2450 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit (Reserve)
Sherbrooke, PQ

National Archives of Canada

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EVENTS FROM DATE OF UNIT'S INCEPTION, SEPTEMBER 1949 TO 30 NOVEMBER 1950.

In 1949 a RCAF (Reserve) formation came into existence in Sherbrooke, PQ, and S/L FW McCrea was appointed Officer Commanding of said formation, then officially designated as the Sherbrooke Detachment (ACW&U) (Reserve) of No 1 R&C (Reserve) Unit, Montreal, PQ. The Sherbrooke Detachment immediately secured temporary quarters in the Northern Electric Building, CPR Terrace. In addition to the OC, a nucleus of officers was TOS in the persons of F/L Greg O'Boyle, No 2 i/c, F/O Lesley Bennett, F/O JAH Cameron, F/O John Colton, F/O Robert Sturrock and others. Around this nucleus the Detachment took shape and as a result of a concentrated recruiting drive the Detachment grew in numbers and in this way much was accomplished towards filling the various establishments and courses of instruction were organized and lectures begun. By this time the AMES-11 (C) convoy was received and installed at Windsor Mills Airport and occasional contact training exercises were effected by way of conducting range tests with the support of aircraft which were dispatched from St Hubert Airport. During the last week of November 1950 the Convoy was moved from Windsor Mills to its present location on the premises of Colonel Bertram Lyon's farm on the Montreal Road.

DECEMBER 1ST 1950 TO MAY 31, 1951

The Sherbrooke Detachment is now officially known as No 2450 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit. A new officer has been TOS as Accounting Officer in the person of F/O Henry Leech. The present slate of officers, in addition to S/L FW McCrea, holding key positions with the Unit is as follows:

Below is listed a record of events and activities covering the past six months under the following headings:

TECHNICAL

The final movement of all vehicles of Convoy 59 from Windsor Mills to Lyon's Farm was completed on December 3rd. The Convoy was moved without incident. An additional truck was added to the Convoy for the storage of communications equipment. General maintenance of AMES-11 Convoy 59 was carried out on week-ends of 17 & 24 Feb. All IFF equipment was installed and the IFF antennae was set up. The equipment in convoy 59 is now serviceable. A major overhaul of AMES-11 (C) was completed by the CAE work party during April. Two more vehicles were added to the convoy, both VHF, now providing the Convoy with air to ground communications.

OPERATIONS

The Unit received the beneficial visits of F/O Lomas and F/O Brunini of No 1 R&C Support Section and 12 hours of regular instruction for the Controllers was condensed into 3 hours. During this visit, many points hitherto vague in the minds of the student controllers, were clarified. A second visit by F/O Lomas proved extremely helpful to the controllers in connectin with the correspondence course which, at this point, was well underway. Attendance at Controller's lectures was 80% and results of written tests were quite satisfactory. A further lecture during this period by S/L Likeness on Intelligence was well received by all unit Officers and went far to heighten interest in the RCAF activities in general. Some difficulty was encountered in the Controllers Course in connection with meteorology; clarification of this phase of Controller Training was forthcoming by a subsequent visit by F/O Lomas. The new quarters, locate on Depot St in Sherbrooke, were renovated and made ready for occupancy by April 1st. The first week of April was utilized in moving equipment and records to the new local HQ. This done, Controller Training was resumed and, as at May 31st, is practically completed insofar as training in theory is concerned. There still remains training on the "synthetic trainer".

INSTRUCTIONS

Much progress was made by both the Junior and Senior Classes. Sufficient progress has been made by a goodly number of students in the Junior Class as to warrant their advancement to the Senior Class. In spite of weather hazards and lack of adequate training facilities (ie up until the recent move in the new training quarters) keen interest has been displayed by all pupils which is borne out by their attendance. Training was forcibly interrupted with the move to the new quarters but general enthusiasm was maintained and, indeed, heightened by the prospect of moving into new, larger and more enticing class-rooms and mess with canteens facilities.

Com Op Class - Six advanced trainees have mastered 16 to 20 words per minute and three beginners have arrived at 3 to 6 words per minute. Number in Class: 9. Average attendance 7. Percentage attendance 78%.

Junior Class - Maths - Lectures from AFP 50 Pt 1 dealing with Kirchoff's laws have been covered. Maths - lessons have been based on Ohms Law and Algebra to assist with lectures on Kirchoff's laws. Number in class: 20. Average attendance: 14. Percentage attendance 70%.

Senior Class - A-C Theory - Lectures from Pt 1 of AFP 50 have been covered. Number in class: 22. Average attendance: 14. Percentage attendance:63%.

