2451 AC&W Squadron,
Windsor, ON

National Archives of Canada

PROLOGUE

2451 AC&W Squadron is scheduled to cease operations by 1 June 60 and this phasing-out will bring to a close fifteen years of intensive and at times disconcerting efforts to secure and maintain an RCAF Unit in Windsor, Ontario. As we are all aware of the facts concerning this phase-out there is no need to dwell further on this matter at this time.

Instead, we wish to present a brief containing the two alternate roles we feel our squadron could fill along with other miscellaneous functions and facets that can be incorporated into a composite type of operation that will keep the Royal Canadian Air Force on an active and useful basis in the Windsor area.

The acceptance of a continued activity for this squadron will sustain a high degree of public opinion and approval of the RCAF already attained by this service in the city of Windsor and Detroit.

The continuation of this squadron will supply a definite requirement in the tri-service garrison now so well organized and so closely knit. The introduction of 2451 AC&W Squadron to Windsor has been invaluable in integrating the activities of the Navy, Army and Air Force on such occasions as the Garrison Ball and Remembrance Day which are now very successful annual affairs. 2451 Squadron has participated in all types of public parades which included the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and such occasions as the highly successful Air Show in which the Golden Hawks participated; the annual Air Force Day Parade and the Battle of Britain Parade, all of which along with the frequent visits of the Training Command Band perform a valuable advertising function for the RCAF in a city of this size and strategic location.

The presence of this squadron will continue to provide facilities for approximately 250 Air Cadets in two squadrons now developing air-mindedness in the most fruitful years of young lads. It will also maintain the invaluable hold the RCAF has gained on the youth of the Windsor area by way of facilitating the development of impressionable young men and women through the RTTP programs which in the past have enjoyed such a high degree of prestige and approval from all quarters.

The continuation of this Squadron would make available administrative offices for the local Tri-services Recruiting Unit now being proposed and to be established in the Federal Government Offices which we are given to understand are very much at a premium.

The continuation of this squadron would supply lecture space applied for by the URTP Squadron operating at Assumption University in Windsor. This would enable the URTP to get a closer feel of RCAF activity and background apart from their daily classroom surroundings.

The continuation of this squadron would allow further exploration of international goodwill, co-operation and public relations with our brothers-in-arms across the border in the United States. RTTP personnel have paraded in Detroit, Michigan at various American parades, while many 2451 Squadron officers have been invited to represent the RCAF at numerous functions sponsored by American Units. it is most worthy of note that the International Freedom Festival included the first of what is expected to be an Annual International Air Forces Day. At this function, originated by 2451 AC&W Squadron, personalities from numerous USAF and RCAF units participated. Full informtation on this valuable activity is contained in Appendix "A" to this brief.

The public relations aspect of 2451 AC&W Squadron in the City of Windsor has been of particular value to the RCAF. The participation of this Unit in all public functions in both military and civic fields has been of the highest order and is summarized in Appendix "B" of this brief.

It should be remembered that many officers and airmen who served in World War II are now approaching retirement age and it is highly desirable that a core of Air Force-minded young men and women are readily available with the requisite training to supply an efficient, dependable and disciplined ability in the Windsor area in the event of an emergency. The continuation of this squadron in one or both of the roles hereby presented will fulfil this potent necessity.

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Squadron will be to provide Fighter Controllers and Fighter Control Operators to be utilized as manual operators in the event of SAGE Sectors becoming inoperative.

Units designated as Norad Control Centres are now operative for the purpose of providing manual controlling of aircraft and missile master projectiles at such time as SAGE Sectors are inoperative.

2. Value

The value of having auxiliary-trained Fighter Controller and Fighter Control Operator personnel provide "back up" for NCCS would be to fill a gap in the Air Defence System. The present lack of manually trained controllers is forcing SAGE Sectors to transfer SAGE-trained personnel to these sites, thus depleting their own units.

2451 AC&W Squadron, being in close proximity to Selfridge Air Force Base, (approximately 45 minutes by road), could provide trained personnel within hours to supplement the NCC personnel in the event of emergency. Many of 2451 Squadron's personnel have already been trained on the GAPA equipment which is in use at NCC sites and could immediately be utilized advantageously.

