Passing the torch at Trapani

Published On Wed June 01 2011

By Major Jim Hutcheson

Members of Task Force Libeccio Roto 1 help their predecessors of Roto 0 load their baggage in preparation for returning to Canada.

Members of Task Force Libeccio Roto 1 help their predecessors of Roto 0 load their baggage in preparation for returning to Canada.

During the parade marking the change of command at the Trapani detachment of Task Force Libeccio, Col Mauro Gabetta of the Aeronautica Militare presents a gift to the outgoing Detachment Commander, LCol Sylvain Ménard. As commander of 37 Stormo Wing, Col Gabetta is also responsible for the NATO forward operating base at Trapani-Birgi, where Task Force Libeccio’s CF-188 Hornet fighters and CC-150 Polaris in-flight refuellers have been based since 18 March 2011.

During the parade marking the change of command at the Trapani detachment of Task Force Libeccio, Col Mauro Gabetta of the Aeronautica Militare presents a gift to the outgoing Detachment Commander, LCol Sylvain Ménard. As commander of 37 Stormo Wing, Col Gabetta is also responsible for the NATO forward operating base at Trapani-Birgi, where Task Force Libeccio’s CF-188 Hornet fighters and CC-150 Polaris in-flight refuellers have been based since 18 March 2011.

On the last day of his tour of duty with Task Force Libeccio on Operation MOBILE, outgoing Trapani detachment commander LCol Sylvain Ménard of 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron (right), chats with his successor, LCol Eric Kenny of 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron.

On the last day of his tour of duty with Task Force Libeccio on Operation MOBILE, outgoing Trapani detachment commander LCol Sylvain Ménard of 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron (right), chats with his successor, LCol Eric Kenny of 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron.

The first wave of 44 men and women from 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron emerged from the charter aircraft squinting into the intense Italian sunshine shortly after 1100 hours local time on Monday, May 16.

It is surely as significant a transition for the new personnel from 4 Wing Cold Lake as it was for their brothers and sisters in arms, who arrived from 3 Wing Bagotville almost two months earlier as Canada’s rapid response to help protect the people of Libya. This time, however, they were met by the tanned, welcoming faces of the Air Force members who will hand over their duties in the coming days, before Roto 0’s final Replenishment-In-Place flight.

As if right on cue, CF-188 Hornets roared in from a mission, which was also the final flight of this deployment for the outgoing Detachment Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Sylvain Ménard. His replacement, LCol Eric Kenny, was on Zulu Ramp to shake hands as they arrived, and then it was straight to the mess tent for lunch.

In his words of welcome, LCol Kenny let his new troops know they would hit the ground running, quickly taking over their duties at Trapani with Roto 1 of Task Force Libeccio, the air component of Operation MOBILE. Briefings from other sections followed: cautions about the environment from the Preventive Medicine Technician, security considerations from the Military Police, and other need-to-know issues to help them adjust safely and effectively to their new operational context.

The departing members of 425 Squadron are looking forward to seeing their friends and families, whom they left so abruptly during a mid-March snowstorm. But they are also justifiably proud of the important contribution they have made to Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, the NATO-led mission to protect civilians in Libya.

It is not yet known how long this mission will last, but the men and women of Canada’s Air Force remain ready to help for as long as they are needed.

Maj Jim Hutcheson deployed to the Mediterranean in March as the Public Affairs Officer with the lead element of Task Force Libeccio Roto 0.