42 Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) Squadron of the Canadian Air Force became operational in June 1955. The Squadron was originally used to provide radar control to the CF-100s flying around CFB Cold Lake

CFB Cold Lake

Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake , commonly referred to as CFB Cold Lake, is a Canadian Forces Base located within the City of Cold Lake, Alberta. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet fighter/interceptor...

. In October 1962, 42 AC&W Squadron became 42 Radar Squadron in the Semi-Automated Ground Environment (SAGE) system as part of the 28th North American Air Defence System (NORAD) Region.