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In historical terms the life span of the Royal Canadian Air Force can hardly be described as anything but brief, a mere 44 years from creation to unification with Canada's other two armed services.
Yet, from its modest beginning of fewer than two thousand men, it reached at wartime peak that exceeded two hundred thousand. This included 78 operational squadrons, 35 were stationed overseas and 43 in Canada.

The true measure of its greatness, however, is to be found in its growth and acomplishments, which both in peace and war are truly magnificent.


Per Ardua Ad Astra

Welcome to my privately run, unofficial website designed to tell the history of Canada's Air Force. This site is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, the Department of National Defence or the Air Force Association of Canada and as such we cannot provide, nor do we have access to, official information on behalf of the Canadian Forces .This includes personnel records and/or other personal information. It is maintained by myself during my (limited) spare time so please read the Terms of Use. I hope you enjoy the experience and visit again soon.

On This Day In RCAF History

1930 › Death of W.G. Barker, VC in crash at Rockcliffe.

No. 6 (RCAF) Group

Looking for Richard Koval's site on the the RCAF's No. 6 Bomber Group, follow this link to his new site:

http://www.6grouprcaf.com/

No. 439 Squadron (Unofficial) Hompage

Looking for Mike Melnick's page on No. 439 Squadron, follow this link to his new site:

http://www.thisisme.ca/439squadron/

RAF Coastal Command

Coastal Command destroyed more than one-quarter of all German U-Boats during the war: 212 out of 800. RCAF squadrons in Coastal Command and in Canada accounted for 19 of these with more by RCAF crews in RAF squadrons.
The RCAF patrolled over the North Atlantic hunting submarines and providing air cover for the ship convoys that sailed from North America to Britain. When they sighted enemy subs, aircraft attacked first with bombs and in 1941 with depth charges and later acoustic torpedoes, which followed the noise made by the submarine.

The "Golden" Aerobatic Teams

Department of National Defence

Before the Snowbirds and the Golden Centennaires aerobatic teams, the gilded F-86 Sabres flown by the Golden Hawks team thrilled the world and ruled Canadian air shows. The team was formed in 1959 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of powered flight in Canada as well as the 35th anniversary of the RCAF. However, their popularity and the support of then-Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshall Hugh Campbell extended their existence past 1959 and the team performed 317 shows until the flight ended in 1963 with a final show in Montreal, Que. The Golden Hawks captivated audiences by flying low, raising their canopies and waving at the crowd! Now that's showmanship.

Today, 431 Air Demonstration Squadron - the Snowbirds - carry on the tradition of the Golden Hawks and Centennaires.