Lac St. Denis, QC

The advance party was composed of the following officers and airmen:

F/L JD Richards, the RCAF Resident Engineer from AMC, F/O Higgins and F/O Robinson had been on the sight for approximately 18 months.

The following buildings were taken over from AMC during March: Supply, Maintenance, Mess Hall, Barrack Block #1.

Consolidated Engines of Montreal held a PPOp course with Mr. Edwards and Mr. Jackson of that Company in charge.

202 RCAF Radio Station was officially opened. Officers in key positions were as follows:

There were many visitors to the unit as it is the first of a chain of Radio Stations to be opened.

Among the official visitors were A/V/M Smith and G/C Scott.

The Messes were opened with the Officer’s and Sgt’s being combined.

Barrack Block #2 and 12 PMQ’s were accepted from AMC.

On the 7 May one Airwoman Officer and 36 Airwomen (including one Corporal) arrived on this unit.

The Airwoman Officer, P/O WM McDowall assumed the duties of Station Adjutant.

Among the numerous visitors to the unit were:

June 1952

Nursing Sister, P/O HM Marcroft arrived on the unit 2 June 52. With her arrival the MIR has moved into PMQ 3 and a temporary Sick Quarter was set up.

The first CO’s Conference was held on 5 June 52. The main topic under discussion was the forthcoming Exercise Signpost.

Air Force Day was celebrated by the respective Messes holding Open House. Attendance of the public was restricted to "By Invitation Only".

The first public appearance of the unit was in a parade with the Ste. Agathe Branch, Canadian Legion, BESL. The occasion was the unveiling of the Cenotaph in Ste. Agathe by the Honorable Gaspard Fauteux, Lt-General of Quebec. The salute of the March Past was taken by Honourable G Fauteux and W/C DJG Jackson, CO.

The unit was visited by W/C Briese, CO RCAF Station, Mont Apica.

202 RCAF Radio Station became Operational 1 Jul 52. The station spent the earlier part of July preparing for Exercise Signpost. Visiting auxiliary units to Signpost were: #1 R&C, Montreal; 2401 AC&W, Montreal; 5 ADCC, Vancouver; 2424 AC&W, Hamilton; 2405 AC&W Halifax.

During Exercise Signpost there were many distinguished visitors, Military and Governmental. Some of the more notable visitors were:

The second PPOp Course was held by Consolidated Engines with Mr. Edwards and Mr. Jackson as instructors.

The month commenced with a luncheon in the Officer’s Mess for the Honourable Brooke Claxton, Minister of National Defence and his party.

The CO W/C DJG Jackson and Controllers attended an AOC’s Conference on 8 Aug 52 at ADCHQ, St. Hubert.

The sport highlight of the month was the baseball game between the Station team and the Officer’s team, on 20 Aug. The trophy, donated by the Officers, was made on the station and will be competed for annually. The Station team won 18 to 5.

The first official Officers Mess dinner was held at 1700 hours 29 Aug 52.

Distinguished visitors in August included G/C Welstead, W/C Evans and W/C Roberts.

On 15 Sep 52, #1 AC&W Squadron transferred its Headquarters from RCAF Station St. Hubert to RCAF Station Lac St. Denis, the Sector Commander is S/L Tew.

Battle of Britain Sunday was observed by Church Parades to Morin Heights United and Anglican Churches and Ste. Adolphe Roman Catholic Church.

Newest arrival was the SMO. F/L MMA Kenny from Ireland.

On 25 Sep G/C Webber, CO RCAF Station St. Johns PQ and a party of Officers from PSU (A), St. Johns toured the unit.

Visitors to the unit during September included: G/C Scott, G/C Fawcett, and Major Monsell, Captain Silverman and Captain Willbrodt of the USAF.

The unit, 202 RCAF Radio Station is now known as 11 AC&W Squadron and 1 AC&W is now known as 1 ADCC.

Canadian General Electric handed over installations to the RCAF on 22 Oct 52. The occasion was marked by a cocktail party in the Officers Mess and a dinner at the Lapointe Hotel in St. Jerome.

