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The Canadian Air Force (CAF) was the initial, non-permanent peacetime air force formed by Canada after the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. When the Air Board was formed in 1919 to manage Canadian aviation, one of its responsibilities was air defence; the CAF was formed to meet this responsibility.Roberts 1959, p. 33. The CAF was officially retitled the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on 12 March 1923, and then dissolved on 31 March 1924 to allow the permanent
Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) 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 environmental commands within the unified Can ...
(RCAF) to be formed the following day.


History

Prior to 1920, Canadian airmen flew with the
Royal Flying Corps The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...
and the
Royal Naval Air Service The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy, under the direction of the Admiralty (United Kingdom), Admiralty's Air Department, and existed formally from 1 July 1914 to 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the British ...
. Canada had tried to implement two other relatively independent "air forces" before 1920. The Canadian Aviation Corps, consisting of one aircraft, was formed in 1914 to provide service in Europe during the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. In 1918, a contingent of two squadrons known as the
Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) 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 environmental commands within the unified Cana ...
was formed as another attempt to provide a Canadian military aviation presence in Europe during the First World War. This new CAF began as a small non-permanent air militia set up and managed by the Air Board. Its purpose was to give refresher air and ground courses to veterans and operated at
Camp Borden Canadian Forces Base Borden (also CFB Borden, French: Base des Forces canadiennes Borden or BFC Borden), formerly RCAF Station Camp Borden, is a large Canadian Forces base located in Ontario. The historic birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Forc ...
. The courses were to be 28 days long and were meant to be given every two years. The training scheme was short-lived, however, and training was ended on 31 March 1922. Between 1920 and 1922, 1,271 airmen and 550 officers completed training at Camp Borden.Roberts 1959, p. 37. In 1922, the Air Board was merged with the Department of Militia and Defence and the Department of Naval Service to form the Department of National Defence, officially effective 1 January 1923. Under the new organization, the Director of the Canadian Air Force reported to the Chief of the General Staff and the other functions of the Air Board (regulation of
civil aviation Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military and non-state aviation, which can be both private and commercial. Most countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and ...
, aviation technical services, and civil government flying operations) were reorganized under the Director. The six civil air stations previously under the Air Board's Director of Flying Operations (
Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
, High River, Victoria Beach,
Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...
, Roberval, and Dartmouth) were redesignated CAF units effective 25 November 1922. The first Air Officer Commanding of the Canadian Air Force was Arthur Kellam Tylee with the formation authorised an initial provisional strength of one
Wing Commander Wing commander (Wg Cdr or W/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Wing commander is immediately se ...
, one Flight Lieutenant, one
Warrant Officer Warrant officer (WO) is a Military rank, rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ...
, one Flight Sergeant and one Sergeant. In June 1920 the provisional strength of 1.340 officers and 3905 airmen (non commissioned officers and other ranks) was authorised.p.10 Shaw, S. Bernard ''Photographing Canada from Flying Canoes'' General Store Publishing House, 2001 In 1922, the CAF's Inspector-General Sir Willoughby Gwatkin began advocating for the "Royal" prefix. In 1923, after the CAF was reorganized when the Department of National Defence was formed, formal application was made and the title was granted in February 1923. The Canadian government finally approved of the title thirteen months later, and on April 1, 1924, The
Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) 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 environmental commands within the unified Can ...
became official.


Uniform

The original uniform was a dark blue serge cut in army style with white shirts worn by officers. Army metal rank insignia and chevrons were worn but used Royal Air Force titles.


Insignia


Cap and collars

There were 10 major varieties of metal insignia - six cap and four collar types. These types consisted of styles for officers and NCOs. For both cap and collar badges, the officers' issue consisted of a
copper Copper is a chemical element; it has symbol Cu (from Latin ) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish-orang ...
base overlaid with a copper
maple leaf The maple leaf is the characteristic leaf of the maple tree. It is most widely recognized as the national symbols of Canada, national symbol of Canada. History of use in Canada By the early 1700s, the maple leaf had been adopted as an emblem by ...
and silver wings. A silver "CAF" monogram overlaid the maple leaf and was attached to the copper base.Carroll, Warren. "Eagles Recalled".
Schiffer Publishing Schiffer Publishing Ltd. (also known for its imprints Schiffer, Schiffer Craft, Schiffer Military History, Schiffer Kids, REDFeather MBS, Cornell Maritime Press, Tidewater Publishers, Thrums Books, and Geared Up Publications) is a family-owned p ...
, 1997, p.48,71
Except for the silver CAF overlay, the NCO issue was cast as a single component in silver gilded metal. A feature of all officers' badges is red woven silk in the crown. Cap and collars were issued with or without the motto (Sic Itur Ad Astra). The initial issue of these badges, designed and available in late 1918 or early 1919, was without the motto. In early 1920, dress regulations were revised and the insignia began incorporating the motto into a scroll at the bottom of both cap and collar badges. The collar insignia mirror the construction of the cap badges (with or without motto). Cap badges were designed for either the wedge (field service) cap or the peaked cap for service dress. The first issue (type 1) for both officers' and NCO's cap badges (without motto) had a crown that was mounted to the top of the maple leaf at a single point. The second issue (type 2) for the smaller wedge/field cap for both officers and NCOs had the crown attached to the wings for additional support. For the larger peaked cap versions, the crown was again attached at one point and attached to the back copper plate. All officers' cap and collar insignia were initially backed in black felt. Cap badges were fastened with double loops which were held in place with a cotter pin. Officers' models for the peaked cap used a
brass Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, in proportions which can be varied to achieve different colours and mechanical, electrical, acoustic and chemical properties, but copper typically has the larger proportion, generally copper and zinc. I ...
metal support strip under the crown wire to strengthen the badge and to keep it flush against the cap. Both 1st and 2nd issue officer's collars had a single screw post to fasten onto the uniform, whereas the NCO versions were manufactured with double loops.


Pilot's wings

First authorized and issued in late 1918 or early 1919, this pilots' double wing was made in a style similar to the officer's cap and collar badges. It consisted of a copper back with overlays of two silver wings with a silver "CAF" monogram superimposed over a copper maple leaf. Black felt covered the back and a brass metal support strip was added under the fasteners. The design of the wings made the structure fragile. While there appears to be two die sets of the most common version of these wings, an uncommon and distinct variety has drooped wings relative to the central portion. Some versions are marked with the name of the manufacturer, "CaronBros" on one wing tip of the back copper plate. Two examples are illustrated, neither with any maker marks, and both 2nd issue from the collection of AVM A.E. Godfrey during his tenure with the CAF. He had one set gold- and silver-plated, probably to be worn on a dress uniform at the time. A replica set of several of the early 1920s insignia patterns were manufactured in 1967. The strike quality does not match the originals, but to the untrained eye, they can appear to have originated from the 1920s production. The pilots wing in this replica set retains the hallmark. File:Type 2 for Officers peaked cap, height 67mm (ex R.H. Drummond collection).jpg, Officer's cap badge for the peaked service dress hat from the 2nd issue (with motto) c. 1920 File:Type 2 for Officers wedge cap, height 56mm (ex AVM A.E. Godfrey) 2.JPG, Officer's cap badge for the wedge hat from the 2nd issue (with motto) c. 1920 File:Type 1 (1st issue) for NCO Wedge cap, Height 57mm (ex AVM A.E. Godfrey collection).jpg, NCO's cap badge from the 1st issue (without motto) c. 1919 File:Type 2 for NCO peaked cap, Height 72mm (ex AVM A.E. Godfrey).jpg, NCO's cap badge for the peaked service dress hat from the 2nd issue (with motto) c. 1920 File:Type 2 (2nd issue) for NCO Wedge cap, Height 56mm.jpg, NCO's cap badge from the 2nd issue (with motto) c. 1920 File:Type 1 Officers collars, Height 29mm (ex AVM A.E. Godfrey).jpg, Set of officer's collar dogs from the 1st issue (without motto) c. 1919 File:Type 2 Officers collars, height 34mm (ex AVM A.E. Godfrey).JPG, Set of officer's collar dogs from the 2nd issue (with motto) c. 1920 File:Type 2 NCO collars, height 34mm.jpg, Set of NCO's collar dogs from the 2nd issue (with motto) c. 1920 File:CAF pilots wing (ex AVM A.E. Godfrey).jpg, CAF pilot's wing, 2nd issue c. 1920 without hallmark File:CAF Pilots wing, custom gold & silver plated (ex AVM A.E. Godfrey).jpg, CAF pilot's wing, c. 1920, no hallmark on reverse. Custom gold and silver-plated by AVM A.E. Godfrey for his dress uniform File:CAF Type 1 (1st issue) for Officer's caps, Height 55mm.jpg, CAF Type 1 (1st issue) for Officer's caps, Height 55mm File:CAF Type 1 enlisted collar, loop fasteners.jpg, CAF Type 1 enlisted collar, loop fasteners


Heads of the Canadian Air Force

The following officers served as heads of the Canadian Air Force from 1920 to 1924: *1920–1921:
Air Commodore Air commodore (Air Cdre or Air Cmde) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...
A. K. Tylee (as Air Officer Commanding)French Canadians and Bilingualism in the Canadian Armed Forces
/ref> *1921:
Wing Commander Wing commander (Wg Cdr or W/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Wing commander is immediately se ...
R. F. Redpath (as
Officer Commanding The commanding officer (CO) or commander, or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually giv ...
) *1921–1922: Wing Commander J. S. Scott (as Officer Commanding) *1922–1924: Wing Commander J. L. Gordon (as Director)Johnson 1998, p. 16.


References

;Notes ;Bibliography * Milberry, Larry, ed. ''Sixty Years—The RCAF and CF Air Command 1924–1984''. Toronto: Canav Books, 1984. . * Roberts, Leslie. ''There Shall Be Wings''. Toronto: Clark, Irwin and Co. Ltd., 1959. No ISBN. * Johnson, Vic. "Canada's Air Force Then and Now". ''Airforce magazine''. Vol. 22, No. 3. 1998. ISSN 0704-6804. * Carroll, Warren. "Eagles Recalled". Schiffer Military History, 1997. {{DEFAULTSORT:Canadian Air Force (1920-1924) Military units and formations established in 1920 History of Canadian military aviation Canadian Air Force