14 Wing Greenwood marked its connections to the Battle of Britain September 15, in a service marking the 84th anniversary of the first war-time fight to take place solely in the skies over Second World War England.
The event was hosted by the wing’s 413 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron in the Annapolis Mess, with heritage artefacts and artwork on display from the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum. A number of regional Royal Canadian Legion branches, the Air Force Association, Annapolis Valley First Nation, the RCMP and Cadets were represented in the audience, and during the wreath-laying. 14 Wing Greenwood piper Master Corporal Spencer Campbell and Bridgewater Fire Department Band bugler Lauran Allen provided the music.
14 Mission Support Squadron Lieutenant-Colonel Shawn McGeown reminded everyone, when “Hitler turned his attention across the Channel to England, the future looked bleak.
“There were only a few thousand British and Commonwealth aircrew standing in the way – they were vastly outnumbered and lacked experience,” McGeown said. “Through the summer of 1940, British infrastructure, airfields and London itself were caught in the first battle in history fought entirely in the air. Pilots scrambled to their planes two or three times a day, for months.”
Germany was relentless, and almost succeeded in eliminating the Allied air force: except for “the courage and heroism of those few, who defeated him,” McGeown said.
“We honour those Canadian plots and crew, and the 14 other nations who fought alongside them.”
One hundred twelve Canadians took part in the Battle of Britain; 23 were killed, with their names read out and remembered at the 14 Wing event.
“The battle-hardened veteran aviators, with their experience, helped turn the tide of the war.”
In the centennial year of the Royal Canadian Air Force, members and veterans remember the early work of the Second World War, aerial land surveys and continuing global protection through the decades: “we have a long history,” McGeown said.
“We look forward to the future, but it is our sacred duty to honour the sacrifices and success that bring us here today.”
Lieutenant (Navy) Annie Lampron, in the reflection, encouraged all to consider the individual contributions of ‘each fighter pilot, each ground crew member and every civilian,” along with the “unsung heroes – the families who waited with bated breath, the communities that rallied in support, and the silent strength of those who stood watch from the home front” through it all.
14 Wing Greenwood also sent a contingent to a joint Battle of Britain service, hosted at 12 Wing Shearwater and attended by His Honour The Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, KC, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. Sixteen members of the wing’s Brass and Reed band and a dozen pipers joined the 12 Wing band. 14 Wing Commander Colonel Luc Vachon and Wing Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Proulx were joined by the command teams of 404 (Long Range Patrol and Training) Squadron, 405 (Long Range Patrol) Squadron and 415 (Long Range Patrol Force Development) Squadron; and 32 wing personnel.
