SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE

It's been disbanded three times. It's been relocated several times.

Members of 440 Squadron, including warrant officer Neil Thorne, Capt. Mathieu Giroux, and Lt. Corey Gander in their flight suits, centre, take part in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup in September. - photo courtesy of Vince Wawryk

But 440 Squadron, with its storied history and the last 20 of its years based in Yellowknife, has had quite the active role in the community assisting in the background of military operations around the North.

The squadron provides airlift, utility and liaison flights for Joint Task Force North, the Canadian Rangers and cadets across the North.

"We have kind of a quiet participation, supporting in the background," said Lt.-Col. Vince Wawryk, commander of 440 Squadron. "Sort of like a pickup truck."

It operates four CC-138 Twin Otters for its tasks with 55 aircrew and technicians and a mix of reserve and regular force members.

But those members can also be seen out in the community, from the annual Remembrance Day ceremony to out of uniform and behind the bench coaching a hockey team.

Wawryk encourages squadron members to be leaders in the wider community from serving on minor hockey executives to hosting charity events such as the Law Enforcement Torch Run's Herc Pull and being cub scout or girl guide leaders. They also take part in the Long John Jamboree, the Red Run, the Terry Fox Run, and other events.

They are also involved with the Air Cadets, which included hosting the annual review in May when Wawryk was the reviewing officer.

"We're very fond of the cadet program and give them as much support as we can," said Wawryk.

The squadron also took part in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup recently as well, something Wawryk said is an example of how the squadron gets involved as much as they can.

Each spring, they also clean up around the cairn on Gitzel Street, which commemorates a DC-3 plane crash which killed eight members of the squadron during a supply drop to a stranded pilot near Paulatuk on Nov. 2, 1971.

The squadron's role has shifted over time, from flying fighter bombers in Europe during the Second World War through a period flying jets during the Cold War to a search and rescue role in the latter half of the 20th century. Over time, the squadron has been honoured with six battle honours and had members win five Distinguished Flying Crosses.

"It ebbs and flows with the needs of the air force," Wawryk said about the changes the squadron has undergone.

Decommissioned in 1962, 440 restarted in Winnipeg five years later before being moved to Edmonton in 1971 under a search and rescue role. At that time, a detachment with two planes was placed in Yellowknife. In 1994, the end of 18 Wing in Edmonton left just the Yellowknife portion, without the focus on search and rescue.

"Even though we're a transport unit that's very lightly manned, we can still do search if called upon," Wawryk said, noting in the past few weeks, the squadron has been called to help with a searches though in the end, their help wasn't needed.

In 1999, a set of floatplanes it used was phased out, going to just wheels and skis only.

Since then, the squadron has heavily increased its use of skis to support the army during training exercises, flying in snowmobiles, ammunition and other supplies.

The squadron has also been heavily involved in the large operations that promote Canadian sovereignty in the North, such as Operation Nanook.

While Wawryk encourages members to be leaders in their community, community leaders have also been members of the squadron. In January 2013, former Yellowknife mayor Gordon Van Tighem was named an honourary colonel of the squadron.

The person in that position can tell the squadron where the community needs volunteers or can connect members of the squadron needing help with appropriate community resources.

"It's meant to be a mutually beneficial position," Wawryk said, adding a lot of work goes into the selections for the position.

The previous honourary colonel was Bob Engle, an aviation pioneer and business leader who died last month.

Wawryk called Engle a giant of the aviation community, saying the squadron gets to know the members of region's aviation community well.

"When guys like that pass, it's just such a loss to the community," he said.

- with files from Candace Thompson