Operation SUPPORT
Encyclopedia
Operation SUPPORT is the name given to Canadian Forces
activities directly after the terrorist attacks
of September 11, 2001. The CF had two immediate goals: to provide support for stranded aircrew and passengers from diverted commercial flights, and to increase emergency preparedness. Transport Canada
called their operation Yellow Ribbon
.
Stranded travellers were received at several CF bases and stations, including Goose Bay
, Gander
and Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
, and Halifax, Shearwater
and Aldershot, Nova Scotia
. Also, CF units in the Atlantic
region provided thousands of beds and ration packs; nine CF transport aircraft delivered about 8,800 cot
s, 8,300 blankets and 55 support personnel to places where commercial flights had been diverted. CF aircraft also transported Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
officials to those locations so stranded travellers could clear Customs and enter Canada — many of them to accept the hospitality of the communities in which they found themselves.
Several steps were taken to increase emergency preparedness. Additional CF-18 fighters were assigned to NORAD
. The Disaster Assistance Response Team
(DART) was placed on stand-by at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario
. Also, HMC Ships Preserver
, Iroquois
and Ville de Québec
were put in a higher state of readiness in case they were required to go to a U.S. port to provide humanitarian assistance.
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
activities directly after the terrorist attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
of September 11, 2001. The CF had two immediate goals: to provide support for stranded aircrew and passengers from diverted commercial flights, and to increase emergency preparedness. Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
called their operation Yellow Ribbon
Operation Yellow Ribbon
Operation Yellow Ribbon was commenced by Transport Canada to handle the diversion of civilian airline flights in response to the September 11 attacks in 2001. Canada’s goal was to ensure that potentially destructive air traffic be removed from U.S. airspace as quickly as possible, and away from...
.
Stranded travellers were received at several CF bases and stations, including Goose Bay
CFB Goose Bay
Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay , is a Canadian Forces Base located in the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador....
, Gander
Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
Gander is a Canadian town located in the northeastern part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately south of Gander Bay, south of Twillingate and east of Grand Falls-Windsor...
and Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Stephenville is a Canadian town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland....
, and Halifax, Shearwater
Shearwater, Nova Scotia
Shearwater is a Canadian Forces base outside of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It is located between Woodside and Eastern Passage. Shearwater is divided into two separate sections by Pleasant Street, and referred to locally as the Upper and Lower Base, respectively, but is part of the same complex...
and Aldershot, Nova Scotia
Aldershot, Nova Scotia
A quasi-suburb of Kentville, Aldershot developed as a farming community along the Cornwallis Valley Railway branchline of the Dominion Atlantic Railway in the 19th century, served by Nova Scotia Route 359....
. Also, CF units in the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
region provided thousands of beds and ration packs; nine CF transport aircraft delivered about 8,800 cot
Camp bed
A camp bed, or cot in North America, is a small portable, lightweight bed used in situations where larger permanent beds cannot be used. Camp beds are generally used by armies or government organizations....
s, 8,300 blankets and 55 support personnel to places where commercial flights had been diverted. CF aircraft also transported Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency was a department of the government of Canada and existed from November 1, 1999 until December 12, 2003. It was created from the merging of the Department of National Revenue with Canada Customs....
officials to those locations so stranded travellers could clear Customs and enter Canada — many of them to accept the hospitality of the communities in which they found themselves.
Several steps were taken to increase emergency preparedness. Additional CF-18 fighters were assigned to NORAD
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
. The Disaster Assistance Response Team
Disaster Assistance Response Team
The Disaster Assistance Response Team is a rapidly deployable team of 200 Canadian Forces personnel. It provides assistance to disaster-affected regions for up to 40 days. DART's headquarters is in Kingston, Ontario...
(DART) was placed on stand-by at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Also, HMC Ships Preserver
HMCS Preserver (AOR 510)
HMCS Preserver is a Canadian Protecteur-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment of the Royal Canadian Navy commissioned in 1970....
, Iroquois
HMCS Iroquois (DDH 280)
HMCS Iroquois is an that has served the Canadian Forces since 1972.Iroquois is the lead ship of her class which is sometimes referred to as the Tribal-class or simply as the 280-class. She is the second vessel to use the designation...
and Ville de Québec
HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH 332)
HMCS Ville de Québec is a that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1993.Ville de Québec is the third vessel in her class which is the name for the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project. She is the second vessel to carry the designation ....
were put in a higher state of readiness in case they were required to go to a U.S. port to provide humanitarian assistance.
See also
- Canadian ForcesCanadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
External links
- http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=490
- http://www.canadianally.com/ca/terror/resp_support-en.asp