Above course of training has been supplemented by related movies and such movies have been a welcome departure from theory both to trainees and instructors.

Recruiting

Numerous recruits were TOS during the past six months and a total of 14 former aircrew personnel have filed application as Controller. 35 High School students reported to this Unit regarding summer employment and it is believed the quota of 50 wil be reached without difficulty. In connection with the forthcoming reactivation of the RCAF (WD), fifteen young ladies have, to date, come to the Unit to make application. Their names and addresses were duly noted for future reference. Occasional visits were made to both English and French High Schools for the purpose of stimulating interest and, more specifically, to seek out recruits for summer employment in the hope that a percentage will remain on when school recommences in the Fall.

MOTOR EQUIPMENT

All Convoy vehicles have been periodically inspected and duly given the "run-up" test by visiting ME personnel from St Hubert. Owing to prolonged inactivity some vehicles were discovered to have badly rusted and corroding gas tanks resulting in balky engine performance. This situation was remedied by taking one vehicle at a time to a local garage where Unit personnel were engaged in cleaning thoroughly all petrol tanks, fuel lines, pumps and carburators. Tremendous improvement has since been noticed in performance. All Unit vehicles were properly identified by means of RCAF Crest transfers, and are, at time of writing, winterized, serviceable and mobile. A new Dodge Panel truck was received on February 23rd and has alleviated transport problems to and from Convoy Site.

ADMINISTRATION

Proper procedures for documentation have been instituted and, considering the lack of stenographic and clerical help, have been found to be adequate for the Unit's present traffic. Mess Committees have been formed both for the Officers and other Ranks. Rules and Regulations governing the respective Messes have been submitted and minutes of each meeting to date have been duly recorded and appropriately distributed. Money matters pertaining to each Mess have been conducted under the Watchful eye of the Accounts Officer who has acted in an advisory capacity on such matters. Clearance regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages has been obtained from the AOC and the Provincial authorities and all regulations issued therefrom have been rigidly adhered to.

SUPPLY

Equipment stores have been set up with adequate shelving and general storage space for the various items of issue such as clothing, manuals, etc. Security was of prime consideration where storage was concerned and every item of mobile nature is securely and constantly under lock and key at all times. Said security is further augmented by an around the clock janitor watch. Within the limitations of the odd unavailable size regarding articles of clothing, all Other Ranks have received winter issue, ie 5A Blues, etc. It is regretted that Summer Issue has not yet been made available.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Adequate coverage has been given to 2450 AC&WU, colloguially known as the Sherbrooke Radar Squadron, with the aid of the good cooperation of the English and French language daily newspapers and both French and English Radio outlets. Occasional requests have been received from local organizations such as the Lions Club, Y's Men's Club, etc, for a guest speaker from the Unit in order that they might be enlightened as to the function and purpose of the "Sherbrooke Radar Squadron". It is a foregone conclusion that on each occasion, a speaker was provided for the organization in question in the person of F/O Horace Martin who did a fine job of public relations in outlining this Unit's part in the overall radar defence plan insofar as security restrictions permitted. This Unit's participation in the annual Armistice Day parade was widely publicized, and, from all reports, a very favourable impression was made on the public by the good deportment of all RCAF personnel involved. Group Captain KR Patrick OBE, visited the Unit on January 19th of this year and advantage was taken of this visit to pay various courtesy calls on municpal dignitaries and the local clergy for the purpose of establishing proper liaison with them. Much publicity was accorded the Group Captain's visit and pictures appeared in both language newspapers as well as prominent radio announcements. In addition to the above, display advertising has been published in the local dailies in support of this Unit's recruiting campaign.

COURSE PROGRESS

2450 AC&WU Squadron was visited on 22 Jan 51 and two lectures were given by the visiting personnel, and said lectures being a continuance of the correspondence course in progress. At the time of this visit the 11th phase of the course had been finished and the visiting personnel reported very satisfactory results. The foregoing remarks have reference to the Controllers Course.

GENERAL REMARKS

At the time of writing it is gratifying to be able to record that the enthusiasm and morale of all Unit personnel is presently at an all-time high. Judging from the attendance on parade nights and the turnout on social nights, it is evident that the "Sherbrooke Radar Squadron" is playing an increasingly big part in the lives of those involved, and it is felt that their keeness, in turn, is perhaps largely responsible for the growing number of recruits who are daily making application to join the local formation of the RCAF (Reserve).

(FW McCrea)S/L
Commanding Officer,
2450 AC&WU Sherbrooke.