Historical Narrative
2402 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit (Aux) Winnipeg, Manitoba
1 June 1959 to 30 November 1959
Jun 59
Routine training schedule continued with lectures and synthetic operations room and intercept practice being carried out by officers and airmen on Tuesday and Thursday parades. Personnel travelled to 916th AC&W Sqn USAF at Beausejour on weekends for live intercept practrice using T-33 aircraft from Station Gimli and Portage La Prairie. Good use was also made there on the Systems Training Program equipment available there which gave much more realistic and comprehensive training then would be possible with the facilities available at the Unit's premises.
1 Jun 59
F/L JD MacGillivrary was promoted to A/S/L and appointed Commanding Officer of the Unit to succeed S/L BT Macfie who relinquished command on May 31. S/L Macfie was SOS on transfer to 402 Sqn as Chief Technical Officer. A/S/L JD MacGillivrary awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration.
F/L CE Johnson, Tech/Tel, appointed Deputy Commanding Officer.
6 - 7 Jun 59
F/L JD Campbell AS/FtrC and F/O KG Britton AS/FtrC returned to the Unit from Summer Camp training at Station Senneterre and F/O RG Fox, AS/FtrC and F/O F Menzies AS/FtrC returned from similar training at Stn Lac St Denis.
7 Jun 59
Members of 2402 Sqn joined with 17 Wing in the annual Decoration Day Parade in downtown Winnipeg.
23 Jun 59
The Squadron once again joined with 17 Wing for the spring inspection parade. The inspection was made and salute taken by G/C Varnam, CO of 17 Wing.
29 Jun -3 Sep 59
This was the period of the annual summer standdown when normal training ceased. However, during this period a number of the squadron's officers and airmen proceeded to RCAF permanent force stations for summer camp training. F/O DA Elliott AS/FtrC successfuly completed his Phase 3 training at Station Senneterre.
1 Jul - 30 Aug 59
F/O DA Schmidt, Pers/Ed, the Squadron Education Officer was SOS for special duty with the regular force and was attached to 3052 TTU for administrative services.
8 Aug 59
This was Air Force Day in Winnipeg featuring the Golden Hawks flying display. The unit set up a ground display depicting an AC&W operations room and conducted a series of synthetic operations for the public.
F/L LI Gunn AS/FtrC was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration.
25 Aug 59
S/L FR Sarty Pers/Edu and F/L SS Hassay Air/P both from ADCHQ visited the unit to discuss ground training matters.
31 Aug 59
S/L MacGillivray and F/L Butt, the regular force support officer, travelled to 916th Sqn USAF at Beausejour to plan the weekend training programs for the coming season. Later F/L Butt visited Stations Gimli and Portage La Prairie to brief aircraft personnel on the weekend flying exercises this squadron is to carry out with them throughout the year.
3 Sep 59
Regular training recommenced after the summer standdown. Lectures and synthetic training were once again carried out on Tuesday and Thursdays and on the weekend of Sept 11-12 the first crew went to the 916th Sqn at Beausejourfor weekend training. As before, live intercept practice was carried on with T-33 aircraft from Stations Gimli and Portage La prairie and valuable training for both officers and airmen was obtained through the use of the STP equipment.
Thirteen airmen were taken on strength on transfer from the Primary Reserve (RTTP).
8 - 16 Sep 59
Mr Stewart of Central X-ray visited this and other 17 Wing units to discuss X-ray documentations.
20 Sep 59
This unit joined with 17 Wing and Regular Air Force Units for the Battle of Britain Day Services and parade.
Oct - Nov 59
Training continued during these months as outlined above. Synthetic exercises were held once again on Sundays commencing Oct 4, following a short period when Sunday exercises were not held because of re-organization of crews and improvements being made to the operations rooms.
Scheduled lectures were instituted on subjects covered by trade examinations to be set the following January, and were carried out in addition to synthetic intercept practice and other practical work. Airmen's trade examinations were held at Station Winnipeg on October 18, with twenty-four airmen from this unit eligible to attempt them.
6 Oct 59
The official handing-over parade, F/L MacGillivray succeeding S/L Macfie, was scheduled for this date but because of the large number of new airmen on the Unit who did not yet posses uniforms, the formal parade was cancelled. Instead a reception was held at 17 Wing Headquarters for officers and other ranks in their respective messes, with approximately thirty guests from Station Winnipeg, 916th Sqn USAF and other Auxiliary Units being present.
S/L CH Havertock, SRCO, ADCHQ, paid a staff visit to the squadron.
7 - 9 Oct 59
The squadron was visited by S/L RH Pook, ADCHQ, who discussed training problems with unit personnel.
(JD MacGillivray) A/S/L
CO 2402 AC&WS (Aux) Winnipeg, Man