BOARD OF TRUSTEES
NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF CANADA Mr. George I g n a t i e f f M. André Bachand
Mr. George W.P. H e f f e l f i n g e r Mr. M i c h a e l C.D. Hobbs
Dr. S a l l y Weaver M. Léon Simard
Mme Marie-Paule LaBrèque M. Jean des Gagniers
Mme M a r i e T e l l i e r M. André F o r t i e r
Dr. W i l l i a m Schneider Mr. W i l l i a m Dodge
MUSEES NATIONAUX DU CANADA CONSEIL D'ADMINISTRATION
Chairman
Vice-Président Member
Member Member Membre Membre Membre Membre Membre Member Member
SECRETARY GENERAL SECRETAIRE GENERAL
Mr. Bernard O s t r y DIRECTOR
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MAN
DIRECTEUR
MUSEE NATIONAL DE L'HOMME Dr. W i l l i a m E. T a y l o r , J r ,
CHIEF CURATOR
CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM
CONSERVATEUR EN CHEF
MUSEE DE GUERRE DU CANADA
Mr. L. F. Murray
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MAN
MERCURY SERIES
MUSEE NATIONAL DE L'HOMME
COLLECTION MERCURE
CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM PAPER No. 6
M U S E E DE G U E R R E DU CANADA DOSSIER No. 6
CHRONOLOGY O F CANADIAN MILITARY AVIATION
H. A. HALLIDAY
NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF CANADA MUSÉES NATIONAUX DU CANADA OTTAWA 1975
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OBJECT OF THE MERCURY SERIES
The Mercury S e r i e s i s a p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e N a t i o n a l Museum o f Man, N a t i o n a l Museums o f Canada, designed t o p e r m i t t h e r a p i d d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f i n f o r m a t i o n p e r t a i n i n g t o those d i s c i p l i n e s f o r w h i c h t h e N a t i o n a l Museum o f Man i s r e s p o n s i b l e .
I n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f making i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e q u i c k l y , normal p r o d u c t i o n p r o c e d u r e s have been abbre
v i a t e d . As a r e s u l t , e d i t o r i a l e r r o r s may o c c u r . Should t h a t be t h e case, your i n d u l g e n c e i s r e q u e s t e d , b e a r i n g i n mind t h e o b j e c t o f t h e S e r i e s .
BUT DE LA COLLECTION MERCURE
La c o l l e c t i o n Mercure, publiée p a r l e Musée n a t i o n a l de l'Homme, Musées n a t i o n a u x du Canada, a pour b u t de d i f f u s e r rapidement l e résultat de t r a v a u x q u i o n t
r a p p o r t aux d i s c i p l i n e s pour l e s q u e l l e s l e Musée n a t i o n a l de l'Homme e s t r e s p o n s a b l e .
Pour a s s u r e r l a prompte d i s t r i b u t i o n des e x e m p l a i r e s imprimés, on a abrégé l e s étapes de l'édition. En con
séquence, c e r t a i n e s e r r e u r s de rédaction peuvent s u b s i s t e r dans l e s e x e m p l a i r e s imprimés. S i c e l a se présentait dans l e s pages q u i s u i v e n t , l e s éditeurs réclament v o t r e
i n d u l g e n c e étant donné l e s o b j e c t i f s de l a c o l l e c t i o n .
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ABSTRACT
The Royal Canadian A i r Force, which was absorbed by t h e i n t e g r a t i o n of t h e Canadian Armed Forces i n 1968, had i t s o r i g i n s i n t h e l a t e 1 9 t h
c e n t u r y , when m i l i t a r y a v i a t i o n was equated w i t h b a l l o o n s and t h e i r f u n c t i o n as o b s e r v a t i o n p o s t s . The appearance o f t h e aeroplane l e d t o s e r i o u s
p r o p o s a l s f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f a Canadian a i r s e r v i c e . S e v e r a l f a l s e s t a r t s were made between 1909 and 1920; i t was n o t u n t i l 1 A p r i l 1924 t h a t a permanent, p r o f e s s i o n a l Canadian m i l i t a r y f l y i n g s e r v i c e was formed, one which drew upon t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e Royal A i r Force and i t s predecessors, i n which thousands o f Canadians had served d u r i n g t h e F i r s t World War.
Throughout i t s e x i s t a n c e t h e RCAF o p e r a t e d b o t h as a m i l i t a r y f o r c e and as an a i d t o t h e c i v i l power, p e r f o r m i n g a v a r i e t y o f t a s k s on b e h a l f of departments o t h e r t h a n N a t i o n a l Defence. I t s p r i n c i p a l d u t y i n t h e i n t e r - w a r years was t h e a e r i a l mapping o f t h e Dominion, b u t i t a l s o
undertook such assignments as crop d u s t i n g and t h e s u p p r e s s i o n o f smuggling.
I n t h e l a t e 1930s t h e f o r c e was r e o r g a n i z e d a l o n g more o r t h o d o x m i l i t a r y l i n e s . When t h e Second World War began t h e RCAF r a p i d l y expanded, b o t h i n numbers o f p e r s o n n e l and i n r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s . U n i t s o f t h e f o r c e saw a c t i o n on f o u r c o n t i n e n t s .
