They stand at the ready, prepared to move at a moment’s notice to rescue people in dangerous situations. But on Monday, members of the Air Force’s Search and Rescue Squadron at CFB Trenton had an easier job, meeting members of the public to celebrate Family Day. Lt.-Col. Leighton James is the Commanding Officer of 424 Squadron.
“Last year we had 53 lives saved, approximately 250 calls and that means people who are in distress or potentially in distress.”
The Royal Canadian Air Force’s Search and Rescue Squadron as well as members of 8 Air Maintenance Squadron were on hand at the National Air Force Museum in Trenton. James, along with others, welcomed the public for an up close and personal look at what they do.
“Our region is actually quite large. It’s two-million square miles. It extends from the Rockies in the west to Quebec City in the east and all the way to the North Pole.”
Some may recall, 424 Squadron helped with a rescue in Kingston back in December of 2013. A downtown apartment complex under construction caught fire, a crane operator needed to be plucked from his lofty perch by the Trenton-based squad.