Historical Narrative
2402 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit (Aux) Winnipeg, Manitoba
1 December 1953 to 31 May 1954
This historical record covers the period 1 December 1953, until 31 May 1954.
Over and above the normal syllabus of training which consisted of lectures and practical application where possible, synthetic exercises etc:---
DECEMBER
S/L Henry and F/L Graham, ADC paid 1st Staff visit this Unit - Wing conference held. Work continued on HF Antenna - 20 meter beam dismantled - HF completed and feeders brought into transmitter room. Commenced modification AT3 to present match to 600 OHM transmission line: schedule with Calgary maintained - no contact.
Operation "Cottontail" - Army, Airforce Liaison - 2402 supplied communications - successful from training standards - all Units obligations fulfilled and VHF contact maintained at all points of operation.
New HF Antenna placed in operation. Due to adverse conditions unable to contact Calgary - test carried out to ascertain efficiency of antenna.
17 Dec S/L Grant, CO, departed for Overseas; F/L Sowerby taking over in his absence.
20 Dec Trade Exams - Controllers wrote Phase I - their first attempt at this. Xmas standdown 21 Dec 53 - 5 Jan 54.
JANUARY
AVM James & Party arrived from ADC 3 Jan & on 4 Jan inspected this Unit. Conference held in G/C Turner's Offices -Legislative Bldgs - where aims and policies of ADC were outlined & various points discussed.
5 Jan - 1st regular parade of new year. New establishments received. CO attended regular monthly conference at #17 Wing HQ.
28 Jan - Army Liaison visit from #6 AAOC Reserve.
All attempts to contact Calgary failed; suggested HF Antenna not directive enough. On arrival of fair weather TX masts set up to provide maximum propagation in direction of Calgary - possible trip to Calgary would aid in determining where difficulty lies. Deemed necessary to scrap AT3 from mobile transmitter vehicle due to wear and tear of Major Components.
FEBRUARY
S/L Grant, CO returned from Overseas and resumed command of 2402. Visited #1 Fighter Command, Northern Sector Ops HQ - very informative visit and acceptable report submitted ADC.
Interception exercise with 402 carried out - 7 interceptions completed. Radar equipment serviceability very spasmodic.
Trade test results showed 1 Ftr COp and all Controllers who wrote Phase 1 successful.
G/C's Bray & Ledoux arrived from ADC for visit; conference with Units of 17 Wing HQ held to discuss any problems pertinent to successful running of Auxiliary. F/O Gosselin, ADC, visited Unit to discuss problems of Controller training. F/L Hastings transferred to #1 Recruiting Unit Montreal.
S/L Grant, F/L's Sowerby, Basson, Galpin, & F/O Riddle on familiarization visit to Toronto - Hamilton - ADC - where much useful knowledge was garnered.
All attempts to contact Calgary still unsuccessful.
CO held meeting to discuss new establishment & it was agreed that, in view of same, training Controllers & Ftr COps was the main issue; that increased accommodation requirements would be necessary; also silence cabinets for Controllers, etc. Plans drawn up with alterations required & submitted ADC.
28 Feb live intercepts with 402 - radar equipment on air but reported u/s due to turning gear being on fire. After extinguishing same & taking pictures, #RWM40 brought to shop to determine cause. Still no contact with Calgary.
MARCH
Cause of a/m breakdown due to overheating of resister which in turn caused insulation to catch fire.
4 Mar F/O Bruce Taylor TOS as Tech Tel Officer.
Preparation going forward to place Radar antenna on roof - u/s components have been repaired.
F/O W Eadie, ADC, visited Unit while on TD in Winnipeg area.
Attempts being made to purchase transmitter components to be used to contact Wing to perform function of training aid and a communications medium.
On his return from ADC and Training Command F/L Macfie, 17 Wing HQ gave a review of all items affecting this Unit on which he secured information.
6 Controllers visited #6 AAOC Ops Centre on a liaison visit.
21 Mar - trade tests
28 Mar - Officers' qualifying exams began (the first attempt by the auxiliary).
APRIL
4 Apr - finish of Officers' Trade Exams held.
10 Apr - Operations "Downwind" with #17 Wing Units & Calgary Auxiliary - not too successful due to adverse weather conditions - Calgary unable to get through on schedule. Finally arrived 1800 hrs. All required equipment operational and functioning at 0900 hrs with exception of H/R tube in Ames II Ops Room.
11 Apr - Liaison exercise held with #6 AAOC which consisted of telling plots via H/F radio to their Ops Centre. Reasonably successful - some radio difficulty encountered.
15 Apr - F/O Riddle promoted to A/F/L.
22 Apr - Another Army Liaison held which proved more successful due to better transmitting and receiving facilities.
29 Apr - new Controller Course commenced.
F/L KN Smith ADC HQ visited unit during which telephone System for Unit discussed in detail.
MAY
Telecom exercise carried out with #6 AAOC Reserve. Considered successful.
Results of trade test showed Ftr COp - Sgt Baker obtained 3 (O) & LAW Garson - Group 2 with the highest mark in her group in Canada.
Radar equipment underwent tests to determine operational characteristics found at first targets faded in such a manner as to render equipment almost useless - Calibration tests and flight checks were run to determine where operational failures occurred from data obtained Vertical Polar Diagram could not be discerned and until more flights are made effective coverage will not be known. IFF equipment is serviceable and is to be tied into Ames-11 equipment.
Scheme to contact Calgary abandoned until more explicit details are available. Such details to cover scheduled time of contact in accordance with daily propagation conditions.
Three Controllers taken on strength in May - F/O Cy Young effective Oct 1 53, F/O John Rutherford effective 10 Dec 53, F/O Ian Ramsay effective 6 Apr 54.
SOS during period: 1 officer, 9 airmen and 5 airwomen
TOS during period: 4 officers, 9 airmen and 6 airwomen.
Strength as of 31 May 54 - 21 Officers, 36 Airmen, 19 Airwomen - Total 76.
(VP Grant) S/L
CO 2402 AC&WS (Aux) Winnipeg, Man