Members of the 437 Transport Squadron had been supporting coalition forces overseas since 2014. They used the newly repurposed CC-150 Polaris aircraft to provide air-to-air refuelling. Photo provided by CFB Trenton
By Brett Bullen [1]
BELLEVILLE – Crew members and support personnel of Trenton-based 437 Transport Squadron [2] and the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CC-150 Polaris aircraft were welcomed home on Monday, after being stationed overseas since 2014.
Their role in the mission – code named Operation IMPACT – was to provide air-to-air refuelling for other global-coalition aircraft combatting Daesh [3] forces in Syria and Iraq.
The CC-150 Polaris and its crew flew a total of 1,166 sorties and 7,050 hours, and delivered over 65 million pounds of fuel.
“We are extremely proud of the women and men of 437 Transport Squadron, L3 MAS [4] (a civilian communications unit), and all of the personnel at (Canadian Forces Base Trenton) who supported Operation IMPACT in the Middle East over the last four years,” CFB Trenton commander Colonel Mark Goulden is quoted as saying in a news release. “Their dedication and commitment enabled the coalition forces by providing an important air-to-air refuelling capability, which contributed to support of the security forces on the ground.”
During the welcome-home ceremony, the IMPACT participants were awarded expedition and general-service medals in recognition of their service.