90th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air ForceSic Itur Ad Astra – “such is the pathway to the stars”
April 1st is the 90th Anniversary of the creation of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and throughout those 90 years the RCAF has made a remarkable impact on Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and the World.
Internationally, especially in recent years, most of what we have seen about the RCAF is in its combat role. But there is so much more about the RCAF that has never involved firing a bullet.
Humanitarian and disaster relief missions around the world have been a common call-to-action for the RCAF since its inception on April 1, 1924. Since the 1950s such efforts have touched almost every continent and most of the third world. The RCAF continues to provide front-line disaster relief, medical assistance, equipment, supplies and lifesaving food and water - all quickly, safely and often under fire. From Biafra to Thailand and many, many more destinations, the RCAF has always been there when called upon.
Throughout the Cold War (late 40’s through late 80’s) the RCAF stood guard not just on Canada but also on Britain and Europe as a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
http://www.nato.int/As the co-partner in the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Canadian pilots joined their American comrades to stand guard over the whole of North America both as a deterrent and as the first line of defense.
http://www.norad.mil/The Aurora, Argus and Lancaster aircraft have long patrolled the seas surrounding North America. During the Cold War, it was the RCAF’s duty to watch-for and monitor potential submarines and other threats in both the Atlantic and Pacific, as well as across our massive Arctic border. Today the Aurora continues those duties and has added environmental, fisheries and others to its mandate as dictated.
http://www.canadianwings.com/Aircraft/The legendary service of the RCAF during the Second World War has been chronicled worldwide. But none was as fabled as the RCAF’s contribution in The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) during that same period. At the plan's peak 94 schools were operating at 231 sites across Canada. 10,840 aircraft were involved and the ground organization numbered 104,113 men and women. 3,000 trainees graduated each month. At a cost of more than $ 1.6 billion, 131,553 air crew were graduated.
http://bit.ly/1gvPZnLNationally, the RCAF has been there at our call defending our borders for 90 years.
But there is more.
• working in disaster services providing emergency transport for events such as the 1998 Ice Storms as well as major floods and storms from coast to coast.
• providing renowned Search and Rescue services to Canada’s 10 million+ square kilometers that covers astonishingly diverse topography like mountain ranges, flat prairie, thick forests, Arctic tundra and raging seas - saving thousands of lives and assisting in finding those who lose their way in Canada’s many remote areas.
• assisting police services and monitoring fisheries, environmental and other border issues
Provincially, the RCAF has impacted most of Alberta - rural to urban - going back to the time of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan where air bases provided jobs and countless opportunities to every neighbouring City and Town. From RCAF High River of the late 1920’s to today’s busiest fighter base - CFB Cold Lake (4 Wing Cold Lake), the RCAF has been an integral part of moving Alberta forward.
Locally, RCAF Blatchford Field did much the same, growing to become one of the busiest commercial airfields in the world while driving Edmonton’s economy for decades. 408 Helicopter Squadron is now our home squadron carrying on the legacy of CFB Namao, once a powerful airbase on its own.
Today 4 Wing Cold Lake is “Edmonton’s Air Force base” and continues to be a part of the Alberta economy and Canada's training and defense.
In the past 90 years, The RCAF has touched almost all of us and our families in one form or another. Here’s to hoping that the RCAF continues for another 90 years doing the same!
On Tuesday April 1st, 2014 the Alberta Aviation Museum will unveil a new temporary display on the RCAF, accompanying all of our long-term exhibits on Canada’s Air Force history. Join us in April to learn-about and celebrate this vital part of our history.
Per Ardua Ad Astra
Tom H
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