Airborne Regiment
Association of Canada

(Wegner Point, CFB PETAWAWA) – The Airborne Regiment Association of Canada (ARAC) held a memorial service at 1430 hrs today to honour the seven paratroopers who drowned during a Para drop exercise on May 8, 1968. The service was held at the Memorial Cairn, Wegner Point, CFB Petawawa, the site of the accident 38 years ago.

Family and friends attended today’s service in memory of:

Master Warrant Officer R.J. Riddell, Warrant Officer P.M. McDonnell,

Corporals D.W. Clements, D.H. Fields, R.J.G. Knight, B.N. Chriswell, and P.J. Mesener.

Padre Gerry Peddle, former Chaplain General for the Canadian Forces and current Chaplain for ARAC, led the service commemorating the seven members of the then newly formed Airborne Regiment who met their untimely death by drowning in the Ottawa River. Steven Fields, the son of D. H. Fields attended the ceremony. Past members of the Regiment who were on that drop attended the event along with present and former members of the Royal Canadian Regiment, present and former members of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, and the 3 Royal Canadian Regiment, 2642 Cadets Corps. During the ceremony, a number of wreaths were dedicated in memory of the departed paratroopers.

The Reviewing Officer at this year’s ceremony was General Maurice Baril, former Chief of Defense Staff for the Canadian Forces. Colonel Mike Barr, one of the jumpers in the second aircraft on that fateful day, commanded the 38^th anniversary parade.

A reception was held at the Petawawa Legion following the service. The Ladies Auxiliary of Branch 517 provided a lunch for the event. Media representatives and members of the general public were invited to attend.

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For further information please contact:

Mike La Pierre

President ARAC

613 995 7584 Cell 816-3406

Phil Nolan

Director of Communications, ARAC

819 459 1222 Cell 665-5883

Tom Murphy

Petawawa contact

613 687 5967