Chronology of Canadian Military History Canadian Military History, Colonial Period, New France, First Peoples, Seven Years War, French Indian War 1774-1914 1914-1931 Canadian Military History, World War 2, 1939-1945, Battle of the Atlantic, conscription, invasion, Dday, Normandy, Germany, axis, allies, Hong Kong, Dieppe 1946-today
Canada and the 
Second World War
The World Crisis
Canada goes to War
Canada at Britain's side
The Battle of the Atlantic
Canada's War at sea
The War comes to Canada
The Battle for Hong Kong
Disaster at Dieppe
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
Bomber Command
The Royal Canadian Air Force
The Home Front
Conscription
The Italian Campaign
Canada at D-Day
The Normandy Campaign
Liberating Northwest Europe
Victory
The War against Japan
Forced Relocation: the Japanese-Canadian Story
Going Home
Counting the Cost
A Nation Transformed

BOMBER COMMAND

1943-1945

Canada’s largest air force commitment overseas was to Britain’s Bomber Command.

The Allied strategic bomber offensive was meant to destroy Germany’s ability to wage war. Therefore, most targets were cities with military and industrial facilities. Canada’s contribution to this campaign was an extremely powerful aerial striking force. Organized in January 1943 as No. 6 (R.C.A.F.) Group of Bomber Command, it eventually included nearly 300 four-engined Halifax or Lancaster heavy bombers, each carrying several tons of bombs. At first, No. 6 Group suffered heavy losses but better equipment, training, and tactics improved the situation. Some 9980 Canadian airmen were killed during Bomber Command operations.

Historians have hotly debated the morality and effectiveness of strategic bombing.


BOMBER COMMAND
DND-PL- 30780


Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy Place
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0M8
1-800-555-5621