The Secret 5,000 RCAF Radar Technicians

Thre Royal Canadian Air Force provided Britain with highly skilled radar technicians — “the Secret 5,000”
An unknown percentage of this group flew on patrols over the Atlantic Ocean to detect German submarines and aircraft.

These radar technicians were not eligible for the Air Medal because they were listed as ground crew, not air crew.

The RCAF classified all information on this topic - to be released in 2045.

I know RCAF No. 407 Coastal Strike Squadron (Coastal Command) was involved.

Does anyone know of other links or information?

 

Excerpt - from the most comprehensive source I have found: http://www.rquirk.com/cdnradar/cor/chapter1.pdf

At the cessation of hostilities in Europe, as a matter of policy, the Royal Canadian Air Force
implemented its decision to operate as an independent force for the Japanese campaign.
All RCAF personnel attached to the RAF were repatriated to Canada or to RCAF units in the area.
Swept up in this "Canadianization" were the 5,000 RCAF radar officers and technicians.
This meant the immediate withdrawal, throughout the world, of 35% of the radar technicians serving with the
Royal and Allied Air Forces. All were experienced and over 50% were non-commissioned officers.
Additionally, hundreds of RCAF radar technical officers were lost to the RAF.
Such was their loss that there are several recorded instances when senior RAF officers offered departing
Canadians permanent commissions in the Royal Air Force. It is no stretch of the imagination that the existing
acrimony became supercharged. For example, with this loss of technicians the RAF had to cancel
their plans to extend the coverage of the most modern (at that time) air navigation system, GEE.(1)
Had not the hostilities come to an abrupt end in August of 1945, for the RAF the unforeseen
immediate withdrawal of 35% of their radar technical capability would have caused untold
problems, but the damage was done.
The bitterness expressed by Powers to the Air Ministry was returned ten-fold.

 

Word is the Canadian War Museum has released what they can, and that it is a substantial exhibit. Not found to date.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Dave+Brown+long+last+Canada+wartime+Radar+Veterans+recognized/7357357/story.html

 

Red Macaulay:
http://www.pier21.ca/stories/wwii-veteran-and-canadian-on-radar-red-macauley

 

Some great reading so far. Look forward to more.

 

Most interesting indeed. 5000 is quite a large number for such a speciality.