Historical Narrative
2402 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit (Aux) Winnipeg, Manitoba
1 December 1951 to 31 May 1952
This is the second historical record of 2402 AC&WU (Aux) Winnipeg. During the month of December 51, training was carried out on the normal parade nights. The unit "stood down" for the Xmas season and commenced operating again after the new year.
On 1 Jan 52 F/O RA Basson the Support Officer was promoted to F/L. During this month 2402 AC&WU took part in "Operation Strike", an exercise with all the units in Tactical Air Group participating. The pland called for 406 and 408 Sqns escorted by 403 Sqn to make an attack on the steel mills at Selkirk, Man. This unit was to control 402 Sqn and try to intercept the enemy force. Due to all the Mitchell aircraft being grounded for modification, No 2 Air Navigation School co-operated by supply 12 Expeditors as the attacking force. The exercise was very successful and a number of interceptions were carried out before the "Enemy" reached Selkirk. A radio link from this unit to Selkirk Civil Defence was set up and twenty minute raid warnings were transmitted and received at the target centre. Operation Strike was judged a success and the general opinion was that more of these exercises should be held in the future.
During the month of February Trade Tests for Radar Techs and Fighter Control Operators were written, as a result of these tests a number of personnel advanced to a higher group. On 15 Feb the unit "stood down" for the day, all support secton attended services for the late King George VI.
"Operation Hatpin" was carried out on 17 Feb, this was a synthetic operation with all plots being passed from the Communications Centre. Lt Col Bowin and Major Laforce of the Winnipeg Light Infantry paid a liaison visit to the unit and watched the operation.
On 24 Feb S/L Mills Pay Accounts Officer from TacAGp visited the unit to discuss pay problems. A number of Reserve Army personnel made a liaison visit on Thursday evening 28 Feb.
Early in March S/L Garnett and F/L McKay from TacAGp made a Staff visit to 2402 AC&WU. On 3 March construction of further partitions on the ground floor of the building was commenced.
F/L Atcheson, Education Officer from TacAGp visited the unit on 7 March to discuss Trade Advancement and Trade Testing of Auxiliary personnel.
The Commanding Officer S/L FD Searles attended a conference at TacAGp to discuss plans for Summer Camp 1952.
There was an Auxiliary Wing Parade on 20 March. G/C Sellars the retiring Commanding Officer handed over Command of 17 Auxiliary Wing to the new Commanding Officer G/C RD Turner.
During the month of April F/L Card a Radar Officer from TacAGp visited the unit to determine a suitable sight for the Radar Convoy.
On 10 April G/C Patrick from No 1 Gp HQ (Aux) Montreal gave a very interesting talk to the unit officers on his recent visit to Korean.
A/C Kerr the AOC of TacAGp visited the unit on 20 April. During his visit A/C Kerr presented the Winnipeg High School Students with the trophy for drill and proficiency which they had won last summer. The unit CTechO and Sgt Dobbs of the Support Section left on a liaison visit tp 403 Sqn and 25 AMB at Calgary the same day.
F/O Caslake of this unit began a period of special duty with 17 Wing HQ on the 1st May. On 18 May F/L Card from TacAGp paid another visit to the unit to discuss "Exercise Nugget". During the month of May all personnel were busy preparing the convoy for shipment to Watson Lake. The unit Controllers made a map of the Watson Lake area for the plotting table to be used at "Exercise Nugget". All the personnel cleaned and checked over all Radar and VHF equipment prior to loading the convoy.
On 28 May Sgt O'Keefe TacAGp arrived and conducted a projectionists course. Support personnel from 17 Wing HQ, 402 Sqn, 4003 MU, 5002 IU and 2402 AC&WU attended the course.
By the end of May plans were nearly completed for Summer Camp, 40 Auxiliary personnel had indicated that they would be attending camp, and all members of the Unit were looking forward to a successful Summer Camp.
(FD Searles) S/L
Commanding Officer
2402 AC&WU (Aux) Winnipeg, Man.