By Capt Sylvain Rousseau | January 16, 2017 Estimated reading time 2 minutes, 3 seconds.
A CH-124 Sea King helicopter and air detachment from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, including personnel from 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, arrived at 12 Wing Shearwater, N.S., on Jan. 11, 2017, after a seven-month deployment in the Mediterranean Sea.
While 443 Squadron is part of 12 Wing, on the east coast, its home base is in Patricia Bay, B.C., and it receives administrative support from Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt.
“I am extremely proud of each and every member of our air detachment,” said LCol Shawn Williamson, 443 Squadron commanding officer. “Their achievements over the last several months validate the training, hard work, and the seamless collaboration and support from both CFB Esquimalt and 12 Wing Shearwater. The crew has earned a very warm homecoming and happy reunion with their friends and family.”
On June 29, 2016, the Sea King and air detachment from 443 Squadron of the Pacific fleet deployed with Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Charlottetown to join Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, a multinational, integrated maritime force made up of ships from various allied nations.
The Canadian Armed Forces has deployed personnel in Central and Eastern Europe as part of NATO assurance and deterrence measures. During this operation, the air detachment conducted training, exercises, demonstrations, and assigned NATO tasks