F o l l o w i n g the war, t h e RCAF resumed many o f i t s pre-war o p e r a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g a e r i a l photography. However, Canada was now an a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a n t i n w o r l d a f f a i r s . The RCAF became a major element i n a complex defence system w i t h committments t o NATO, NORAD, and t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s . I t s r e c o r d of s k i l l and t e n a c i t y s u b s e q u e n t l y became p a r t o f t h e h e r i t a g e o f t h e a i r element i n t h e Canadian Armed Forces.
RESUME'
Les débuts du Corps d ' A v i a t i o n r o y a l e du Canada, intégrée aux Forces armées canadiennes en 1968, remontent à l a f i n du XIX siècle, a l o r s que l ' a v i a t i o n m i l i t a i r e se réduisait à l ' u t i l i s a t i o n de b a l l o n s en t a n t que postes d ' o b s e r v a t i o n . L'avènement des a v i o n s a déclanchë de sérieuses d i s c u s s i o n s quant à l a création d'un s e r v i c e canadien de l ' a i r . I l y a eu p l u s i e u r s f a u x départs e n t r e 1909 e t 1920 e t ce n'est que l e 1 a v r i l 1924 que l e Canada était doté d'une a v i a t i o n m i l i t a i r e , permanente e t
p r o f e s s i o n n e l l e , f o r t e de l'expérience vécue p a r l ' A v i a t i o n r o y a l (RAF) et ses prédécesseurs, au s e i n de l a q u e l l e des m i l l i e r s de Canadiens a v a i e n t s e r v i pendant l a Première Guerre mondiale.
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Le CARC a t o u j o u r s été une puissance m i l i t a i r e , mais e l l e e s t également venue en a i d e aux autorités c i v i l e s en a c c o m p l i s s a n t d i v e r s e s tâches pour l e compte de ministères a u t r e s que l a Défense n a t i o n a l e . E n t r e l e s deux g u e r r e s , e l l e s'est s u r t o u t occupée d'établir l a c a r t o g r a p h i e aérienne du Dominion, mais a c c e p t a i t a u s s i d ' a u t r e s m i s s i o n s , t e l l e s que l a désinsectisation des récoltes e t l a répression de l a contrebande. A l a f i n des années t r e n t e , l ' a v i a t i o n f u t réorganisée dans une o p t i q u e p l u s m i l i t a i r e . Avec l a Seconde Guerre mondiale, l ' i m p o r t a n c e du CARC s'est accrue, s u r l e p l a n de l ' e f f e c t i f que des f o n c t i o n s à r e m p l i r . Ses unités ont f a i t l a guerre s u r q u a t r e c o n t i n e n t s .
A l a f i n des hostilités, l e CARC a r e p r i s p l u s i e u r s de ses activités d ' a v a n t - g u e r r e , y compris l a p h o t o g r a p h i e aérienne. Cependant, comme l e Canada p a r t i c i p e m a i n t e n a n t a c t i v e m e n t aux a f f a i r e s mondiales, l e CARC est devenu un élément i m p o r t a n t d'un système de défense complexe en
r a i s o n de sa p a r t i c i p a t i o n à l'OTAN, au NORAD e t à l'ONU. Sa réputation d'habileté e t de ténacité f a i t maintenant p a r t i e de l'héritage du s e c t e u r de l ' a v i a t i o n des Forces armées canadiennes.
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PREFACE
The h i s t o r y o f Canadian m i l i t a r y a v i a t i o n extends over more than 90 y e a r s , l e s s than h a l f o f which was encompassed by the Royal Canadian A i r Force. The complete s t o r y o f t h a t development has y e t t o be w r i t t e n , b u t
t h i s chronology i d e n t i f i e s t h e major events i n t h a t p e r i o d , i n c l u d i n g t h e i n d i v i d u a l achievements of many men and women who c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e h e r i t a g e now embodied i n t h e a i r element o f t h e Canadian Armed Forces.
The l a t e Wing Commander F.H. H i t c h i n s was t h e t r u e i n s p i r a t i o n f o r t h i s book. I n 1949 he prepared a chronology o f a v i a t i o n events which was p u b l i s h e d i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e 35th a n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e RCAF. The b o o k l e t was a p o p u l a r and v a l u a b l e guide and r e q u e s t s f o r i t c o n t i n u e d
long a f t e r s t o c k s had been exhausted. Any subsequent chronology would be drawn h e a v i l y from Wing Commander H i t c h i n ' s work.
Many persons c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e c o m p i l a t i o n o f t h i s document. Mr.
R.V. Manning s u p e r v i s e d t h e p r o j e c t , seeking o u t e x p e r t s t o ensure i t s accuracy. The f i r s t d r a f t was examined by Mssrs J.A. G r i f f i n , R.K. M a l o t t and K.M. Molson, who p r o v i d e d many s u g g e s t i o n s r e l a t i v e t o t h e format and d e t a i l s . A i r Marshals Robert L e c k i e and C.R. Dunlap reviewed a l a t e r d r a f adding v a l u a b l e comments based upon p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s . F i n a l l y , t h e s t a f f o f t h e D i r e c t o r a t e o f H i s t o r y , Department o f N a t i o n a l Defence, were e q u a l l y h e l p f u l ; p a r t i c u l a r g r a t i t u d e i s owed t o Mssrs P h i l i p C h a p l i n and R.V. Dodds o f t h a t d i v i s i o n . W i t h o u t t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f these people, the p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e chronology would have been i m p o s s i b l e .
