|
Between
1939 and 1945, the Royal Canadian Air
Force enlisted 232,000 men and 17,000
women and operated 86 squadrons, including
47 overseas. Canadians flew bomber, fighter,
reconnaissance, transport, and other
missions around the world. Tens of thousands
of Canadian air crew also served with
Britain’s Royal Air Force and Canadian
fighter aircraft participated in the
epic Battle of Britain in 1940. For the
rest of the war, Canadian fighter-bombers
attacked coastal areas in German-occupied
Europe while Canadian heavy bombers struck
at targets much further inland. In addition,
Canadian maritime patrol bombers based
in Canada, Newfoundland, Iceland and
Britain fought German submarines. By
1945, the R.C.A.F. had grown to be the
world’s fourth- largest air force.
More than 17,000 Canadian airmen perished
during the war.
See also :
Canadian
Newspapers and the Second World War : The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
|
 |
