Toronto, Ont, 3 Apr 51
Appendices:
Introduction
Because of unfavourable weather, Exercise "Round-Up", which was scheduled for 3 and 4 March, was carried out in part only - on 4 Mar 51.
Information
To provide for future exercises, this report goes into considerable detail.
Weather
All flying was cancelled on 3 Mar because of freezing rain and low ceilings.
The weather on 4 Mar was satisfactory. There was much layer cloud throughout the area of the exercise, and this provided an opportunity for formation climbs in clouds.
Participation
The units hereunder participated as follows:
| 400 City of Toronto Squadron | 8 Hvds and 3 Vamps |
| 420 City of London Squadron | 8 Hvds and 4 Mustangs |
| 424 City of Hamilton Squadron | 8 Hvds and 4 Mustangs |
| 2400 AC&W Unit Toronto | 2 AMES 11 and 1 CHL |
| 2424 AC&W Unit Hamilton | 1 AMES 11 |
| 50th AA Regt Peterborough | 28 vehicles and three 3.7 guns and gun-laying radar |
| AFARS | 50 "HAM" stations |
401 City of Montreal Squadron could not participate because of weather in Montreal on 4 Mar, but the squadron aircrew arrived by train to observe the exercise.
Type of Exercise
All the Hvds of 420 and 424 Sqns were scrambled at 1030 hrs and flew separate low level courses to rendevous at Coboconk at 300 feet. The combined aircraft in formation then climbed through 4,000 feet of cloud to 6,000 feet on a vector towards Downsview aerodrome.
At 1050 hrs, the 8 Hvds of 400 Squadron were scrambled under control of Downsview AMES 11. In the climb through the clouds, 4 aircraft (one section) became somewhat separated, but the remaining section successfully intercepted the 420 and 424 raiders in the Wilfrid-Derryville area.
All the 24 Hvds then formed close formation and flew over Toronto and Hamilton and returned to land at Downsview at 1245 hrs.
Several events in this part of the exercise require mention:
The eight Mustangs of 420 and 424 Sqns were airborne at 1045 hrs, and climbed to 20,000 feet in the NW quadrant. At 1115 hrs, four Vampires of 400 Sqn were scrambled to intercept.
The Vampires received three vectors from the Downsview Control (2400 AC&WU) but failed to intercept. Actually, the radar had a good plot on the Mustangs, but saw the Vamps only once on the scope. One of the Vamps had undercarriage trouble and did not engage in the exercise.
When it became apparent that the interception was a failure, all aircraft were recalled to the aerodrome and formed up to fly over Toronto. On their return to Downsview, the Mustangs carried out straffing exercises for the AA Regiment from Peterborough.
Maintenance
The groundcrew of London and Hamilton Sqns arrived by ground and air, and looked after their own aircraft. 400 Sqn airmen serviced their own aircraft. There were no apparent difficulties.
400 Sqn Armament Section used 140 brown and white smoke puffs to simulate defences during straffing. Blank ammo was also used in the Hvds to strafe the aeroplanes on the aerodrome at the end of the exercise.
Publicity
The CO 2400 AC&W Unit coordinated the publicity for the exercise, but F/O TG Goodman did the actual work. A very comprehensive plan was devised to include press, radio and film outlets. Conferences were held with representatives of these outlets. Many information letters were sent out.
The actual expenses incurred were $68.96. The estimated cost at standard rates was:
Appendix "A" gives the details of the advertising. The exercise was a huge success from the publicity viewpoint.
Administration
Two months before "Round-Up", the OC Support Unit 400 Sqn carried out liaison visits with all sqns concerned to determine type, scope and pattern of the exercise.
The plan required that:
OC Support 400 Sqn arranged for these personnel well in advance - their reception, transportation, and hotel accommodation, where necessary.
Extra refuelling tenders, battery carts, oxygen carts, shop mules were obtained.
Materiel personnel were standing by throughout the exercise, and a duty officer was on call at 1 SD during 3-4 March for AOG items.
The Army officer working unofficially with 400 Sqn arranged with Army Central Command Headquarters at Oakville for Peterborough AA Unit participation, and for observers in Signals and Engineering (demolition and simulating bombing).
It was necessary to arrange for observers from ADG and TCHQ.
Because of the number of aircraft, it was necessary to allocate definite parking areas for the various sqns and airlift aircraft.
The officer i/c Maintenance made detailed plans for increased servicing, overnight storage of aircraft, lock-ups, and groundcrew rooms.
