2453 AC&W Sqn (Auxiliary)
Three Rivers, PQ

National Archives of Canada


Historical Narrative
2453 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (Auxiliary)
Three Rivers, PQ.
1 June 1959 to 30 November 1959

May 52

1 Circumstances attending the formation of the unit

  1. Date of formation
  2. Location: 873 Hart St., Trois Rivieres Quebec.
  3. Function: To train personnel as fighter controllers, fighter control operators, clerk typists, clerk accounts, supply technicians and air force policemen and have a maximum of 12 Fighter Controllers Phase 3 and 23 Fighter Control Opertors group 1 or higher available for active duty with the regular force in time of emergency.
  4. 30 Nov 59 - Present Strength

    Total Officers on strength - 30
    Total Airmen on strength - 70
    Total Airwomen on strength - 14

2 Officers in key positions

30 Nov 59

COS/L AO Dumaseff Sep 57
CAdOF/L R Lafreniereeff Sep 57
CTrainOF/L R Briereeff Sep 57
COpsOF/L F Hardyeff Sep 57
CIF/L E Bondeff Sep 57
CTsOF/O G Reynoldseff Feb 57
SAOF/O G Brousseaueff Feb 58

3 Honours & Awards

13 Nov 59

Canadian Forces Decoration to 154002 F/L PE St Arnault effective 13 Nov 59.

4 Unit Activities on Summer Camp and Contact Training

1 Jun to 30 Nov 59

Summer Camp 1959 and Contact Training from 1 Jun to 30 Sep 59 were held at RCAF Stn Parent.

Officers:

Ten officers attended summer camp at Stn Parent for periods varying from a maximum of 6 days to 15 days. Two personnel administration officers were authorized an additional period of twenty (20) days on special duty following summer camp to assist at Stn Parent in the changeover of administration personnel. One officer Tech/Tel proceeded to Stn North Bay for a period of 15 days summer camp. One nursing sister was on special duty at RCAF Stn Bagotville for a period of 6 weeks.

Airmen: Thirty airmen attended summer camp at Stn Parent for periods varying from a maximum of 6 days to 15 days. Twenty-four airmen were authorized special duty at Stn Parent on contact training from 6 Jul 59 to 26 Aug 59 incl.

5 Unit activities - Weekend Training

30 Oct to 13 Nov 59

Heavy site - RCAF Stn St Sylvestre. Two weekends of training were attended at St Sylvestre on 30 Oct 59 and 13 Nov 59 with a total of 12 officers and 32 airmen in attendance for both weekends. Weekend training were discontinued in the months of July and August due to a stand-down at this unit and unavailability of quarters at heavy site.

27 Nov 59

Effective 27 Nov 59, weekend training will take place at RCAF Stn Lac St Denis. On that weekend, 8 Officers and 16 airmen attended.

6 Unit activities - RTTP

Apr to 31 Aug 59

A total of 49 RTTP applicants were recruited for the 1959 RTTP at this unit. Training commenced in April. The training was divided in two phases. Phase 1 training which consists of an indoctrination was held on two evening a week from April to June. Phase 2 training consisted of eight hours a day of lectures and drill from 29 Jun to 31 Aug 59. Below is a breakdown on the RTTP training:

No of RTTP Recruited

FtrCOp - 40
ClkTyp - 8
Air Cadets - 1 (as FtrCOp)

Results

Passed Group 1 Exams - 43
CT'd during Phase 2 - 4
Failed Group 1 Exams - 2

One day at heavy site RCAF Stn St Sylvestre for familiarization was arranged for all RTTP students during the month of August.

A parents' visit on 30 July 59 was arranged so that the parents could see their son doing operational duties, and they were taken for a tour of the building.

7 Ceremonies and Visits

24 Jun 59

Queen's Visit in Trois Rivieres. The personnel from this unit assisted the local authorities in doing street lining and liaison with the press.

20 Sep 59

Battle of Britain - A parade was held in Trois Rivieres with Quebec Group RCAF Association and local air force personnel participating. Wreaths were laid at the cenotaph in Trois Rivieres.

8 Nov 59

Armistice Day - A parade was held in Trois Rivieres with the Canadian Army (Reserve), RCAF (Aux), Air Cadets, Navy Cadets and the Canadian Legion participating. Wreaths were laid at the cenotaph in Trois Rivieres and two officers from this unit were delegated to lay a wreath at Cap-de-la-Madeleine.

11 - 12 Nov 59

A red cross blood clinic was held in the airmen's mess at this unit.

8 Social Activities

17 Oct 59

A mess dinner was held at this unit with the Hon Leon Balcer, Solictor General of Canada as guest of honour. G/C WJ Grant was the Air Officer Commanding representative on this occasion.

9 CONCLUDED

(AO Dumas) S/L
Commanding Officer
2453 AC&WS (aux)
Trois Rivieres Que