The White Falcon - 24.09.1960, Page 3

Saturday, September 24, 1960
WHITE FALCON
3
More Than Million for Million Keeps Keflavik
Defense Force Operations Veins Full of Activity
A dark straw-colored fluid—almost 11 million gallons of it a year, costing the Air
Force more than a million dollars—is the lifeblood of Defense Force operations in Iceland.
Diesel fuel of only one grade, the finest quality available, supplies all requirements
<s>---------------------
H2 Members Finding
Time For Recreation
And Being on Guard

for heating, cooking, and hot
water at Keflavik Airport, as well
as some electricity. The same fuel
also furnishes B.T.U.s for such
varied Iceland Defense Force ac-
tivities as the AC&W sites, the
Coast Guard Facility at Sandur,
and Naval vessels docked at
Reykjavik.
The timely delivery of all this
diesel fuel—10,907,171 gallons of
it last fiscal year—is the res-
ponsibility of Maj. Frank W.
Simmons, base fuels supply of-
ficer, whose personnel supervise
the prearranged delivery of the
fuel by the Esso Export Cor-
poration, the Iceland area con-
tractor, wherever needed.
Requirements for fuel are det-
ermined by the Civil Engineer
and other using activities and pas-
sed on to the Fuels Supply Of-
ficer for inclusion in financial
plans, budgets, and, finally, con-
tracts. As one would expect, the
supply and delivery of this vast
quantity of fuel—the equivalent
of 1,090 standard U. S. railroad
tank cars—is a carefully planned
and coordinated operation.
Samples of diesel fuel are taken
every day by petroleum section
men for testing to insure that
only fuel of the highest quality
is delivered.
Diesel fuel last fiscal year cost
the Air Force $1,372,787.90. This
sizable sum, however, covers
Breden OK
To Wear
Insignia
The only known officer author-
ized to wear the missile badge
here is Capt. Ralph E. Breden,
budget officer for Headquarters,
Iceland Defense Force.
Captain Breden was permanent-
ly awarded the badge for being
assigned to the original group of
officers in the infant Ballistic
Missile Division, Inglewood, Calif.,
in April of 1956.
The badge recognizes the pe-
ople who contributed to the sup-
port of the development of the
Ballistic Missile Systems. Cap-
tain Breden was working in the
Comptroller division and worked
on the budgeting for the Atlas,
Thor, Titan and Minuteman. He
was Chief of the Missile division
in the Budget office.
Prior to serving four and one-
half years in the division, Captain
Breden received his Masters de-
gree in Industrial Management
from the Air Force Institute of
Technology in residence while sta-
tioned at Wright-Patterson AFB
in 1954.
Captain Breden will deros in
November back to Inglewood to
work in the Comptroller’s office.
The “charter member” of the
Air Force’s missile program re-
ceived a direct commission in 1951
in the Comptroller field.
While at Keflavik Airport, he
has been directing the Catholic
choir since January of last year.
Mrs. Breden and her two
daughters are residing at 127 Via
Los Altos, Redondo Beach, Calif.,
until the Captain returns home in
November.
only the amount paid for the
fuel. It does not include the cost
of supply tanks, pipe lines,
trucks, and other delivery ex-
penses.
The cost of heat, hot water,
and electricity would be much
higher if the cost of heating equip-
ment were considered. Mainten-
ance and replacement of such
equipment would add further to
the over-all cost.
Civil Engineer Heating Shop
trouble shooters are available 24
hours a day, during good weather
and bad, to take care of emergen-
cies.
Many trouble calls could be
eliminated if the people who
enjoy the conveniences provided
by diesel fuel insured that heat-
ing equipmen tis proeprly utiliz-
ed.
Burning wastepaper in a space
heater instead of putting it in a
trash container is one insatnce of
Gen. Kelly
Ends Visit
(Continued, from Page 1.)
had some thing in common—the
name. Sergeant Kelly is assigned
to the Hospital.
A busy itinerary took the Gene-
ral over Iceland for an air in-
spection of facilities and tourist
view of the island.
General Kelly showed keen in-
terest in the 57th Fighter-Inter-
ceptor Squadron, the only Fighter
squadron in his command. The
57th is primarily responsible for
the defense of the air over Iceland.
In summarizing his visit here,
General Kelly said, “I find a very
effective and efficient organiza-
tion here and the morale high.
I am proud, very proud, to be a
member of this organization and
to be working with you. It is my
theory of command that I am
working for those persons in my
command with all my heart ....
I ask that you keep up the ex-
tremely fine work that you’re do-
ing here in Iceland.”
malfunction of equipment caused
by the neglect—or worse—of the
user. And, turning a heater so
high that it melts the fire bowl is
one way to heat an area quickly,
but the end result of such action
is no heat at all until the equip-
ment can be repaired or replaced.
There have also been instances
where children have put rocks,
paper, and other extraneous ma-
terials in the fill spouts of ser-
vice tanks. Parents can be held
responsible for such actions of
their children, Major Simmons
pointed out.
Maintenance personnel get on
the job promptly to correct prob-
lems but they do not have the
time to try to educate all in the
causes of troubles with heating
equipment.
Common sense care will insure
that these conveniences can be en-
joyed by all and that operating
expenses are limited to cost of
fuel and fair wear and tear of
equipment.
Difficulties with heating equip-
ment should be reported to the
Civil Engineer Trouble Desk, ext.
4100.
Supervisory Exam Test
Moved Up to October
(Continued from Page 1.)
ination due in USAF, Jan. 23,
1961; Central Selection meeting,
Feb. 6, 1961; selections from nom-
inations dispatched, Feb. 20, 1961
and promotion date, March 11,
1961.
