RCAF Para Rescue Nursing Sisters, the “Parabelles”

RCAF Para Rescue Nursing Sisters ca 1951.  Airforce Magazine article, Spring 2009. (DND Archives Photo PL130186) Flying Officer Marian Neilly,  May 1955 in Trenton, Ontario. RCAF Para Rescue Course No. 5 in 1951 was organized for medical personnel and included two medical doctors, nine medical assistants and for the first time, five very capable nursing … Read more

RCAF Pilot Officer Andrew C. Mynarski, VC

Pilot Officer Andrew C. Mynarski, VC (DND Archives Photo, PL-38261,and IWM Photo, CHP 975) Pilot Officer Andrew C. Mynarski, VC. P/O“Andy” Mynarski, VC, was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and joined the RCAF in 1941.  P/O Mynarski was the mid-upper gunner of a Lancaster aircraft detailed to participate in a raid on the Cambrai railway yards … Read more

RCAF Radar, Troposcatter, and Satellite Communication Antennae

RCAF Radar, Troposcatter, and Satellite Communication Antennae (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4953587) Radar antenna used for air traffic control, Uplands, Ontario, October 1956. ‍ (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4952251) Troposcatter radar up north, 1959. The radar end of it is up the pole. The ‘billboard’ type structures (look like … Read more

RCAF, RCN, Canadian Army and Canadian civil aviation history: 1 Jan 1946 – 31 Dec 1950

RCAF, RCN, Canadian Army and Canadian civil aviation history: 1 Jan 1946 – 31 Dec 1950 On 1 April 1924, the RCAF was established as a permanent component of Canada’s defence force. In 2024, the RCAF celebrated 100 years of service to Canada.  Many aviation enthusiasts have contributed to this compilation of key events in … Read more

RCAF, RCN, Canadian Army and Canadian civil aviation history: 1 Jan 1951 – 1 Apr 2024

RCAF, RCN, Canadian Army and Canadian civil aviation history: 1 Jan 1951 – 1 Apr 2024 On 1 April 1924, the RCAF was established as a permanent component of Canada’s defence force. In 2024, the RCAF will be celebrating 100 years of service to Canada.  Many aviation enthusiasts have contributed to this compilation of key events … Read more

RCAF recruiting posters and commemorative stamps

RCAF Recruiting Posters (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3000622) RCAF recruiting poster. (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 2999983) RCAF Recruiting Poster. (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3000621) RCAF Recruiting Poster. (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584750) RCAF Recruiting Poster/Photo. (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3585226) … Read more

RCAF Reserve Auxiliary Aircraft Control and Warning Units 1949-1961

RCAF Reserve Auxiliary Aircraft Control and Warning Units  1949-1961 Reserve Auxiliary Aircraft Control & Warning Units Reserve Auxiliary Aircraft Control & Warning Units began to form in 1949 with the last of these units fully available by late 1951. The reason behind the Reserve units was “to provide a pool of trained personnel that would … Read more

RCAF Squadron badges and codes, 1924-1945

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) existed from 1924 to 1968, later designated Canadian Forces Air Command under the Canadian Forces, and then renamed to its original historic name of Royal Canadian Air Force in 2011. These are the squadrons that have served with Canada’s air force since 1924. RCAF Squadron Codes Home defence was … Read more

RCAF Squadron Leader Ian “Curly” Somerville

RCAF Squadron Leader Ian Somerville (Mrs Sheri Somerville Street family Photo) Squadron Leader Ian Somerville. S/L Ian “Curly” Somerville served with the Royal Aircraft Establishment‘s Foreign Aircraft Flight at Farnborough in the UK after the war ended in 1945. He was a graduate of the Empire Test Pilots School, RAF Boscombe Down, and test flew … Read more

RCAF Squadron Leader Ian Willoughby Bazalgette, VC, DFC

Squadron Leader Ian Willoughby Bazalgette, VC, DFC (Bomber Command Museum Photo) Squadron Leader Ian Willoughby Bazalgette, VC, DFC (19 October 1918 – 4August 1944) was a Canadian-British pilot in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. S/L Bazalgette was the “Master Bomber” of a Pathfinder Squadron detailed to mark an important target for … Read more