Kudos for West Coast Helo Squadron

Aug. 5, 2004

Lieutenant Sonia Dumouchel Connock
Western Area Air Reserve Public Affairs

Lieut.-Col. Carl Wohlgemuth, commanding officer of 443 MH Squadron in Sidney, B.C., reads the 1 Cdn Air Div Commander's Commendation to the squadron members gathered in the squadron's hangar. Photos taken by Lieut. Sonia Dumouchel-Connock

SIDNEY, B.C. — The commanding officer of 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron presented the squadron with a commendation from Maj.-Gen. M. J. Dumais, the 1 Canadian Air Division Commander, on Aug. 5 in a surprise ceremony held in the squadron hangar.

“The commendation was given to members of 443 MH Squadron in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the success of the 2004 West Coast Waterbird Operation,” says Lieut.-Col. Carl Wohlgemuth, commanding officer of 443 MH Squadron. “This type of training has never before been conducted on the West Coast – and we not only made the seemingly impossible a reality, we also conducted the training operation more effectively and in less time than originally forecasted.”

The waterbird training, which was conducted this year on Shawnigan Lake from Feb. 4 to March 15, was completed in only five weeks because of both the superb effort put forth by the members of 443 MH Squadron and the remarkable support of the Shawnigan Lake community, says the commanding officer. Eighty-three pilots from 12 Wing completed this essential training that prepares pilots to handle over-water emergencies.

“I had all the confidence that we could do it but I wasn’t sure if we would get the community support,” says Lieut.-Col. Wohlgemuth. “From the outset, however, the residents of Shawnigan Lake were very supportive They recognized the importance of this training for the Canadian Forces and welcomed us very warmly while we conducted flying operations over the lake four days a week. We owe a great debt of gratitude to them for supporting us.”

Lieut.-Col. Carl Wohlgemuth, commanding officer of 443 MH Squadron in Sidney, B.C., shows off the 1 Cdn Air Div Commander's Commendation to the squadron members gathered in the squadron's hangar. Photos taken by Lieut. Sonia Dumouchel-Connock

During the training exercise, the squadron achieved a remarkable 96 percent aircraft availability rate – an achievement made possible through the tireless efforts and dedication of the squadron’s maintenance personnel, writes Maj.-Gen. Dumais in his commendation.

Also commended was the performance of the personnel working in the operations department as they managed the scheduling for both this busy training exercise and the routine flying sorties.

“Waterbird was truly an entire squadron activity – and success,” says Lieut.-Col. Wohlgemuth. “Everyone came together, from the PR activity to the scheduling to getting the aircraft ready and available.”

Waterbird training is conducted yearly, and involves hovering, landing, taxiing and taking off from the water.