Media Advisory
CEFCOM MA 07.001 - May 18, 2007
OTTAWA – The remains of Corporal Benoit Chevalier, a Canadian Forces airman who lost his life in the crash of a Multinational Forces and Observers (MFO) aircraft on May 6, 2007, is scheduled to return home to Canada today.
Where: 8 Wing Trenton, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario.
When: Friday, May 18, 8:00 p.m.
What: At the wishes of the family, media are invited to view the arrival, though no interviews will be given. Present to pay their respects will be the Honourable Gordon O’Connor, Minister of National Defence; General Rick Hillier, Chief of the Defence Staff; Lieutenant-General Steve Lucas, Chief of the Air Staff; and other dignitaries.
Earlier today, a ceremony to honour Corporal Chevalier was held at the French Airbase at Mont de Marsan, France. During the ceremony, France awarded the Médaille d'or de la Défense nationale posthumously to Corporal Chevalier. On hand to receive the French medal was Corporal Chevalier’s mother, Mrs. Chevalier. Brigadier-General Pierre Forgues, representing Canada’s Air Force; Mr. H.E. Claude Laverdure, Canada’s Ambassador to France; and Colonel Georges Rousseau, the Canadian Defence Attaché to France were also present to pay their respects.
On May 6, 2007, a De Havilland Twin Otter aircraft flown by the French Contingent of the MFO crashed in a remote area of Sinai, Egypt, killing Corporal Chevalier and eight other French members aboard the aircraft. Corporal Chevalier was an Aerospace Control Operator from 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec, serving in Egypt as part of Operation CALUMET.
The Canadian contingent deployed with the MFO under Operation CALUMET comprises 28 personnel. The MFO is the peacekeeping mission established to monitor compliance by Israel and Egypt with the 1979 Camp David Accords. The MFO has included a Canadian contingent since 1986.
-30-
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:
1. Media interested in attending the arrival must contact Captain Nicole Meszaros, 8 Wing/CFB Trenton Public Affairs Officer, who can be reached at (613) 392-2811 ext. 2041, mobile (613) 391-5233 or at: meszaros.nl@forces.gc.ca. For flight information, contact the Air Passenger Terminal at 1-800-487-1186.
2. Media interested in obtaining information about the ceremony in France, as well as the Médaille d'or de la Défense nationale that was awarded to Corporal Chevalier, should contact Major Frédéric Solano at the French Airbase at Mont de Marsan: (011) 33 6 88 24 03 95.
3. Photographs of the ceremony in France, as well as of the Médaille d'or de la Défense nationale that was awarded to Corporal Chevalier, will be released as soon as possible through the Combat Camera website at: http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca/
