Moore and soon after going on duty I discovered the clock to be missing although I could hear it ticking. The sound seemed to come from every where so I began to hunt for the clock. After a few minutes I found Carl had hung it behind the bulletin board by a string. I removed the clock and found he had set the alarm in half an hour. Another night, Herbert Small and Stanley Webster were on watch together and Herbert took his turn at sleeping first. After he got to sleep, Stanley built a roaring fire in the stove, closed up the door and windows and went out doors and waited. In due time Herbert came out looking like he had fallen into a pond. They both told me they couldn’t stay in the post for over an hour as it had gotten so hot inside. After that Stanley never slept even though he could, if he and Herbert were on together. Wouldn’t Herbert just loved to have gotten the chance to pay him back.\n
\nAnother time Margaret Nickerson and Bess the police dog who used to come with her, started out and Bess killed a skunk on the way. She had to do her watch out of doors that night.\n
\nThere were other incidents too numerous to mention, so there was a little fun in being an observer at times.\n
\nIn closing, I wish to thank everyone who served on the post, and I am glad we didn’t have to report an enemy plane. If they had sent one over , as soon as he had hit the coast, the flash calls of One, Unknown, High, Seen, XRAY-461-,North, 1 Mile West, and so on from other posts would have meant the end of that plane in short order. If our being on the job helped the enemy refrain from sending planes, it was well worth the time and effort spent.\n
C.M.Clements
\n Co.X.R.A.Y.\n
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AEW&C Orbit Locations - 1977
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| Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Orbit Locations, 1977\n | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Locations | \n|||
| AEW # | \nLatitude (N) | \nLongitude (W) | \nReported To | \n
| AEW-1 | \n50.0000 | \n136.0000 | \n25 AD/NR (RCC-12) | \n
| AEW-3 | \n45.4167 | \n132.4167 | \n25 AD/NR (RCC-12) | \n
| AEW-5 | \n40.5000 | \n131.4167 | \n26 AD/NR (RCC-21) | \n
| AEW-7 | \n35.8333 | \n130.0000 | \n26 AD/NR (RCC-21) | \n
| AEW-9 | \n31.8333 | \n125.8333 | \n26 AD/NR (RCC-21) | \n
| AEW-11 | \n48.0000 | \n130.0000 | \n25 AD/NR (RCC-12) | \n
| AEW-11A | \n45.2500 | \n127.0000 | \n25 AD/NR (RCC-12) | \n
| AEW-13 | \n43.5000 | \n127.0000 | \n25 AD/NR (RCC-12) | \n
| AEW-15 | \n39.2500 | \n126.7500 | \n26 AD/NR (RCC-21) | \n
| AEW-17 | \n36.3333 | \n124.8333 | \n26 AD/NR (RCC-21) | \n
| AEW-19 | \n34.4167 | \n123.4167 | \n26 AD/NR (RCC-21) | \n
| AEW-19A | \n33.2500 | \n122.7500 | \n26 AD/NR (RCC-21) | \n
| \n | |||
| Atlantic Locations | \n|||
| AEW-50 | \n24.1667 | \n081.5833 | \n20 AD/NR (RCC-4) | \n
| AEW-52 | \n24.0000 | \n079.0000 | \n20 AD/NR (RCC-4) | \n
| AEW-72 | \n40.7500 | \n062.5833 | \n21 AD/NR (RCC-3) | \n
| AEW-74 | \n37.0833 | \n065.9167 | \n21 AD/NR (RCC-3) | \n
| AEW-76 | \n34.2500 | \n069.3333 | \n20 AD/NR (RCC-4) | \n
| AEW-78 | \n31.1667 | \n072.7500 | \n20 AD/NR (RCC-4) | \n
| AEW-92 | \n42.0833 | \n067.6667 | \n21 AD/NR (RCC-3) | \n
| AEW-94 | \n39.2500 | \n070.5000 | \n21 AD/NR (RCC-3) | \n
| AEW-96 | \n36.7500 | \n073.8333 | \n20 AD/NR (RCC-4) | \n
| AEW-98 | \n32.7500 | \n076.5000 | \n20 AD/NR (RCC-4) | \n
Source: DoD NORAD Command Control Planning Charts, 1977
\n\n\nALASKAN CHAIN
\nContributed by James E. Bollinger, SSgt, 353CTS/QAE\n
The Alaskan radar network consists of eighteen Long-Range Radar Sites (LRRS). These radars provide surveillance information to the Alaskan NORAD Region (A-NR) at Elmendorf, which can forward the data to HQ NORAD and to the SOCC in Canada, The FAA also has access to the data at their ARTCC at Anchorage under the Joint Surveillance System (JSS) program.
\nThe seventeen Air Force owned LRR-S, which are located throughout the state, have the AN/AN/FPS-117 Minimally Attended Radar (MAR), These radars provide range, azimuth, and elevation data via satellite to the ROCC at Elmendorf AFB, AK. Installed in the early eighties, thirteen of these AN/AN/FPS-117’s were purchased under the Seek Igloo program to replace older radars, which were becoming unsupportable. The other four systems were bought under the North Warning System (NWS) program. The eighteenth radar is owned and operated by the FAA. This radar is an Air Route Surveillance Radar (APSR-3) located at Kenai. It provides range and azimuth information to the ARTCC and to the ROCC.
\nContractors perform the maintenance for sixteen of the AN/FPS-117’s with contract oversight accomplished by USAF Quality Assurance Evaluators (QAE). The maintenance contract calls for two levels of in-theater maintenance. The level one technicians are skilled radar technicians who perform routine maintenance at the site. The level two technicians are highly skilled technicians who perform the more complex maintenance tasks. The level two technicians work at the Maintenance Control System (MCS) at Elmendorf and travel to the sites for quarterly PMI’s or when necessary. The FAA maintains the AN/FPS-117 at Murphy Dome.
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As with most other air defense programs, the Alaska Chain system is currently in the process of being upgraded. The ROMS and RAMMS upgrades being performed on the North Warning System, are also being done on the Alaska Chain equipment, and an additional three FPS-124 UARs are being installed as gap filler radars at Wainwright, Lonely and Bullen Point.
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SAGE System Map - c. 1958
\nNOTE: This map shows what was, at the time, the \'PLANNED\' Semi-Automatic Ground\nEnvironment (SAGE) System. A number of SAGE Direction Centers, Control Centers,\nand Gap-Filler Radar Sites shown on the map were never deployed, mostly due to\nbudgetary limitations.
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Findings of Fact, Site Location, and Information on\n Ellsworth Gap Filler P47A, based on information provided\n by US Army Corps of Engineers Formerly Used Defense\n Site (FUDS) document B07KS0195 of 1985 & 1996\n
\nSite Location
\nNorth 180 ft of the West 140 ft of the NE ¼ of Section 15, TWNSHP 14S, R8W, Ellsworth County, KS\nSE of where state highway 14 intersects with I-70, app 8 miles north of Ellsworth\n\nSite History
\nBuilt by the Air Force in 1956. Declared excess in 1962, and transferred back to original owners..\n\n\nFindings of Fact
\nThe concrete building was still extant when the report was released in 1996, and was used by the current owners for the storage of farm equipment.\n\nSite Map
\nA site map depicting site location is enclosed in the FUDS report.\n\n\n\n\n\n...And You Thought The Cold War Was Over...
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