Page 11 - Nov2019

The Second World War (1939-1945)

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and
the horror of the Second World War began. Britain
declared war on Germany on September 3, and
Canada declared war one week later. The Royal
Canadian Air Force (RCAF) would play a big role in the
final victory.
The RCAF served with distinction around the world, in
far-flung locations that included Britain, continental
Europe, Egypt, Malta, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India and
Burma. At the start of the Second World War, the
RCAF had 4,061 personnel, 23 under-equipped and
under-strength squadrons, and only 270 aircraft —
two-thirds of which were obsolete.
By 1945, the RCAF was the fourth largest air force in
the world and had supported three large missions
“
during the war:
 The Home War Establishment of operational
squadrons to defend Canada.
 The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
(BCATP) to train aircrew.
 The Overseas War Establishment to support
operational missions outside Canada in
Fighter Command, Bomber Command,
Coastal Command and the Second Tactical Air
Force.
The RCAF reached its maximum size of 215,200
personnel (including more than 15,000 members of
the Women’s Division) in January 1944. About
249,600 men and women served in the RCAF during
the war; 17,034 personnel died on operations, in
training or while prisoners of war, including 28
women and 1,066 ground crew.
It was difficult for
women to work as
professional pilots until
the Second World War.
During the war, 166
female pilots from many
nations, including

Canada, worked for
Britain’s Air Transport Marion Orr, a Canadian
auxiliary delivering aviation pioneer,
aircraft, as well as worked for the BCATP
carrying freight and and the Air Transport
passengers. Auxiliary. Photo: LAC
Information from RCAF