L.F. MURRAY
iv
1883
August C a p t a i n H E l s d a l e of the B r i t i s h army, u s i n g a camera mounted i n a t e t h e r e d b a l l o o n , photographed the
F i r s t a e r i a l b a r r a c k s o f the H a l i f a x c i t a d e l , the f i r s t example o f photographs a e r i a l photography i n Canada.
The o f f e r o f a The M i n i s t e r o f M i l i t i a , the Honourable JPRA Caron, b a l l o o n corps r e c e i v e d an o f f e r from Joseph L ' E t o i l e t o e s t a b l i s h
a b a l l o o n corps f o r the Canadian f o r c e s . The o f f e r was n o t accepted.
1907
30 September Dr Alexander Graham B e l l formed the A e r i a l Experiment A s s o c i a t i o n a t H a l i f a x w i t h Glenn C u r t i s s , an
Formation o f American m o t o r c y c l e m a n u f a c t u r e r , L t Thomas
A e r i a l S e l f r i d g e (US Army), JAD McCurdy, and FW B a l d w i n , two Experiment Canadian e n g i n e e r s .
A s s o c i a t i o n
1909
23 February At Baddeck, NS, JAD McCurdy f l e w the " S i l v e r D a r t "
b i p l a n e o n e - h a l f m i l e over the i c e - c o v e r e d s u r f a c e F i r s t a i r p l a n e of Baddeck Bay. The " S i l v e r D a r t " was the f o u r t h f l i g h t i n a i r p l a n e manufactured by the AEA.
Canada
25 March - C o l o n e l RW R u t h e r f o r d , the Master-General of the 15 May Ordnance, Canadian Department of M i l i t i a and Defence,
proposed t o t h e M i l i t i a C o u n c i l t h a t the department F i r s t m i l i t a r y adopt a p o l i c y r e s p e c t i n g a v i a t i o n . The c o u n c i l concern f o r decided on 15 May t h a t i t would a s s i s t i n v e n t o r s w i t h a i r c r a f t men and equipment, but no funds were a l l o c a t e d .
June - August I n June, McCurdy and Baldwin shipped t h e " S i l v e r D a r t " t o Petawawa, and on 2 August made f o u r f l i g h t s Demonstrations to demonstrate the m i l i t a r y p o t e n t i a l of t h e i r
at Petawawa a i r c r a f t ; on t h e l a s t f l i g h t the b i p l a n e was
M i l i t a r y Camp wrecked. The "Baddeck N o . l " , b u i l t by the Canadian Aerodrome Company a t Baddeck, was then assembled and t e s t e d on 11 and 12 August b e f o r e members of the M i l i t i a C o u n c i l . I n another d e m o n s t r a t i o n f l i g h t on
13 August t h e "Baddeck N o . l " crashed and was damaged.
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1910
9 - 1 2 March Major GS M a u n s e l l , the D i r e c t o r of E n g i n e e r i n g S e r v i c e s from M i l i t i a Headquarters, v i s i t e d the Canadian
Demonstrations Aerodrome Company a t Baddeck, and w i t n e s s e d s e v e r a l at Baddeck, NS f l i g h t s by McCurdy on the "Baddeck No.2." McCurdy
and Baldwin o f f e r e d t o s e l l t h e i r two "aerodromes" t o the government f o r $10,000 and t o i n s t r u c t o f f i c e r s i n t h e i r use, but the o f f e r was not accepted.
O f f i c e r s o f the M i l i t i a subsequently attempted t o secure funds to support the CAC's experiments, b u t the Cabinet r e f u s e d t o a u t h o r i z e such e x p e n d i t u r e s . Consequently, work a t Baddeck ceased.
1911 - 1914
Continued L t Col (as he now was) GS Maunsell made repeated e f f o r t s t o e f f o r t s t o have the Department s t a r t an a v i a t i o n e s t a b l i s h an s e c t i o n , b u t each a t t e m p t was t u r n e d down a t the a v i a t i o n m i n i s t e r i a l l e v e l . Canada thus had no m i l i t a r y s e c t i o n a i r c r a f t or p e r s o n n e l , and a p p l i c a n t s w i s h i n g t o s e l l
a i r c r a f t or i n v e n t i o n s were advised t h a t no funds were a v a i l a b l e . D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d , a t l e a s t f o u r members o f the M i l i t i a , Captain PS B e n o i t ,
L i e u t e n a n t s BM Hay and RH I r w i n , and Lance C o r p o r a l FS Brown, a p p l i e d f o r p i l o t t r a i n i n g , b u t were r e f u s e d p e r m i s s i o n .
1914
4 August B r i t a i n d e c l a r e d war on Germany. C o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y , at t h a t t i m e , t h i s p l a c e d Canada i n a s t a t e of war F i r s t World War w i t h Germany as w e l l .
25 August Col Sam Hughes, M i n i s t e r of M i l i t i a and Defence, cabled Lord K i t c h e n e r , the B r i t i s h S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e O f f e r of f o r War, a s k i n g i f s e r v i c e s of a v i a t o r s were
a v i a t o r s r e q u i r e d . The War O f f i c e r e p l i e d , on 31 August, t h a t from Canada s i x e x p e r t a v i a t o r s c o u l d be taken a t once and perhaps
some more l a t e r .
