CFB TRENTON, Ont. -- The first wave of personnel from 8 Wing Trenton have returned from their mission supporting Canadian troops in the battle against terrorism in Afghanistan.

The eight people were met Monday afternoon by loved ones and military officials at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario.

The eight were part of the 40-member deployment from the Strategic Airlift Detachment which included pilots, cargo handlers and maintenance workers.

They left Canada Nov. 16 and were stationed in an unspecified area of the Arabian Gulf, responsible for flying Canadian Forces personnel and supplies into Afghanistan.

"I'm just so happy to be home and with my family again,'' said Sgt. Steven Jikinosky, who hadn't seen his wife Eva and two daughters, Jessica, 12, and Stephanie, 10, since a two-week leave in February.

"It's been a long tour, a long six months and I'm very tired. The mission we performed was very important and the Americans were very pleased with the job we did, so we're all very proud. But it sure is good to be home.''

Eva Jikinosky, a corporal also stationed at 8 Wing, was overjoyed to have her husband returning home.

"I'm flooded with emotion right now and the sheer joy having him home again is almost overwhelming,'' she said.

Lt.-Col. David Murphy, commanding officer of 8 Wing's air transport 437 Squadron was on hand to see off his colleagues when they departed in November and was the first in line to greet them when they set foot back on Canadian soil.

"It's wonderful to have them back. We are so proud of the job they have done for the past six months,'' Murphy said.

The returning crew members are expected to be on leave until early June.

Their replacements flew out of Trenton Saturday.

The other members of the first deployment are expected to return to the base around the end of May.

To date, the Strategic Airlift unit has moved more than three million kilograms of crew and cargo.