17 WING WINNIPEG, Man. - Lt.-Col. Tom G. Whitburn will relinquish command of 17 Wing Operations Branch to Lt.-Col. Douglas J. Fairley during a Change of Appointment ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in the main lounge of the Officers’ Mess, Thursday, 8 May 2008.
17 Wing is a composite formation, conducting and supporting flying operations and a variety of training functions. One of the country's largest military bases, it is one of the largest employers in the City of Winnipeg employing over 2,800 personnel, of whom about 700 are local civilians. The Wing also supports 113 units stretching from Thunder Bay, Ontario, in the east to the Saskatchewan/Alberta Border and from the from the border with the United States to the geographic North Pole. Additionally, 17 Wing also serves as a deployed operating base for CF-18 Hornet fighter-bombers assigned to the Canadian NORAD Region.
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Due to limited space at this venue, journalists wishing to cover this ceremony must contact Lieutenant Jeff Noel, 17 Wing Public Affairs at (204) 833-2500 ext. 2212 no later than 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, 7 May 2008 to secure access.
More information about 17 Wing is available at: http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/17w-17e/index-eng.asp
The 17 Wing photo gallery is available at: http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/17wing/photo_gallery/photo_gallery_e.asp