16 September At V a l c a r t i e r Camp, Col Hughes approved f o r m a t i o n of the Canadian A v i a t i o n Corps, c o n s i s t i n g o f a
Canadian p r o v i s i o n a l commander, EL Janney, w i t h the rank of A v i a t i o n Corps C a p t a i n , one o t h e r o f f i c e r , and a s t a f f sergeant formed mechanic, and a u t h o r i s e d e x p e n d i t u r e of not more than
$5,000 on purchase o f an a i r c r a f t .
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The a i r c r a f t , a Burgess-Dunne b i p l a n e , was f l o w n from Lake Champlain, Vermont, t o Quebec C i t y , and t h e t h r e e members o f t h e Canadian A v i a t i o n Corps accompanied
the F i r s t C o n t i n g e n t overseas on 30 September, 1914.
N e g l e c t e d , t h e b i p l a n e soon became a p i l e o f " w o r t h l e s s j u n k " . C a p t a i n Janney r e s i g n e d h i s appointment and r e t u r n e d t o Canada i n January, 1915; t h e second p i l o t , L t WF Sharpe, went t o France f o r a b r i e f t r a i n i n g course.
1915
4 February L t WF Sharpe was k i l l e d a t Shoreham i n a t r a i n i n g f l i g h t - t h e f i r s t Canadian m i l i t a r y a v i a t o r t o g i v e F i r s t h i s l i f e i n t h e war.
Canadian a i r c a s u a l t y
7 February The War O f f i c e asked t h e Canadian government t o e n l i s t c a n d i d a t e s i n Canada f o r t h e Royal F l y i n g Corps.
R e c r u i t i n g i n Canada b e g i n s
A p r i l The A d m i r a l t y asked t h e Department o f Naval S e r v i c e , Ottawa, t o e n r o l l a p p l i c a n t s f o r t h e Royal Naval A i r RNAS r e c r u i t i n g S e r v i c e . Candidates f o r b o t h t h e RFC and RNAS were i n Canada r e q u i r e d t o secure p i l o t ' s c e r t i f i c a t e s , a t t h e i r own begins expense, b e f o r e b e i n g commissioned.
May The t h i r d member o f t h e Canadian A v i a t i o n Corps, S t a f f Sergeant HA F a r r , was d i s c h a r g e d from t h e CEF, " i n Canadian consequence o f f l y i n g corps b e i n g disbanded."
A v i a t i o n Corps disbanded
10 May C u r t i s s Aeroplanes and Motors L i m i t e d opened an a v i a t i o n s c h o o l a t Toronto I s l a n d and Long Branch,
C u r t i s s F l y i n g under t h e management o f JAD McCurdy, t o t r a i n c a n d i d a t e s School opened f o r t h e RNAS and RFC. By 7 December, when w i n t e r f o r c e d
the suspension o f f l y i n g , about 285 c a n d i d a t e s had been e n r o l l e d , o f whom 66 had graduated and 100 more had r e c e i v e d p a r t i a l t r a i n i n g .
11 J u l y F/S/L HJ A r n o l d , f l y i n g as observer i n a Henry Farman b i p l a n e , r e g i s t e r e d t h e guns o f two m o n i t o r s onto t h e F/S/L A r n o l d German s u r f a c e r a i d e r Kttnigsberg, w h i c h was sunk.
wins DSO D u r i n g t h e a c t i o n t h e a i r c r a f t was shot down. A r n o l d was awarded t h e D i s t i n g u i s h e d S e r v i c e Order, t h e f i r s t d e c o r a t i o n made t o a Canadian airman i n t h e RNAS.
14 December F/S/L AS I n c e , RNAS, w h i l e f l y i n g as observer i n a N i e u p o r t b i p l a n e , shot down i n flames a German
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F i r s t Canadian two-seater seaplane o f f the B e l g i a n c o a s t . T h i s v i c t o r y a e r i a l v i c t o r y was the f i r s t c o n f i r m e d success c r e d i t e d t o a Canadian
airman.
19 December Captain MM B e l l - I r v i n g , i n a Morane Type N scout o f No.l Squadron, RFC, engaged t h r e e enemy a i r c r a f t F i r s t Canadian between L i l l e and Ypres, d e s t r o y i n g one i n flames and v i c t o r y i n RFC d r i v i n g o f f the o t h e r s . He then evaded t h r e e more
a t t a c k e r s and was about t o open f i r e on another German machine when he was wounded by a n t i - a i r c r a f t f i r e . Captain B e l l - I r v i n g was awarded the DSO.
1916
12 May The C u r t i s s A v i a t i o n School resumed t r a i n i n g i n Toronto.
By the end o f the y e a r , i t had e n r o l l e d 91 candidates C u r t i s s school f o r the RFC and RNAS; 63 graduated as p i l o t s , and 24 re-opened r e c e i v e d p a r t i a l t r a i n i n g .
1/2 October Second L i e u t e n a n t WJ Tempest, f l y i n g a B.E.2c, shot down the Z e p p e l i n L.31 over s o u t h e r n England i n e a r l y D e s t r u c t i o n o f morning darkness.
