Historical Narrative
2402 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit (Aux) Winnipeg, Manitoba
1 June 1952 to 30 November 1952
This historical record covers the period 1st June 1952 until 30th November 1952.
On June 1st, new tires for all the vehicles in the convoy arrived and were immediately installed on all vehicles. The convoy was loaded for shipment, on June 4th, and the following day, was shipped CNR to Dawson Creek, BC. On June 5th the advance party with Sgt Brochu in charge, left for Watson Lake, YT.
Sgt V McCaw, a Reserve Airwoman, was promoted to F/O effective June 1st. W/C Konzuk, from1 Grp (Aux), Montreal, visited the Unit on 11th June, and gave an interesting talk to all members of the Unit, on how the Auxiliary operates in Montreal.
On June 28th, 11 Officers, 20 Airmen, and 10 Airwomen, departed for Watson Lake by Service Aircraft. 2402 Auxiliary Support Unit, consisting of one Officer, and the 4 remaining Airmen, departed on this date also. The convoy arrived in Watson lake in good condition, and by the time the main party arrived, the advance party had the convoy set up and in operation.
Exercise "Nugget", which was the code name for Summer Camp, was a success as a whole, but the part played by 2404 AC&WU, was not considered satisfactory; no interceptions at all were carried out the first week and only a few were attempted during the last few days of the camp.
All Auxiliary personnel returned to Winnipeg at the conclusion of Exercise "Nugget", and the Unit went on "Stand Down" until Sep 4th. The convoy arrived in Winnipeg from Watson Lake, on 5 Aug and was re-installed in its permanent site on Stevenson Field. Eleven High School Students were taken on continuous employment for the remainder of the Summer. During the month of August most of the Support personnel took their Annual Leave.
The first Auxiliary parade was held on Sep 4th, and the Unit began making plans for the coming season. S/L Garnett and F/L Hermanson were here on a staff visit from Tac Group HQ, Sep 20th, and F/L Lebedovich, TechTel, on Sep 25th.
On Sep 27th and 28th, 2402 AC&WU took part in Exercise "Swift", with all Auxiliary Units in Tac Air Group participating. The plan called for 406 and 418 Squadrons, escorted by 403 Squadron to make an attack on the Steel Rolling Mills at Selkirk, Man, on the 27th Sep, with 402 Sqn intercepting. An interception was carried out a Stonewall, Man, on the return flight Sep 28th. The exercise, on the whole, was considered a success and valuable experience was obtained for subsequent exercises.
On Oct 2nd, F/L Basson, ASU, was posted to Tyndall AFB, Florida, to take the Aircraft Controllers Course.
On Oct 4th and 5th, Communications Exercise "Baldy", evolved by this unit, was put into operation. Communications Vehicles left for Dauphin & Mafeking, Man, Oct 1st, and the morning of Oct 3rd, were located at the peak of Mt Baldy & Mafeking respectively. The purpose of this exercise was to have the Forest Ranger Service report positions of A/C flying over the area to this Unit's Control Centre. All arrangements having been completed satisfactorily, the weather defeated the best efforts of the observers; the ceiling being from 100 to 500 ft with snow present over the entire area.
Oct 19th, 2 Harvard a/c, from Tactical Fighter Flight, Rivers, visited 2402 AC&WU, and carried out practice interception exercises, in conjunction with an Expeditor a/c from #2 ANS Winnipeg. This operation proved very useful from a training stand-point.
On Oct 28th, F/O DR Hambly, was transferred to RCAF Regular. Nov 22nd, F/L CC Cooling and F/L RK Acheson, Educational Officers, paid us a staff visit from TAC Group HQ.
Exercise "Turnabout" was carried out Nov 22nd with CJATC Rivers. The purpose of the Exercise was to carry out Joint Radar Interception and Control with Air to Air combat camera gun with Tactical Fighter flight CJATC Rivers. The target was Stonewall, Man. 2402 AC&WU controlled Interception Forces. In the morning, CJATC Rivers were the opposing, and 402 Sqn the defending Forces respectively, and in the afternoon, the situation was reversed. The exercise proved most satisfactory all round.
Unit Strength as at 30 Nov 52 - Officers 16, Airmen 46.
(FD Searles) S/L
Commanding Officer
2402 AC&WU (Aux) Winnipeg, Man.