A comforting show of appreciation July 20, 2012 By Capt Rodney Dietzmann Serving overseas is something most Canadian Forces members look forward to doing with pride. However, no one hopes to be wounded or sustain injuries. When that happens, it is comforting to know that people care. After Corporal Pres Lavier, a flight engineer with Edmonton-based 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, sustained injuries in a CH-147 Chinook helicopter crash while serving in Afghanistan, it was touching to be recognized by a Canadian organization called Quilts of Valour Canada. “Receiving the quilt…
Read MoreA rare milestone: more than 40 years of service
A rare milestone: more than 40 years of service June 7, 2012 By Captain Rodney Dietzmann Any way you look at it, a 40-year commitment to anything takes a lot of dedication. It’s certainly true when measured in terms of a military career. It was April 19, 1972 in Regina, Sask., when an 18-year-old Russ Morphy enrolled to the Regular Force of the Canadian Forces as a supply technician. This was after already serving three years (1969 – 1972) as a reservist with 105th Artillery Battery in Yorkton, Sask. Although…
Read MoreAbbotsford Special Adventurers and 408 Squadron tour West Edmonton Mall
Abbotsford Special Adventurers and 408 Squadron tour West Edmonton Mall June 28, 2012 By Captain Geoff Dear On Friday, June 1, 2012, the Abbotsford Special Adventurers (ASA) found themselves in front of West Edmonton Mall’s pirate ship, along with members of 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (under the command of 1 Wing Kingston, Ont., but based at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, Alta.,) for the kick off to their much anticipated three-day Alberta excursion.The excursion included exploring Canada’s famous mall, before travelling by bus to Calgary to visit the equally popular zoo.…
Read More408 Tac Hel Squadron helps Air Cadets prepare for British competition
408 Tac Hel Squadron helps Air Cadets prepare for British competition May 28, 2012 By Terrence Bayrock Members of 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, based in Edmonton, Alta., but under the command of 1 Wing Kingston, Ont., are helping a group of young Air Cadets from Edmonton prepare for a prestigious youth aerospace competition in England in July. Sergeant Mike Scott and Corporal Moe Woodworth are applying the expertise they gained in Afghanistan flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to help the cadets compete in the Schools Aerospace Challenge at Cranfield University…
Read MorePiloting a heavily-armed Griffon helicopter over Afghanistan
Piloting a heavily-armed Griffon helicopter over Afghanistan By Gary Lewchuk “The ability to prevent troops from being fired upon just by our presence, not even having to fire a round, is something to take pride in,” said Aircraft Captain (AC) Jason Marchinko, who flew a heavily armed CH-146 Griffon helicopter for his second tour in Afghanistan during the summer. “With the armament we had on the Griffon, the Griffons became feared by the insurgents,” the former Canora resident said. “When our ground troops requested our support, the insurgents would…
Read MoreIn Remembrance of 408 Squadron Members
In Remembrance of 408 Squadron Members When the geese come back in the Spring And they learn that their friend has gone, I wonder will they take to wing And try to follow him on? When they look for their friend again As they’ve done in the years before, Will they stay with us who remain Or seek him the wide world o’er? They loved him, the young and the old, Wild geese and the whistling swan! What then, when the flocks are told The man who was kind…
Read More408’s Proud Banner
408’s Proud Banner Long may 408’s proud banner wave, The banner that flew o’er the braveAs they flew in the dark of night To keep the torch of freedom burning bright. Our bombers helped to vanquish those Who sought their jackboot to impose Upon those fine, free men in many lands, Who looked to us with pleading hands, To help them in their hour of need And see that they, again, were freed. Nine hundred men have paid the price, Nine hundred more would do it twice. No price for…
Read MoreThe 408 Squadron Groundcrew
The 408 Squadron Groundcrew Again the evening dusk doth deepen into dark, As the weary ground crew leave the aircraft, in its dispersal park, They’ve labored here since the early light of dawn, And soon the laden aircraft, once more, into the night is gone. They’ve labored here, day long, to patch each wounded plane, That returned to base in early morn; so it may fly again This night, and carry forth its dreaded load of fearful death, Perhaps, to be delivered with the aircrew men’s last breath. These ground…
Read MoreRequiem for a 408 Squadron Airman
Requiem for a 408 Squadron Airman The nation sends its sons once more To fight for freedom on a foreign shore, They fly into the dark night sky To bomb their target, and, perhaps, to die These airman had no time to see The graves of their paternity, In Flanders fields, or otherwise, Before they died in the dark night skies. The briefing’s done its time to go, We’re off to Essen to see the show, And take a load of a nasty surprise, To drop it out of…
Read MoreRCAF flies Arctic Ram
RCAF flies Arctic Ram Mar. 2, 2012 From Land Force Western Area Exercise Arctic Ram 12, 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group’s (1 CMBG) inaugural training exercise, was conducted in the Northwest Territories from February 14 to 26, 2012. Based near Yellowknife, N.W.T., with elements working around Behchoko, Whati and Gameti, it was the biggest and most complex Canadian Army-led exercise ever undertaken in the Canadian Arctic. The Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force worked with the Army, supporting the exercise. The Air Component of the exercise involved…
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