L.31 by 2/Lt WJ Tempest
13 October - Between 13 October and 21 December, the I m p e r i a l 21 December M u n i t i o n s Board and the Canadian government evolved
p l a n s f o r the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f m i l i t a r y f l y i n g t r a i n i n g Plans f o r i n Canada, backed by a f a c t o r y t o manufacture t r a i n i n g Canadian a i r c r a f t .
t r a i n i n g
28 October L t AG K n i g h t and 2/Lt AE McKay o f No.24 Squadron, RFC, w h i l e on p a t r o l near Pozières, were a t t a c k e d by Death o f 12 German f i g h t e r s , l e d by the ace, Hauptmann 0 Boelcke i n Boelcke. I n d i v i n g on K n i g h t ' s a i r c r a f t , Boelcke, combat w i t h v i c t o r i n 40 combats, c o l l i d e d w i t h one o f h i s own Canadian p i l o t s p i l o t s and was k i l l e d .
1917
25 January An advance p a r t y o f an RFC t r a i n i n g b r i g a d e , headed by L t Col ( l a t e r B r i g a d i e r - G e n e r a l ) CG Hoare, a r r i v e d RFC t r a i n i n g i n Toronto. I n the next few months t r a i n i n g camps e s t a b l i s h m e n t were s e t up a t Long Branch, Camp Borden, Deseronto set up i n (Mohawk and Rathbun), N o r t h Toronto (Leaside and Armour Canada H e i g h t s ) and B e a m s v i l l e . By the A r m i s t i c e i n 1918,
the RFC-RAF i n Canada had r e c r u i t e d 16,663 cadets and mechanics; 3,135 p i l o t s had been graduated ( o f whom 2,539 were sent o v e r s e a s ) , t o g e t h e r w i t h 137 observers ( o f whom 85 proceeded o v e r s e a s ) .
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14 May F/S/L R L e c k l e , RNAS, p i l o t o f a C u r t i s s H-12 f l y i n g b o a t , shared w i t h h i s crew i n t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f D e s t r u c t i o n o f Z e p p e l i n L.22, shot down i n flames o f f T e r s c h e l l i n g . L.22 by F/S/L
Leckie and crew
2 June Captain WA Bishop o f No.60 Squadron, RFC, w h i l e making a s o l o dawn s o r t i e i n h i s N i e u p o r t 17 s c o u t , a t t a c k e d F i r s t Canadian a German a i r f i e l d near Cambrai. As t h e German
a i r VC aeroplanes took o f f , he engaged them i n succession and d e s t r o y e d t h r e e b e f o r e h i s ammunition was
exhausted. He then f l e w home w i t h h i s own a i r c r a f t damaged by ground f i r e . For t h i s e x p l o i t , C a p t a i n Bishop was awarded t h e V i c t o r i a Cross. He had p r e v i o u s l y won t h e DSO and MC. By t h e end o f August, 1917, Bishop had 47 enemy a i r c r a f t t o h i s c r e d i t . I n the s p r i n g o f 1918 he won 25 more v i c t o r i e s i n 24 days, i n c l u d i n g f i v e on 19 June, and was awarded t h e DFC.
14 June The crew o f an H-12 f l y i n g boat p i l o t e d by F/S/L BD Hobbs, RNAS, s h o t down Z e p p e l i n L.43 i n flames o f f D e s t r u c t i o n o f V l i e l a n d .
L.43 by F/S/L Hobbs
17 June F l y i n g a B.E.12 b i p l a n e , L t LP Watkins d e s t r o y e d t h e Z e p p e l i n L.48, w h i c h was shot down i n flames over D e s t r u c t i o n o f southern England.
L.48 by L t . Watkins
29 August A r e c i p r o c a l t r a i n i n g scheme ( f i r s t n e g o t i a t e d on 9 J u l y ) was concluded between t h e RFC i n Canada and t h e R e c i p r o c a l S i g n a l Corps o f t h e US Army, whereby t e n US
t r a i n i n g squadrons were t o be t r a i n e d i n Canada d u r i n g t h e agreement w i t h summer and autumn and two RFC wings were t o be g i v e n USA accomodation f o r t r a i n i n g i n Texas d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r .
The f i r s t American cadets had a r r i v e d i n Toronto e a r l y i n J u l y and t r a i n i n g c o n t i n u e d u n t i l October, when t h e move t o Texas began.
1918
27 March 2/Lt AA McLeod, p i l o t o f an Armstrong W h i t w o r t h F.K.8 two-seater o f No.2 Squadron, RFC, w h i l e a t t a c k i n g Second Canadian German t r o o p s w i t h bombs and machine gun f i r e , was a i r VC engaged and shot down i n flames by enemy f i g h t e r s . Despite f i v e wounds, McLeod climbed o u t on t h e lower l e f t wing and s i d e - s l i p p e d u n t i l he crashed i n
No-Man's Land. He then dragged h i s wounded observer away from t h e b u r n i n g wreckage and, under heavy f i r e ,
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c a r r i e d him t o comparative s a f e t y , s u f f e r i n g y e t another wound w h i l e d o i n g so. He was awarded the V i c t o r i a Cross, the second t o be won by a Canadian f l i e r .
