Historical Narrative
2401 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit (Aux) Montreal, PQ.
1 December 55 to 31 May 56
17 Dec 55
Christmas Party for children of all members of the Sqn. Approximately 150 children attended this party.
18 Dec 55
Eight airmen and airwomen attempt Trade Board Examinations.
During December, two week-end periods were spent at Lac St Denis. "B" Flight and the instructors ("A" Flight) were in attendance. Total of 232 man hours of training put in at Lac St Denis for this month.
1 Jan 56
No promotions for Officers of this Squadron
2 Jan 56
Queen's Levee held this year on 2 Jan. All Montreal units paid a visit to the Officers' Mess.
3 Jan 56
Amalgamation of 1 R&C with 2401 AC&WS brings about changes in establishment.
Ex 1 R&CU and 2401 AC&WS inventories are all combined and broken down into 8 inventories grouping all items of same nature under one inventory.
14 - 15 Jan 56
Week-end at Lac St Denis. 29 live intercepts and 47 synthetic intercepts are completed.
21 - 22 Jan 56
Week-end at Lac St Denis. 22 live intercepts completed.
23 Jan 56
F/L Germain, presently adjutant of 2401 AC&WS (Aux), starts period of Continuous Air Force Duty as Regular Support, to be terminated on 31 Aug 56.
28 - 29 Jan 56
Weekend at Lac St Denis. 20 live intercepts on 28. No live intercepts carried out on 29 due to very poor weather. Total of synthetic intercepts for weekend: 35.
4 - 5 Feb 56
Week-end at Lac St Denis. 30 live intercepts carried out.
Recruiting for RTTP for summer 1956 has started. Quota: 90.
7 Feb 56
Results of Dec Trade Board are out: 2 airwomen have passed Group 2 Ftr COp and 2 airwomen have passed Group 3 in the same trade.
11 - 12 Feb 56
Weekend at Lac St Denis.
On 11, flying was limited to a few Vampires from 401 and 438 Sqns who were up on local flying and not available for GCI; also, 2 CF-100 from St Hubert. Therefore, only one live intercept was carried out that day.
On 12, as 8 to 10 inches of snow covered St Hubert runways, station was closed to all air traffic. No intercept that day. Total of synthetic for the weekend: 37.
17 Feb 56
Valentine Dance was held for airmen and proved very successful.
20 Feb 56
F/O Cross, Support Officer, proceeded on 2 week TD to Stn Selfridge, Mich, USA, for familiarization in USAF Controller techniques.
23 Feb 56
Strength of Medical Section increased by one nursing sister P/O Baribeault. Another nursing sister, P/O Bouffard, had been previously enrolled a the end of 1955.
During February, weekend training was carried out each weekend at Lac St Denis, and a total of 91 live interceptions and 76 synthetic were carried out.
In addition, the unit has started synthetic as well as live Lead Collision Course interceptions training. This should cut down on the number of live interceptions completed and increase the number of synthetic intercepts for the next month or six weeks.
Mar 56
NPF Audit Board for period ending 31 Dec 55, conducted at this unit. As a result, NPF Accounting is being reorganized. P/O HA Ancrum is appointed NPFAO and is granted 4 days Special duty at GP HQ for familiarization in NPF Accounting.
3 - 4 Mar 56
Week-end at Lac St Denis. Nil live intercepts. 68 synthetic.
24 - 25 Mar 56
Week-end at Lac St Denis. 9 live interceptions and 73 synthetic.
2 Weekend periods at Lac St Denis and 2 weekend at the unit were spent on operational training, during the month of March. But as unit is on synthetic LCC intercept training, only 9 live interceptions were carried out for the month.
1 Apr 56
Only one promotion amongst airmen and airwomen: LAW Plante, Ftr COp, is promoted to Cpl.
15 Apr 56
Pay increases for all personnel (Aux) are promulgated. Funds for Recruiting advertising are drastically reduced for coming year. While $1000.00 were expended during fiscal year 55 - 56, ony $300.00 have been assigned to this unit for fiscal year 56 - 57.
6 Apr 56
Mess Dinner held at this unit. G/C JAB Richer, Group Commander, 1 Gp HQ, is Guest of Honour. G/C Richer speaks upon "The Reserve in the Radar Picture".
7 Apr 56
Phase One (Indoctrination) of RTTP training starts. A/S/L Barrie is appointed OC of RTTP School.
F/L Gervais & F/O Wilson, both auxiliary Officers, will be respectively employed as CI and instructor for Phase two, as no authority was given to employ Supplementary Officers this year. Six Regular Force airmen will be posted to this unit as instructors for the months of July and August.
8 & 15 Apr 56
Officers Qualifying Examinations are held. 26 F/Os write GSK. One F/L and 17 F/Os write Trade papers.
18 Apr 56
CO and Regular Support Officer proceed to RCAF Stn Lac St Denis with S/L Levesque of 1 Gp HQ to hold conference on 1956 Summer Camp.
20 Apr 56
Annual Radar Ball is held in Sheraton Ball Room of Mont Royal Hotel. G/C DH Gwinn, senior Telecommunications staff Officer at St Hubert and Mrs Gwinn attend as Guests of Honour in representation of A/V/M and Mrs Wray.
22 Apr 56
Trade Board examinations. 8 airmen and airwomen representing the following trades write: Ftr COp - Sup Tech - Clk Steno - Clk Typ - Stwd.
28 Apr 56
Operations Conference is held at Gp HQ. Commanding Officers, Support Officers, Training Officers of all AC&W Sqns under 1 Gp HQ, are invited to discuss operations and training problems that had arisen during the 55 - 56 fiscal year and to suggest a policy to be adopted during the forthcoming fiscal year, in order to increase the efficiency of the AC&W Sqns Auxiliary in all phases of training and administration.
During April, 2 week-end periods were spent at Lac St Denis by "A" flight (Instructors). LCC training was carried out. No live interceptions for the month. 43 synthetic were carried out at Lac St Denis and 60 done at the unit. Total: 103.
3 May 56
Conference held at 438 Sqn to discuss organization and personnel matters at ADC units. This squadron was not invited and therefore did not attend. However, principals of this conference later visited the Squadron.
5 - 6 May 56
Officers of the new course of FtrC visit Stn Lac St Denis for familiarization and from thereon will proceed regularly to Lac St Denis for training.
17 May 56
Semi-annual inventory checks.
21 May 56
Queen's Birthday.
24 May 56
Unit badge is submitted to 1 Gp HQ. The latin motto inscribed on the badge: "Inveniemus Viam out Faciemus" may be freely translated: "We shall find a way or we shall make one". The flying bat shown signifies Radar, also Air Borne Radar. In the background, the range and azimuth of a radar indicator can be seen.
During May and April, the Squadron was working 4 nights a week to allow FtrC's as much opportunity for working on the scopes as possible.
As F/L Merritt, COpsO is being transferred to Goose Bay next month by DOT, F/L Skelly takes over as COpsO.
Recruiting for next fall's FtrC course is already initiated.
(JL Bourke) W/C
Commanding Officer,
2401 AC&W Sqn (Aux).