During discussion in committee with Group Captain Lewis and USAF NORAD Officers it was suggested that this role could easily be extended beyond the Windsor area with the possibility of other AC&W Auxiliary Squadrons located near the US border acting as manual back-up units as follows:

3. Type of Program

Personnel of 2451 Squadron could continue to train at their own headquarters for synthetic and academic training. The present equipment would be adequate for this purpose.

This training would be supplemented by Saturday and Sunday training at NORAD Control Centre for heavy site work. Because of Windsor's geographical location, this would be more economical and advantageous than heavy site training at Canadian sites.

4. Source of Recruitment

The trainees enlisting in this programme will come almost exclusively from Windsor and district. The specific sources being the Windsor Secondary School, the Western Ontario Institute of Technology and Assumption University of Windsor. The airmen and airwomen of 2451 AC&W Squadron are already well-trained in the Fighter Control Operator Trade as well as Clerk Administration, ME and Radar Technicians. These personnel could easily be fitted into the similar type of trade requirements posed by the necessity of a manual back-up for NCC Selfridge Air Force Base.

5. Support

It is certain that this program will receive the unqualified support of the Windsor educationalists, the City of Windsor officials, the Chamber of Commerce, the Windsor Industrial Commission, parents and young men and women. Indicative of the co-operation and enthusiasn is the fact that for five years 2451 AC&W Squadron has obtained its recruits directly through the high schools and institutional visitations. The whole-hearted support of the Board of Education has helped produce high enrolment quotas each year at an early date.

The various organizations, including the future employers in the City of Windsor as well as the parents of the trainees, see marked changes in social, physical and mental attitudes of Squadron trained personnel. Many of these changes have created a lasting effect. The press, radio and television have been most generous in publicising 2451 AC&W Squadron activities and accomplishments in the past and can be counted on to do so admirably regarding the possibility of fitting this Squadron into a manual back-up role at Selfridge Norad Control Centre.

6. Staff

The present establishment of 2451 AC&W Squadron (Aux) will adequately fulfil the requirement of a role as a back-up unit of manual controlling on GAPA37 equipment at Selfridge NORAD Control Centre.

7. Training

Training would consist of the same basic academic type now in operation at 2451 AC&W Squadron.

1. Academic training in the fields of Navigation, Meteorology, Telecommunications, Radio Theory, Surveillance and General Service Knowledge.
2. Operational training could be carried out at the Squadron Headquarters with the present equipment.
3. Heavy site practical training could be carried out at Selfridge Air Force Base on Saturdays and Sundays.
4. Contact training at NCC could be carried out on weekdays by some personnel because of the nature of their employment. Training would be available at this time at the NCC.
5. National Guard aircraft will definitely be available for practice with live intercepts.

8. Facilities

The present facilities including the Squadron Building, the Administrative and Support Staff and the electronic and surveillance equipment as now operative within the unit would adequately handle the academic and operational training necessary to maintain a high degree of familiarization and efficienty of AS & FTRC and FTR COP personnel to fit effectively NCC requirements.

9. Statistics and Finances

Since the end of World War II there has been a steady enlistment into the RCAF through the recruiting unit at Windsor. Although at times the enlistment was on a quota basis from 1953 through to September 1960 a total of 1372 were enlisted.

2451 AC&W (Aux) Sqdn, RCAF has been in operation as a unit for the past five years. During this period of time, enlistment has been as follows:

1. Direct Intake Officer, airmen and airwomen was 118
2. RTTP for summer training - 317
3. Aircadet entries for summer training - 22
4. Entries from other units such as RFTP - 9

2451 AC&W's contribution to the regular Air Force by way of transfers has been two Officers and 16 airmen and airwomen.

Also there has been 15 transfers to the URTP, 1 Officer transferred to another Auxiliary Squadron and one Officer to Regular Army.

The fact that the Auxiliary Unit here in Windsor houses two Air Cadet Squadrons cannot be overlooked.

