Pinetree Line

Reserve Aircraft and Warning Units

2424 Aircraft Control and Warning Unit
Hamilton, Ontario

2424 Aircraft Control & Warning Unit (Reserve) was formed on 1 October 1950 to train Reserve personnel in all aspects of aircraft control and warning procedures as well as to operate and maintain radar and communications facilities within Training Command. On 1 August 1951, control of 2424 AC&WU was undertaken by Air Defence Command. Facilities at both the Mount Hope airport and at the Armoury on James Street were used.

On 1 November 1951, the unit became an Auxiliary formation vice Reserve and on 1 December 1953 became a Squadron.

2424 AC&W trained a number of RCAF Reserve personnel from the Hamilton area. Training facilities were located at Mount Hope, a World War II airport, in the nearby area. Trainees from 2451 AC&W Squadron, Windsor, Ontario, were trained at Mount Hope during the summer of 1956. The airport at Mount Hope was eventually converted into the Hamilton airport.

Narrative reports on the Pinetree Line web site confirm that 2424 AC&W Squadron was active at RCAF Station Edgar, ON during the years 1953 to 1959 inclusive. There is also evidence that identifies a deployment to RCAF Station Parent in 1954, RCAF Station Senneterre in 1955, RCAF Station St. Margarets in 1957 and 1958, RCAF Station Falconbridge in 1956, and RCAF Station Lac St. Denis in 1952.

2424 AC&W Squadron disbanded on 31 January 1961 as a direct result of the SAGE systems incoming for the Regular AC&W Squadrons making Auxiliary manual operators redundant.


Click on the description text to view the photograph.
  1. Historical Narrative Report - 1 December 1960 to 31 January 1961.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  2. Organization Order R2.0.5 - 3 October 1960.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  3. Historical Narrative Report - 1 June 1960 to 30 November 1960.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  4. Historical Narrative Report - 1 December 1959 to 31 May 1960.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  5. 2424 AC&W Squadron personnel, Hamilton Ontario - September 1959.
    Courtesy of Pat Chenier.

  6. Historical Narrative Report - 1 June 1959 to 30 November 1959.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  7. Organization Order R2.0.5 - 11 March 1959.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  8. RTTP staff of 2424 AC&W Squadron - 1959.
    Back row (L-R) Unknown, Cpl T Onken, Cpl RD McCrory, unknown, unknown. Front row (L-R) Unknown, unknown, F/L McMillan, F/O S MacLaren, Sgt J Johnson.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  9. 2424 AC&W Squadron. RTTP staff and trainees - 1959.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  10. Larger image of previous photo - 1959.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  11. 2424 AC&W Squadron. RTTP staff and trainees - 1959.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  12. Larger image of previous photo - 1959.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  13. Historical Narrative Report - 1 December 1958 to 31 May 1959.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  14. ROTP Flight cadets being trained at 2424 AC&W Squadron, Hamilton Ontario - 1958.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  15. Larger image of previous photo - 1958.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  16. Identification as written on the back of the previous photo - 1958.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  17. Historical Narrative Report - 1 June 1958 to 30 November 1958.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  18. SIT Course #421 held at RCAF Station Trenton - November 1957.
    Back row (L-R) Cpl Hounsome, Cpl Russ McRory (2424 AC&W Squadron support staff), Cpl Giesler, Cpl Thompson, LAC Joly (2424 AC&W Squadron support staff), LAC Presley. Center row (L-R) LAC Blank, Cpl Foy, LAC Robertson, LAC Laverdure, LAC Larry Gibson, LAC Ryan. Front row (L-R) Cpl Lamonde, Sgt. Christensen, Mr. Rudd (staff) Sgt Reed, LAC Lacasse.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  19. 2424 AC&W Squadron Fighter Controllers. Photo taken in front of Reserve Officers Mess in downtown Hamilton - October 1957.
    Back row (L-R) S McAllister, unknown, unknown, unknown, J Robbins, unknown. Front row (L-R) A Bourne, unknown, unknown, Andy Anderson, McMillan (Regular Force), P Ardeline, S Napper, unknown.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  20. 2424 AC&W Squadron Fighter Controllers and Auxilliary personnel in front of Reserve Officers Mess in downtown Hamilton - October 1957.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  21. Larger image of previous photo - October 1957.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  22. Organization Order R2.0.0.6 - 12 August 1957.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  23. 16 Wing RTTP Staff - August 1957.
    Back row (L-R) Unknown, unknown, J Johnson, K Zentner, unknown, G Reinke, unknown, C Jackson, unknown. Center row (L-R) R McCrory, S MacLaren, L Rive, Brown, Baxter, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, K Birchell. Front row (L-R) Unknown, unknown, Coulter, F Stock, unknown, unknown, unknown, R Enns, J Bates.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  24. Larger image of previous photo - August 1957.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  25. 16 Wing RTTP Trainees and staff at RCAF Station Hamilton - August 1957.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  26. Larger image of previous photo - August 1957.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  27. Toronto Globe & Mail newspaper article on Reserves at Hamilton - 13 July 1957.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  28. Newspaper photo accompanying the article - 13 July 1957.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  29. 2424 Squadron personnel at the train station in Newcastle NB heading for summer deployment at St. Margarets - July 1957.
    Back row (L-R) - Coomba, unknown, unknown, unknown, Cpl Bob Laviolett (regular force escort), unknown, unknown, Ivan Prokopchuck (Elvis). Front row (L-R) - Johnson, Ron Huntley, Len Kuchynski, Jerry Yee.
    Courtesy of Len Kuchynski.

