Historical Narrative
2402 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit (Aux) Winnipeg, Manitoba
1 October 1950 to 31 December 1951
This is the first historical report of 2402 AC&WU (Aux) Winnipeg. The Unit was established on the 1 Oct 50 as a Class "B" AC&WU with an establishment of 13 Officers and 122 Airmen. The Commanding Officer S/L FD Searles was appointed on 1 Dec 1950. Originally functional control was exercised by the AOC NWAC through the Group Commander Tac A Gp and CO Reserve Wing HQ at Winnipeg.
Between 1 Dec 1950 and 28 Feb 1951, 1 Sgt Radar Tech, 2 Cpl Com Ops, and 2 Fighter Control Ops were taken on strength of the Support Section of 2402 AC&WU. On 6 Mar F/O RA Basson was posted to 2402 AC&WU as OC Support Section.
On 15 May 51 F/O DA Swanson, a summer employment student from University of Manitoba, was taken on strength. On 27 May 51 a communication exercise was carried out by 2402 AC&WU. Two vehicles were dispatched to a Field Site where H/F communications were established with the base at Stevensons Field. Synthetic plots were passed by W/T and R/T. The exercise was judged a success.
On 1 June 1951 Reserve Strength was 15 Officers and 36 Airmen. The unit was given quarters in #2 Hangar at Stevensons Field, Winnipeg. Parades were held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and also on Sunday. Training was given in the trades of Fighter Control Op, Radar Tech (G), Com Tech (G) and Com Op.
On 6 June 1951, 2402 AC&WU took part in Air Force Day at Station Winnipeg, the Unit contributed a display of training aids and electronic equipment. In mid-June the unit moved into the old National Research Council building at Station Winnipeg. During the month preparations begun to send the Unit to Reserve Summer Camp. S/L Searles the CO and the Adjutant departed for Abbotsford Summer Camp on the 29th June. F/O Basson (RSS) and half the airmen attending Summer Camp departed 30 June 51. The remainder of the airmen accompanied by F/O Swanson left Winnipeg on 1 July 51.
During the first two weeks of July 2402 AC&WU attended Summer Camp at Abbotsford BC along with all other auxiliary units in NWAC. A total of 9 officers and 24 airmen were at camp, a total of 80% of the Unit strength at that time. Radar equipment at Summer Camp was supplied by 2442 AC&WU from Vancouver. On completion of Camp the Unit ceased to operate until the 9th Sep 51. The Support Section carried on with the training of 13 High School students until the end of Aug 51. These students all enjoyed the course and nearly all expressed a desire to join the unit.
During the month of Aug work was begun and most of it completed on the partitioning of the unit's new building. Offices, classrooms, and an operations room were all built by the end of the month. The unit lost the services of its CTechO when F/L VC Macdonald moved to Ottawa. During the month of Aug NWAC in Edmonton was taken over by Tac A Gp who now assumed functional control of this unit.
On the 1st Sep 51, 2402 AC&WU was authorized to enlist airwomen. During this month the unit's Adjutant F/L Brook enlisted in the RCAF Regular, and was posted to Sea Island BC, his position filled by F/L Macgillivray. On 7 Sep 51, F/L Crawley was enlisted as the Unit Medical Officer and prceeded to IAM Toronto for a months course. The first parade after Summer Camp was held on 9 Sep 51.
On 14 Oct 51, in conjunction with 402 Sqn, 2402 AC&WU took part in an operation at Gimli, Man. The operation was designed to test the ability of 2402 AC&WU to operate from a mobile or temporary base. A convoy of 6 radar trucks and 2 VHF trucks proceeded to Gimli, VHF contact was made and the radar was operating by the following day. During this month also, office equipment, classroom furniture and some training aids were received. On the 31st of Oct F/L Swanson enlisted in the RCAF Regular and will remain with the unit as Supernumerary Support Officer until completion of his last year at University.
The Commanding Officer S/L FD Searles and the Chief Controller F/L CE Sowerby attended a conference at Tac A Gp HQ in Edmonton on the 9th and 10th of Nov 51. During the latter part of the month plans were made for "Operation Strike" an exercise involving all the Auxiliary in Tac A Gp. On the 15th of Nov 51 the first airwomen were taken on strength of 2402 AC&WU (Aux).
F/O Turnbull, one of the controllers resigned his commisson in Dec due to the pressure of business. The last parade of the year was held on the 20th Dec 51 and the unit was on "Stand Down" until after the New Year. On December 31st, 1951 2402 AC&WU had on strength 16 officers, 39 airmen and 4 airwomen.
Training is proceeding at a satisfactory rate at the present time.
(FD Searles) S/L
Commanding Officer
2402 AC&WU (Aux), Winnipeg, Man.