Lead Line Naval Association of Canada Vancouver Island Newsletter January – February 2017 • Volume 32, Issue 1 10 YEARS OF OP CARIBBE A bridge lookout on board HMCS Edmonton uses the ship’s binoculars during Operation Caribbe in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. – Photo by MARPAC Imaging Services INSIDE THIS ISSUE WWII Monument proposed for Esquimalt ...............2 HMCS Vancouver home for Christmas ...................7 Farewell HMCS Preserver ....................................4 Studying military children's health .........................9 Another first for the new Cyclone ..........................5 Canada takes command of CTF150 ....................12 Montreal performs as Experimental Ship ................6 Veteran's Corner ...............................................15 STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS CANADIAN ARMED FORCES APP If any of you have a story to tell or an article to share with your fellow readers, The Defence Community now please send it along to leadandlineeditor@ has access to a variety of tools gmail.com for inclusion in our newsletter. and services through the Cana- We want to hear from you! dian Armed Forces Mobile Ap- plication (CAF Mobile App). The app delivers the lat- est useful, unclassified in- Membership Renewal Time formation about Defence di- rectly from the CDS and his Thanks to those who have sent in your command team. NAC-VI 2017 membership renewal and do- The app makes it easy to stay nations to the Endowment Fund and the Navy current on the latest social me- League. dia posts including Facebook, If you have not yet renewed, use the quick Twitter and YouTube. You can and easy online renewal at www.nac-vi.ca. Go tailor it to your needs so you to “Membership” and select “Membership Sign always know what is going on. Up”. When you complete the form, the site will The app is available for free for identify you as a member given information iOS, Android, and BlackBerry. already in the database. The online payment • get updates from CAF leader- process is simple and secure. Alternatively, ship o Bases and wings you can mail in a cheque. Printable member- • access and customize your CAF o Compensation and benefits ship forms are available on the website under social media feed o Education and training "Membership". • view latest videos and images o Family resources The opportunity to donate online to one of • access a variety of CAF o Legal services the groups we support is still an option, but is resources, including: o Morale and welfare services not completed as a part of the online renewal o Health Services o OUTCAN form. Instead, click on the donate button and o Pension o Veteran’s Affairs again follow the prompts. Any questions, please call the Membership Director, Stan Brygadyr, at 250-727-2243. ACCESS DOCUMENTS ONLINE We now have a members' section on our web- site, www.nac-vi.ca, where you can log in and access documents posted for members. Currently, we have updates on our constitu- tion/by-laws and we will soon be posting min- utes of executive meetings. This is a work in progress as we attempt to bring more information forward to you. When Contributor David Freeman snapped this photo of HMS Victory on a re- cent visit to Portsmouth, England. The ship’s masts were removed in 2011 you are on the site, go to “Membership”, then as the National Museum of the Royal Navy worked to save the vessel. “Member LogIn”. This will take you to a page Victory is currently buckling under its own weight with the upper deck where you will be asked for your username. slowly dropping toward the keel at a rate of half a centimetre per year. Please contact Bill Macdonald at becalmed1@ It needs more than 100 supports to keep it from collapsing. The ship was shaw.ca for login information. Under Member- commissioned in 1765 and was used by the Royal Navy until 1922 when ship, click “Members Page” to access links to the it was placed permanently into dry dock.In 2012, the National Museum final drafts of the new Constitution and Bylaws. of the Royal Navy took over custodianship of the historic vessel. 2 • LEAD LINE & LOCAL NEWS LT GRAY MONUMENT PROPOSED FOR ESQUIMALT A local monument has been pro- The Naval Association of Canada has posed to honour Second World War Lt Gray's VC citation authorized a grant of $2,500 dollars to- pilot Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, wards the projected $3,500 cost. Recog- Canada's last Victoria Cross Recipient. The KING has been graciously nizing the Lt Gray monument project On Aug. 9, 1945, at Onagawa Bay, pleased to approve the award of the falls under a specific aspect of the pur- Japan, Lt Gray led an attack by eight VICTORIA CROSS for valour to: pose of the Naval Association of Cana- Corsair aircraft on a group of Japanese the late Temporary Lieutenant da's (NAC's) Endowment Fund, namely naval vessels. He sank the