These Squadrons are composed of 8 officers, 16 civilian instructors, 275 Air Cadets, which includes two bands which use the facilities twice weekly for training and on weekends for band practice.

The complete annual cost of operating and maintaining a unit here in Windsor which provides all the above services to the community and the Country as a whole can be broken down as follows:

10. Summary

There is a need for NORAD Control Centres whose duty is to provide a manual back-up in the event of SAGE Sectors becoming inoperative.

To this end NORAD Control Centres have been designated across the continent.

There is insufficient trained AS/FTRC and FTRCOP personnel to fill the demand which would be created if an emergency arose necessitating the manning of NORAD Control Centres on a 24-hour basis. For instance, at Selfridge NCC there are only 11 officers and approximately 40 airmen. If all the positions were manned, this complement could not extend duties much beyond the first eight-hour shift.

At an informal discussion with Group Captain H Lewis (Senior Liaison Officer at DADS), the Group Captain stated that other NCCS across the continent have no controllers whatsoever. The Group Captain also stated that the problem of providing personnel to man the NCSS with manually-trained controllers was so serious that this type of controller had to be supplied from the local SAGE Unit to the detriment of that unit.

In 2451 AC&W Squadron there are controllers at various stages of familiarization and qualification on GUPPA 37 equipment in use at Selfridge NCC. After two years training on the equipment proficiency is at such a stage that simulated exercises could be convened immediately. National Guard aircraft are available on weekends for live intercepts.

The time element regarding transportation is negligible with 2451 AC&W Squadron being only 45 minutes distant from Selfridge Air Force Base which means that weekend training could be carried out conveniently, economically and efficiently. In the event of a National Emergency, 2451 AC&W SQN could be readily movilized either in part or fully to man such a site.

Personnel with whom Group Captain Lewis held informal discussions included the following:

1. Lieutenant Colonel Seyther (CO 661 AC&W Sqn)
2. Captain Oliver (Operations Officer, 661 AC&W Sqn)
3. Officers from
   1. Seattle, Washington - NORAD Region
   2. Madison, Wisconsin - NORAD Region

These Officers felt that there was a definite need for the RCAF Auxiliary filling such a role as mentioned above and the Officers from 661 AC&W Sqn (Selfridge AFB) stated that training facilities were available and that this type of support role involving 2451 AC&W Squadron would be most effective in supplementing the above-mentioned shortage of manually-trained controllers.

It is felt that 2451 Squadron could be utilized effectively to fill a vital role in a Nation emergency at NORAD Control Centres.

1. Purpose

The purpose of an Air Recovery Squadron will be to perform the general mission of survival, support and recovery following an attack or an emergency.

In-so-much as there has been a growing realization that the winner in any nuclear conflict will be the one who can most quickly and effectively recover from the initial attack, this post-attack recovery capability must be considered as a first line weapon as dangerous to any aggressor as a fully-manned missile site. The purpose the is twofold - survival if need be, or even better, an additional deterring factor in our scheme of defence.

2. Value

The value of Air Recovery and Support Squadrons will be to reactivate the military and non-military air strips. Recovery Squadrons will be located at carefully selected airports across the country which are capable of accommodating military aircraft. Some of these strips may have been abandoned. Other may be operating civil and military airfields.

Air Recovery and Support Units will provide communications with the incoming aircraft if any traffic control is exercised. Crash and Rescue Service must be rendered to the limit of local capacity. Medical care for wounded crew members will have to be provided. When military or other airport facilities have been rendered unserviceable due to attack, the Air Recovery and Support Unit will provide a safe landing site for RCAF and USAF airborne offensive and defensive aircraft returning from missions. Air Recovery and Support Units could so activate airfields that rescue aircraft would be able to bring food and medical supplies close to devasted area and possibly provide air field service for evacuation aircraft as well as fulful other civil defence requirements.

Personnel trained along these lines will be an asset to operating RCAF airfields thus allowing the station Commanding Officers to utilize their regular force establishments to continue their operational functions while auxiliary personnel supplement administrative and secondary operational requirements.

This program gains its value because it aligns itself with the North American concept and policy of deterrance.

