News Release

Canadian Forces Sustains Air Force Contribution to The Campaign Against Terrorism

NR-03.006 - January 22, 2003

The TAL Det's second rotation, which departed from 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario in July 2002, began returning to Canada early this month. The deployment of the third rotation, with personnel from 8 Wing Trenton, 17 Wing Winnipeg, Manitoba and 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia, is expected to be complete by January 28, 2003.

Those assigned to the LRP Det and NSU deployed initially from 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia and 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia, with the two CP-140 Aurora long-range maritime patrol aircraft in late June 2002.

Since their arrival in theatre, TAL Det crews have logged about 4109 operational flying hours on more than 639 missions, completing more than 92 percent of the tasks assigned to them. During that period, TAL Det aircraft delivered about 4.7 million kg of cargo and 5,539 passengers to destinations in the theatre of operations, a significant contribution to the support of coalition forces.

Since their arrival in theatre, LRP Det crews have completed more than 356 missions in support of Operation APOLLO. The LRP Det provided essential air surveillance in the area of operations and contributed significantly to the interdiction and boarding of numerous vessels in these areas as well as the interception of contraband shipments. The LRP Det achieved an impressive success rate of completing 98 percent of missions tasked.

The NSU, which officially stood up on April 17, 2002, is the unit responsible for delivering centralized administrative and logistic support services to Canadian Forces units deployed in Southwest Asia on Operation APOLLO.

"I am very proud of what the men and women of this second rotation have accomplished over the past months. Their hard work has been a significant and essential contribution to our mission in support of the international campaign against terrorism," said General Ray Henault, Chief of the Defence Staff.

In addition to the TAL Det and its three CC-130 Hercules transport aircraft, the Long Range Patrol Detachment (LRP Det) with two CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft and the National Support Unit (NSU) to provide logistics services, Canada is maintaining a Naval Task Group consisting of two warships with two embarked Sea King helicopter detachments, and a Task Force headquarters co-located with the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida.

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Note to Editors: Due to operational security concerns and to respect regional sensitivities, the locations of the TAL Det, LRP Det and NSU will not be released.

Joint Task Force South West Asia Public Affairs: (813) 827-1482

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