Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol) Philip Marcus assumed command of 424 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron, from LCol Leighton James, during a change of command ceremony at 8 Wing Trenton Thursday.
LCol Marcus began his military career in 1988 serving in the primary reserve with 31 Service Battalion in Saint John, New Brunswick. He then joined the regular force as a pilot in 1990, earning his wings in 1994. LCol Marcus was initially posted to 424 Squadron as the Flight Safety officer and Training Officer.
He flew numerous missions supporting Canada’s UN missions in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. He also flew missions in support of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan as well as OP BOXTOP, the regular re-supply flights to Canadian Forces Station Alert. He has considerable experience as a search and rescue pilot, having taken part in numerous missions both in Trenton and during his posting to 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron, 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
This posting marks the third time he has served with 424 Squadron, having previously held the Squadron Operations Officer and Deputy Commanding Officer positions following his posting in 2014.
424 Squadron operates the CH-146 Griffon search and rescue (SAR) helicopter and CC-130H Hercules aircraft, providing aeronautical SAR resources to the Trenton Search and Rescue Region, together with 435 Squadron out of 17 Wing, Winnipeg. The squadrons are responsible for an area over 10,000,000 square kilometres, comprising most of the Province of Quebec, all of Ontario, the Prairie Provinces and the Arctic.