3. Type of Program

The program will provide training for personnel in an Air Recovery and Support Unit to arrange for all types of emergency communications such as "HAM" radios, a hook-up with army and civil defence networks, commercial telegraph and telephone facilities. Airfield status reports and weather information will be needed. Also tasks such as the decontamination of aircraft, accomplishment of minor aircraft repairs, refuelling, billeting and messing of crews will be responsibilities of these units.

Training would provide competent personnel to support an RCAF Base in each of the following sections: Administration, Operations, and Technical.

The type of program must include the compilation of reports based on topographical survey of the Southern Ontario area determining the most desirable airfields to be supported, activiated and/or re-activated. Reports would have to be developed on all aspects leading up to the submission of the ideal type of establishment, training adminstrative and equipment requirements necessary for the Unit to act efficiently and economically.

This type of survey will be an integral function of an Air Recovery and Support Unit.

4. Source of Recruitment

The trainees enlisting in this programme will come almost exclusively from Windsor and district. The specific sources being the Windsor Secondary Schools, the Western Ontario Institute of Technology and Assumption University of Windsor. The airmen and airwomen of 2451 AC&W Squadron are already well-trained in the Fighter Control Trade as well as Clerk Administration, ME and Radar Technicians. These personnel could easily be fitted into similar trades as demanded by the operations of an Air Recovery and Support Unit.

5. Support

It is certain that this program will receive the unqualified support of Windsor Educationalists, the City of Windsor officials, the Chamber of Commerce, the Windsor Industrial Commission, parents and young men and women. Indicative of the co-operation and enthusiasm is the fact that for five years 2451 AC&W Squadron has obtained its recruits directly through the High School and institutional visitations. The whole-hearted support of the Board of Education has helped produce high enrolment quotas each year at an early date.

The various organizations, including the future employers in the City of Windsor as well as the parents of the trainees, see marked changes in social, physical and mental attitudes of Squadron-trained personnel. Many of these changes have created a lasting effect. The press, radio and television have been most generous in publicising 2451 AC&W Squadron activites and accomplishments in the past and can be counted on to do so admirably regarding the possibility of an Air Recovery and Support Squadron role in this area.

6. Staff

See Org Chart Attached

7. Training

The training of an Air Recovery and Support Unit would be two-fold.

1. Academic-type training in the theoretical fields of Station Services, Security, Medical, Personnel Administration, Flying Control, Operations Meteorology, Telecommunications Maintenance, Station Supply and the operations of mobile equipment.

   This aspect of training could be provided through an RTTP scheme which would be a source of recruitment for an auxiliary TTU aimed at achieving proficiency and advancement in the above-mentioned trades.

2. Practical weekend and summer camp training at an established near-by RCAF air field. It is worthy of particular note as far as the location of an Air Recover Unit at Windsor, Ontario is concerned, that nearby RCAF Station Centralia is already the administrative, accounting and supply base for the present role of 2451 AC&W Squadron.

   Practical training during summer camp training period could also be provided for Air Recovery and Support Unit personnel at various decontamination units such as Toronto and Camp Borden. Some of the Officers of 2451 Squadron have already taken this type of training.

8. Facilities

The following items of equipment will be a necessary requirement for the function of an Air Recovery Unit:

1. Crash Equipment
   1. fire truck
   2. ambulance
   3. Jeep may also be necessary

2. Air Recovery
   1. Power for equipment may be either diesel or battery. Diesel power would be more serviceable. Batteries on the other hand would be very bulky and would need another vehicle to transport them, also charging equipment.

   2. Vehicle: (prime mover attached to cabin) containing 1 Channel VHF and 1 Channedl UHF, with stand-by on each channel.
      1. AN/FRT 502 VHF TX

      2. URG 60 VHF RX

      3. ARC 502 VHF Airborne stand-by can be used for ground back-up. (Runs off batteries and is a compact unit).

      4. AN/GRC 27 UHF TX & RX (Multi Channel - 10 preset with spares.)(ARC 552 Airborne Multi Channel)

   3. Radio Beacon: - AN/FRN 502. (App 2,000 lbs) availability doubtful

   4. Mobile Control Tower. With weather equipment etc, houses VHF RX's and uses TX in prime mover.

   5. Navigational aid. Vehicle containing "Quad Radar" for search, homing and GCA.

3. Ground communication

   Portable PBX (4 line?) for connection to Bell Telephone Etc.

