The White Falcon - 03.11.1967, Síða 1

THE WHITE
U. S. NAVAL STATION, KEFLAVIK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ICELAND
Volume VIII, Number 43 Friday, November 3, 1967
Photo by Thomas Taylor, (PHI)
OVERSIZE PACKAGE—An electrical switching unit, too large for
commercial airlines servicing Iceland, and vitally needed for the com-
pletion of a new diatomite plant, is carefully unloaded from the huge
U. S. Air Force C-124 aircraft that delivered it to Keflavik Inter-
national Airport from McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. Navy
Airman M. R. Wagner, of the Naval Station Keflavik’s Operations
Department directs its placement on a truck bed.
USAF Answers Request;
Airlifts Vital Equipment
Housing Shortage Eased
With Opening Of 12 Units
Answering a request from the
Government of Iceland, a U. S.
Air Force C-124 aircraft, airlifted
a vital piece of electrical equip-
ment to Keflavik Airport, Wed-
nesday Oct. 25. The arrival of the
oversize package insures the com-
pletion of a diatom processing
plant, providing new industry for
Iceland.
On Friday, Oct. 20, upon lear-
ning that an electrical switching
unit manufactured in the United
States had been mis-sent to Peru,
the Government of Iceland con-
tacted Commander Iceland Defense
Force, Rear Admiral F. B. Stone,
USN, requesting transportation
assistance.
Although the vital electrical
unit had been returned to New
York, slow surface transportation
would have delayed the opening of
the new Diatomite plant, and com-
mercical airlines servicing the
country could not handle the 3,000
pound, 9 by 6 by 5 foot piece of
equipment.
Less than 100 hours after the
initial request the huge C-124 air-
craft with the equipment aboard,
departed McGuire Air Force Base,
New Jersey, for Keflavik Inter-
Santa Arrives
10 a.m. Tomorrow
At Toy Land
national Airport, Iceland. Upon
arrival at Keflavik Wednesday
morning, the equipment was ac-
cepted by Mr. Gudm. Magnusson
of the Government of Iceland
Purchasing Department from
Lieutenant E. J. Knapp, Supply
Corps, USN, a member of the Ice-
land Defense Force Commander’s
staff.
The electrical switching unit
was truck transported the re-
maining 200 air miles northeast
of Keflavik to the new silicon
plant at Myvatn “Gnat Lake”,
near Husavik. Installation of the
unit was made Thursday, and the
new plant opened Tuesday Oct. 31.
Admiral Frank B. Stone, Com-
mander of the Iceland Defense
Force announced this week that
three Icelandic members of the
Iceland/United States Defense
Council would depart Keflavik for
a one-week visit to NATO and
U. S. Defense installations in the
United States.
Mr. Thomas Tomasson, Director
of Defense Division of the Iceland
Ministry of Foreign Affairs was
accompanied on the trip by Mr.
Hallgrimur Dalberg and Mr. Hosk-
uldur Olafsson.
As guests of the U. S. Depart-
A happy day for twelve famili-
es arrived Oct. 25 when twelve
new units of the base housing was
opened for their occupancy. The
units consisted of four, four bed-
room apartments and eight, three
New Rockville
Console Designed
By Local NCOs
The 932nd AC&W Squadron’s
Communication and Electronics
section dedicated a new mainten-
ance control console on Friday,
Oct. 20.
The 5' by 8' console was desig-
ned and built entirely by Techni-
cal Sergeants George Keith and
Dale Quackenbush of the 932nd
Maintenance and Repair section.
Using available plywood and spe-
cially ordered plexiglass, the two
NCO’s worked on the console in
addition to their regular assigned
duties and still completed it 10
days before the target date of
Oct. 30.
The new console, required by
Air Force Manual 66-1, is desig-
ned to provide quick and easy ac-
cess to the status of all Rockville’s
communication — Electronic
equipment.
All the charts on the console are
covered by quarter-inch plexi-
glass, which allows the control
technician to make immediate
status changes with “grease pen-
cils.”
The console is manned 24 hours
a day and serves as the focal point
for all C&E maintenance. All
equipment malfunctions are re-
ported to the technician manning
the console, who in turn is respon-
sible for coordinating with the
(Continued on Page 3.)
ment of Defense, the trio will be
given orientation at the Head-
quarters of the Supreme Allied
Commander, Atlantic, in Norfolk,
Virginia; the Cape Kennedy
Space Center at Cape Kennedy,
Florida; and various Governmen-
tal and Defense Agencies in Was-
hington, D. C.
Transportation for the group
was provided by a U. S. Navy air-
craft from the Iceland Defense
Force Command. They are expec-
ted to return to Iceland on Mon-
day, Nov. 6.
bedroom apartments.
Being honored as the first to
move into the new dwellings was
Chief Petty Officer and Mrs. J. M.
Brown. In an informal ceremony
Brown was handed the keys to his
new quarters by Naval Station
Commanding Officer Captain
Ralph Hart who in turn had re-
ceived the keys from the Naval
Station’s Chief Resident Officer
in Charge Commander Joseph La
Polla.
This initial opening paved the
way for an eventual total of 18
four bedroom and 132 three bed-
room apartments for Naval Station
families. Of this total the majority
will be for the enlisted man who
has long suffered with the Naval
Station Keflavik housing short-
age. A total of 123 three bed-
room and 12 four bedroom houses
are scheduled for occupancy by en-
listed families. Twelve three bed-
room and six four bedroom dwel-
lings are slated for Officers.
Fifty-eight more families may
have a merrier Christmas as it
is anticipated that this number will
be ready prior to the yule tide
season. Those families not getting
in by Christmas won’t have long
to wait however, as it is expected
that the remainder of the 150
homes will be open by April.
Construction on the 150 new
homes began in May and by June
work was really underway with
laying of foundations and instal-
lation of sewer and water lines.
To ensure that these lines would
lie straight it was necessary to
drill and blast through solid rock.
During the summer months it be-
came a common occurance for re-
sidents of the NATO base to hear
a blast of dynamite being set off.
By the last part of June it be-
came evident that construction of
the 150 pre-fabricated homes was
in full swing, as the family unit
containers lined both sides of the
old taxiway that passes the Ameri-
can Express Bank. The units ar-
rived from the States by ships
which were off-loaded at Hafnar-
fjordur and trucked to the Sta-
tion.
Before Congress now are plans
for an additional 140 family units
for the Station and if approved
construction could start next
spring.
Service
The three Wives Clubs will
sponsor free gift wrapping at the
Main Exchange for unaccompanied
Military Personnel from Nov. 6
through the 10 during the
hours of 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Plus 4 p.m. to
6 p.m. on Thursday only.
USO Show
Tomorrow
The American Educational
Theatre Association in Associa-
tion with USO presents “Barefoot
in the Park” by Eastern New
Mexico University.
The play will be presen-
ted at Andrews Theater on
Saturday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. The
group will also present a variety
show at the various sites and
clubs in the arear Grindavik 7 p.m.
and Rockville 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 5.
Polar Club 7 p.m. and “O” Club
9 p.m. on Nov. 6, H-3 on Nov. 7,
and CPO Club 7 p.m. and NCO
Club 9 p.m. on Nov. 8.
Photo by Thomas Taylor, (PHI)
THE KEY TO A BETTER LIFE—is being handed to Chief Petty Of-
ficer and Mrs. J. M. Brown by Naval Station Commanding Officer
Captain Ralph Hart. The key handing over represents the opening
of 12 new units in new Base housing and is being handed to the
Browns signifying their being the first occupants to move in.
Three Icelandic Councilmen
Tour NATO-Defense Installations