LOADMASTER BIOGRAPHIES

LAC R. Burlock

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/REMEMBERS/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem/Detail&casualty=4502588

This is from the Veterans affairs website. There is a few pics of his grave.

M/CPL JL PIERRE LACOSTE

(Picture not available)

M/Cpl Lacoste was born on the 24November 1943, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Roland Lacoste of St. Hubert, PQ. He completed his education in the St. Hubert area, and on the 28 September 1961 enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Transportation Technician. Pierre completed his initial trade training at RCAF Station Camp Borden on the 20 August 1962.

In his capacity as a Transportation Technician, he served in St Jean, Trenton, Dorval and Toronto. He was married at Canadian Forces Base Ottawa on the 7 July 1973 to Angelica Ruth Euler. Pierre qualified as a Loadmaster on the 20 August 1965 and flew on The Yukon, Boeing, Voyageur, and Chinook aircraft.

In March 1974, M/Cpl Lacoste was posted to 450 Transport Helicopter Squadron, CFB Ottawa and he was flying as a Loadmaster on a Chinook helicopter which crashed on 18 October 1974 near Shamakin, Pennsylvania, USA. MCpl Lacoste lost his life as a result of that crash.

The M/Cpl JL Pierre Lacoste memorial award is presented to the outstanding student on the Trade Qualification Level Three Traffic Technician Course.

CPL BRUCE K. STRINGER

Cpl Stringer was born on 24 September 1950. He was educated in Germany, Winnipeg, Angus, Barrie and Port Arthur. His interest in the military began in 1966 when he joined the Militia as a Transport Operator with the 138th Transport Company at Thunder Bay, Ont.

He served with the Militia until 24 January 1969, when he then enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. Following his Basic Training at Cornwallis, Bruce completed his Trade Qualification Level Three Course at CFSAL, CFB Borden in 1969 and upon graduation, he was posted to CFB Borden.

He then re-mustered to the trade of Traffic Technician and graduated from the Movement Specialty Course 6901 on 18 December 1969. He was then posted to 2 Air Movement Unit where he served in a variety of positions and as a member of a Mobile Air Movements Team in support of joint airlift operations. He completed the Traffic Technician Trade Qualification Level Five Course 7302 on 31 May 1973 and was promoted to the rank of Corporal. Bruce qualified as a Buffalo Loadmaster and was posted to 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, CFB Trenton. He married Shirley Ross of Angus, Ontario on June 10, 1972 and resided in the Trenton area until his death.

When the United Nations requested that Canada supply transport aircraft to support operations in the Middle East, Corporal Stringer was posted to 116 Air Transport Unit, Ismailia, Egypt where he subsequently lost his life.

On August 9th, 1974, Cpl Stringer and eight other Peacekeepers on a routine supply run died when their Buffalo aircraft was hit in mid-air by Syrian surface-to-air missiles. This was the largest single day lost of life in Canada's peacekeeping History.

Twenty-seven years later, a Remembrance ceremony took place on August 12, 2001 for the families of the victims. At the the National Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa, The Chief of Defence Staff, general Raymond Henault, Presented the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal to the Family Members. 

The Corporal Bruce K Stringer award is presented to the outstanding student on the Trade Qualification level Five-A Traffic Technician Course.

MCpl R. Caton

(The picture and biography are not yet available at this tiime.)

M/Cpl A.C. ALLAN WOODHAM

 M/Cpl Woodham was born on 2 October 1947 the son of Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey and Hilda Woodham of Kitchener, ON. He completed his education in the province of Ontario and on 1 December 1964 enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a steward, and on 1 October 1973 re-mustered to the trade of Traffic Technician.

Allan completed his Traffic Technician Qualification Level Three Course on 22 May, 1974 and graduated as the outstanding student on his Qualification Level Five A Course on 2 April 1975. He was married to Carol Safruk on 18 May 1968 at Canadian Forces Base Portage La Prairie, MB. Allan qualified as a CC130 Loadmaster on 9 April 1979 and was posted to 436 Transport Squadron, CFB Trenton, Ontario on 10 April 1979.

