There is no such thing as a "cold war" to officers and airmen of the 638th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron at Curlew Air Force Base, Wash. Every day Since early March of 1951 has been another day of the "hot var" to squadron personnel and to their ` Air Defense Command comrades elsewhere On constant radar guard around the United States.

Although the 638th has been operating near Curlew for nearly three years, little or no publicity has been given to its presence there or to its mission. The unit is one of five such organizations of the 4702d Air Defense Wings which Col. Andrew J. Reynolds commands at Geiger Field in Spokane.

Part of the "radar net" guarding the United States from airborne attackers, the 638th is one of many such squadrons "providing radar surveillance of the geographical area in which it is located."

Men who watch radar scopes in the huddle of buildings atop a mountain peak some eight miles from Curlew AFB might well be the first to detect a force of invading enemy bombers from the north country. Their job is to provide an early warning for F-86D fighter-interceptor sguadrons at Geiger and at Larson Air Force Base at Moses Lake, Wash.

The air base at Curlew is a self-styled little community, built there by the Air Force at a cost of more than $11,000,000. Prototypes under 4702d Wing Command are the 760th at Colville, Wash; the 637th at Othello, Wash; the 636th at Condon, Oregon, and the 680th at Yaaks, Mont. A complex telephone, microwave and radio communications network links tham to other stations in the northwest. Headquarters for the wing and its squadrons are the 25th Air Division of McChord Air Force Base at Tacoma.

Unidentified aircraft which are picked op frequently on Curlew radar screens result in "scrambles" of F-86Ds from Geiger and Larson. Usually the "unknowns" are commercial or private planes which have strayed off appointed air lanes - but the scrambles are nonetheless made. Geiger pilots make on average of two scramble missions each day, and on every occasion their planes are armed to the teeth with death-dealing 2.75 inch rockets capable of downing anything that flies.

Men at Curlew enjoy good food and new quarters--one of the compensations of isolated service in the region Just below the Canadian border near Curlew.

Striking centerpiece is the 638th squadron`s war room is the huge plexiglass plotting board, on which the tracks of area aircraft are carefully laid out.

In the shadow of the installation`s rubber "radome" are Capt. Henry W. Hondek (left) operations officer , and Capt. Waite L. Hanford, 638th squadron boss.

SQUADRON COMMANDERS of the 4702d wing`s AC/W units are (rear left to right) Maj. J.A. Reding, 680th; Maj. J. Egginton, 760th; and Capt. L.K. Soverin 636th. Seated are Cat. Hanford (L) 638th: and Maj. E.C. Hudgens.

AIRCRAFT TRACKING: Aircraft tracking is done from rear side of the plexiglass plotter oval by A/1c John B. O`Connor.

COMMANDERS of F-86-D jet squadrons under the 4702d air defense wing at Geiger are left to right: Lt. Col. J.H. Thorne, 31st; Maj. Roy L. Tweedle, 440th; and Lt. Col. Squire T. O`Connor, 44th. All three units have fast Sabrejets.

FRAMED by trapdoor in air lock which leads to upper level of the rubber radome is T/Sgt. D.O. Audilet.

TRAILER HOMES on base are housing for married personnel. Here wives gather for over-the-fence talk.

FIRST SERGEANT of squadron, T/Sgt. Thomas Kurtz, a personal friend of base mascots, Sam and Cougar.

SCOPE IS SCANNED by 1st. Lt. F.W. Meyers, squadron radar maintenance chief (L) and Sgt. Audilet.