Public Duties (UK) 2018

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For the first time in its 94-year history, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) sent a contingent to the United Kingdom to perform Public Duties for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Over 120 members of the RCAF from across Canada, including the RCAF Band deployed as part of the contingent. This group was the first non-infantry contingent from Canada to undertake UK Public Duties for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This is truly a Canada-wide initiative for the RCAF. The contingent was made up of members from each of the RCAF’s 14 Wings. The contingent was led by Major Véronique Gagné, RCAF Public Duties Air Task Force Commander and Master Warrant Officer Dipen Mistry, RCAF Public Duties Air Task Force Warrant Officer.

The Queen’s Guard, as the group was called while performing Public Duties, are soldiers charged, in support of the civil authorities, with guarding the Sovereign and the official royal residences in the United Kingdom. These include Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, Windsor Castle, and the Tower of London.

The RCAF undertook UK Public Duties during 25 June 2018 to 15 July 2018 to honour and protect the Sovereign of Canada, continuing the tradition of Commonwealth soldiers working closely with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and demonstrating the professional capabilities of the RCAF and Canadian Armed Forces in an international setting.

In addition to guarding the official royal residences within the London District, the RCAF Public Duties contingent will participate in ceremonial events supporting the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force’s centenary during the June / July 2018 period. The RAF will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary throughout the year, but its main celebrations will be held in London on 10 July, 2018.

The RCAF and RAF share a long and proud history together. Canadians have been there throughout the RAF’s 100 year history and proudly continue to serve with them around the world. In addition to performing Public Duties, the contingent is honoured to be representing the Canadian Armed Forces during the RAF’s centennial celebrations.

Please see schedule below for specific dates and locations of when and where the RCAF Public Duties contingent will be mounting guard and participating in other events in the United Kingdom during their stay.

June 25	Mounting the Guard	Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace and Tower of London
June 27	Mounting the Guard	Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace and Tower of London
June 29	Mounting the Guard	Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace and Tower of London
July 1	Mounting the Guard	Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace and Tower of London
July 4		Freedom of Entry, Folkestone, UK
July 7	Mounting the Guard	Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace and Tower of London
July 7	Assets	Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton International Air Day
July 9	Mounting the Guard	Windsor Castle
July 12	Mounting the Guard	Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace and Tower of London
July 13-15	Assets	Royal International Air Tattoo

Major Véronique Gagné is originally from Alma, Quebec. She enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as an Aerospace Engineer in 2000 and obtained a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. She has filled many roles during her postings with 3 Wing Bagotville, 17 Wing Winnipeg, 16 Wing Borden and 1 Wing Kingston. Most notably related to her Public Duties role, Maj Gagné taught drill and coordinated four AERE Officer Basic Course graduation parades during her five years at 16 Wing Borden.

Maj Gagné is currently posted to 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, located in Borden, Ontario, as the Squadron Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Officer where she oversees the periodic inspections of CH-146 Griffon Helicopters including those returning from Operation IMPACT (The CAF support to the Global Coalition against Daesh in Iraq and Syria). Maj Gagné is also coordinating the loading and unloading of CH-146’s going to and coming back from deployment and managing 120 aircraft technicians.

Portrait of Master Warrant Officer Dipen Mistry

Master Warrant Officer Dipen Mistry is a Leicester, England native who immigrated to Canada at 10 years of age. He enrolled in the CAF Primary Reserve Force in 1995 as an infantry soldier and transferred to the regular force in 2001 in the Intelligence Branch. His postings include the Canadian Forces Electronic Warfare Centre at Shirley’s Bay, Ontario; 14 Wing Greenwood; and CANSOFCOM.

MWO Mistry has been involved in numerous deployments and tasks both nationally and internationally including Operation APOLLO in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

MWO Mistry is currently posted to 2 Wing Bagotville, where he is serving as a Subject Matter Expert regarding the Intelligence function. MWO Mistry has recently been selected as the next Executive Assistant to the Royal Canadian Airforce Chief Warrant Officer starting summer 2018.