Unit History

742 Signals Squadron (742 Sig Sqn) was formed in 1966 as 742 Communication Squadron, the result of an amalgamation of elements of Number 2 Communications Unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Alberta Signal Squadron of the Army Signal System.

In 1970, the unit came under the command of 74 Communication Group as part of the newly created Canadian Forces Communication Command. In February 1996, an agreement was signed to form a consolidated Garrison Telecommunications and Information Systems Organization. The agreement placed all resources of 742 Communication Squadron under the operational control of the Commander, Edmonton Garrison. In turn, the existing Base Telecommunications and Information Systems Unit was placed under the operational control of the Commanding Officer, 742 Communication Squadron.

742 Communication Squadron is responsible for the operation and maintenance of strategic communications in Alberta and British Columbia. The Squadron also provides for the provision and maintenance of telecommunications support and Automated Data Processing (ADP) management services for Edmonton Garrison and associated units. Taskings include the processing of all incoming and outgoing message traffic at the communication facility in Edmonton and Wainwright.

The Cold Lake and Yellowknife detachments were transferred to different Commands in April 1998, and Suffield was transferred in April 1999.

The Squadron also operates the Military Aeronautical Communication System (MACS) site in Edmonton, which is part of a high frequency radio system that provides communications for military aircraft, SAR support message services, weather information, and phone patch services. Additionally, the Squadron operates the Western Gateway, one of two high power high frequency radio stations in Canada, communicating with Canadian Units deployed overseas on missions with the United Nations.

In April 1998, 742 Communication Squadron became a unit of 1 Area Support Group and the name was changed to 742 Signals Squadron.