A station bowling league was organized. Twelve teams were formed and bowling took place Tuesdays and Thursdays in Ste. Agathe.

Visitors to this unit during October included:

November 1952

The unit observed Remembrance Day by attending services in the surrounding towns. RC’s paraded to Morin Heights RC church on Sunday morning and W/C Jackson took the salute following the mass at 1000 hours. All ranks paraded to the Ste. Agathe Cenotaph for a service at the Ste. Agathe Legion. Salute on the March Past was taken by W/C Jackson and His Worship the Mayor of Ste. Agathe.

An interesting lecture was presented by Professor Thomas Greenwood on behalf of the Bureau of Current Events. The address – "US Foreign Policy under the New President".

On 11 December the Station Hockey team played its first game in the Laurentian League. W/C Jackson faced off the puck in the Ste. Agathe Arena with the RCAF vs. Ste. Agathe, the latter being the victors. There was a round of Christmas and New Year’s Festivities on the unit. The year ended with a formal dance in the Officers Mess and a Station Dance in the almost complete Recreation Hall for other ranks and their guests.

New Year’s Levee was held in the Officers Mess on New Year’s Day. The position of Chief Technical Officer was assumed by F/L JD Richards, Tech/Tel. The Reverend Robert Blair, Minister of Morin Heights United Church became officiating Clergyman for the unit.

Social event of the month was the Official opening of the Recreation Hall. The occasion was celebrated by holding a dance at which the music was provided by Charlie Spivak’s Orchestra.

An official visit was paid by W/C DJG Jackson and W/C Marcou to 12 AC&W Squadron, Mont Apica on 24, 25 and 26 Feb. Their visit was reciprocated when W/C Briese, CO 12 AC&W Squadron returned for an official visit to this unit.

On 27 Feb this unit received a visit from tour Senior Officers of the Royal Flying College. These officers, W/C Hughes, W/C Blount, S/L Blythe and S/L Cartridge toured the Operations Building and later in the evening were guests of the Officers Mess at a Mess Dinner.

Other visitors included Brigadier Hyde and Colonel Fisher.

On 2 Mar, F/L Borysuik, SSO and F/L RK Noonan, CEO attended the STSO Conference held at ADCHQ.

This unit received a visit from A/C Hendricks, Chief of Telecom accompanied by W/C Balk of ADCHQ.

A Station Dance was held on 19 Mar 53 and music was supplied by the RCAF Central Band Orchestra.

On 31 Mar, F/L JD Richards, formerly Resident Engineer, STelO and presently CTechO, was transferred to ADCHQ.

The Station Bowling League wound up its activities in March and the top team was from 1 ADCC.

On 15 April the Officers from RCAF Staff College visited this unit and toured the Operations Building.

During the month fighter pilots from Chatham OUT and 422 Squadron Uplands visited this unit for the purpose of familiarizing themselves with the work that is done in our Operations Building.

The Expenditure Committee from the Government at Ottawa composed of fifteen MP’s visited this unit and toured the Operations Building.

An ECM course was held from 6 Apr at this unit and was attended by approximately 60 representatives from the Army, Air Force and USAF.

The spring break-up of roads in this area practically isolated this station as all forms of transportation were brought to a halt by the mud. However, our ME Section with the aid of their power wagons were able to maintain a regular scheduled to Moran Heights and Ste. Agathe.

Notable visitors to this unit during April were: A/V/M James, AOC Air Defence Command and W/C Strange, Wing Commander Operations Air Control & Warning Squadron.

On 14 May this unit closed down operationally for repairs and annual maintenance. Personnel not on leave or employed operationally were assigned other duties around the unit and a general station clean up was carried out.

The Bowling League held their Bowling Banquet at the Belmont Hotel in Ste. Agathe on 12 May; Bowling trophies were awarded to the winning team from 1 ADCC.

A Fireman’s Ball was originated by the Station Fire Fighters and held in the Recreation Centre which was very effectively decorated for the occasion.

A/C Clements and his party toured this unit on 27 May. Notable members of this party were: