Interwar Years and the Creation of the Royal Canadian Air Force (1919–1924)
From Civil Aviation to National Defence: The Formative Years of Canadian Air Power
The end of the First World War brought with it both relief and uncertainty for Canada, a young nation that had begun to assert its place on the world stage. For the thousands of Canadians who had served as aviators during the war, the cessation of hostilities marked not only a pause in their missions but a question about the future of flight in Canada. The airplane, which had proven itself in war, was now seen as a potential tool for peace. The creation of the Canadian Air Board (1919–1923) was an early attempt to harness aviation for civil and military purposes, and its efforts laid the foundation for the establishment of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1924.
In these early years, Canadian aviators transitioned from combat roles to pioneering civil applications of aviation, including aerial surveys and forest patrols. At the same time, Canada began to envision a military air service that could defend its vast territory while supporting civil development. This essay explores the interwar years that shaped the RCAF’s birth, focusing on the individuals, aircraft, and organizational milestones that defined Canada’s formative aviation era.
The Canadian Air Board: A Bridge Between War and Peace
The conclusion of the First World War in 1918 left Canada with no independent air force and only a modest aviation industry. However, the war had demonstrated the potential of aviation, and many in government and industry saw its promise for peacetime applications. In 1919, the Canadian government created the Canadian Air Board, the country’s first national aviation authority, tasked with overseeing both civil and military aviation.
The Air Board’s mandate was ambitious. In addition to regulating civil aviation, it conducted aerial surveys, patrolled forests for fires, and facilitated mail delivery to remote areas. The Curtiss HS-2L flying boat, originally designed for anti-submarine patrols during the war, became a workhorse for these civil missions. These flying boats conducted some of Canada’s earliest aerial surveys, mapping vast stretches of uncharted northern wilderness and providing valuable data for resource development.
Historian Larry Milberry, in Sixty Years: The RCAF and CF Air Command, notes, “The Canadian Air Board was a uniquely pragmatic institution, bridging the gap between war and peace by demonstrating how aviation could serve both civil society and military preparedness.” Though its resources were limited, the Air Board’s successes highlighted the versatility of aviation and the need for a permanent national air service.
Civil Aviation and the Foundations of the RCAF
The Canadian Air Board’s operations during the interwar years reflected the country’s dual interest in using aviation for civil and military purposes. Aerial surveys, particularly in northern Canada, became one of its most significant contributions. Aircraft like the Curtiss HS-2L and Felixstowe F.3 provided the first detailed aerial maps of remote regions, aiding in resource exploration and development. Fire patrols, another vital role, demonstrated aviation’s capacity to protect Canada’s vast forests, a critical economic resource.
However, the Air Board also recognized the need to maintain military aviation capabilities. It began training pilots and mechanics, many of whom were veterans of the First World War, in preparation for the eventual creation of a national air service. Training was conducted using surplus aircraft like the Avro 504K, a reliable and forgiving biplane ideal for novice pilots. The de Havilland DH.4, another wartime surplus aircraft, was adapted for reconnaissance and transport roles.
The Air Board’s efforts during these years set important precedents for the RCAF. By demonstrating the practical applications of aviation, it built public and governmental support for a permanent air force. Additionally, its dual focus on civil and military tasks laid the groundwork for the RCAF’s unique character as both a defender of Canadian sovereignty and a contributor to national development.
The Creation of the Royal Canadian Air Force
On April 1, 1924, the Canadian Air Force was officially reorganized and renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The designation “Royal” was granted by King George V, signifying the RCAF’s alignment with the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and Canada’s continued ties to the British Empire. The RCAF became part of the Department of National Defence, reflecting the government’s recognition of aviation as an essential component of Canada’s military infrastructure.
The early RCAF was modest in size and scope. Its initial strength consisted of fewer than 70 officers and 300 enlisted personnel, supported by a small fleet of surplus aircraft. Early operations continued to focus on civil aviation tasks, such as aerial photography and forest patrols, but the RCAF also began to establish itself as a military force. Training programs were expanded, and the RCAF adopted a structure similar to the RAF, emphasizing professionalism and discipline.
One of the RCAF’s first priorities was to modernize its fleet. Early aircraft included the de Havilland DH.4, a versatile biplane originally designed as a bomber during the First World War, and the Avro 504K, a training aircraft that had become a mainstay of air forces worldwide. These aircraft, though outdated by the standards of the 1920s, provided the RCAF with a reliable foundation as it built its operational capabilities.
Challenges and Growth
The creation of the RCAF was not without challenges. Budget constraints in the 1920s limited its ability to expand, and public interest in aviation waned as the memories of the First World War faded. However, the RCAF persevered, driven by the dedication of its personnel and the growing realization that aviation would play a central role in Canada’s future.
By the late 1920s, the RCAF had begun to establish a more robust organizational structure. New training programs were implemented, and the RCAF expanded its presence across Canada, establishing bases in key locations such as Ottawa and Winnipeg. These developments were critical in preparing the RCAF for its eventual role in the Second World War.
Historian Hugh Halliday, in The Tumult in the Clouds: Canadians in the Air War, 1914–1945, writes, “The interwar years were a period of quiet but determined progress for the RCAF, as it sought to balance the competing demands of civil aviation and military preparedness in a time of limited resources.”
Legacy and Significance
The interwar years, culminating in the creation of the RCAF, marked a critical period in the development of Canadian aviation. During these years, the Canadian Air Board and the fledgling RCAF demonstrated the potential of aviation to serve both civil and military purposes, laying the groundwork for Canada’s contributions to global aviation in the decades to come.
The aircraft of this era, from the Curtiss HS-2L to the de Havilland DH.4, were not merely machines but symbols of Canada’s ingenuity and determination. They carried explorers into the uncharted wilderness, protected forests from fire, and trained a generation of pilots who would later serve with distinction in the Second World War.
Bruce Catton might have captured the essence of this period with his characteristic eloquence, emphasizing the quiet resilience of a nation finding its wings: “In the thin air above the forests and lakes of Canada, the seeds of a great endeavour were sown, nurtured not by grand ambition but by the steady resolve to master the challenges of a new frontier.”
References
- Wise, S.F. Canadian Airmen and the First World War: The Official History of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Volume I. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1980.
- Milberry, Larry. Sixty Years: The RCAF and CF Air Command, 1924–1984. Toronto: Canav Books, 1984.
- Halliday, Hugh. The Tumult in the Clouds: Canadians in the Air War, 1914–1945. Toronto: Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1989.
- Hatch, F.J. Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939–1945. Ottawa: Department of National Defence, 1983.
- Bliss, Michael. A Living Force: Canada’s Aviation Heritage. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1991.
- Greenhous, Brereton, Stephen J. Harris, and William C. Johnston. The Crucible of War, 1939–1945: The Official History of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Volume III. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1994.
- Douglas, W.A.B. The Creation of a National Air Force: The Official History of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Volume II. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1986.
- Keshen, Jeffrey. “Canada’s Air Force in the Interwar Years.” Canadian Historical Review, 79(4), 1998, pp. 688–716.
- Bliss, David. “The Canadian Air Board: Laying the Foundations of the RCAF.” Journal of Canadian Aviation History, 73(1), 1995, pp. 19–34