The Royal Canadian Air Force turned 100 this week. Celebratory commentary has focused on the institution’s role in “defending Canada”. This is the true story:
The British spurred the creation of the Canadian Air Force. During World War I over 20,000 Canadians joined the nascent British air force and London suggested Canada raise its own air units. Near the end of the wildly destructive inter imperialist conflict, Ottawa authorized the creation of an England-based Canadian Air Force, which disbanded after Britain cut its funding after the war ended.
Six years later, on April 1, 1924, the Royal Canadian Air Force was formally established with assistance from the UK. Prior to its creation, the nascent Air Force engaged in reconnaissance during the May-June 1919 Winnipeg General Strike. (To this day some wealthy supporters become honorary Air Force colonels.)
For years Air Force racism was codified. Its policy stated, “all candidates must be British subjects and of pure European descent.” In 1941 the deputy director of manning in the personnel branch at Air Force headquarters, H. P. Crabb, issued a clarification letter to all recruiting offices regarding “Orientals and Negro applicants”. It stated, “only those of European descent will be accepted for appointment or enlistment in Aircrew.” In other words, Asian and Black applicants could enlist but they were only eligible for less prestigious ground duty positions. At the start of 1946 the RCAF reinstated a requirement that applications from Black, “Oriental” and “former enemy aliens” be forwarded to headquarters for approval. Denying there were restrictions placed upon the eligibility of “coloured applicants”, the chief of the air staff claimed “coloured” applications had to be sent to headquarters to “carefully scrutinize” whether the applicant could “mix” with whites, which was “for the protection and future welfare of the applicant.” The policy was still employed by the RCAF in 1956. (more...)
A short true history of Canada’s air force
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