Trade History

(All this information is correct to the best of my knowledge I am not an historian or try to be one. This is only my collection of information that I was provided by the members of the LMA, and from my own collection. If any info is incorrect or if you wish to add to the site please email the LMA

What we were once called

KICKERS (pre 1944?)

AIR TRAFFIC ASSISTANTS (1944 until 1952)

MOVEMENT CONTROLLERS AIR (1952 -Jan 8 1961 )

TRANSPORTATION TECHNICIANS (TRANS TECHS) (Jan 8,1961 - 1970)

TRAFFIC TECHNICIANS (1970 till present day)

MOC 933 now is MOSID 00170 - TFC TECH

(You have a list of "what we were once called". I am sure the trade TransTech was eliminated in 1966 during integration. Sgts and below went to MSEOp and WOs and above to Transportation Controller. Like many, I worked Base Movements and remustered from ClkAdm in 1970. Suggest to check it with some of the original TransTechs.)

Rick Newton

If my memory serves me right the trans tech name changed in 1968. It did not change to MSE Op but Transportation Operator (Trans Op). Yes the rank of WO and above were called Transportation Controllers. It is true that we had MSE ops in AMUs and Trans Techs in MSE sections. What a mess that was.

- Fred Hebb

Hello,
Rick is correct. I have an official list of trades dated 1 Oct 66 and there is no Trans Tech on it. I would like to know when the Transportation Controller 934 became obsolete if anyone knows. Thanks.

-Tom Bennett

I think the Transportation Controllers trade MOC 934 ended in 1973.This was given to MSE Ops WO and above. A few of the guys that I remember from my Petawawa days (1975 -1980) were WO George McGillvary and WO Chris Morrison. If you took your promotion to WO or above you were a Transportation Controller, if you refused it you were a MSE Operator. They were looking for senior NCO's from the army bases to take care of the Traffic Techs. I remustered in Sept 1975, and these WO's became Traffic Techs as long as they had there orange book signed off for TAMS and ield exercises. Hope that answers Tom Bennett question, about this trade!

Steve Richardson

"A Mover by any name is still a Mover"

SHORT HISTORY OF OUR TRADE

BADGES & CRESTS

UNITS (pictures and history)

901 Air Traffic Handling Unit, RCAF Stn. Rockliffe
1 AMU NAMAO (Edmonton) which later became 1 AMS WINNIPEG
1 AMU DET ???? - see the crest in the Badges & Crest page.
2 AMU / AMS TRENTON
3 AMU OTTAWA
4 CFMCU (MONTREAL) formally CFFTU
5 AMU MARVILLE FRANCE, 5 AMU LAHR
7 AMU DOWNSVIEW
8 AMU MONCTON
9 AMU WINNIPEG ?
10 AMU DORVAL - RCAF AIR MOVEMENTS DETACHMENT DORVAL
11 AMU DET COMOX / VANCOUVER
AMS GREENWOOD
AMS SHEARWATER
AMU BAGOTVILLE ?
AMS COLD LAKE
1 MCP - 1 MOVEMENT CONTROL PLATOON (CLOSED)

VARIOUS JOBS IN THE TRAFFIC TECH WORLD

CMTT - These Sections on every Base and Stations, provide all the shipping, receiving, customs, and in some cases pallet build up and break down for all Canadian Forces and Foreign Aircraft.
BASE TRAFFIC / PERS TRAFFIC - Provided Furniture and Effects arrangements for you postings, as well as your Flight reservations using the ASTRA Reservation system (RES II) and now with the SABRE System. Now with most bases not having the Sabre System and not doing reservations anymore, All travel arrangements are made by the National Passenger Service Center in Trenton. Only Comox, Cold Lake, Trenton, Bagotville, Halifax and Geilenkirchen can do reservations and travel arrangements on Service Air only.
MAMS - Mobile Air Movements Sections

MAMS TEAMS LOCATION

1 MAMS - 2 AMS Trenton (originally from Ottawa 3 AMU)

2 MAMS - 1 AMS Winnipeg

3 MAMS - 2 AMS Trenton

4 MAMS - 2 AMS Trenton

5 MAMS - 2 AMS Trenton

8 MAMS - 1 AMS Winnipeg

9 MAMS - 1 AMS Winnipeg

10 MAMS - out of Winnipeg in the late 1960's ??? Any info

I noticed that the list of Mams teams omitted the team that was transferred to Edmonton (Namao) in 1968 they were from Trenton and Included Rogers Breeza Leblanc (Ron) myself and others who's names escape me. The first year we were there (68- 69) I had just gotten married and our team was gone for a total of about 8 months out of the 12. In 1969-70 we pulled a lot of honeycomb (sticky glue and boring) and rigged pallets for air drops with the Airborne Reg. Jim Mellors

TAMS - Tactical Air Movements Sections
FU - Helicopter Slinging and Rigging.
BM - Aerial Delivery
TAL now TAT - Tactical Air Lift , now Tactical Air transport
L.A.P.E.S - Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System
D.C - Dangerous Goods

LOADMASTER

C-17 (C-177), CC130, CC132 (Dash 7), CC137, CC150, CC115, YUKON's, COSMO's and CHINOOK HELICOPTERS
J-model Hercs and the New Chinooks

EQUIPMENT / VEHICLES

EVANS SKY LOADER KIT - This was a kit used on the Dakota Aircraft , used to tie down oil drums or round cylindrical articles. (Click here to see a description out of the CAP 456). It gives you a list of its components and what each item does.

