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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 0520.PDF
' ' . . FLIGHT. FEBRUARY 23, 1939 A flight of Vickers Vildebeest bombers (Bristol Pegasus engine) of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. A Northrop Delta—one of two built by the Canadian-Vickers concern for general-purpose work. Canada A LTHOUGH two Canadian officers came to England in •^ 1914 as part of a scheme for the establishment of an air force in Canada, it was not until two years later—when there was established in Canada an organisation for train ing personnel for the R.F.C.—that the real nucleus of the R.C.A.F. became manifest. Actually the Canadian Air Force was being organised ir. August, 1918, but with the return of the Forces to Canada the idea was dropped. Not long after, a small training force (semi-permanent) was formed, and in 1924 a permanent force was established, being designated the Royal Canadian Air Force. Until comparatively recently the R.C.A.F. has been very extensively employed on civil duties (forest protection, patrol, survey and general development work), and although it has done a great deal for the Dominion its training for war has been on a very small scale. In 1937 a considerable increase was voted for the R.C.A.F., and since that date increased attention has been paid to training for military purposes. To-day the R.C.A.F. (under the command of Air Com modore G. M. Croil, A.F.C.) comprises an Active Force and the Reserve. The Active Force is divided into the Per manent Active Air Force, wherein the personnel are per manently employed, and the Non-Permanent Active Air Force, composed of a number of units, the personnel of which are engaged in civil occupations, reporting to the R.C.A.F. for a certain amount of training during the year. Part of a batch of specially equipped De Havilland Tiger Moths for the Royal Canadian Air Force before delivery from the Toronto factory. Units of the Permanent Active Air Force are: No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron ; No. 2 (Army Co-operation) Squadron; No. 3 (Bomber) Squadron ; No. 4 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron; No. 5 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron; No. 6 (Torpedo Bomber) Squadron ; No. 7 (General Pur pose) Squadron ; and No. 8 (General Purpose) Squadron. The Training Command administers a Flying Training School at Trenton, Ontario; No. 1, Technical Training School at the same station ; and No. 2, Technical Training School at Camp Borden, Ontario. The Non-Permanent Active Air Force is composed of the following units: No. no (City of Toronto) (Army Co operation) Squadron; No. in (Coast Artillery Co-opera tion) Squadron; No. 112 (Army Co-operation) Squadron; No. 113 (Fighter) Squadron; No. 114 (Bomber) Squadron; No. 115 (Fighter) Squadron; No. 116 (Coast Artillery Co operation) Squadron ; No. 117 (Fighter) Squadron ; No. 118 (Bomber) Squadron; No. 119 (Bomber) Squadron; and No. 120 (Bomber) Squadron. There are, in addition, four depots. It was announced late last year that the R.C.A.F. had been reorganised into three commands: A Training Com mand, with headquarters at Toronto ; an Eastern Com mand, with headquarters at Halifax and Nova Scotia ; and a Western Command. Another report stated that an aerodrome was to be established on Anticosti Island in the St. Lawrence River by the Canadian Government as the first step in the estab lishment of a series of defence posts against invasion from the "Atlantic. This island commands the Eastern entrance into Canada. For many years Canada has been using a number of air-
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