192 Construction Engineering Flight Aldergrove

07/29/2021

A team of soldiers from 192 CEF travelled to Kamloops for Operation LENTUS 21-03 to install an electrical grid for a Rest/Relaxation station for the pilots and aircrew of the aircraft actively engaged in fighting the wildfires in BC.

BZ to Cpl Douglas, Avr Lydynuik, and Avr Lahti!

Photo: Corporal Jay Naples, MARPAC Imaging Services, Canadian Armed Forces photo

07/26/2021

On this day in 1936, His Majesty King Edward VIII unveiled the Canadian war memorial at Vimy Ridge, France.

The Canadian Corps was ordered to capture and hold Vimy Ridge in April 1917. Placed in northern France, the heavily-fortified 7km long ridge held a commanding view over the Allied lines. The ridge had proved quite difficult to capture in the past; previous French and British attacks had failed with over 100,000 casualties.

The victory was won thanks to many innovative changes brought about at the time; instead of trying to simply outnumber the enemy, soldiers were trained as specialists with their weapon systems as machine-gunners, rifle-men and grenade-throwers; new maps created from aerial footage were provided to leaders to provide up-to-date information on the battlefield; and engineers had dug deep trenches to allow for cover when encroaching upon the target.

However, the true key to victory was a devastating artillery barrage that isolated enemy trenches and created a psychologically terrifying situation in which the enemy was forced to stay in their dugouts and away from their machine-guns. These artillery attacks lasted a week.

In a synchronized movement - the first of its kind for the Canadian groups - four divisions stormed the ridge at 5:30am on 9 April 1917. More than 15,000 Canadian infantry overran the enemy along the front. Incredible bravery and discipline allowed the infantry to continue moving forward under heavy fire, even when their officers were killed.

The battle lasted 3 days until a victory was won; however, it came at a heavy cost - 3,598 Canadians were killed and another 7,000 wounded.

The victory at Vimy Ridge was a defining moment for Canada; Canadian soldiers earned a reputation as a formidable and effective fighting force, and it was the first time all four Canadian divisions had attacked together as a team. Additionally, Canadians from every corner of the country had banded together to fight for something greater than themselves in a single coordinated attack. Brigadier-General A.E. Ross declared after the war, “in those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation.”

In 1922, the French government announced Vimy Ridge, and the land surrounding it, as Canadian land in perpetuity. And, on this day in 1936, the gleaming white marble and haunting sculptures of the Vimy Memorial were unveiled to stand as a terrible and poignant reminder of the 11,285 Canadian soldiers killed in France who have no known graves.

Further reading:

Remember Canada’s Veterans

07/23/2021

🍁 🎖️ 🙌 Going for Gold! 🙌 🎖️ 🍁

S2 Yvette Yong from is representing at the Tokyo Olympics for taekwondo.

Yong is currently ranked 10th in the -49kg category, and her first match is tomorrow at 10 AM (Tokyo time) / 9 PM EST!

S2 Yong joins a group of people who have competed in the Olympics while also serving their country, including:

- James Duffy: ran the marathon in 1912 before serving for Canada in World War I

- The Ottawa RCAF Flyers: struck gold at the 1948 Olympics in St. Moritz

- Gerald Ouellette: served over 20 years in the Canadian Forces and represented the nation in shooting at the 1956 Games in Melbourne

- Steve Cyr: joined the Armed Forces in 1988, was represented Canada in biathlon in 1992, 1994, and 1998

- Mark Graham: A member of the 4x100m relay team at the Barcelona Games in 1992 and served in the Charles Company's Eighth Platoon in Afghanistan

- Alex W. Munroe: A Canadian-record holder in the high jump who competed in the Amsterdam Olympic Games in 1928 and served in the RCAF for the six war years (1939-1945) as a flying instructor

Good Luck, Sailor! You have all of Canada rooting for you!

07/21/2021

On This Day Post!

On July 21, 1955, a Royal Canadian Air Force jet aircraft stalled and crashed short of the runway at 1 Fighter Wing in Marville, France. Flight Lieutenant Morgan sprinted 150 yards to the aircraft, which had burst into flames. Leading Aircraftman Waters, an aero engine technician who was working in the area, also ran towards the wreckage to assist Morgan.

With complete disregard for their own safety, the two ignored the flames and exploding ammunition while attempting to open the jammed canopy to rescue the pilot. While standing on the wing over partially filled fuel tanks which were in imminent danger of exploding, they were finally successful in smashing open the canopy and pulling out the severely injured pilot (who, as it was later discovered, had a broken back).

The prompt, courageous and sustained rescue efforts of both Flight Lieutenant Morgan and Leading Aircraftman Waters undoubtedly largely contributed to saving the life of the pilot, who survived his injuries. Both men were awarded the George Medal for acts of great bravery.

07/20/2021

On This Day in 1969, humankind took our first steps on the moon.

The mission, famously dubbed Apollo 11, launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969. Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin orbited the Earth at an average height of 115 miles before second stage rockets burned to take them into translunar orbit.

Around 3 days (75 hours, 49 minutes, 50 seconds) later, the Apollo 11 crew entered lunar orbit about 62 miles above the surface. While Armstrong and Aldrin descended towards the moon's surface in the lunar module, Collins stayed behind to pilot the command module. It was at this time that he disappeared behind the moon and was out of communication range from mission control for 48 minutes. This happened 3 more times during the mission. At the time, he had travelled the farthest into space than any other human.

Armstrong continued to pilot the module towards the lunar surface; as the two astronauts crept up to their landing site, fuel was running low. As he guided the vessel onto the surface of the moon, Armstrong's resting heart rate was 150 beats per minute. His heart rate started to return to "normal" after touchdown, when Aldrin spoke the first words on the moon, "contact light". They only had 15 seconds of fuel remaining in the tank.

