103 Search and Rescue Squadron

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103 Search & Rescue Squadron
Squadron badge
Information
Role	Search and Rescue
Aircraft Operated	CH-149 Cormorant
Home Station	CFB Gander
Motto	Seek and Save
History
Date Founded	1 April 1947
Badge	St. Bernard Dog
Notable Battle Honours

Canadian CH-149 Cormorant

103 Search and Rescue Squadron of the Canadian Forces Air Command currently operates the CH-149 Cormorant from CFB Gander, Newfoundland.

[edit] History

103 Search and Rescue Flight was formed in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on April 1, 1947. It moved to Greenwood, NS that same year where it remained until three years later when it was renamed 103 Rescue Unit (RU). While at the Greenwood base, the Unit adopted as its crest "Albert," the Saint Bernard Rescue Dog. It also took on the motto Seek and Save - a suitable symbol of the Unit's search and rescue role.

The Unit then moved to Summerside, Prince Edward Island until 1968 when it was disbanded. It was then renamed 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron. For the next 8 years, it remained dormant. It was resurrected in 1977 in Gander, Newfoundland to meet the unique search and rescue demands of the North Atlantic. It has been stationed in its permanent hangar on the grounds of Gander International Airport since then.

103 Rescue Unit was granted squadron status in March 1997 and suitably renamed 103 Search and Rescue Squadron. On June that year, His Royal Highness, Prince Philip presented the Squadron with its Standard.

[edit] Current role

Today, 103 Search and Rescue (SAR) Squadron is charged with providing a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year search and rescue capability to the Halifax Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC). The Squadron is responsible for a massive area, covering the lower Arctic, the Maritimes, Newfoundland and Labrador and all offshore waters in the region.

Considering that the number of SAR cases in the Newfoundland Region, which are actual distress cases, is twice the national average, 103 Squadron is kept very busy.

Given 103's proximity to major fishing grounds and shipping routes, it isn't surprising that the majority of its missions are marine-based. SAR crews routinely find vessels in distress, overdue boats and sick or injured seamen. Crews can easily find themselves nearly 200 miles offshore and with the introduction of Hibernia, a refuelling site at an oil production platform, the potential to go even further out to sea has proven very much a reality.

Outcasts, the name affectionately given to the personnel of 103 Squadron, perform a variety of tasks to keep the Squadron up and running, including flying the helicopters, maintaining and servicing the Aircraft as well as administering and supporting the Squadron.

Its approximately fifty military personnel and twenty-six civilian employees operate three CH-149 Cormorant helicopters.

The CH-149 Cormorant can carry 12 stretchers or a load of 5,000 kg. Its ice protection system allows it to operate in continuous icing conditions. The Cormorant routinely conducts rescues that would have been impossible for its predecessor, the CH-113 Labrador.