Historical Narrative
2403 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit (Auxiliary)
Calgary, Alta..
1 June 1952 to 30 November 1952
After much discussion at Tactical Air Group Headquartes and Air Force Headquarters, it was decided to form an Aircraft Warning Unit in Calgary, Alta. Flight Lieutenant GE Sargenia was contacted and asked if he would organize and Command this Unit to which he stated he would.
Authority to form this new Unit was contained in the Organization Order dated April 1952.
Upon taking charge of 2403 AC&WU Flight Lieutenant Sargenia was promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader.
Then came the big task of obtaining recruits for this Unit, a tentative establishment was received and recruiting was started on this basis.
Flight Lieutenant RC Parkyn (Primary Reserve Officer) was interviewed and recommended to fill the position of Unit Adjutant effective June 1st, 1952. So as of this date the Unit consisted of two Officers only, S/L Sargenia and F/L Parkyn.
During the middle of June 1952 there were four Permanent Force Airmen posted to the Unit to form part of the Support Unit which 2403 AC&WU was to have. They were:
| 27309 | Cpl Dielschneider, A | FtrCOp 3 |
| 12716 | Cpl Hammell, AW | ROp 3 |
| 13043 | Cpl Jones, A | Rdr Tech (G)3 (o) |
| 38209 | LAC Gariepy, WE | Sup Tech 1 |
On June 21 and 22, 2403 AC&WU had its first Operational Exercise using the Radar and Radio Personnel of 403 (FB) Sqn which eventually were to be transferred over to 2403 AC&WU. This exercise was called "OPERATION FIELD DAY" and was held at the Sea Cadet Encampment, Chestermere Lake, Alta. The object of this Operation was to provide power facilities for the Annual Amateur Radio Field, commencing at 1600 hours Saturday June 21st and ceasing at 1600 hours Sunday June 22nd, on a continuous basis. Also to carry out homing exercises with 403 (FB) Sqn, aircraft. (Copy of Operation Order 1/52 "OPERATIONAL FIELD DAY" is attached as Appendix "A".
Summer Camp was held at Watson Lake, YT, during June 29th and Jul 12/52, and 2403 AC&WU was represented by the Commanding Officer S/L Sargenia and the Adjutant F/L Parkyn, which were the only personnel on strength of the Unit at that time. S/L Sargenia assisted 2402 AC&WU of Winnipeg and F/L Parkyn assisted F/L Perkin Adjutant of 403 (FB) Sqn. Also at the request of the Commanding Officer of 403 (FB) Sqn, F/L Parkyn took over as Squadron Adjutant in the place of F/L Perkin who could only stay at Camp for a period of one week.
The Camp was a complete success and all personnel remarked how much they had enjoyed the two weeks of training.
During the month of July, Flight Lieutenant W Gray was posted to the Unit as Officer Commanding the Support Unit. F/L Gray had previously held the position of Station Adjutant at RCAF Station Calgary.
At the conclusion of Summer Camp the Unit closed down until September 4, 1952.
Also during the month of July the Unit was visited by W/C Conzack (Aux) from Group Headquarters, Montreal and several questions concerning AC&WU's were discussed.
The during the month of August the following personnel were taken on strength on transfer from 403 (FB) Sqn:
| 140035 | Sgt Ferguson, JH | Rdr Tech (G) 3 |
| 140148 | Sgt Hunt, RH | Rdr Tech (G) 3 |
| 140282 | Sgt Thompson, VF | Com Op 3 |
| 140077 | LAC Smith, JG | Ftr COp S |
| 140191 | LAC Ringwall, W | Ftr COp S |
| 140176 | LAC Nagate, RM | Rdr PC (G) 1 |
| 140163 | AC1 Odell, DG | Frt COp 1 |
| 140192 | AC1 Halton, WJ | Rdr Tech (A) S |
| 140266 | AC1 Gill, JA | Ftr COp S |
| 140271 | AC1 Kinsey, HE | Rdr Tech (A) S |
| 140385W | AW1 Bridgen, BD | |
| 140289W | AW2 Sutherland, CD | Ftr COp S |
| 140063 | F/L Handford, GB | Tech/Sigs |
| 140677 | F/O Richardson, T | Ftr Controller |
| 130473 | F/O Bewell, CE | Tech/Sigs |
| 140233 | F/O Simpson, KR | Air/P |
During the later part of September F/L Card visited the Unit and a discussion was held with regards to the Unit. F/L Card was from Tactical Air Group Headquarters, Edmonton, Alta.
The following personnel were taken on strength during the month of September:
| 202039 | AC1 Lundquist, CC | Ckl Typ 1 (Support) |
| 140360W | F/L Long, MA | Admin (Auxiliary) |
| 140290 | F/O Ings, RG | Ftr Controller " |
| 140364 | F/O Stephenson, JA | Ftr Controller " |
| 70384 | F/O Hill, RO | Accountant " |
Prior to the Summer Camp this Unit had their offices and class rooms in the lean-to of No 4 Hangar but this was not satisfactory as there was insufficient space. After taking the matter up with the Station Commanding Officer W/C Murray and Tactical Air Group Headquarters, it was decided that a portion of the GIS Building could be renovated to suit the requirements of this Unit. Plans were drawn up and submitted to Group Headquarters for approval and then the work began.