No exact quotas are known now,
but the Air Force has 2,000 E-9
and 4,600 E-8 spaces programmed
for FY ‘61. E-9s will have a 1 in
3.6 chance and E-8, 1 in 9.4.
While the shift in promotion
date will delay chevron changes
for those who have been promoted
under the old December-June
cycle, Headquarters personnel of-
ficials point out that an estimated
two-thirds of those to be promoted
will get their new stripes three
months earlier.
By TSgt. Wylie Mason
They play golf just 12 miles
bottom-side the Arctic Circle, or if
they prefer, these men saddle up
a horse from their own riding
stable and canter off across the
tundra.
At other times they may prefer
to gather around in their ham
radio shack and listen to some
operator sitting on the other side
of the world telling them about
his experiences there.
Then to round out their day,
they may elect to see a movie,
shoot pool, paint, complete a leath-
er etching project, or just sit and
read while listening to their own
tiny radio station.
These are the men of the 667th
AC&W Sq who make their home
high atop a mountain peak on the
northeast tip of Iceland.
Under the capable command of
Maj. Paul E. Coke, and MSgt.
Lynn H. Ditmon, foreman of the
small spread, the mission of these
men is keeping a 24-hour vigil-
ance over the skies of the North
Atlantic to assure America there
will be no sneak aerial attacks
from that quarter.
Day and night, select members
of the team, supervised by TSgts.
Joe Boudreaux and Aubrey Berg,
sit before their radar scopes ever
alert to any unidentified blip
which may appear on their screen.
Should this occur, other men are
poised and ready to plot the course
of these objects and to alert de-
fense units throughout the allied
defense system.
It’s Team Effort
And though this “sentinel”
force performs the primary mis-
sion of the tiny little station near
Langanes, Iceland, a host of men
from other walks of life are
necessary for the successful con-
tinuation of the mission.
Working in direct support, and
immediate proximity, of the men
who man the scopes are the main-
tenance people who keep the equip-
ment in tip-top operating condi-
tion. This function falls under
the directorship of SMSgt. Ray
Thomas of the Communications
Electronics branch.
Tropospheric Scatter, (TROPO)
which delivers and receives the
signals through two huge, saucer-
shaped antennaes, is charged to
SSgt. Arthur Jones and his crew
of electronics specialists.
Power Important
But none of this could operate
without a power supply and H-2,
the popular designation of the
site, is the proud possessor of one
of the neatest and most capable
power plants in this part of the
world. The huge motors which
work day and night to provide the
electricity are painted bright
grey with red trim and not a
speck of oil leaks out to mar their
cleanliness. They purr quietly
throughout the long days and
nights, adding their important bit
to the overall picture. This opera-
tion is supervised by SSgt. Clifton
Eubanks. Working in conjunction
with Eubanks and in the same
shop is A1C Lawrence Farrell
who takes care of the heating
plant for the installation.
A clean, modern dining hall is
open 24 hours daily to provide
ample and select food to the men
working at the site. This import-
ant function is directed by TSgt.
Lupe Rosales.
Behind the Scenes
Then playing a back-up role for
the primary mission is supply
with SSgt. Frederico Manzanares
in charge and the Motor Pool with
its rolling stock, including the
site’s own road maintenance equip-
ment, is supervised by SSgt. Ro-
bert Melvin.
The mail room, one of the most
popular places on the site when
the mail comes in, is operated by
A2C Harry Simmons.
And Fun, To
Their hobbies and recreation
activities are many and varied.
In addition to their golf course,
riding stable, and radio station,
many of the men have turned to
photo making and printing, writ-
ing, art, and body-building exer-
cises.
Special Services, with its own
library, is under the direction of
SSgt. Ken Ramsdale. He is also
“keeper of the stable.”
SSgt. Bob Kanneg conducts reg-
ular classes in physical education
and this is proving to be one of
the favorite pastimes of the men
who live at H-2.
The clean, pleasant condition of
the barracks rooms spells out the
high morale factor of the site.
During a two-day visit to H-2,
this writer talked to the majority
of the men and heard not a single
complaint.
One airman summed it up in a
very few words by stating, “If I
had this kind of duty and quart-
ers like these, I’d stay in the Air
Force for 30 years.”
Salvation Army Drive
Supported by KA Airmen
Representatives of the Salva-
tion Army, Reykjavik headquart-
ers, came to Keflavik Internation-
al Airport last Sept. 15, took up
stations at the dining halls to
receive donations for the support
of their work in Iceland.
Military personnel of Keflavik
Airport acted as escorts for the
seven Salvation Army men and
women during the noon lunch
hour while the donations were
being made in observance of their
“Flower Day.”
At the conclusion of the lunch
hour donation period members of
the Staff Chaplain’s section tal-
lied the donations. They exchanged
all Military Payment Certificates
for Kronur, turning over a total
of 4200 Kronur to the Reykjavik
Post of The Salvation Army, who
expressed appreciation for this as-
sistance.
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Mark W.
Gress, Headquarters Air Forces
Iceland and Iceland Defense Force
Staff Chaplain in reply to their
expression of gratitude stated
that our United States Military
and Civilian personnel took pride
in supporting the humanitarian
work carried on by the Salvation
Army on a world-wide scale.
ICELANDIC NEWSMEN—Newsmen from Icelandic newspapers took
a busman’s tour of the Office of Information’s facilities. They showed
keen interest in the television and radio section of the office. Sigurdur
Jonsson, AFRTS station engineer, is pointing out the refinements of
a modern television camera to (left to right) Teitur O. Albertsson,
assistant station engineer; Haukur Hauksson of the Timinn; SSgt.
Fred Schiele, USAF Television station manager; Vignir Gudmundsson
of the Morgunbladid; Arni Gunnarsson of Althydubladid and Gud-
mundur Carlsson of Visir. The Journalists visited H-l, the power
conversion plant and the Gym.