The
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
Overseas Headquarters, often abbreviated to RCAF Overseas, was responsible for Canadian airmen serving outside Canada during and just after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. The headquarters was established on 1 January 1940 and it was based in London. Its main functions were to conduct liaison with the British
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964. It was under the political authority of the Secretary of State ...
, to provide a central location for personnel records, and provide general administration. As the War progressed, the Overseas Headquarters gained increasing administrative authority over Canadian personnel but never gained any significant operational responsibility for RCAF units and formations which were integrated into the RAF's command structure.
Senior officers
The following officers were in charge of the RCAF Overseas Headquarters:
The Crucible of War, 1939-1945, Volume 3
Retrieved 1 December 2015
Senior Officer, RCAF in Great Britain
*1 January to 6 March 1940 F V Heakes - previously the RCAF Liaison Officer in London (15 July 1937 to 31 December 1939)
*7 March to 3 June 1940 G V Walsh
Air Officer Commanding the RCAF in Great Britain
*4 June to 15 October 1940 Air Commodore G V Walsh
*16 October 1940 to 6 November 1941 Air Vice-Marshal L F Stevenson
Air Officer-in-Chief the RCAF in Great Britain
*6 to 24 November 1941 Air Vice-Marshal L F Stevenson
*25 November 1941 to 15 July 1943 Air Marshal H G Edwards
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief the RCAF in Great Britain
*16 July to 31 December 1943 Air Marshal H G Edwards
*1 January 1944 to 31 March 1945 Air Marshal L S Breadner
*1 April 1945 to 22 July 1946 Air Marshal G O Johnson
See also
*RAAF Overseas Headquarters
RAAF Overseas Headquarters was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) administrative unit established in London during World War II.
Under Article XV of the Ottawa Agreement, signed in 1939, the Australian government agreed to form RAAF squadrons ...
* RCAF Overseas Headquarters Band
References
Further reading
THE R.C.A.F. OVERSEAS, THE FIRST FOUR YEARSTHE R.C.A.F. OVERSEAS, THE FIFTH YEARTHE R.C.A.F. OVERSEAS, THE SIXTH YEAR
History of the Royal Canadian Air Force
Military units and formations established in 1940
Canada–United Kingdom relations
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