As mission commander, Armstrong had the privilege of being the first astronaut to set foot on the moon. As he stepped off the ladder onto the lunar surface, Armstrong famously radioed back to Earth, "That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind."

Aldrin soon followed Armstrong down the ladder, and the two spent 21 hours and 36 minutes conducting various experiments and collecting samples for further research.

Finally, after 124 hours and 22 minutes since leaving Earth, the two astronauts climbed back into the module and launched to reunite with Collins for the return journey home. All three astronauts splashed down safely on July 24, 1969.

The Apollo 11 mission lasted 8 days, 3 hours, 18 minutes, and 35 seconds. While this mission was successfully conducted by our American allies, it illustrates a great accomplishment that could not have been done without the collaboration of hundreds of thousands of engineers, technicians, mathematicians, soldiers, and officers. Additionally, it required the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of billions of people around the world who believed that we - as humans - could accomplish something truly remarkable; a feat that would forever dictate our future on Earth and among the stars.

Further reading:

NASA.gov brings you the latest images, videos and news from America's space agency. Get the latest updates on NASA missions, watch NASA TV live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind.

07/15/2021

It's a few days early, but here is another ''On This Day'' post!

On July 17th 1940, HMCS Skeena rescued 65 allied crewmembers in Scotland waters.

The rescue came after the SS Manipur - a British steam turbine cargoship - was on route from Baltimore for London during WWII. The ship was transporting general cargo (iron, steel, lumber, zinc slabs, and copper) to help support the war effort. Along the way, it was torpedoed by German U-57 in Cape Wrath, just north of Scotland.

HMCS Skeena was tasked to search for survivors and provide aide.

Of the 79 crewmembers, 65 were rescued.

Years later in October 1944, HMCS Skeena was lost in a storm. Anchored off Reykjavík, Iceland, the ship dragged its anchor and was grounded in 50-foot (15 m) waves off Viðey Island. 15 crewmembers lost their lives.

The remains of the ship were sold to pay Iceland interests, and the propeller was salvaged and used in a memorial near the Viðey Island ferry terminal, where it remains to this day.

Further reading:

There have been two vessels named Skeena in the Royal Canadian Navy

07/05/2021

OTD Post!

On this day in 1900, Sgt Arthur Richardson selflessly put himself at grave risk when he rode into heavy cross fire to save a wounded Canadian soldier during the South African War. He was within 300 metres of the enemy in order to rescue his comrade, and was later awarded the Victoria Cross.

After the war ended in 1902, Richardson returned to the job he worked before joining the service: the Mounted Police (now called the RCMP).

At the rank of sergeant-major in 1907, his poor health forced him to discharge and to eventually settle in Liverpool, England.

During this time, another man named Arthur Richardson (a corporal in The Gordon Highlanders of the British Army) began telling people that HE was the recipient of the Victoria Cross. He was so successful in his lie that he was buried with full military honours. when he died.

Funnily enough, the real Arthur Richardson was seen marching in the funeral procession of his imposter. As a result, Richardson rose to a certain prominence in his late middle age. He died in Liverpool on 15 December 1932 at 60 years of age.

When war broke out in South Africa at the end of the 19th century, Canada was split on the idea of supporting the British. After extensive deliberation, 1,000 Canadian soldiers set sail from Quebec City on October 30th, 1899. Sergeant Arthur Richardson, of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse Regiment, was...

06/28/2021

On this day in 1922, the National Defence Act was passed and became the primary enabling legislation for organizing and funding Canada's military.

This new legislation allowed for the merging of the Department of Militia and Defence with the Department of the Naval Service and the Air Board into a single department: The Department Of National Defence

The Department of National Defence supports the Canadian Armed Forces who serve on the sea, on land, and in the air with the Navy, Army, Air Force and Special Forces to defend Canadians’ interests at home and abroad.

06/25/2021

On this day in 1942, No. 425 Squadron was formed at Dishforth, Yorkshire, England.

Originally designated as a French-Canadian squadron (employing French-Canadian air and ground crew), the squadron flew the Vickers Wellington airframe and conducted operations in Italy, Sicily, and Tunisia in 1943.

Currently based in Bagotville QC, the squadron has retained its fighter interceptor role in NORAD and has re-equipped its fleet with the CF-18 Hornet since 1985.

425 Tactical Fighter Squadron is an integral part of NORAD and NATO. In peacetime, the squadron's fighters provide continuous surveillance of the East Coast of Canada. In addition, it must be ready for rapid deployment anywhere in the world in support of NATO or contingency operations.

Happy Birthday, 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron!

425 Squadron formed up on 25 June 1942 in Yorkshire, England. Its designation as the "First French Canadian Squadron" and its lark emblem, "Les Alouettes", made it a special squadron and it accordingly adopted the motto "Je te plumerai" ("I shall pluck you").

06/22/2021

This Father's Day, we celebrate All and dads, including this father-son duo who have been working side by side at 192 Construction Engineering Flight Aldergrove for the past few years.

BZ!

06/17/2021

On this day in 1991, the Government of Canada announced the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea.

Designed by Bruce Beatty, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea is a 38 millimetre rhodium plated tombac disc with the Latin words ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA CANADA (Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen, Canada) surrounding an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. It is supported with a United Nations blue, yellow, red, and white ribbon.

18,289 Canadian Volunteer Service Medals for Korea were distributed to acknowledge the service of those individuals who fought with an army unit on the Korean Peninsula for at least one day, served aboard ship in the Yellow Sea or Sea of Japan, flown a minimum of one sortie over Korea or Korean waters, or engaged in military operations for no less than 28 days within the qualifying area.

More than 26 000 men and women volunteered to serve with the Canadian Armed Forces in the Far East in the early 1950s.