Comox, BC

1983 – Memories of Comox – Dave Winter

51 AC&W Squadron was only operational for four years as a Pinetree Line long range radar station. There were many unique aspects associated with this unit. For starters, the AC&W Squadron was located outside of the boundaries of RCAF Station Comox. It was not until after the site ceased operating as a radar station that the boundaries of RCAF Station Comox were extended to include the property that 51 AC&W Squadron had been located on. The Squadron was also very close to two other Pinetree Line radar stations - located at Tofino and Holberg. Records indicate that 51 AC&W Squadron became operational in November 1954 and the unit was closed down in June 1958.

Unlike other Pinetree Line radar stations which were eventually closed down – the facilities in Comox continued to function – but in a different operational role. While 51 AC&W Squadron ceased to exist, all of the radar equipment and the buildings which formed the Squadron were handed over to the Air Traffic Control function and this resulted in the birth of a Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) facility on the station.

The FPN-504 radar equipment was installed in 1968. It has been said that the wind played hell with the huge solid sail, and in a few short years nearly took the top roof off the tower. The following pictures show the system coming down in 1983 in time for TRACS.

The dismantling of the FPN-504 has absolutely nothing to do with the Pinetree Line – but most of the buildings which are in these photographs date back to the early years (1954-1958) – when the Pinetree Line was operational at this location.