1 A p r i l The Royal A i r Force was formed by an amalgamation o f the Royal F l y i n g Corps and the Royal Naval A i r
Formation o f S e r v i c e . RAF
29 May I n conference w i t h Canadian o f f i c i a l s , the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r the RAF agreed t o the f o r m a t i o n o f a Agreement t o nucleus of Canadian squadrons w i t h i n the RAF.
form Canadian squadrons overseas
5 June At the s u g g e s t i o n of the A d m i r a l t y , the Canadian government agreed t o e s t a b l i s h two a i r s t a t i o n s near F i r s t Canadian H a l i f a x and Sydney, NS, f o r a n t i - s u b m a r i n e o p e r a t i o n s . a i r s t a t i o n s These were subsequently l o c a t e d a t Eastern Passage
(Dartmouth) and N o r t h Sydney.
24 June Captain B r i a n A Peck, an i n s t r u c t o r w i t h the RAF i n Canada, f l e w a C u r t i s s JN-4 (Can) from M o n t r e a l t o F i r s t a i r m a i l Toronto w i t h a bag c o n t a i n i n g 124 l e t t e r s , the f i r s t i n Canada a i r m a i l ever c a r r i e d between two p o i n t s i n Canada.
5 August Captain R L e c k i e , f l y i n g as observer i n a de
H a v i l l a n d D.H.4, shot down Z e p p e l i n L.70 i n flames D e s t r u c t i o n of o f f the E n g l i s h c o a s t . W i t h h i s p i l o t he then L.70 damaged a second a i r s h i p . T h i s l a s t Z e p p e l i n r a i d
a g a i n s t B r i t a i n cost, the enemy the l i f e o f t h e i r a i r s h i p commander, F r e g a t t e n k a p i t a n P e t e r S t r a s s e r . 22 August A Canadian A i r Force Detachment was formed a t the
School of T e c h n i c a l T r a i n i n g , H a l t o n , England, t o t r a i n Formation o f Canadian mechanics f o r the two proposed " a l l - C a n a d i a n "
CAF begun squadrons i n the RAF.
5 September E s t a b l i s h m e n t of a Royal Canadian Naval A i r S e r v i c e was a u t h o r i z e d t o o p e r a t e the two s t a t i o n s i n Nova Formation o f S c o t i a . Personnel were t o be t r a i n e d f o r l i g h t e r - RCNAS t h a n - a i r and h e a v i e r - t h a n - a i r work. U n t i l t h e i r
t r a i n i n g i n the U n i t e d Kingdom and the USA was completed, the US Naval A v i a t i o n Force undertook t o o p e r a t e the two s t a t i o n s and began a n t i - s u b m a r i n e p a t r o l s l a t e i n August.
27 October A f t e r a d i s t i n g u i s h e d c a r e e r as a f i g h t e r p i l o t i n I t a l y , Major WG Barker, DSO, MC, No.201 Squadron i n T h i r d Canadian France, was on h i s l a s t o p e r a t i o n a l f l i g h t b e f o r e a i r VC going t o England, i n a Sopwith Snipe. He shot down
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a German t w o - s e a t e r h i g h above Mormal F o r e s t , b u t was h i m s e l f a t t a c k e d by groups o f enemy Fokkers, numbering i n a l l about s i x t y . I n an e p i c combat he d e s t r o y e d t h r e e more o f t h e enemy, r a i s i n g h i s t o t a l number o f v i c t o r i e s
to f i f t y . Major Barker, though wounded, c r a s h - l a n d e d i n s i d e B r i t i s h l i n e s . He was awarded a V i c t o r i a Cross.
11 November The A r m i s t i c e ended t h e F i r s t World War. D u r i n g t h e c o n f l i c t , some 20,000 Canadians served i n t h e RFC, The A r m i s t i c e RNAS, and RAF; r o u g h l y 1,500 gave t h e i r l i v e s ; over
800 were d e c o r a t e d .
20 November Nos.81 and 123 Squadrons, RAF (Nos.l and 2 Squadrons, CAF) were formed a t Upper H e y f o r d , England, w i t h F i r s t CAF a l l - C a n a d i a n p e r s o n n e l , as t h e embryo o f a Canadian squadrons A i r Force. The squadrons, commanded r e s p e c t i v e l y by formed i n UK Major AE McKeever, DSO, MC, and C a p t a i n WB Lawson,
DFC, moved t o Shoreham i n March 1919.
8 December O r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e RCNAS was d i s c o n t i n u e d ; cadets under t r a i n i n g were d e m o b i l i s e d . Twelve seaplanes RCNAS and f o u r k i t e b a l l o o n s , used by t h e a i r s t a t i o n s i n d i s c o n t i n u e d Nova S c o t i a , were donated t o Canada by t h e US
government.
1919
25 March No.l Canadian Wing, CAF, was formed i n B r i t a i n t o a d m i n i s t e r t h e two CAF squadrons. L t Col R L e c k i e , No.l Canadian DSO, DSC, DFC, was a p p o i n t e d commander.
Wing formed
4 June The government o f t h e U n i t e d Kingdom o f f e r e d t o donate a i r c r a f t t o t h e Dominions; as a r e s u l t , Canada
A i r equipment r e c e i v e d about $5,000,000 o f equipment, i n c l u d i n g o f f e r e d by UK 100 a e r o p l a n e s , 14 f l y i n g b o a t s , 12 a i r s h i p s , and
s i x k i t e b a l l o o n s , w i t h hangars, sheds, spares, s t o r e s , v e h i c l e s , and o t h e r m a t e r i a l .
