People

We were kids. Kids in charge of a system that was critical to the operation of the Atlantic Missile Range. The Air Force contract with GE was to provide two independent sites for Range Safety. Our Mission at SanSal was to provide the redundant missile tracking and Impact Prediction for the Air Force and Manned Space Programs.

With the Space Programs on the line, we “got the message” that if we failed, so did the Programs. We were all more or less tuned up to this; all of us knew that we were doing an important job. Some of us were specifically impressed by the Management about the seriousness with what we were charged.

At any time from 1958 through 1961 there would be about 35 GE people that lived on SanSal. Other “Cape-Types”, were cycled to and from the Island. The site manager, Jim Peeples, and his staff were Cape-Types. However, with Jim, it was special. He was the third GE Site Manager in the 3 years of its existence. Most of us remember him as “The best boss I ever had.”

Jim instituted work rules that demanded daily performance to standards of operation. After the system checks were performed and preventative maintenance was finished, we were free to leave the site and enjoy the sun, beach and ocean. He was quick to respond in “situations”, but never pushed an agenda or meddle in what we were doing. He asked the right questions and gave us the support to solve our own problems; he provided help when needed. And, for a job well done, he was free and honest in congratulations or a pat on the back.

We have attempted to reconstruct the “Organization Chart”. Our collective memories do not recall ever seeing one, but we have managed to come up with this one. Errors or omissions will be corrected.

Organization Chart, MOD I/System 4
Guided Missile Control Facility #2
Atlantic Missile Range Station #5

General Electric Defense Systems Department
Heavy Military Electronics Engineering Division
San Salvador, Bahamas, circa 1960

Management, Cape-Based

    Jim Peeples; Site Supervisor
    Darrel Hartung; Staff Engineering Manager
    John Hostetter; Staff Engineering Manager
    Jim Ellington; Staff
    Stevie (Wonder) Ford Hankal Wilt; Administrative Assistant to the Management and Current-Day RangeRat-finding Hero
     

SanSal-Based

    GE Site Administration, Cryptographer, OT Operator, Activities Chairman and Spiritual Guidance Counselor

    Data Analysis and Mission Evaluation

      Phil Green (reports to Jim Peeples and Cape-Type staff)

    Supply

      Paul Detomo; Supervisor (Cape-Type)
      Jim Rich, Jerry Patterson

    Systems

      Howard Hupe; Systems Supervisor (Voice of SanSal)
      Dave Mason; Systems Tech
      Alex Lawrie, Ev Hower; Test Equipment Repair and Calibration
      Chris Fryer, Dan Poppell; Shop

    Track

      Larry Brunetti; Engineering Lead
      Bob Hankal; Track Tech and lead operator
      Dick Maplesden, Arleigh Black, Lowell Busching; Track Techs

    Rate

      Gil Lujan; Engineering Lead
      Don Call, Jim Caviston, Harry Psomas, Paul Goldberg, Tom Newton; Rate Techs

    Flight Data

      Charlie Ryan; Engineering Lead
      Tom Grigalunas, Joe Wisneski, Bill Diesch, Fred Gould; Flight Data Techs

    Data/Record/Exercise (Simulator): two trailers

      Art Rackow; Engineering Lead, Overall
      Ken O’Keefe; Engineering Lead, Simulator
      Sid Balikian, Cal Beaver, Jesse Fivecoate; Data/Record/Sim Techs