4. Dependent upon the operational location of the Air Recovery Unit will be the necessity of living, camping and messing equipment, latrines etc.

5. Medical supplies

6. The above facilities would be a valuable appendage to supplement any damaged equipment at an RCAF Station.

9. Statistics and Finances

Since the end of World War II there has been a steady enlistment into the RCAF through the Recruiting Unit at Windsor. Although at times the enlistment was on a quota basis from 1953 through to September 1960 a total of 1372 were enlisted.

2451 AC&W (Aux) Sqdn, RCAF has been in operation as a unit for the past five years. During this period of time, enlistment has been as follows:

1. Direct Intake Officer, airmen and airwomen was 118
2. RTTP for summer training - 317
3. Aircadet entries for summer training - 22
4. Entries from other units such as RFTP - 9

2451 AC&W's contribution to the regular Air Force by way of transfers has been two Officers and 16 airmen and airwomen.

Also there has been 15 transfers to the URTP, 1 Officer transferred to another Auxiliary Squadron and one Officer to Regular Army.

The fact that the Auxiliary Unit here in Windsor houses two Air Cadet Squadrons cannot be overlooked.

These Squadrons are composed of 8 officers, 16 civilian instructors, 275 Air Cadets, which includes two bands which use the facilities twice weekly for training and on weekends for band practice.

The complete annual cost of operating and maintaining a unit here in Windsor which provides all the above services to the community and the Country as a whole can be broken down as follows:

10. Summary

The existence of Air Recovery and Support Units in Canada is valuable from the standpoint of a National Deterrant. If the enemy is aware that despite his bombing of military airfields there will be many other fields immediately operative, he will realize that the chances of striking a knock-out blow at North American Air Forces is greatly reduced.

The role of an Air Recovery and Support Unit in this area would be to examine the whole topography of Southern Ontario to determine the possibility of which civil or ex-Air Force strips can be most efficiently recovered. Apropos of this would be the problem of determining the minimum requirements to bring these fields back into service until any possible damage due to enemy action or other emergencies affecting operative Air Force strips is repaired.

The present ASFTRC and FTRCOP training achieved by 2451 Squadron personnel is invaluable in providing a core of knowledge which can be expanded and specialized along the lines of making a non-military strip operative in an emergency. There would be ample opportunity in the training programme (academic at the Squadron Headquarters in Windsor and active training at Centralia, Ont) to provide trade advancement and promotion to Squadron personnel in the various necessary trades mentioned on page eight of this brief. New and replacement personnel are readily available in the City of Windsor and can be trained first through a summer RTTP programme and later for trade advancement through a TTU at 2451 Squadron. This aspect would be most valuable to the RCAF in maintaining its hold on the Windsor youth and the interested bodies, such as the Board of Education, Chamber of Commerce, industry and sundry employers.

The organization chart contains the bare essentials for efficient operations of this type of unit and the training standard and record of 2451 Squadron at present intimates that not too much diversion of training would be required. In other words, a TTU Section of this Squadron would adequately fill the requirements for training personnel to a required standard.

The equipment required must, of necessity, be highly mobile and is already of the type in use at most RCAF airfields and should be readily available through the supply depot. Classroom training at 2451 Squadron supplemented by weekend and summer camp training at Centralia would be an inexpensive and efficient way of bringing Squadron members up to a peak of efficiency. The past record of 2451 Squadron's participation in the overall role of the RCAF and the Squadron's contribution in the form of disbursement of personnel to the various branches of Air Force life fully justifies the expense of such a unit which expense will be approximately equal to that which has been alloctated for its function as an AC&W Unit.

En toto it is felt that such a role is an exciting extension of deterrance, a worthwhile insurance policy for Canada and an absolute necessity for contunued survival for our democratic and free institution in North America, the bastion of the free world.