Sharyn Bachlet (right) receives a commemorative plaque from CFB Trenton ATESS Commander Lt. Col. DJ Butcher (left). The ATESS refinishing shop was dedicated to honour Bachlet’s late husband Colonel John Paul Bachlet, who was a long-time member and former commander of the unit. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Members of CFB Trenton’s Aerospace Telecommunication and Engineering Support Squadron held a ceremony at the base’s refinishing shop this morning, dedicating the building in honour of a former long-time member and commander of the unit.
The shop, which handles painting and other aircraft maintenance duties, has been dedicated to late Colonel John Paul Bachlet , who joined the RCAF in 1964 and served until he died in a civilian air crash in 1992.
Current ATESS Commander Lieutenant Colonel DJ Butcher, who has a personal connection to Bachlet, since they hold the same jobs, says current members of the unit will likely draw motivation, from seeing a former commander recognized.
Colonel Bachlet’s son Andrew and brother-in-law Jack Lange also passed away in the 1992 crash and numerous members of the Bachlet and Lange families were present at Monday’s event.
Sharyn Bachlet lost her husband, son and a brother in the crash and spoke to Quinte News following the dedication.
She says John would have been extremely proud and that the honour is a testament to how much he meant, not only to their family, but to the community and the country.
The process to add Bachlet’s name to the building took about five years and involved an entire team of personnel, including former base commanders and more.
