Wing Stories

Photos by: Master Cpl. Pat Kyle, 443 MH Squadron

Text by: Officer Cadet Mike Hodges, 443 MH Squadron

SIDNEY, B.C. - On Monday, August 14th, 443 MH Squadron held a Change of Command parade under cloudless blue skies. Lt.-Col. Donald Leblanc handed over Command of the Squadron to Lt.-Col. Stephen Allan in a ceremony held in 17 Hangar.

The parade was officiated by Col. Alan Blair, the Commander of 12 Wing Shearwater. Her Honour, The Honourable Iona Campagnolo, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, was in attendance along with numerous civilian and military dignitaries.

Photo 13: The Honourable Iona Campagnolo (centre rear), the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and the honoured guest at the ceremony, looks on as Col. Alan Blair (centre), the Commander of 12 Wing, inspects the members of 443 MH Squadron on parade.

After the signing of the certificates and speeches, the Squadron Colours were ceremoniously passed to signify the transfer of command from Lt.-Col. Leblanc to Lt.-Col. Allan.

Photo 15: Lt.-Col. Donald Leblanc (left), Col. Alan Blair (centre), and Lt.-Col. Stephen Allan (right) sign the certificates that mark the passing of command from one commanding officer to the next.

Photo 19: Col. Alan Blair (right) passes 443 Squadron Colours to the outgoing commanding officer of the Squadron, Lt.-Col. Donald Leblanc (left), while the incoming commanding officer, Lt.-Col. Stephen Allan (right), prepares to receive the Colours. The passing of the Squadron Colours symbolizes the passing of command from one officer to another.

"I'm leaving 443 Squadron with wonderful memories and a great sense of pride in all that we've accomplished," says Lt.-Col. Leblanc. "The next few years promise to be exciting ones at 443, and I am confident Lt.-Col. Allan will skillfully lead the Squadron into the future."

Photo 17: Lt.-Col. Donald Leblanc (left), the outgoing Commanding Officer, offers words of congradulations to the incoming Commanding Officer, Lt.-Col. Stephen Allan (right).

Photo 31: Lt.-Col. Donald Leblanc (left), accompanied by his four motorcyle escorts, departs as the Commanding Officer of 443 MH Squadron on his Harley.

Many units have their own traditions for departing Commanding Officers. At this Change of Command, the departing Commanding Officer, Lt.-Col. Leblanc, and his fiance were escorted from the ceremony by four members of 443 Sqn riding Harley Davidson motorcyles. The Commanding Officer and his four escorts, all dressed in proper safety gear (black leathers), made quite a sight as they drove out of the hangar.

Lt.-Col. Leblanc will soon be retiring from the Canadian Forces, and plans to remain in the local area. His successor, Lt.-Col. Allan, has just returned to Canada from a tour at the NATO Headquarters in Casteau, Belgium.

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