While flying as Loadmaster on CC130 Hercules aircraft, number 130312, during a Search and Rescue mission on 15 October 1980 the aircraft crashed near Chapais, Quebec located 60 kilometres west of Chibougamau. M/Cpl Woodham lost his life as a result of the crash.

The M/Cpl A.C. Allan Woodham memorial award is presented to the outstanding student on the Qualification Level Six A Traffic Technician Course.

  Sgt Jean Gionet

Sgt Jean-Rene Gionet was born on the 9th of August 1947 in Bathurst, NB. By the age of 4 years old, his parent with his younger brother moved to St-Joseph, NB where he completed his education. Later on one more brother and three sisters joined the family. In 1961, Jean joined the air cadet corp and in 1965 he received the trophy as the best Flight Sergeant. Jean joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1967.

After completing his basic training at RCAF Station St-Jean, Jean was transferred to RCAF Station Clinton, ON where he received his initial training in electronic. In May 1968, he re-mustered as a Traffic Technician and he went to CFB Borden for his training. After completion of his course in December of the same year, Jean was was transferred to 2 Air Movement Unit in Trenton, ON. In April 1973, Jean began his CC130 Loadmaster course. After graduation from the course, he joined 436 (T) squadron in Trenton. In October 1974, he was transferred to 435 (T) squadron in Edmonton, AB. Later, Jean joined the Tactical Airlift School still in Edmonton.

Jean was married to Wendy Lane in Camp Borden on June 16th of 1968. They had two daughters, Joseline born in September 1977 and Heather Jean born in December 1982. Jean loved his family, his career and he was an excellent dart player. He enjoyed his time off by hunting and fishing. Also Jean was an active volunteer with the arrow club and the CFB Edmonton Saddle Club where he owned 2 horses.

While flying as Loadmaster on CC130 Hercules aircraft number 130329 during a Low altitude Parachute Extraction System mission on the afternoon of 16 November 1982, the aircraft crashed near runway Number 29 at CFB Edmonton. Sgt Gionet lost his life as a result of that crash.

M/Cpl LAYTON SMITH

M/Cpl Smith was born on 12 June 1953, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dannie Alfonzo and Marjorie Hazel Smith of North East Harbour, N.S. He completed his education in the province of Nova Scotia in June of 1971, and enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces as a Traffic Technician on 6 July 1972.

Layton completed his Traffic Technician Trade Qualification Level Three course on 23 March 1973 and his Trade Qualification Level Five-A Course on 19 April 1977. He graduated as the outstanding student on his Trade Qualification Level Six-A Course on 5 March 1982.

Layton was married to Doris Joyal on 10 May 1980 at Winnipeg, M.B. M/Cpl Smith qualified as a CC130 Loadmaster on 21 April 1980 and was posted to 436 Transport Squadron, CFB Trenton on 16 May 1980.

While flying as Loadmaster on CC130 Hercules aircraft number 130329 during a Low altitude Parachute Extraction System mission on the afternoon of 16 November 1982, the aircraft crashed near runway Number 29 at CFB Edmonton. M/Cpl Smith lost his life as a result of that crash.

The M/Cpl D. Layton Smith memorial award is presented to the outstanding student on the Logistics officer Air Movements Course.

M/Cpl Marc Papineau-Couture

While flying as Loadmaster on CC130 Hercules aircraft number 130318 during joint Operation Brim Frost on 29 January 89, the aircraft crashed short of the runway at Fort Wainwright Alaska. M/Cpl Papineau-Couture lost his life as a result of that crash.

M/Cpl C. Castonguay

While flying as Loadmaster on CC130 Hercules aircraft number 130318 during joint Operation Brim Frost on 29 January 89, the aircraft crashed short of the runway at Fort Wainwright Alaska. M/Cpl Castonguay lost his life as a result of that crash.

