Historical Narrative
2451 AC&W Sqn (Aux)
The month of June found the Officers of Course 1 preparing for the Phase 1 examinations which were written on June 17th. On June 9th seventeen officers went to RCAF Station Hamilton Ontario for familiarization. A Golf tournament was held on June 23rd for all officers and their guests. In the evening the officers entertained their ladies at a dinner and dance.
In the month of July 2451 Squadron attended its first summer training camp as a unit. A total of twenty-three airmen were employed for summer training under RTTP with nineteen airmen stationed at RCAF Station Hamilton and four airmen stationed at RCAF Station Aylmer. Two officers were employed as instructors at RCAF Station Hamilton and one officer employed on Special Duty at ADC HQ. Twenty-four officers attended summer training camp at RCAF Station Foymount. Here at summer training camp the U/T controllers saw their first operational AC&W Station. A training program was set up dividing the U/T controllers into crews, as a crew they attended lectures, operated the synthetic trainer and worked through various positions in the operations room. At the end of the two weeks one officer had completed several live intercepts and several other officers had controlled aircraft under surveillance. On July 11th, twenty officers of 2451 AC&W Squadron (Aux) proceeded to RCAF Station Uplands. While at Uplands they visited the two fighter squadrons and 2416 AC&W Squadron (Aux) returning that evening to RCAF Station Foymount. July 1st F/L Freebairn assumed temporary command in the absence of S/L JS Mencel. The month of July also saw the first promotions in the squadron. F/O's C Raven and R Bass promoted to the rank of F/L. On July 15th summer training camp closed and the summer stand down began which ended on Sept 7th.
The month of August was very quiet with the staff taking their summer vacation. S/L JS Mencel and F/L C Raven attended the graduation parade of the RTTP at RCAF Station Hamilton which was held on August 29th. S/L Mencel resumed Command on September 2nd. The results from the June trade examination showed that of the twenty-seven officers that wrote Phase I controllers examination, twenty-one passed and six failed. F/L K Freebairn became the first officer of the 2451 AC&W Squadron (Aux) to transfer to the RCAF Regular Force on September 7th. Fifteen officers of Course 2 proceeded to RCAF Station for familiarization on September 18th.
In the month of October Course 2 began Phase 1 of the controller's course of study, Course 1 began study for the promotion examinations that are to be written in the beginning of 1957. The October Trade Examination were written on October 17th. All officers candidates were successful. An Introductory Dance was held of October 13th for the Officers and their wives of Course 1 and 2 at the Wardroom of the HMCS Hunter. A stag party was held for F/L K Freebairn who transferred to the Regular Force and F/O R Cowan who returned from 2451 AC&W Squadron (Aux).
The officers of 2451 AC&W Squadron (Aux) attended a Remembrance Day dinner given by the Royal Canadian Air Force Association on November 10th at which G/C Houle was the guest speaker. The Commanding Officer asked that on November 11th all airmen and Officers attend the church of their choice in uniform in lieu of an organized church parade. In the afternoon of November 11th, 2451 AC&W Squadron (Aux) marched as a unit in the Remembrance Day Parade to the Cenotaph. S/L JS Mencel placed a wreath in remembrance.
(JS Mencel) S/L
Commanding Officer,
2451 AC&W Sqn (Aux),
665 Ouellette Avenue,
Windsor, Ontario
