Comox, BC

1983 – Memories of Comox – Dave Winter


51 AC&W Squadron was only operational for four years as a Pinetree Line long range radar station. There were many unique aspects associated with this unit. For starters, the AC&W Squadron was located outside of the boundaries of RCAF Station Comox. It was not until after the site ceased operating as a radar station that the boundaries of RCAF Station Comox were extended to include the property that 51 AC&W Squadron had been located on. The Squadron was also very close to two other Pinetree Line radar stations - located at Tofino and Holberg. Records indicate that 51 AC&W Squadron became operational in November 1954 and the unit was closed down in June 1958.

Unlike other Pinetree Line radar stations which were eventually closed down – the facilities in Comox continued to function – but in a different operational role. While 51 AC&W Squadron ceased to exist, all of the radar equipment and the buildings which formed the Squadron were handed over to the Air Traffic Control function and this resulted in the birth of a Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) facility on the station.

The FPN-504 radar equipment was installed in 1968. It has been said that the wind played hell with the huge solid sail, and in a few short years nearly took the top roof off the tower. The following pictures show the system coming down in 1983 in time for TRACS.

The dismantling of the FPN-504 has absolutely nothing to do with the Pinetree Line – but most of the buildings which are in these photographs date back to the early years (1954-1958) – when the Pinetree Line was operational at this location.



Click on the description text to view the photograph.
  1. FPN-504 sitting on top of cement tower. Original Pinetree Line tower and catwalk in foreground - 1983.

  2. Crane arriving to dismantle FPN-504 radar antenna. Original Pinetree Line tower to left of antenna - 1983.

  3. FPN-504 antenna sail on its way down. Original Pinetree Line site buildings in background - 1983.

  4. FPN-504 antenna almost at ground level. Original Pinetree Line site buildings in background - 1983.

  5. FPN-504 antenna on the ground. Note size of man in relation to size of antenna sail. Original Pinetree Line catwalk in background - 1983.

  6. Crane preparing to remove FPN-504 gear assembly. Original Pinetree Line tower on right - 1983.

  7. Crane lifting FPN-504 gear assembly from tower. Original Pinetree Line support buildings in upper part of photo - 1983.

The next photo is taken from Kin Beach below the TRACS ASR tower. This beach is just below the location of the original 51 AC&W Squadron Operations site.

  1. The beauty of Kin Beach - with TRACS ASR tower visible in upper right hand corner - 1987.



Photographic Credits

All photos are used with permission.


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Updated: April 25, 2000