103 Search and Rescue Squadron

103 Search and Rescue Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force
103 Search and Rescue
is a search and rescue unit based at 9 Wing Gander on the Canadian
island of Newfoundland. The squadron is responsible for a large area Squadron
covering the offshore waters of Canada's Exclusive Economic Zone
in the Atlantic ocean and inland areas in the Maritimes,
Newfoundland and Labrador, and some parts of Eastern Quebec. The
squadron operates three AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant
helicopters.

History
The unit was stood up on
April 1, 1947, at RCAF
Station Dartmouth as the 103
Search and Rescue Flight a
section of 101KU. Later that 103 Squadron badge
year, the unit moved to
Active 1947-1968
RCAF Station Greenwood.
In 1950, the unit was 1977-present
CH-149 Cormorant stationed at 103 renamed 103 Rescue Unit Country Canada
SAR Base in Gander, Newfoundland. and moved to RCAF Station Branch Royal
Summerside where it
Canadian Air Force
remained until unification of
the Canadian Forces in 1968, when it was disbanded, with the Type Search and Rescue
remnants of the unit forming the new 413 Transport and Rescue Part of 9 Wing Gander
Squadron at CFB Summerside.[1] As 103 RU it flew a variety of
Motto(s) Seek and Save
aircraft: Canso-A (until 1962), Avro Lancaster (until 1965), Douglas
Dakota (until 1968), Noorduyn Norseman (until 1957), Sikorsky H-5 Website rcaf-
(until 1965).[2] 103 also had detachments in Torbay, Newfoundland arc.forces.gc.ca (htt
(which was then RCAF Station Torbay re-opened in 1953 on the p://www.rcaf-arc.for
former RCAF Aerodrome - Torbay, Newfoundland) and Goose Bay ces.gc.ca/en/9-win
with the latter closed and becoming 107 Rescue Unit in 1954. RCN g/103-squadron.pa
provided High Speed Launch vessels (ex-RCMP) support at select ge)
locations.
Commanders
The unit was re-activated in 1977 at CFB Gander to meet the search Commander Major Mike O'Brien
and rescue demands in Canada's area of responsibility i the western
North Atlantic. At the time of its reactivation, the squadron was Aircraft flown
equipped with the Boeing Vertol CH-113 Labrador twin-rotor Patrol Canso-A, Avro
helicopter and was stationed in a permanent hangar constructed on the Lancaster, Douglas
grounds of the airport in 1977. In 1997 the squadron was re- Dakota, Noorduyn
designated to its current name by His Royal Highness, Prince Philip Norseman,
and presented with its standard.[1] Sikorsky H-5
In 2009, the squadron, alongside its parent unit 9 Wing Gander, Transport CH-113 Labrador,
hosted SAREX 09, an annual search and rescue exercise involving AgustaWestland
SAR organizations across Canada, with units from the United States
Air Force and international observers also attending.[3] CH-149 Cormorant

References
1. 103 Squadron - History (https://archive.today/20120418222804/http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/
9w-9e/sqns-escs/page-eng.asp?id=503), archived from the original (http://www.airforce.forces.g
c.ca/9w-9e/sqns-escs/page-eng.asp?id=503) on 18 April 2012, retrieved 7 October 2011
2. https://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/259/290/301/286/mowbray.pdf
3. Capt Sheppard, Tony, A successful SAREX 2009 in Gander (http://www.nss.gc.ca/site/ss/maga
zine/vol18_3/articles/sarex09Gander_e.asp), SARSCENE, retrieved 7 October 2011

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=103_Search_and_Rescue_Squadron&oldid=976284009"

This page was last edited on 2 September 2020, at 04:36 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this
site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.