  30. View of the Operations site at St. Margarets - July 1957.
    As seen from Highwsy 11, just outside of the fence.
    Courtesy of Len Kuchynski.

  31. Len Kuchynski in front of the barracks at St. Margarets - July 1957.
    Courtesy of Len Kuchynski.

  32. Historical Narrative Report - 1 June 1957 to 30 November 1957.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  33. RTTP staff at 2424 AC&W Squadron, Hamilton Ontario - August 1956.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  34. Larger image of previous photo - August 1956.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  35. Identification as written on the back of the previous photo - August 1956.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  36. Daily Dairy - 1 June 1956 to 30 November 1956.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  37. Daily Dairy - 1 January 1956 to 31 May 1956.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  38. 2424 AC&W Reserve Squadron personnel at the CNR train depot in Senneterre - July 1955.
    Courtesy Russ McCrory.

  39. 2424 AC&W Reserve Squadron personnel at the CNR train depot in Senneterre - July 1955.
    Courtesy Russ McCrory.

  40. Daily Dairy - 1 January 1955 to 31 December 1955.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  41. Organization Order R2.0.16.2 - 28 December 1954.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  42. 2424 AC&W Squadron. RTTP staff and trainees - 1954.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  43. Larger image of previous photo - 1954.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  44. 2424 AC&W Squadron. RTTP staff - 1954.
    Back row (L-R) Jack Reid, unknown, R Green, unknown, Pritlove. Front row (L-R) Cpl RD McCrory, Sgt R Enns, F/L N Christopher, F/L W Miller, Cpl Beisenthal.
    Courtesy of Russ McCrory.

  45. Daily Dairy - 1 January 1954 to 31 December 1954.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  46. Organization Order 87-53 - 23 November 1953.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  47. Daily Dairy - 1 January 1953 to 31 December 1953.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  48. 2424 AC&W Reserve Squadron with their AMES-11C equipment on deployment in the Haliburton Highlands - 19 July 1952 to 2 August 1952.
    Courtesy Russ McCrory.

  49. Daily Dairy - 1 June 1952 to 31 December 1952.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  50. Organization Order 88-51 - 28 June 1951.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  51. Daily Dairy - 1 December 1950 to 13 April 1952.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

  52. Organization Order 52-50 - 18 August 1950.
    Courtesy of National Archives of Canada.

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Updated: September 19, 2004