GET CONNECTED GET CONNECTED with our website CAFconnection OR LOOK US UP on Facebook 4 Wing Connection Visit us at www.CAFconnection.ca or www.facebook.com/ 4WINGCONNECTION/ Volume 52 Number 08 www.couriernews.ca February 26, 2019 New Transition Services now available Joy Smith From left to right: Warrant Officer André Marchand, Platoon Warrant Officer, Transition Centre Cold Lake; Katherine Spencer Ross, Veterans Affairs Liaison Director; Sergeant Gord Lee, Platoon Sergeant Transition Centre Cold Lake; Chief Warrant Officer Rémy Lapointe, Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group Chief Warrant Officer; Steven Harris, Director General Communication Veterans Affairs; Brigadier-General Mark Misener, Commander Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group; Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Pilon, Acting Wing Commander, 4 Wing Cold Lake; Capt Lisa Sterby, Platoon Commander Transition Centre Cold Lake; Aviator Jamal Desmond, Driver Transition Centre Cold Lake; Chief Petty Officer Brian MacPhee, Regional Sergeant-Major, Canadian Armed Forces Transition Unit to Alberta Northern Region and Major Scott Dawson, Regional Commanding Officer, Canadian Armed Forces Transition Unit to Alberta Northern Region. JOY SMITH On 21 February 2019, the Transition Units and 32 Transition occupation. Commander of the CAF Transition Centres. Transitioning members will be You have had a long successful Group, Brigadier-General Mark The CAF Transition Centre service given a mandatory 30 calendar day career in the Canadian Armed Forces Misener, along with senior officials has developed several tools that will period to complete their release (CAF). You and your family have had from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) assist transitioning members with their process just before their release date. several postings and lots of adventures. held a forum to introduce services that, departure from the CAF. Some of these During this time the member can Now it’s time to think about retiring as of 1 April 2019, will be provided to tools include a new Transition Guide, focus on completing their transitioning from the military or perhaps you are transitioning members throughout now available in print and online. A administration as they will not be being medically released? How do you Canada. The focus of the Transition new Transition website on Canada.ca tasked, sent on course or Temporary get started planning your future? Will Group will be to deliver personalized, which provides information from key Duty (TD). All releasing members will you be able to find another job or will professional and standardized support sources, including VAC, the CAF and also receive a Veteran’s Service Card. your pension be enough to live on? Are and transition services to CAF members their partners, a new My Transition Veterans released before February 2016 your current skills translatable to the and their families, to enable seamless Services App and the Second Career will be able to request their Veteran’s civilian world? Where will you live? transition and enhanced well-being Assistance Network (SCAN) is now Service Card beginning Summer 2019. For many military members with special attention provided to ill and available online. Members have access For more information about the retirement/release can be a daunting injured personnel, their families and to checklists that will help keep the Transition Group and all the services thought. The staff of the 4 Wing the families of the deceased. The CAF process on track and an online tool that they offer go to www.Canada.ca/ Transition Centre can now help with all Transition Group headquarters will can assist in translating your military military-transition or contact the Cold those questions and more. be located in Ottawa, with 9 regional occupation into the equivalent civilian Lake Transition Centre at local 3024. BLACK HISTORY NATIONAL LOCAL WEEKLY MONTH RCAF airwomen’s reunion Honours and Awards Entertainment & more! Henry J. Langdon: An RCAF, to be held in June Page 6 Movies .................................Page 3 Page 4 industry and union pioneer Padre ..................................Page 6 Page 2 Entertainment.....................Page 7 Into A Independently Owned & Operated Sherry Levesque Cori Ferguson Cell: (780) 815-0440 New Home! Cell: (780) 813-7443 www.coldlakehouses.com www.cfhomescoldlake.com Can’t fi nd your perfect home? Finding perfection is what we do! Page 2 The Courier News & Publishing Tuesday, February 26, 2019 Long Service BLACK HISTORY MONTH Award Henry J. Langdon: An RCAF, industry and union pioneer MAJOR MATHIAS JOOST During the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Air Force maintained high standards for those it enlisted during the conflict. This is reflected in the achievements Submitted of many of the Black- Mr. Carl Joudrey (left), Services Manager Canadians who served at Transition Centre Cold Lake receives in the RCAF during the his Long Service certificate from war – for instance, four Brigadier-General Mark Misener (centre), became lawyers post-war. Commander of Canadian Armed Forces To cite another Transition Group assisted by Chief example, one with a Warrant Officer Rémy Lapointe (right), post-war RCAF tie, Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group Henry Langdon had Chief Warrant Officer, in recognition of Mr. an outstanding career Joudrey’s 35 years of dedicated service to in the civil aviation the Government of Canada. maintenance field. Henry Johnson Langdon was born in Trinidad in 1911 and came to Canada in 1923. Growing up in the Little Burgundy district of Montreal, he had a desire International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Photograph Collection, Southern Labor Archives. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Centennial Building(#67), to be a writer, but was working in a gas station Henry Langdon (left) and Ernie Hunter view radiographic X-ray PO Box 6190 Stn Forces, at the outbreak of war. At inspection results in 1957. Trans Canada Airlines (later Air Canada) Cold Lake, AB T9M 2C5 this time he was married, hired Henry Langdon in 1945 as an aero engine mechanic and he later Phone: (780) 594-5206 Fax: (780) 594-2139 had one daughter and a became an aircraft inspector with the company. Email: [email protected] son on the way. Such was that Langdon would the Universal Negro flight line supervisor. He his desire to serve that he make an excellent non- Improvement Association, retired in January 1967, was willing to leave them commissioned officer. working towards having reached career THE COURIER STAFF behind, enlisting in the Leading Aircraftman improving race relations retirement age. MANAGER RCAF on November 1, Langdon would reach the with this organization Henry Langdon Rob Larson 1939. rank of flight sergeant in and in his civilian and was a pioneer with Air ACTING EDITOR/REPORTER At this time the RCAF October 1944 and was at military careers. Canada, the RCAF and Joy Smith regulations prohibited this rank when he was In March 1955, Mr. his union. Working in PRODUCTION COORDINATOR the enlistment of anybody released on September 7, Langdon re-enlisted, predominantly white Nora Chachula whose skin was not 1945. this time in the RCAF environments in all three ADMIN/SALES white, so somebody in Perhaps because of Auxiliary. With his work places, he was highly Carmin Reid the RCAF recruiting his wartime experience experience at Trans- respected not only for his system obviously turned and the number of Canada Airlines it was abilities, but in his efforts EDITORIAL ADVISOR a blind eye to the former RCAF aircrew natural that he would towards improving race 4 WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS regulations. Perhaps in its service, Trans become the aero engine relations. Capt Julie Brunet Langdon’s course in Canada Airlines (later technical instructor at Henry Langdon had aero engine mechanics Air Canada) hired Henry 3001 Technical Training come a long way from DEADLINE helped. Langdon in 1945 as an Unit in Montreal. He his desire for a literary After training at aero engine mechanic. served there until career – his long service Wednesday at 1500 hrs for the following Tuesday the Technical Training He would later become February 1961, spending in the civil aviation CIRCULATION School at St. Thomas, an aircraft inspector with one year with No. 104 maintenance field was 2600 Ontario, he served at No. the company. Composite Unit at St. exemplary, and the 1 Service Flying Training Mr. Langdon also Hubert, Quebec, on RCAF played a role in School at Camp Borden, became active in the special duty. Flight setting him on his way. The Courier is published weekly with the permission of the 4 Wing Cold Lake Wing Commander Col Doyle. The Ontario, No. 9 Repair International Association Sergeant Langdon Major Joost is opinions expressed are those of the contributor and do Depot at St. Jean, Quebec, of Machinists and then served a year with a historian with the not reflect those of the Editor, Canadian Armed Forces, No. 9 Bombing and Aerospace Workers 438 Squadron before Directorate of History or DND. The Editor reserves the right to reject, edit, or Gunnery School, Mont (IAMAW), Lodge 1751, in spending his remaining and Heritage at National condense any editorial or advertising material. Printed by Star Press, Wainwright, AB. Joli, Quebec, and No. 6 Montreal. He was one of service with 401 Defence Headquarters in Repair Depot, Trenton, Publié hebdomadairement avec la permission du the first Black mechanics Squadron where he was a Ottawa. Commandant de l’escadre, le col Doyle. Les opinions Ontario. As well as being to serve on an IAMAW personnelles exprimées dans ce journal sont celles des an excellent tradesman, lodge executive and was collaborateurs et ne représentent pas les opinions de la he was also a very good elected to the Montreal rédaction, des Forces armées canadiennes ou du Ministrère leader. lodge’s executive for de la Défense nationale. La rédaction se réserve le droit de Oops! refuser, d’éditer ou de condenser tout article et matériel de In May 1943, an 25 years, serving as réclame soumis.