Historical Narrative
2402 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit (Aux) Winnipeg, Manitoba
1 December 1959 to 31 May 1960
Dec 59 - Jan 60
During this period normal training was carried on, except of course during the Christmas and New Year standdown from 17 Dec to 5 Jan. Lectures for officers and airmen and synthetic training exercises in the Canadian and American type control rooms, with both horizontal and vertical plotting boards were carried on by officers and airmen. In addition a number of personnel visited the 916th AC&W Sqn USAF at Beausejour, Man on each weekend for Systems Training Program exercises and live intercepts, on Saturday mornings working with T-33 aircraft from Stn Portage La Prairie and Gimli. Considerable study was also put in, leaving this period for officers who intended to attempt the F/Os and F/Ls qualifying examinations which were sat on 24 Jan and 17 Feb 60.
1 Dec 59
F/L JL McMahon, ADCHQ, visited the squadron to discuss auxiliary fighter controller and fighter control operator operations.
Jan 60
F/O F Menzie, AS/FtrC was promoted to F/L.
Feb - Mar 60
During this period training was carried on as before with the exception that during Feb new restrictions were placed on weekend training at 916th Sqn. The unit's Fighter Controllers who were qualified Phase 3 were grouped for specialization in only one of the three phases of controlling, namely, intercept controlling, surveillance controlling, and the post of duty controller. Hence, for the only two intercept controllers, one surveillance controller and one duty controller visited Beausejour each weekend with the exception of once a month when an STP was carried out. Airmen went out each weekend as before to double bank or take over from regular force personnel. Those officers who were not qualified to Phase Three continued their training on the unit's premises, utilizing the 15-JID synthetic trainer.
17 Feb 60
F/L GS Milne, AS/FtrC transferred to the trade of Pers/Admin.
29 Feb 60
P/O PL Sparling, Med/Nur, was promoted to the rank of F/O.
4 - 13 Mar 60
F/O RG Fox, AS/FtrC and F/L IS Ramsay, AF/FtrC went to Stn Senneterre during this period for summer camp training and obtained their phase three evaluation.
Mar - Apr 60
Training continued as outlined above with the further exception that weekend training at 916th Sqn was reduced again so that training carried out only on alternate weekends, rather than on every week, and as before, with the same restrictions as above on personnel who could attend. At the end of May a decision by Command was made known, that in view of the above restrictions, many of the squadron personnel expected. Due to changing air defence requirements the squadron's establishment of fighter controllers was reduced roughly half, and the Ftr COp strength limited to forty. In common with other Auxiliary AC&W Squadrons, the disagreeable task of deciding which officers would have to be released was begun, the target date for the new establishment being 1 Sep 60.
1 Apr 60
Sgt JM Henderson, Discip, was promoted to FS effective this date, also Cpls JE Tulloch, FtrCOp, and J Kishka, FtrCOp were promoted to Sgts.
1 May 60
The Squadron joined 17 Wing, Aux, and other Squadrons attached to the Wing for the Annual Church parade. The salute and march past was taken by G/C Varnum, CO of 17 Wing.
3 May 60
S/L Pook, ADCHQ, visited the squadron for technical liaison purposes.
(JD MacGillivray) S/L
CO 2402 AC&WS (Aux) Winnipeg, Man