Trying to confirm my father's squadron

[StephenCND]

I have some conflicting information in my effort to confirm what squadron my father was attached to during WW2.

Dec. 1941
My father,  J.M. Pinder,  was 20 years old when he was training as a Radio Mechanic at the University of Toronto, R.C.A.F. detachment. (Have class photo and recognize my dad in the photo).

The next two pieces of information come into conflict, although I have a hunch ..

Jan 3rd 1945:
Personal letter to my mother (a pen-pal at the time).
The information at the top of the letter points to a 600 Squadron, however this squadron was an RAF squadron, and not RCAF. (Royal Canadian Air Force)

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AifC60WL0cSMuWOLUVEomr9I4GBC

His letter mentions that he has been traveling extensively in the summer of '44:
"Just to give you an idea, I traveled 10 times and traveled nearly 4,000. miles by land and air! Most of the distance was taken up by two trips to Africa!"   

This info. meshes well with the theater of operation of the  RCAF 417 squadron

1957:
the next hint is a pewter mug that was given to my dad back in 1957.
It was from the officers of the  RCAF 417 Squadron. It deads:

154023 F/L J.M. Pinder
2453 AC WS (Aux).
  .. the latter being "Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (Auxiliary).

Not sure what the "154023 F/L"  serial number and rank?

I have found subsequent links to the 2453 AC WS (Aux). and my father, so I do believe that was his unit. 
http://www.c-and-e-museum.org/Pinetreeline/misc/ac&w/ac&w13k.html 

If you do a "CTRL" + "F", JM Pinder comes up more than once. It's also based in my father's home town at the time (Trois_Rivieres, Quebec, Canada)

So, I suspect that the 2453 AC WS (Aux). was attached to different squadron's during the war?
But was the 2453 AC WS (Aux). attached to 417 at any time? How can I find that out, or where to look?

What does the "R-96944 LA. C."  stand for in the 1945 letter?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Stephen

[Jebber]

Not experienced in the  Air Force, but would suggest 154023 F/L J.M. Pinder was his service number and rank Flight Lieutenant.

[nanny jan]

RE 1945 letter;  LAC could be Leading Aircraftman (a rank in RAF).

[StephenCND]

Which is a bit confusing, because I'm under the impression that he is in a RCAF unit, not a RAF unit ..

[nanny jan]

I'm not familiar with Canadian service records but is it possible to get a copy of your father's record?

[Jebber]

From my meagre knowledge of the Air Force I there was a certain amount of the forces working together in the same place .     The image shows your man  was at some time attached to RAF 600 Squadron, CMF stands for Central Mediterranean Force. 600 Squadron was stationed in North Africa and then moved to Malta followed by Italy where it spent the rest of the war. Your man appears to have been with them in January 1945.
.

[Chilternbirder]

RE 1945 letter;  LAC could be Leading Aircraftman (a rank in RAF).

The other information is quite clear that he held a commission. LAC is the equivalent of a private and would not have flown.

[Brewins girl]

I believe the numerals 154023 followed by F/L were his personal ID followed by his rank which would have been Flight Lieutenant.

Sorry I can't be any more help, but thank you for the links you added which may help me in my queries!

[StephenCND]

Thank you all. I have dug a bit deeper and have found a link to the Canadian agency in which you can make the request.

 ( http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/Pages/obtain-copies-military-service-files.aspx )

Should hopefully give me the answers i am looking for.