904 (Lake Chapala-Mexico) Wing
Air Force Association of Canada
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Last updated
July 7, 2008
Wing Executive
January 2006 |
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The 2005 Lakeside Poppy Campaign
At the request of 904 Wing, the Royal Canadian Legion agreed to give responsibility for the conduct of the first Poppy Campaign at Lake Chapala to 904 (Lake Chapala-Mexico) Wing of the Air Force Association of Canada.
We established a contribution goal of 10,000 pesos for our first campaign. However, thanks to the enthusiasm and creativeness of our volunteer canvassers, and the positive response of Lakeside residents, we exceeded our goal by 66%. The total contributions made to the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign at Lake Chapala were 16,579.30 pesos or Can $1,810.00. One half of the Wing membership and three non-members actively participated in the campaign.
The Wing assumed all of the overhead costs of conducting the campaign, and accordingly, we sent a bank draft in the full amount to Legion Headquarters.
On hearing of the results of our campaign, Duane Daly, the Dominion Secretary of the Royal Canadian Legion sent us the following message: "Well done!!! Please thank your members on behalf of the Legion for their tremendous support and commitment to Remembrance."
Bravo Zulu to all who participated and contributed.
Annual Dues
Because of the number of members who are snowbirds or travel in the early summer we start the process of collecting the annual membership fees early. This year we will be starting to collect membership fees in February.
Editor's Comments
The Executive Council of the Wing has selected "Slip Stream" as the name for the 904 Wing Bulletin. There were a total of 27 suggestions for the new name and a vote was necessary to make the final selection. The winning name was from Peter DeTracey and I would like to reassure the members that there was "no foul play" in the selection process. Members of the Council were not told who had made the suggestions and in the final voting process I did not count Peter's vote for his own suggestion!
904 Wing Member Demographics
Here is an update on the 904 Wing Member Demographics as of January 2006.
Residency
| Full Time Residents of Mexico | 60% |
| Snowbirds | 40% |
Military Service
| Canadian Air Force (2 - 19 yrs) | 23% |
| Canadian Air Force (20 + yrs) | 29% |
| Total with Canadian Air Force Service | 52% |
| Total with Canadian Forces/DND Service | 67% |
| Total with Non-Canadian Military Service | 21% |
| Total with Military Service - All Nations | 88% |
Civilian Aviation Experience
| Civil Aviation only | 10% |
| Military and Civil Aviation | 25% |
| Total with Civil Aviation Experience | 35% |
The 904 Wing Web Site is Active
The Wing web site is up and running at http://www.904wing.org. Check it out and let us know what you think. As with all web sites, it is a work in progress and a number of additional features will be added.
If you have any technical difficulties with the web site or the external links, please contact the Webmaster, Ellen Okunsky, or the Editor, Bill Watt. If you have any suggestions for change or addition, contact the Wing President, Peter DeTracey or any member of the Executive Council. The Wing Executive Council is the Editorial Board for the web site.
| 904 (Lake Chapala-Mexico) Wing Executive Council | |
| President | Pete De Tracey |
| Past President | Bill Watt |
| 1st Vice-President | James Wamboldt |
| 2nd Vice-President | Ron Hudson |
| Secretary | Jack Girard |
| Treasurer | Tombo Thomlinson |
| Memoriam - Frederick REAIN |
The members of 904 (Lake Chapala-Mexico) Wing of the Canadian Air Force Association extend most sincere condolences to the family of Fred Reain. Fred died on Friday, December 2, 2005 at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital, in his 91st year. Fred served in the RCAF in the Second World War as a bomber pilot, survived being shot down over France in January 1944 and evaded capture eventually getting back to Gibraltar and England. He served another year on bombing missions before the war's end, retiring as a Flight Lieutenant. He was "Mentioned in Dispatches" in the King's Honour List. He retired from Allen Bradley, Canada in 1980. He was a member of the Sheffield Lions Club and the Royal Air Force Escaping Society (Canadian Branch). Fred and Dorothy were snowbirds who spent winters in Mexico and will be missed by their many friends in 904 Wing and the Lakeside area. |
| 904 Wing Program | ||
| Date | Theme | Venue |
| 13 Jan | Nostalgia Night | La Nueva Posada |
| 27 Jan | Beer Call - Limericks | Old Posada |
| 10 Feb | Medical Panel | La Nueva Posada |
| 17 Mar | Dinner Dance | La Nueva Posada |
| 7 Apr | Elections | La Nueva Posada |
| 14 Jul | 30th Annual Convention A.E.M.A, A.C. |
Guadalajara |
Notice on the Medical Panel - February 10
The highlight of the February 10th regular meeting will be the Medical Panel Chaired by Martin Inwood. This is a family issue so spouses are invited to attend. The objective is to provide you with timely information on routine care, emergency care, medical facilities and planning.
You don't want to miss this even if it's a topic that you would rather not think about.
2005: A year of many firsts for the Air Force
By Holly BridgesAIR FORCE TRANSFORMATION
2005 was a landmark year for the Air Force and the Canadian Forces. There was the release of the Defence Policy Statement, the announcement of $12.8 billion in new funding to the defence budget over the next five years, the launch of both Air Force and Canadian Forces transformation, and as previously mentioned, the promise of new kit on the horizon. All of these pieces when added together point to a transformed Canadian Forces, capable of delivering on the mission as never before. Here are but a few examples of Air Force transformation at work.
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Lieutenant-Colonel Major Mike Hood, former Commanding Officer of 429 Squadron, 8 Wing Trenton, salutes in preparation for his squadron's closeout ceremony this past summer. Fighter, Transport and Maritime Patrol squadrons were consolidated at 3 Wing Bagotville, 8 Wing Trenton and 14 Wing Greenwood in the first visible step in the transformation of the Air Force. 433 Squadron, 429 Squadron and 415 Squadron have merged with 425, 436 and 405 Squadrons at Bagotville, Trenton and Greenwood respectively. This consolidation resulted in more robust squadrons and provided necessary people to create the Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre.
Photo Credit: Cpl Jean-Francois Neron |
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A new centre of excellence, which will transform the way air power is used in a more integrated Canadian Forces, officially opened its doors in Trenton in October. The Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre, a think tank of sorts, will be the engine of change for the Air Force. Commanding Officer, Colonel Jim Cottingham, (centre), Deputy Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Bob Blair (right), and senior Non-Commissioned Member, Sergeant Ruth Wilson, after the opening ceremonies in Trenton.
Photo Credit: Cpl Simon Duchesne |
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The Air Force has stepped up its involvement in what is perhaps the most visible sign of capability transformation across the Canadian Forces - uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAV). A new 60-person Tactical UAV Flight formed of personnel from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, from Edmonton and 5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada (5 RALC) from CFB Valcartier, conducted trials of Tactical UAVs last October in Wainwright, in preparation for their operational employment. The Air Force has also created a new section within the Directorate of Air Requirements to identify future UAV requirements of the Canadian Forces.
Reprinted from the Air Force website at www.airforce.forces.gc.caPhoto Credit: Master Corporal Serge Gouin |