6 June The Canadian P a r l i a m e n t passed t h e A i r Board A c t , c r e a t i n g a body t o c o n t r o l a l l a e r o n a u t i c s i n t h e A i r Board Act Dominion.
23 June The f i r s t A i r Board was c o n s t i t u t e d by Order i n C o u n c i l , c o m p r i s i n g t h e Rt Hon AL S i f t o n (Chairman), OM B i g g a r A i r Board (Vice-Chairman), t h e Hon SC Mewburn, Hon CC B a l l a n t y n e , c o n s t i t u t e d RM C o u l t e r , JA W i l s o n , and ES Busby.
3 November L t Col JS S c o t t , MC, AFC, was a p p o i n t e d S u p e r i n t e n d e n t , C e r t i f i c a t e Branch ( l a t e r C o n t r o l l e r , C i v i l A v i a t i o n ) L t Col JS S c o t t o f t h e A i r Board,
appointed
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15 December L t Col R L e c k l e , DSO, DSC, DFC, was appointed Superintendent ( l a t e r D i r e c t o r ) F l y i n g Operations Lt Col R L e c k i e i n t h e A i r Board,
appointed
22 December The A i r Board s u b m i t t e d t o t h e P r i v y C o u n c i l a memorandum p r o p o s i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a Canadian O r g a n i z a t i o n o f A i r Force.
CAF proposed
31 December A i r R e g u l a t i o n s , d r a f t e d by t h e A i r Board f o r c o n t r o l of a e r i a l n a v i g a t i o n i n Canada, were approved by Order A i r R e g u l a t i o n s i n C o u n c i l ,
approved
1920
28 January - No.l Squadron, CAF, was disbanded i n England on 28 5 February January, f o l l o w e d by No.2 Squadron and No.l Canadian
Wing Headquarters on 5 February.
Disbandment o f CAF overseas
18 February Formation o f a Canadian A i r Force was a u t h o r i z e d by Order i n C o u n c i l , as a non-permanent, n o n - p r o f e s s i o n a l Formation o f f o r c e and under t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e A i r Board.
CAF a u t h o r i z e d
19 A p r i l By Order i n C o u n c i l , a new A i r Board was c o n s t i t u t e d , c o m p r i s i n g t h e Hon Hugh G u t h r i e (Chairman), OM
New A i r Board Biggar (Vice-Chairman), Major General S i r WG Gwatkin, c o n s t i t u t e d L t Col R L e c k i e , L t Col JS S c o t t , Capt W Hose, and
E D e v i l l e . JA W i l s o n was named S e c r e t a r y o f t h e A i r Board.
25 A p r i l Major General S i r Willoughby Gwatkin, KCMG, CB, former Chief o f t h e General S t a f f , was appointed I n s p e c t o r - I n s p e c t o r - General o f t h e CAF w i t h t h e rank o f A i r Vice-Marshal.
General, CAF appointed
17 May L t Col AK T y l e e , OBE, was appointed A i r O f f i c e r
Commanding, CAF, f o r a p e r i o d o f n i n e months w i t h t h e AOC, CAF rank o f A i r Commodore.
appointed
18 June Captain HT Douglas (US Army A i r S e r v i c e ) and Captain JA Le Royer, MC, (CAF) landed a t Whitehorse, YT i n a F i r s t CAF D.H.4 t o make arrangements f o r a proposed American o f f i c e r i n r o u n d - t h e - w o r l d f l i g h t . This was t h e f i r s t a i r c r a f t n o r t h to l a n d a t Whitehorse, and Le Royer was t h e f i r s t CAF
o f f i c e r t o operate i n the T e r r i t o r i e s .
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30 June A p r o v i s i o n a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f 1,340 o f f i c e r s and 3,905 airmen f o r t h e CAF was a u t h o r i z e d by Order i n P r o v i s i o n a l C o u n c i l .
e s t a b l i s h m e n t a u t h o r i z e d
5 J u l y Camp Borden was taken over from t h e Department o f M i l i t i a and Defence t o serve as a t r a i n i n g c e n t r e . Camp Borden
taken over
31 August "Regulations f o r t h e Canadian A i r Force" were approved.
Former o f f i c e r s and airmen o f t h e RAF were i n v i t e d
" R e g u l a t i o n s to o f f e r t h e i r s e r v i c e s f o r d u t y w i t h t h e CAF f o r f o r t h e CAF" n o t more than f i v e weeks every year. A Canadian A i r approved Force A s s o c i a t i o n , e s t a b l i s h e d t h e p r e v i o u s June,
was r e s p o n s i b l e t o a c o n s i d e r a b l e degree i n a d m i n i s t e r i n g the CAF, which was n e i t h e r a permanent e s t a b l i s h m e n t
nor an o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h embodied u n i t s . The
A s s o c i a t i o n , through p r o v i n c i a l branches, m a i n t a i n e d r o s t e r s o f p e r s o n n e l and s e l e c t e d those r e q u i r e d f o r 28-day r e f r e s h e r courses g i v e n b i e n n i a l l y a t Camp Borden.
