1 Radar and Communications Unit (Auxiliary) RCAF
Montreal, PQ

National Archives of Canada


Historical Narrative
1 Radar and Communications Unit (Auxiliary) RCAF, Montreal, PQ
1 June 1951 to 30 November 1951

1 Jun 51

Advice was received from Reserve Group that an Operational and a Technical Wing would be formed. It was then decided that for the present the AC&WUs at Ottawa, Sherbrooke, Quebec and 1 R&C would come under this Wing

7 Jun 51

The CO of 1 R&C made an urgent request to Reserve Group in order that completion of the renovations and the supply of equipment for the 1 R&C building be expedited.

9 Jun 51

20996 Sgt BG Newport Clk Adm RFS (1 R&C) was transferred to ADC HQ St Hubert effective 15 Jul 51 reporting 16 Jul 51.

12 Jun 51

This Unit was advised of the impending formation of 3001 TTU with 120527 S/L CFB Seager as its CO. This Unit is to be provided with Quarters in the basement of 1 R&C Building at 20 Laurier West.

15 Jun 51

Advice was received that the necessary funds had been allocated for the completion of messes in our new building. The CO of this Unit outlined in detail his recommendations on the future organization of the AC&WUs in relation with the formation of the Technical and Operational Wings.

14 Jun 51

Regular Force personnel of this Unit proceeded to Kingston, Ont to install a communications network for the summer camp exercises to be carried out with the AMES-II Convoys.

28 Jun 51

The following signal was received from Group HQ: 120531 G/C KR Patrick transferred to 12 Technical Training Wing to be CO. 120115 W/C JAA Pilon appointed CO of 1 R&C (Res) Unit Montreal. 120535 W/C CJ Konzuk transferred from 1 R&C (Res) Unit to 12 TTW. All appointments effective this date. Organization order and establishment for 12 TTW HQ will follow shortly.

During the month extensive recruiting was conducted to enlist sixty High School Students for full time courses to be given in the following trades: Comm Tech (G), Radar Tech (G) and Fighter Control Operators.

Total strength as at 2359 hours 30 Jun 51:

Officers (Staff) - 61
Officers (Trainee) -33
Sr NCOs (Staff) - 33
Sr NCOs (Trainee) - 0
Cpls & ACs (Staff) - 33
Cpls & ACs (Trainee) - 278
Attachments -0
Total - 438

1 Jul 51

121701 F/O SG Bell was appointed Security Officer of this Unit.

3 Jul 51

The High School Students Course started with the following personnel conducting the lectures:

OC120902F/L LD Smith
Adjt130371F/O WF Barrie
Instr Rdr Tech (G)130400F/O JP Markowski
Inst Com Tech (G)121372Cpl K Soles
Instr FtrCOps120909F/L E Gosselin

27503 Cpl WJ Marsh Rdr Tech (G) Regular was transferred to this Unit from 10 TSU effective 1 Aug 51 reporting 4 Aug 51.

4 Jul 51

A conference was held at Reserve Group HQ of the following units: 1 R&C, 2401 AC&WU, 2450 AC&WU, 2451 AC&WU, and 2452 AC&WU to discuss the new organization of 1 Group Reserve in view of the formation of the Technical and Operational Wings.

5 Jul 51

805 G/C GA Hiltz visited this Unit to inspect its facilities.

15 Jul 51

Three groups of personnel left this Unit to attend Summer Camp at Kingston, Ottawa, and Sherbrooke. Simultaneous exercises were carried out from the three areas with the AMES-II Convoys in conjunction with flying units. Results were very gratifying and gave personnel experience very similar to what could be expected in the event of an emergency.

16 Jul 51

Posting instructions were received for three Reserve personnel of this Unit to take the Regular Fighter Control Operators Course at Clinton, Ont.

19 Jul 51

9935 F/O AA Davis Regular Telecom Officer with this Unit was transferred to ADC HQ St Hubert effective 22 Jul 51 reporting 23 Jul 51.

W/C Konzuk, F/L Spicer and WO2 De Beaupre proceeded on Temporary Duty to 2452 AC&WU Quebec City.

21 Jul 51

120531 G/C KR Patrick left with Staff Officers of this Unit to visit personnel at Summer Camp in Kingston, Ottawa, Sherbrooke and Quebec.

23 Jul 51

A signal was received from 1 Group Reserve authorizing the recruitment of Women in the RCAF Reserve effective 1 Sep 51.

30 Jul 51

35745 AC2 DA Bain RSU after being AWOL for 5 day was reported as a deserter and the necessary authorities advised.

Total strength as at 2359 hours 31 Jul 51:

Officers (Staff) - 57
Officers (Trainee) -36
Sr NCOs (Staff) - 32
Sr NCOs (Trainee) - 0
Cpls & ACs (Staff) - 29
Cpls & ACs (Trainee) - 256
Attachments -0
Total - 410

1 Aug 51

2451 AC&WU ceased operation in view of accommodation difficulties and lack of recruits. Personnel of that Unit were to be transferred to this Unit.

6 Aug 51

40545 AC2 GG Boisvert Sup Tech (Regular) was posted to this Unit from 2 KTS Aylmer Ont.

15 Aug 51

Training nights for Reserve Personnel was changed from Mondays and Wednesdays to Tuesdays and Thursdays.