Week by week one could see the rapid progress being made and finally on October 26/52 the Unit moved into their new location. The workshop and operations room was not completed but work continued on these two rooms and the progress was quiet rapid.
It is pointed out that the co-operation that this Unit received from the former Commanding Officer of RCAF Station Calgary, W/C GB Murray and the present Commanding Officer S/L R Parker, has been most gratifying. Also the co-operation of the Construction Engineering Section has been excellent, for without their co-operation the Unit could not have advanced as rapidly as it has.
During the month of October the Unit was visited by F/L Lebedovitch who came down from Group Headquarters to discuss the needs of the Unit.
During the period October 27 to November 3, 1952, a Recruiting Drive was carried out in conjunction with 403 (FB) Sqn, through which a great many recruits were obtained.
A dinner was held on November 24, 1952 for both 403(FB) Sqn and 2403 AC&WU Auxiliary and Support Personnel, also in attendance were the new recruits obtained through the recruiting drive of the above Units. Approximately 143 Officers, NCO's, Airmen and Airwomen were in attendance. A grad evening meal was enjoyed by all, after which the guest of the evening, Mr Basil Dean, Associate Editor of the Calgary Herald newspaper gave a spendid address on the formation of 403 (FB) Sqn, overseas.
It is also pointed out that the personnel of the permanent Recruiting Centre F/L Westgate, F/L Reid, together with the Auxiliary Recruiting Officer, F/O Knoll, did a grand job handling the recruits as a result of the recruiting drive.
Personnel taken on strength during the month of October were as follows:
| 12776 | FS Dobbs, HC | Rdr Tech (G) 3 (Support) |
| 140369 | AC2 Lorincz, L | Ftr COp S (Auxiliary) |
| 140370 | AC2 Vang, PL | Ftr COp S |
| 140371 | AC2 Hawrelak, LA | ROp S |
| 140384 | AC2 Fisher, MS | Ftr COp S |
| 140288W | AW2 Puffer, DJ | Ftr COp S |
| 140366W | AW2 Foster, M | Ftr COp S |
| 140367 | LAC Jackson, RS | Ftr COp S |
| 140286W | AW1 Friedt, BS | Ftr COp S |
| 140287W | AW1 Squarok, M | Ftr COp S |
| 122305 | F/O Pepper, REG | Air/P |
| 140388 | P/O Bennett, | Supply |
During the month of November the Unit had a visit by F/L Atchison, Education Officer from Group Headquarters.
The Amateur Radio Association of Calgary was invited out to the Unit during the month of November and a talk was given by the Commanding Officer of the Station S/L R Parker, the Commanding Officer of 2403 AC&WU S/L Sargenia and also F/L Clarke Chief Controller as to the purpose of the Unit. Moving pictures were shown and later on refreshments were served. From this visit it is hoped to obtain further recruits for the Unit.
The following personnel were taken on strength during the month of November:
| 140284W | AW1 Melhuish, HJ | ROp S |
| 140407W | AW2 Lowe, HD | Ftr COp S |
| 140408W | AW2 Lowe, WMRF | Ftr COp S |
| 140402W | AW2 Tarves, BHL | Ftr COp S |
| 140401W | AW2 Miller, RJ | Ftr COp S |
| 140393W | AW2 Ellis, MLR | Ftr COp S |
| 140394W | AW2 Dumas, M | Ftr COp S |
| 140392W | AW2 Colby, LJ | Ftr COp S |
| 140340 | AC2 Vance, FM | Ftr COp S |
| 140335 | AC2 Ockley, JF | Ftr COp S |
| 140344 | AC2 Porter, FL | Ftr COp S |
| 140332 | AC2 Holman, KC | Ftr COp S |
| 15081 | LAC Johnston, LL | Rdr Tech (G) 1 (Support) |
| 202637 | AC1 Schlegel, RW | Rdr PC (G) 1 " |
| 140069 | F/L Clark, FE | Air/P |
| 140372 | F/O Widdop, HJ | Ftr Controller |
The biggest problem confronting this Unit is the obtaining of suitable recruits to fill the establishment, but in the very short time the Unit has been operating, the response has been very gratifying.
This Unit did not commence recruiting personnel unit the middle of September, and at the end of November 1952 had a complement of:
| AUXILIARY PERSONNEL | |
|---|---|
| 14 | Officers |
| 20 | Airmen and NCO's |
| 14 | Airwomen |
| 48 | Total |
| SUPPORT PERSONNEL | |
| 1 | Officer |
| 7 | Airmen and NCOs |
| 8 | Total |
(GE Sargenia) S/L,
CO 2403 AC&WU (Aux) RCAF,
Calgary, Alta.