Accused colonel flew PMs, Queen

Canwest News Service
February 10, 2010


OTTAWA — Col. Russell Williams is remembered as an extremely meticulous pilot — "Mr. By the Book" — during his years as one of Canada's top VIP pilots.

Williams' arrest for two alleged murders, forcible confinement and sexual assault, has come as a shock to those who got to know him as the pilot for Canada's state elite.

Among his official passengers on the Challenger and, later, the bigger Airbus planes, were the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh; former Liberal prime ministers Jean Chretien and Paul Martin; and Romeo LeBlanc, the late governor general.

It is believed Williams flew to England to transport Queen Elizabeth and her husband to Western Canada in 2005 for an official royal visit to mark the 100th anniversary of Alberta and Saskatchewan joining Confederation.

One former official who was frequently on flights where Williams was pilot says he was very rigid about protocols with his staff, ensuring they enforced passenger rules.

"He was very nice, very friendly, but he was definitely Mr. By the Book," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

On overseas trips for example, he would not allow the use of three seats for sleeping and ensured everyone had their shoes on for landing.

The official was "completely shocked" by the charges against Williams.

His official biography says Williams was posted in the mid- to late-1990s to 412 Transport Squadron in Ottawa where he flew the Challenger for VIPs.

He was appointed commanding officer of 437 Transport Squadron in Trenton, Ont., in June 2004 and served there for most of two years. One of the five Airbus planes operated by the squadron is used for VIP transport.

He was promoted to colonel in 2009 and named commander of 8 Wing Trenton last summer.

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