Next year - as this year - there must be one officer in complete charge of coordination, preparation and general administration.
A clear-cut alternate program is necessary in the event of unfavourable weather; for example, conducted tours of Scarborough, IAM, AV Roe and DeHavilland.
AFARS
The AFARS Sqn Controller for the Toronto area accepted an invitation for his organization to participate in the operation.
Arrangements were made to set up an amateur communications control station (GR10 receivers - ATS transmitter) at Scarborough.
It was decided to use 3765 Kcs as the operating frequency with 4290 kcs as the alternate frequency.
The message form was to be laid out as follows:
Time - Call signs - Number of Aircraft - Type - Range - Height - Direction - Proceeding.
The operation was explained to all the AFARS members in the area who responded eagerly.
During the operation, a total of 40 visual plots were received which gave considerable assistance to operations.
Participation in any future exercise is a must.
Telecommunications
Mobile AMES11 (C) convoys were located at Oshawa, Downsview and Mount Hope. A fixed CHL radar was located at Scarborough. Airfields proved poor sites for the radar units as all the aircraft in the vicinity of the airfield were lost in PEs (permanent echoes) on the radar screens.
For future exercises, sites should be selected well in advance of the operation at distances of 10 miles or more from airfields.
Radar detection of Harvards and Mustangs was good on all radars, but intermittent on Vampires. It was difficult to assess Downsview radar in this latter regard because of the Controller's decision to go off the air for calibration while the Vampires were airborne.
Frequent calibration flights to train controllers, technicians and operators are recommended.
Downsview convoy was not roadable at the time of this operation. All vehicles have now been serviced, with the exception of three which are out to civilian contractors. Oshawa vehicles were unsatisfactory and are now undergoing overhaul.
Information from AMES units at Downsview and Oshawa was passed via telephone circuits to the Operations Room at Scarborough. These circuits were unsatisfactory for the following reasons:
These difficulties would not have been experienced if the Bell Telephone Company had received sufficient notice of the requirements. This was unavoidable as confirmation of 2400 AC&W Unit's participation came at a late date. When the radar sites referred to in para 38 are chosen, permanent landline installations should be made.
As a stand-by, HF facilities (4180 kcs and 4275kcs) were provided from Oshawa and Downsview to Scarborough. As a telephone circuit could not be obtained between Mount Hope and Scarborough, similar HF facilities were set up.
HF communication was good at all times, although early breakdowns of APU and Diesel were experienced at Oshawa.
Mutual interference between communications and radar equipment was noticed. For future exercises, it is planned to reposition the HF equipment and design filters to overcome this difficulty.
A facility for scrambling aircraft at Downsview was available to the Chief Controller via landline or HF link to Downsview radar, then via field telephone to the tower.
Considerable noise and confusion at the plotting table resulted from the lack of an internal communications network at Scarborough. Such a communications system cannot be installed until the operations room is completed. Plans for a permenent intra-room network are now being formulated, and after consultation with Bell Telephone engineers, will be submitted to TCHQ for approval.
Ground to air control of interceptions could be effected on channels C and D (137.7 Mcs and 133.2 Mcs) at all sites except Oshawa. Only one channel was available at the communications truck which accompanied this convoy. The VHF at Downsview was off the air for 15 minutes due to an APU breakdown. Control of aircraft could have been handed over to Scarborough radar by notifying the operations room via the landline link. The Controller at the CHL PPI position could have observed these circumstances by monitoring his VHF channel. The Chief Controller had monitoring facilities on the landlines only, and it is planned to provide VHF monitoring facilities for him also.
A prerequisite to successful operations in the future is a permanent VHF installation associated with each radar unit. It is understood that AMC is planning the use of VHF sets AF/ICG 47 and 48 for this purpose.
See paras 30 to 36 inclusive of this report for particulars on AFARS.
"Appendix B" to this report shows the location of telecommunications facilities provided for this operation.
Radar - Operational
Considering the problems involved, the operation of radar was quite satisfactory. For details of the operation, see Appendix "C".).
Army (Reserve)
From the RCAF's point of view, all phases of Army activity with Operation "Round-Up" was satisfactory. Army interest and co-operation was excellent. Because this exercise was primarily planned for training in air interception and not air defence or Army support, the operational training that the Army received was limited. Exercises of this nature, however, bring the two services closer together, promoting better understanding of the functions, limitations and problems confronting each service.
Attached as Appendix "D".) is the Army report on this exercise.
Comments on Exercise
(GA Hiltz) G/C,
CpCdr,
RCAF ResGp HQ.