M/Cpl Roland Pitre

M/Cpl Joseph Roland Pitre was born on the 21st of April 1955 in Campbelton, NB. He was raised with his four brothers in Pointe a la Garde (near Baie des Chaleurs) Gaspesie, QC. In 1966, his family moved to Trois-Rivieres, QC. Roland joined the Army Cadet Corp #2671 in 1967. On the 31st of may 1973, he enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces as a Traffic Technician.

After some months of training in Ottawa and Shearwater, Roland completed his qualification level three in November 1974 at CFB Borden. Throughout his career, he served with 1 Air Movement Unit Detachment Winnipeg, CFB Winnipeg, CFB St-Jean, CFS Beausejour and 1 AMU in Edmonton. In October 1988 on completion of his CC130 Loadmaster course, Roland was transferred to 435 (T) squadron in Edmonton. He accumulated 1967 flying hours as a Loadmaster. During his career, Roland was presented with numerous awards either as a team member or individually.

He was married to Marise Castonguay in Trois-Rivieres on December 23rd,1976. They had two sons, Jean-Francois born in May 1981 and Mathieu born in March 1984. Roland loved his family, his career and he relaxed best by playing golf.

While flying as a Loadmaster on CC130 Hercules aircraft number 130322 during Operation BoxTop on the 30th of October 1991, the aircraft crashed on the approach to the Canadian Forces Station Alert, 10.3 nautical miles south of Alert. M/Cpl Pitre lost his life as a result of that crash.

The "Rollie Pitre Memorial Trophy" is given to the most valuable player of the tournament by the CFB Edmonton junior hockey league.

SGT AL Michaud

Sgt Al Michaud was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec on the 10th of June, 1955. He joined the Canadian Forces as a 933 Traffic Technician on the 1st of February, 1973 in Quebec City and subsequently served at 5 Service Battalion, CFB Valcartier, 5 Air Movements Unit, CFB Lahr, 436 Sqn Trenton and the 435 Sqn Tactical Airlift School, located at CFB Edmonton.

Throuhout his career Al participated in many major operations and exercises including: Ex Morning Light, Boxtop, Ex Nez-Rouge, numerous Talexes, the Gulf War, and Op Harmony in the former Yugoslavia. In addition, he did a 6 month peacekeeping tour in the Middle East.

He was qualified to fly Advanced Tactical Airlift and Low Altitide Parachute Extraction missions. AL had logged a total of 4,287 hours in the CC-130 Hercules and flown 89 Low Altitude Parachute Extraction missions when he lost his life on the 22nd of July, 1993, in the crash of CC-130 Hercules #130321 while performing Loadmaster duties for a Low Altitude Parachute Extraction mission at CFB Wainwright.

M/Cpl Ron McWilliam

M/Cpl Ron McWilliam was born in Edmonton, Alberta on the 4th of July, 1953. He joined the Canadian Forces in May, 1972 in Calgary and served with 1 Field Ambulance as a Mobile Support Equipment Operator at CFB Calgary.

Ron left the Canadian Forces, only to re-enlist shortly thereafter as a 933 Traffic Technician. He subsequently served with 1 Air Movements Unit and the 435 Sqn Tactical Airlift School, both located in Edmonton.

Throughout his career Ron served on many operations and exercises including: Ex Northern Challenge, Op Vagabond, Boxtop, numerous Tal ex's, the Gulf War, and Op Harmony in the former Yugoslavia. He was qualified to perform Advanced Tactical Airlift and Low Altitude Parachute Extraction missions, and accumulated 2,935 hours on the CC-130 Hercules.

On the 22nd of July, 1993, M/Cpl McWilliam lost his life while performing Loadmaster duties on CC-130 130321 which crashed while doing a Low Altitude Parachute Extraction mission at CFB Wainwright, Alberta.