Historical Narrative
2402 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit (Aux) Winnipeg, Manitoba
1 December 1960 to 31 March 1961
Dec 60 - Jan 61
The regular training routine was unchanged as the squadron's disbandment date of March 31, 1961 approached. Groups of the squadron's officers and airmen travelled to 916th Sqn, USAF at Beausejour, each weekend for live intercept practice with T-33 aircraft from RCAF Stns Gimli and Portage La Prairie and synthetic training exercises using the 916th Sqn's STP equipment. Regular Tuesday and Thursday night parades continued for training on the squadron's premises, involving lectures and use of 15-JID equipment and the synthetic control rooms.
22 Dec 60 - 4 Jan 61
The squadron ceased operations for the Christmas and New Years standdown.
Jan 61
F/O JW Bradley, AS/FtrC, & F/O GH Lowry, AS/FtrC were promoted to the rank of F/L.
Feb - Mar 61
Training as above was continued until the end of February, when the necessary preparations for the squadron's disbandment at the end of March brought an end to routine. The last trip to 916th at Beausejour was made on the weekend of Feb 24-25.
3 Feb 61
On this date the formal disbandment parade was held at Stn Winnipeg. Units from 17 Wing (Aux) and 402 Sqn (Aux) formed a hollow square and the 17 Wing Pipe Band was in attendance as the squadron paraded before and was inspected by A/C JB Harvey, from ADC. The parade was commanded by S/L JD Macgillivray, the squadron Commanding Officer. A/C Harvey later addressed the squadron, explaining the reasons for its disbandment and congratulating it on its record since its formation ten years previously.
Also on the reviewing stand were Major Findlay of St James, Major Davis of the 916th Sqn, USAF, S/L McNichol representing Stn Winnipeg, W/C Avent representing Training Command, G/C Varnam representing 17 Wing (Aux) and Lt Col Boivin CO of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
During the parade A/C Harvey presented F/O HJ Thould with the Canadian Forces Decoration. The parade was witnessed by other special guests as well as the wives of the squadron's members, a reception was held later at 17 Wing.
4 Mar 61
On this weekend the squadron's officers were invited by the USAF to visit Grand Forks Air Base at Grand Forks, North Dakota; fourteen officers made the trip, driving down on the Friday night and returning on Sunday. While there they were taken on tours of the SAGE control center located there and the 18th FIS, which operate F-101 interceptors. Both tours were of considerable interest and the squadron was indebted to the USAF personnel for their hospitality and interest and to the CO of 916th Squadron who arranged the visit.
The remainder of the month was taken up with disbandment procedures with the object of the sqn being completely wound up by March 31. Several officers and airmen were transferred to other Auxiliary units and the remainder transferred to the Supplementary Reserve.
(JD MacGillivray) S/L
CO 2402 AC&WS (Aux) Winnipeg, Man