23 Aug 51

G/C Patrick inspected the High School Students of this Unit and gave them an appraisal of their usefulness in the Air Defence Scheme of Canada.

24 Aug 51

A signal was received from Reserve Group HQ transferring 9943 WO2 JL Lachance and 24860 Cpl CW McLean (RSU) from this Unit to 410 (F) Squadron St Hubert effective 15 reported 17 Sep 51.

27 Aug 51

F/L BHC Spicer telecom officer (RSU) of this Unit was instructed to proceed to 2424 AC&WU at Hamilton to discuss their accommodation requirements.

During the month of Aug telecom installation and several other minor projects in the building were completed.

Total strength as at 2359 hours 31 Aug 51:

Officers (Staff) - 57
Officers (Trainee) -36
Sr NCOs (Staff) - 32
Sr NCOs (Trainee) - 0
Cpls & ACs (Staff) - 29
Cpls & ACs (Trainee) - 256
Attachments -0
Total - 410

1 Sep 51

120898 Cpl LJE Denoncourt was promoted to the rank of Sgt.

6 Sep 51

4077 F/L BHC Spicer i/c Telecommunications RSU of this Unit was transferred to 1 Group Reserve effective and reporting 17 Sep 51. As replacement 20875 F/O MH Jordan transferred from RCAF Station Summerside to 1 R&C (Res) Unit effective 17 Sep 51.

15 Sep 51

Training activities for the Reserve which had ceased during the month of August were resumed.

16 Sep 51

This Unit participated in the Battle of Britain parade and a wreath was laid at the Cenotaph by G/C KR Patrick.

24 Sep 51

Renovations to the messes of this Unit were started.

25 Sep 51

Advice was received from ADC that a conference of all AC&WUs would be held at Air Defence Command on the 2 and 3 Nov 51.

Total strength as at 2359 hours 30 Sep 51:

Officers (Staff) - 57
Officers (Trainee) -36
Sr NCOs (Staff) - 32
Sr NCOs (Trainee) - 0
Cpls & ACs (Staff) - 29
Cpls & ACs (Trainee) - 249
Attachments -0
Total - 403

3 Oct 51

130357 F/O Coffin Tel Officer in charge of communications at this Unit was transferred to 1 Group Reserve effective 8 Oct 51 reporting 9 Oct 51. 22489 F/O CE D'Amboise Construction Engineering officer of this Unit was transferred to 1 Group reserve effective 8 Oct 51 reporting 9 Oct 51.

4 Oct 51

The first three airwomen were sworn in the Unit as Fighter Control Operators, 122352 AW2 MH MacGillivary, 122353W AW2 MA Poirier, and 122354W AW2 P Atkinson.

10 Oct 51

18052 LAC L Melanson Rdr Tech (A) Regular transferred from 438 (F) Sqn to this Unit. 60252 LAC RE Mortenson Rdr Tech (A) Regular transferred from 401 (F) Sqn to this Unit.

19 Oct 51

1 Group Reserve requested Unit quota intake of High School students during the summer months of 1952.

22 Oct 51

121337 S/L LR Gingras assumed temporary command of 1 R&C (Aux) Unit in the absence of the CO, 120115 W/C JA Pilon who proceeded to Argentina for two months in connection with his civilian duties with the International Civil Aviation Organization.

24 Oct 51

121337 S/L LR Gingras CAdO of this Unit was transferred to 1 Group Reserve effective 17 Dec 51 reporting 18 Dc 51.

31 Oct 51

Personnel of this Unit lined the streets along Canadair Ltd in honour of the Royal Visit of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Total strength as at 2359 hours 31 Oct 51:

Officers (Staff) - 57
Officers (Trainee) -36
Sr NCOs (Staff) - 31
Sr NCOs (Trainee) - 0
Cpls & ACs (Staff) - 29
Cpls & ACs (Trainee) - 252
Attachments -0
Total - 405

1 Nov 51

121211 F/L L Shapiro Medical Officer of this Unit was transferred to 4008 Medical (Aux) Unit effective 31 Oct 51 reporting 1 Nov 51.

2 - 3 Nov 51

A conference was held at Air Defence HQ of all Reserve Radar and Communications Units and AC&WUs across Canada. Personnel of this Unit attending were: F/L RJ Rocheleau, F/O JL Marshall, F/O MH Jordan.

5 Nov 51

130001 F/L EG Mahon of this Unit was transferred to 5000 Intelligence (Aux) Unit effective 14 Nov 51 reporting 15 Nov 51.

26 Nov 51

130346 F/O PT Valeriote Tel was transferred from this Unit to 2401 AC&WU effective and reporting 27 Nov 51.

30 Nov 51

Total strength as at 2359 hours 30 Nov 51:

Officers (Staff) - 76
Officers (Trainee) -15
Sr NCOs (Staff) - 33
Sr NCOs (Trainee) - 0
Cpls & ACs (Staff) - 28
Cpls & ACs (Trainee) - 290
Attachments -12
Total - 454

(JA Pilon) W/C
CO, 1 R&C (Aux) Unit