1 October Refresher t r a i n i n g began a t Camp Borden. By t h e end o f the year, 86 o f f i c e r s and 111 airmen had completed
T r a i n i n g courses, having logged 733 hours o f f l y i n g time.
s t a r t e d
7 - 1 7 October The f i r s t trans-Canada f l i g h t ( H a l i f a x t o Vancouver) was completed i n 49 h o u r s , seven minutes f l y i n g time F i r s t t r a n s - by r e l a y s o f a F a i r e y I I I C seaplane, a C u r t i s s HS-2L Canada f l i g h t f l y i n g b o a t , a F e l i x s t o w e F.3 f l y i n g b o a t , and t h r e e
D.H.9A l a n d p l a n e s , p i l o t e d by W/C R L e c k i e , S/L BD Hobbs, and Captains JB Home-Hay, CW Cudemore, and GA Thompson. Average speed f o r t h e 3,341 m i l e s was 68 m i l e s p e r hour.
J u l y - November A i r Board s t a t i o n s were e s t a b l i s h e d a t Vancouver ( J e r i c h o Beach), Morley, A l t a . , Ottawa ( R o c k c l i f f e ) , A i r Board and Roberval, PQ. C i v i l o p e r a t i o n s began i n J u l y , bases and u s i n g HS-2L f l y i n g boats and D.H.9A and Avro 504 o p e r a t i o n s l a n d p l a n e s . H a l i f a x a i r s t a t i o n was taken over from
the Department o f t h e Naval Service and used as a base f o r e r e c t i o n and r e p a i r o f seaplanes.
S e r v i c e s c a r r i e d o u t were f o r e s t f i r e p r o t e c t i o n
p a t r o l s , reconnaissance survey and a e r i a l photography;
398 f l i g h t s were made f o r a t o t a l o f 480.10 hours.
An e x p e r i m e n t a l a e r i a l survey o f Ottawa was undertaken d u r i n g t h e summer, u s i n g an Avro 504 and a B r i s t o l F.2B - t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t phase o f the A i r Force's work. Another experiment was
- 10 -
undertaken i n September i n c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e t o survey f o r e s t areas ravaged by i n s e c t p e s t s . O p e r a t i n g from a temporary base a t Lake Timiskaming, an a i r c r a f t c a r r i e d F o r e s t r y and E n t o m o l o g i c a l Branch o f f i c e r s on a complete survey over a l a r g e t e r r i t o r y ; 18 h o u r s ' f l y i n g s u f f i c e d t o o b t a i n more i n f o r m a t i o n than c o u l d have been secured by s e v e r a l months' ground work.
1921
Summary o f During the year 375 o f f i c e r s and 835 airmen completed CAF t r a i n i n g t r a i n i n g courses a t the "School o f A v i a t i o n " , Camp
Borden. There were 7,292 t r a i n i n g f l i g h t s and 313 communications f l i g h t s , f o r a t o t a l o f 2,847.45 hours.
I n a d d i t i o n , army c o - o p e r a t i o n t r a i n i n g e x e r c i s e s were c a r r i e d out a t Petawawa and Sarcee Camps and a t K i n g s t o n , and w i t h t h e Navy a t H a l i f a x . F l i g h t s t o t a l l e d 148, o r 138.55 hours. Such e x e r c i s e s a t v a r i o u s army and n a v a l bases became r e g u l a r f e a t u r e s of CAF and RCAF f l y i n g .
CAF Headquarters a t Ottawa (OC W/C JS S c o t t ) c a r r i e d t h e names o f 1,281 o f f i c e r s and 1,350 airmen on the r o l l s o f 13 "paper" squadrons.
Summary o f The A i r Board conducted o p e r a t i o n s f o r n i n e
C i v i l departments o f t h e Dominion government, ( c h i e f l y f o r Government the Department o f t h e I n t e r i o r ) and f o r t h e
a i r o p e r a t i o n s governments o f B r i t i s h Columbia, O n t a r i o and Quebec.
The major work c o n t i n u e d t o be f o r e s t r y reconnaissance and f i r e p r o t e c t i o n (570 f l i g h t s ) . I n a d d i t i o n ,
t h e r e were 167 f l i g h t s f o r communications and
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , 164 f o r experiment and t e s t i n g , 172 f o r reconnaissance and photography, and 69 p r e v e n t i v e
( a n t i - s m u g g l i n g ) p a t r o l s . O p e r a t i o n s were c a r r i e d o u t from seven C i v i l Government a i r s t a t i o n s a t Vancouver, High R i v e r ( i n l i e u o f M o r l e y ) , V i c t o r i a Beach (opened 1 J u l y ) , Sioux Lookout (opened 20 May), Ottawa
( R o c k c l i f f e ) , R o b e r v a l , and H a l i f a x (depot f o r r e p a i r and maintenance o f f l y i n g b o a t s ) . A i r c r a f t used were HS-2L and F.3 f l y i n g b o a t s , Avro sea- and l a n d p l a n e s , and D.H.4s.
11 A p r i l While p e r f o r m i n g a e r o b a t i c s i n an Avro 504 a t Camp Borden, S/L K T a i l y o u r crashed and was k i l l e d . He F i r s t CAF was the f i r s t CAF o f f i c e r t o d i e i n a f l y i n g a c c i d e n t . f l y i n g
f a t a l i t y