"TIRE-FORT" -(Tirfor - Means pull like hell) A hand operated winch, as a sort of binder similar to the ones they use on a truck. Andy St-Pierre remember using one when a pallet was jammed in the system and when they where using skate wheel Configuration on the aircraft. According to an unknown source, it had been designed by somebody who had been beaten up in the club by Big George Stephenson.

"APE" - Air Transportable Elevator - This was a Canadair designed air transportable elevator, and the equipment could be powered from the aircraft's own electrical system (pictures)

LOAD PLANS AND LOAD PLANNING FORMS AND EQUIPMENT

C130-E - SLIDE RULE CC137 (BOEING) CC130 - H CC130 - H30

CC150 POLARIS AIRBUS BUFFALO CHINOOK OTHER AIRCRAFT (FOREIGN)

PEOPLE

"ROGERS RANGERS" - In 1967, Bill Forbes, Bob Rogers, Bill Bereza, Bill Wheeler, Gus Bonner, Ken Cosman, and Oscar Henaut began putting together and forming the first MAMS team loosely referred to as ‘Rogers Rangers.'

WHO IS THE ONLY PRIVATE TO QUALIFY AS A LOADMASTER? FRITZ VON KAITZ ON THE COSMO

In 1976 Service Women were entering the Canadian Forces as Traffic Technicians.

FIRST FEMALE TRAFFIC TECHNICIAN - Tammy Mackie (Guay), Debbie Harrison, Pauline Comeau or Joanne Steele (Finlay).

FIRST FEMALE LOADMASTER - Joanne Steele (Finlay) or Capt. Sharon Galenzoski, Cabin Crew Leader with 437 Sqn on the Boeing 707's.
FIRST OPERATIONAL FEMALE HERCULES LOADMASTER - Tammy Mackie (Guay)

Hi - My husband found your website and brought it to my attention. It has some interesting history on the trade and hopefully will grow as more people provide information. Your section on females in the trade is slightly incorrect. Females were first admitted into the trade in 1975 - first course went through Cornwallis (13 platoon) in February. We had 17 graduates from TQ3 in August. Postings were right across Canada. Unfortunately I never kept a list of all the girls. Joanne Steele was definitely one of them. I don't recognize Tammy or Paulines name. Here are the ones I remember: Kris Hummel, Nancy Smart, Diane Toomey, Dorothy Matras, Bev Warren, Debbie Morris, Joanne Steele, Sandra Price, Angela VanVroenhoven, Sharon (I can't remember her last name but she was posted to Halifax )

Hope this helps. Sandra (Sam) Foran - nee Price.

If anyone know the true dates, please let the LMA know.

PIG COIN

The Operational Loadmaster Medallion (PIG COIN) was first conceived at 5AMU in May 1985. Around the table that afternoon were Dave York, Ted Baker, and (Smokey) Joe Myers. There was a heated discussion in the wearing of the Loadmaster Badge. It was felt that there should be some recognition for those who had reached operational status and knew the real hardships. It was apparent that something needed to be done. We decided on the "Pig Coin". Since Smokey was going back on leave to Canada, he took on the responsibility of setting up the design and procuring the coin. The final product was put together a month later and the issue of coins to eligible Loadmasters began. To qualify for the coin, Loadies had to have flown 1,000 hrs, or served with an operational Sqn for two years (this was to accommodate the Helicopter Loadies). (now to qualify you only need to get operational)

As tradition dictates the producing of a coin on the bar has become a favorite pastime, with some ingenious Loadies drinking Free. With the inception of the coin has come a sense of pride in the job that only personnel who have loaded a skate wheel aircraft alone in January in the high artic, or have done a night hook-up on an overcast night would know.

These are the sometimes forgotten members of the crew, maybe not the best dressed at the end of a flight but always there to the end. It's for these Loadmasters the coin was conceived.

A COPY OF THE LIST OF LOADMASTERS HOW HAVE THE PIG COINS IS AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING THE LMA

All this information was taken from various sources. Members of the Logistics Movers Association kindly donated many of the pictures and subject matter.

Thanks go out to:

Mr. Ed Grose, Capt James Picket, Mr. Andy Jack, Mr. Fred Hebb, Mr. Andy St-Pierre, Mr. George McGinnis, Mr. Wayne Harker, Mr. Aubrey Waycott, Mr. Erwin Ulmer, Mr. Brian Shearon, and all the Members of LMA and the C.F Traffic Tech Trade

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