destroyer Robert Hampton GRAY, R.C.N.V.R., "Remembering the Past" through naval Amakusa, but the gunners hit his air- monuments. craft and he crashed into the bay. He for great valour in leading an attack It won't likely be difficult to get Es- was posthumously awarded the Victoria on a Japanese destroyer in Onagawa quimalt’s approval for the project. Be- Cross (VC). Wan, on 9 August 1945. In the face fore the 2011 tsunami struck Japan, the A monument to Lt Gray already exists of fire from shore batteries and a township had proposed twinning with in Onagawa, Japan. It was established in heavy concentration of fire from Onagawa. After the town was devastat- 1989 and several Canadian naval ships some five warships Lieutenant Gray ed by the tsunami both Esquimalt and have visited the site to remember his pressed home his attack, flying very NOAVI were involved in raising funds sacrifice. low in order to ensure success, and, to help the town recover. However, Although there are schools named af- although he was hit and his aircraft there is a process for Esquimalt Coun- ter him and his photo hangs with other was in flames, he obtained at least cil to follow and NAC VI is asking both VC winners in the Legislature, there is one direct hit, sinking the destroyer. naval authorities and local civic orga- no actual monument here in Canada for Lieutenant Gray has consistently nizations in Esquimalt to register their Lt Gray. shown a brilliant fighting spirit and support with the township. Former navy man and prominent most inspiring leadership. There will be more details to come as perating from the British carrier HMS Formidable in the Esquimalt citizen Joe Buczkowski has fundraising efforts are established. If al days of the war, he led an attack by eight Corsair aircraft initiated a project to have a pillow mon- you wish to assist with fundraising for apanese naval vessels deployed in Onagawa Bay. ument placed locally and is seeking ap- to place the monument in Esquimal’ts this project, please contact Terry Milne proval from the Township of Esquimalt Memorial Park. at 250-477-5045. January 26th Denton Pendergast will give a NEW presentation on the History of Victoria’s Harbour including its connection with our navy. He will also introduce the new interactive website that ex- LOCATION! plores this topic. This event will also be a Special General Meeting to approve our updated bylaws. February 23 LCol Shawn Williamson, Com- UPCOMING manding Officer of 443 Squadron in Patricia Bay, will talk about the squadron's new facility as well LUNCHEONS as the new helicopters it will house. This will be in advance of a tour of the facility scheduled for a few days later. Both luncheons will be held at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, 3475 Ripon Road (Cadboro Bay) starting at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m. Members are asked to confirm their attendance with Peter Bey, 250-652- 2225. LEAD LINE • 3 & EAST COAST NAVY NEWS Crewmembers hand along the final pennant during the Paying-off Ceremony of HMCS Preserver at CFB Halifax dockyard. 46-YEAR-OLD PRESERVER PAID OFF Current and former sailors said good- ed to LCdr Marier, who then presented underway replenishment. bye to auxiliary oiler replenishment ship them to RAdm Newton. With the pay- In the years that followed, its many HMCS Preserver after nearly five decades ing off official, the crew marched past the missions around the world included: of service on Oct. 21, 2016. Maritime Forces Atlantic Honour Guard • UN peacekeeping efforts in Cyprus Preserver was honoured with a sail past and down the jetty to loud cheers from • Enforcing sanctions in the former from HMCS Ville de Québec and the cer- all those in attendance. Yugoslavia in 1994 emonial passing of the commissioning Preserver followed its sister ship, Pro- • The response to the crash of Swissair pennant along the deck. As the crew, tecteur, which was paid off in May 2015. Flight 111 in 1998 off Peggy’s Cove followed by their Commanding Officer, Preserver was commissioned in Saint • Operation Apollo in 2001, in marched off the ship, the commissioning John, N.B., on Aug. 7, 1970. It was an support of American operations in pennant, jack and ensign were present- example of cutting-edge technology for Afghanistan ABOVE: Spectators arrive at the Paying-off Ceremony. LEFT: Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Commander Vickey Marier, returns the colours and naval jack to Rear-Admiral John Newton, concluding the Paying-off Ceremony. – Photos by Corporal J.W.S. Houck, Formation Imaging Services 4 • LEAD LINE & EAST COAST NAVY NEWS ANOTHER FIRST FOR THE CYCLONE HELICOPTER By Captain Peter Ryan Facility, the Cyclone's sonobuoy process- ment settings, in combination with clear, 12 Wing Shearwater ing system was tested to detect and track concise and easily repeatable procedures, Windsor using passive sonobuoys.