2nd Lt Gregory Kuhn  

17 Wing Public Affairs

LCol Richard Pamplin was officially introduced to the men and women of 435 “Chinthe” Transport and Rescue (T&R) Squadron as their new Commanding Officer during a command appointment parade held at the Wing on Friday, January 22.

“Sixteen years ago, Chinthe’s colours were marched onto our tarmac for the first time and it is a deep and profound honour to serve under that banner once again,” said Lt-Col. Pamplin who ended his address to those gathered with “Certi Provehendi,” the squadron’s motto, which means: “Determined to deliver”.

The very busy operational tempo that 435 “Chinthe” (T&R) Squadron has been tasked with over the past year continues with three major operations: VANOC 2010 Olympic Truce, Operation Podium (2010 Vancouver Olympics), and Operation Hestia (Humanitarian Assistance to Haiti), as well as maintaining primary search and rescue capabilities and air to air refuelling.

These were noted by Colonel (Col.) Yvan Boilard, the Reviewing Officer for the parade and Commanding Officer of 17 Wing Winnipeg, who welcomed the ceremony. No deserving unit welcomes their Commanding Officer through the back door, and 435 is certainly a deserving unit,” said Col.  Boilard who noted that even during the height of hostilities in the Second World War, squadrons took the time to officially welcome their new Commanders.

Lt-Col Pamplin, who served with the Squadron during the mid-1990’s, returns as Commanding Officer after tours of duty as a senior watch officer at the National Defence Command Centre in Ottawa; overseas with the African Union in Ethiopia and Sudan as part of Operation AUGURAL, and as A3 Transport at 1 Canadian Air Division.