ACCS Quad and MPN 25 radars at 8 Wing Trenton. to Afghanistan; called Roto 0 it lasted from Frequency (HF) communications were set up. In December 2001 until July 2002. The advance early March, a National Support Element was party of Maritime Patrol Detachment left sent to Camp Mirage to expand its facili- ties, Greenwood on 27 December 2001 and ar- rived requiring more trailers and more com- in Dubai on the 29th. The main body fol- lowed munications. The growth of Camp Mirage was in early January 2002 and were joined by a complicated by the insistence of the gov- UAE detachment from the Joint Signal Regi- ment in ernment that the Canadian presence was not to Kingston, which provided rear-link be disclosed. When it became clear that it would communications to Canada with a Satellite be a permanent facility, new communi- cations Communications (SATCOM) Mobile Terminal 5 were installed in new buildings that kept the men (MT5). This small group of personnel, C&E from 14 at Greenwood busy until they WTIS housed in portable trailers, helped establish what were replaced by a team from 8 at Trenton WTIS became known as Camp Mirage. The techs ATIS in July 2002. Before they left, two of the connected the trailers by cable and installed Greenwood techs, realizing the need for a form computers and telephones. Cellular services of entertainment for the res- ident personnel and were soon established allowing per- sonnel to for those passing through to Afghanistan, set up correspond with Canada. When it was an outdoor theatre against the side of one of the announced that the Army was going to begin build- ings. In spite of its rudimentary set up the operations in Afghanistan, Camp Mi- rage the- atre operated for years afterwards. became the supply base and expanded rapidly. In Prior to 1969, Station Trenton’s De- RCAF late January 2002, a Tactical Airlift (TAL) ployment Team and Air Traffic Control’s detachment arrived from 8 Wing in Trenton as transportable Quad-Radar provided NavAids and well as a Crypto Custodian and an- other radar control at unprepared airfields. In 1969, it lineman from 14 With the begin- ning of WTIS. became the Air Transportable Com- Hercules fights into Afghanistan, High
ACCS Quad and MPN 25 radars at 8 Wing Trenton. to Afghanistan; called Roto 0 it lasted from December 2001 until July 2002. The advance party of Maritime Patrol Detachment left Greenwood on 27 December 2001 and ar- rived in Dubai on the 29th. The main body fol- lowed in early January 2002 and were joined by a detachment from the Joint Signal Regi- ment in Kingston, which provided rear-link communications to Canada with a Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Mobile Terminal 5 (MT5). This small group of C&E personnel, housed in portable trailers, helped establish what became known as Camp Mirage. The ATIS techs connected the trailers by cable and installed computers and telephones. Cellular services were soon established allowing per- sonnel to correspond with Canada. When it was announced that the Army was going to begin operations in Afghanistan, Camp Mi- rage became the supply base and expanded rapidly. In late January 2002, a Tactical Airlift (TAL) detachment arrived from 8 Wing in Trenton as well as a Crypto Custodian and an- other lineman from 14 WTIS. With the begin- ning of Hercules fights into Afghanistan, High Frequency (HF) communications were set up. In early March, a National Support Element was sent to Camp Mirage to expand its facili- ties, requiring more trailers and more com- munications. The growth of Camp Mirage was complicated by the insistence of the UAE gov- ernment that the Canadian presence was not to be disclosed. When it became clear that it would be a permanent facility, new communi- cations were installed in new buildings that kept the men from 14 WTIS at Greenwood busy until they were replaced by a team from 8 WTIS at Trenton in July 2002. Before they left, two of the Greenwood techs, realizing the need for a form of entertainment for the res- ident personnel and for those passing through to Afghanistan, set up an outdoor theatre against the side of one of the build- ings. In spite of its rudimentary set up the the- atre operated for years afterwards. Prior to 1969, RCAF Station Trenton’s De- ployment Team and Air Traffic Control’s transportable Quad-Radar provided NavAids and radar control at unprepared airfields. In 1969, it became the Air Transportable Com-
semaphore-to-satellite-chapter-101.docx