8 Wing part of world’s largest international maritime exercise

Three CF-18 Hornets come alongside a CC-150T Polaris to refuel just off the coast of Hawaii during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. Photo by Sgt Matthew McGregor, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

Colonel Dave Lowthian, Commander of 8 Wing Trenton, is deployed on Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) the world’s largest maritime exercise. Colonel Lowthian is serving as the  Deputy Combined Forces Air Component Commander – he is the second in command of all coalition air forces in the exercise.

Flight Refueling Specialist Leader, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Major Gary Giacomuzzo speaks with Captain Scott Woods aboard a RCAF CC-150T Polaris during a refueling mission just off the coast of Hawaii for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. Photo by Sgt Matthew McGregor, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

The Royal Canadian Air Force has held some key positions at RIMPAC in the past. In 2012, (then) Brigadier-General Michael Hood, former 8 Wing Commander, was the Combined Forces Air Component Commander in charge of all coalition air forces.

437 Transport Squadron is also deployed at RIMPAC, providing coalition air-to-air refuelling – much like they did for coalition forces during Operation MOBILE over Libya. With their CC-150T Polaris aircraft, they are providing invaluable fuel to Canadian and US fighter jets as they go on their missions during the exercise.

Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 26 – Aug. 1, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2014 is the 24th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23), Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships USS Scout (MCM 8) and USS Champion (MCM 4), and Canadian Forces Kingston-Class coastal defense vessel HMCS Nanaimo (MM 702 -front) transit in formation off the coast of Southern California as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mark C. Schultz