By Skies Magazine | April 2, 2014 Estimated reading time 7 minutes, 34 seconds.
Pride in our present and our goals for the future are built on the solid foundation of understanding our past. As we look back and celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 2014, we reflect on the tremendous progress the RCAF has made since its creation on April 1, 1924.
The youngest of Canada’s military services, the RCAF has long been associated with daring, adventure, and pushing the boundaries of the possible in order to better serve Canadians and their interests. The history of Canada’s Air Force is the story of the men and women who had the guts, determination and vision to serve their country in the aviation arm of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Canadians have participated in air operations since the dawn of the employment of air power in combat, initially as members of the short-lived Canadian Aviation Corps and as members of Britain’s Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. These pioneers serving in the British forces astounded the world with their flying and shooting skills, earning more than 800 decorations during the First World War.
The Canadian Air Force was created shortly before the end of this war and, unfortunately, did not have time to significantly grow. After the war, it became part of a civilian Air Board whose operations included forest fire patrols, forest surveys, aerial photography, and anti-smuggling patrols to control the whiskey trade. Though its activities were relatively modest during the interwar period, members of Canada’s infant air force were dedicated to developing aviation technology and applying air power in novel and useful ways.
When His Majesty King George V’s bestowal of the designation “Royal” on the Canadian Air Force became official on April 1, 1924, the air force became a professional full-time service. This date has been celebrated ever since as the birthday of Canada’s Air Force.
The RCAF grew to be the fourth largest air force in the world during the Second World War. It played a world-class leadership role in the Cold War years as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and a joint partner in the continental air defence of North America as a member of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Though the early years of unification provided new challenges, the RCAF regrouped and restored much of its heritage and traditions. Today, it continues to play a leading role on the world stage as a multi-purpose, combat-capable force that fulfills a variety of domestic and international commitments.
The RCAF has a rich history that continues to inspire members in service today. During my many visits to Wings across the country, I have spoken to the airmen and airwomen of the RCAF and noted how proud they are of their Air Force’s admirable and wide-ranging history. It brings me great pride to be their commander as they carry on the laudable traditions of their predecessors.
The RCAF is pleased to be able to share its rich history with others in the military and with the larger public. The second edition of the RCAF history book, On Windswept Heights, will be published this year and will explore some of the most interesting, significant and enduring points in our history, heritage and traditions. Our two air demonstration teams will raise awareness of the 90th anniversary as they participate in air shows across the country. The CT-144 Tutor aircraft flown by the Snowbirds will carry the 90th anniversary logo, and the CF-18 Hornet demonstration aircraft will be decorated in celebration of the 90th anniversary and express the theme: “To the stars – fuelled by legacy”.
Inspired by our past and committed to achieving operational excellence, today’s serving members of the RCAF have realized tremendous accomplishments – at home, in crisis situations, in emergencies, and in combat. After years of successful operations we closed out the air wing in Afghanistan and, just recently, brought home the last Canadian Armed Forces members operating there as part of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan.
While still operating in the Afghan combat environment, we played a key role in the NATO-led operations in Libya. Operation Mobile tested our readiness as never before, and the effect delivered by our CF-18s, Sea King helicopters, Airbus and Hercules tankers, and our Auroras was outstanding, and illustrated to Canadians and the world that the RCAF is a skilled and combat-ready force.
While engaged in combat operations in Afghanistan and Libya with our NATO partners, we strengthened our relationships and our interoperability with our friends and allies by deploying fighters to Iceland to carry out an air policing mission under the auspices of NATO, and by deploying Griffon helicopters and crews to Jamaica to conduct search and rescue training and support the Jamaican Defence Force during hurricane season. We supported our French ally in Mali, providing them with much needed strategic airlift support.
Our Aurora fleet participated in Op Carribe, a standing contribution to the fight against the narcotics trade. It also continues to contribute daily to the surveillance operations on the East and West coasts, as well as in the Arctic. Domestically, our search and rescue teams excel on a variety of ongoing activities and continue to save lives from coast to coast to coast.
With the recent rapid deployments to the Richelieu Valley and to Calgary to assist in the flood relief efforts, to Northern Ontario and Saskatchewan to assist in the evacuation of communities threatened by forest fires, and to the Philippines to help with the humanitarian assistance efforts following Hurricane Haiyan, the RCAF repeatedly demonstrated it is ready and able to rapidly respond to different types of emergencies, natural disasters, or operations across the spectrum of operations, at home and abroad.
The high level of operational excellence of our Air Force personnel is beyond compare – a fact that is recognized by Canadians and our international friends and allies. As we commemorate the 90th anniversary of the RCAF this year, we can also be very proud of all we have achieved in the last decade. As we work to further develop our capabilities – such as our new air expeditionary capability – and seek to introduce innovative ways to train and maintain readiness using new technology, our history continues to galvanize and inspire us.
