Historical Narrative
2402 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit (Aux) Winnipeg, Manitoba
1 December 1956 to 31 May 1957
Dec 56
On the weekend of Dec 1, F/O Worley, Training Officer of Stn Senneterre conducted Phase Two evaluations for nine of the unit controllers, all of whom were successful. The evaluations were held at 916th AC&WS, Beausejour.
There was a very good response to newspaper advertisements for controllers. Thirty or more applicants reported for interviews with the CO and were referred to the Recruiting Office at 17 Wing. Regular training and exercises were carried on to the Christmas stand-down.
Jan 57
S/L BT Macfie, F/L RW Morrison, F/O JA John, F/L JD MacGillivray and four USAF Officers from 916th AC&WS travelled to Stn Senneterre for a weekend conference on training and summer camp. Stn Senneterre expressed the desire that auxiliary personnel attend the station for summer training in groups of two or three for a week or two weeks throughout the period from May 1 to Sep 15. It was felt that better individual training could be realized in this way.
Sufficient trained personnel were now on the unit to make practical the use of live aircraft to practice interceptions and provide training toward the Phase 3 standard. With this in mind S/L BT Macfie and F/L RS Turner made arrangements for T-33 aircraft to be available on Saturday mornings, with the unit controllers operating from 916th AC&WS Beausejour.
On Jan 29, the squadron took part in ceremonies handing over 17 Wing from ADC to ATC with 2402 AC&WS and 4003 Intelligence Unit remaining under ADC. The ceremonial parade was held on Stn Winnipeg with a reception following. The sqn is now no longer under 17 Wing operationally.
Several of the squadron officers sat for F/L and F/O qualifying exams Jan 27 and Feb 3.
F/O WJ Glidden AS/FtrC TOS effective Jan 27.
Normal training including Phase One lectures and 15-JID intercept training carried on.
Feb 57
Practice interceptions with live aircraft commenced Feb 2 with aircraft supplied by Stn Gimli, alternating on subsequent week-ends with aircraft from Stn Portage La Prairie and Stn MacDonald. This provided valuable training for the units controllers and the response was enthusiastic.
Only small groups could take part in this at one time and continue Phase One, Two, FighterCop and technical training was carried on as usual. Controllers working for their Phase Two also visited the 916th AC&WS for practice on their 15-JID as the units 15-JID was not at all times serviceable.
15 Feb 57
F/O JW Bradley AS/FtrC TOS.
21 Feb 57
F/O's DA Elliot, JA Benoit, GH Lowry, G Finkle and P/Os CW Vincent and AB Reilly were TOS as Fighter Controllers.
26 Feb 57
F/O HJ Thould, Pers/Admin TOS.
28 Feb 57
F/O L Greenburgh AS/FtrC TOS
Mar 57
Training as outlined in February continued.
4 Mar 57
AVM LE Wray, AOC ADC, accompanied by S/L WL Baynton visited the squadron premises.
7 Mar 57
F/O RG Fox AS/FtrC TOS
24 Mar 57
F/L OH Hack, F/O WA Craign, ADC SOGT visited the squadron to discuss ground training problems.
15 -25 Mar 57
P/O's SC Johanson, G MacLeod and GH Mead all AS/FtrC were TOS
Apr 57
Normal training and exercises continued.
5 Apr 57
W/C JA Duncan and F/L LM Pederson both from Stn Senneterre, arrived for a two day visit to discuss summer camp planning.
9 - 10 Apr 57
S/L FR Sarty, ADCHQ, visited the unit to discuss ground training problems.
16 Apr 57
G/C Richer, SRCO, S/L Moir, SORP, and S/L Kingston ADC arrived for a conference with the CO of 5002 Sqn and the CO and key personnel of 2402 Squadron to discuss auxiliary personnel problems, equipment problems, establishment camp policy, etc.
1 - 17 Apr 57
F/O's GAE Compton, LD Boles, JR Monteith, BM Groves, A Ferguson, AJ Sheedy and P/O's JO Murphy, RJ Carriere, WN Scott, EEF Thornquist and L Bryan, all AS/FtrC's were TOS. These and others TOS in Feb, Mar and May were the result of the newspaper advertisements in Dec.
14 Apr 57
Phase One examinations written by Controllers.
24 Apr 57
F/O CA Young, AS/FtrC was transferred to 2403 AC&WS Calgary.
5 - 10 May 57
F/O JA John, Squadron support officer, proceeded to 916th AC&WS to provide fighter and target control for naval air to air firing exercises.
14 May 57
F/L CH Hacka and F/L AM Proud ADCHQ SOGT visited the squadron to discuss ground training problems.
S/L JAO Levesque RTAC and F/L JL McMahon SOCO 2, ADC, arrived on the unit to discuss operational training, accommodation and internal telephone system in present operations room facilities.
3 - 28 May 57
F/O's J Acthim, SC McKim, DF Nixon, JA Iverach, and P/O DA Murray all AS/FtrC were TOS.
28 May 57
A practice parade was held with 17 Wing for the Decoration Day parade to be held June 2.
31 May 57
JD Mosgrave from Stn Senneterre arrived to conduct Phase Two evaluations at 916 AC&WS Beausejour. Four controllers were evaluated and all were successful.
Routine training as outlined previously was carried on through the month.
Arrangements were made by ADC that the controllers taken on strength over the last two or three months and undergoing phase one training could attend summer camp at Stn Senneterre in two groups during July without security clearances, although action to obtain same must have been initiated.
(BTG Macfie) S/L
CO 2402 AC&WS (Aux) Winnipeg, Man