VP International Memorial

Greenwood, Nova Scotia

Type

Other

This monument is located at CFB Greenwood in Nova Scotia. It was constructed on September 28, 1997 in memory of the crew members of land-based maritime patrol aircraft who have lost their lives in the performance of their flying duties. The memorial was designed by Captain Bert Page and was crafted by sculptor David Lalabertie from Winnipeg. In attendance at the unveiling, there were over 400 people, including representatives from France, Spain, USA, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, United Kingdom and Canada. They laid tribute to those who had died flying Maritime Patrol aircraft. Squadron COs laid wreaths on behalf of New Zealand, Norway, Germany, Portugal and Japan. The naval aspect of the Maritime Patrol was represented by Greg Maddison.

Inscription

[front/devant]THIS
VP INTERNATIONAL MEMORIAL
IS ERECTED IN HONOUR OF
CREW MEMBERS OF LAND-BASED
MARITIME PATROL AIRCRAFT
WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES
IN THE PERFORMANCE OF
THEIR FLYING DUTIES
IN ALL THEATRES OF
MARITIME FLYING OPERATIONS
DEDICATED BY
LGEN A.M. DEQUETTEVILLE, CMM, CD
COMMANDER AIR COMMAND AND
CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES
28 SEPTEMBER 1997

[Right/droite]
VP INTERNATIONAL IS A WORLDWIDE ASSOCIATION OF AVIATORS WHO HAVE FLOWN OVER 1500 HOURS IN LAND-BASED MARITIME PATROL AIRCRAFT.
THE ASSOCIATION'S SYMBOL IS COMPRISED OF A RED MAPLE LEAF, AND THE SILHOUETTE OF A P2V NEPTUNE, WITH THE GLOBE WITHIN GIMBALS. THE FIRST TWO ARE SYMBOLIC OF VPI'S CANADIAN ORIGIN, AND ITS PREDECESSOR: THE P2000 CLUB. "VP" INDENTIFIES WITH HEAVIER-THAN-AIR, LAND-BASED OPERATIONS, AND THE GIMBAL-ENCLOSED GLOBE REPRESENTS THE INTERNATIONAL SCOPE, STABILITY AND PRECISION ESSENTIAL IN ASW TEAMWORK.

[Left/gauche]
THE MONUMENT, DESIGNED BY VPI MEMBER BERT PAGE, AND SCULPTED BY DAVID LALIBERTE. INCORPORATES A THREE-POINT WAVE SUPPORTING THE VPI SYMBOL. THE SUPPORT REPRESENTS THE OCEANIC NATURE OF MP OPERATIONS, AND TIES TOGETHER THE MEMBER NATIONS OF VPI. THE CENTRAL POINT REPRESENTS THE MAIN OVER-OCEAN DUTIES OF MPA, WHILE THE TWO SMALLER ONES SYMBOLIZE THE DUTIES CARRIED OUT IN SUPPORT OF LAND BASED AND NAVAL FORCES.