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Three of the RCAF’s early North American Harvards in formation near Ottawa in August 1940. Eventually, the RCAF had more than 1,800 Harvards on strength for BCATP duties. RCAF Photo
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)’s 2016 commemorative efforts will focus on one of the world’s greatest air training programs and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the squadrons that make up the fabric of the modern RCAF.
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), which ran from Dec. 17, 1939, to March 31, 1945, was a massive Canadian program that trained aircrew from the air forces of Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as personnel from other nations.
By the time the program came to an end on March 31, 1945, RCAF and civilian instructors had graduated more than 131,000 pilots, navigators, wireless operators, air bombers, air gunners, and flight engineers.
The RCAF has selected 2016 as the year to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the BCATP because the RCAF’s 400-series squadrons, which came into being as a direct result of
Article XV of the BCATP agreement, were first established overseas in 1941 – 75 years ago.
However, as important as these squadrons are to the RCAF and its sense of identity as a national institution, the anniversary celebrations are also commemorating the entirety of the five-and-a-half-year-long program.
“This year, we mark a key period in our Royal Canadian Air Force history, and share our celebrations with the more than 140 Canadian communities that contributed to the massive five-year air training program that helped lead the Allies to victory in Europe,” said LGen Michael Hood, commander, Royal Canadian Air Force
“As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the formation of the first 400 series Squadrons, we note that they were the product of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan agreement and their names, legacy, and professionalism live on in our squadrons today.”
