Honorary colonel says goodbye for the last time
Bill Ricketts likely ended his most recent stint with the Royal Canadian Air Force with the same pride he’s felt on multiple occasions throughout his military career – but, this time, with a little more emotion and sense of finality.
Ricketts finished a six-year appointment August 18 as 14 Wing Greenwood’s honorary colonel. This followed 26 Regular Force years in RCAF uniform, including postings at 14 Wing – and time as both commanding officer of 405 Squadron and wing operations officer.
“The folks at Clothing – I turned in my environmental uniforms yesterday, and I had a little tear in my eye,” Ricketts said at a small Tow Bar send-off, following a celebratory lunch.
“Six years ago, I signed in – it felt good to be back in uniform, and part of the 14 Wing family again. All good things come to an end, and I’ve enjoyed every minute.”
Colonel Mike Adamson was the wing commander when Ricketts was put forward as honorary colonel; once approved, he served with colonels Tom Goldie, Jeff Davis, Luc Vachon and, for the briefest closing period, the current Angie Thomas.
“Thank you to the ‘system,’ from the governor general to the minister to the RCAF powers-that-be. It’s been a great honour, and I’ll miss you all dearly. I have good friends here.”
Ricketts said the changes in the RCAF from his service to today include a lot of good: “the wing is thriving, full speed ahead.
“The restructuring and growth across the Canadian Armed Forces and RCAF, and, particularly, Greenwood, is going to be crazy. Seeing all the things coming in is neat to see. The problem is, it won’t be easy. I wish you all the success, and I’m looking forward to seeing my first P8 here.
“One thing hasn’t changed: there are so many good people in the RCAF, and it’s been great to meet so many of them.”
Thomas said she heard from now-Brigadier-General Davis there was “lots of dirt” on Ricketts, even as deep as their 405 Squadron days, when Ricketts was Davis’ first commanding officer, but “I won’t, hoping for karma as it comes around my way” in years to come.
“You’ve done a great job mentoring the honorary colonel program; the Cormorant project – essential (Ricketts retired from IMP in 2017, the contractor responsible for service and mid-life upgrade work on the search and rescue helicopter); the impact you’ve made on the wing to make it even better. We say goodbye to a treasured member of 14 Wing.”
