100 Year Timeline

Two Ways to Explore Our History

Fly Back in Time by Event
Fly Back in Time with Our Aircraft

Jump to a Specific Decade:

1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020

1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020

1900

2 August 1909

Silver Dart Flown and Displayed to Militia

J.A.D. McCurdy flew the Silver Dart before a group of Militia officers at the annual Militia summer camp at Petawawa, ON. Some officers had requested his assistance, demonstrating the potential of aircraft supporting the Militia. During one of the four flights that day, McCurdy carried Casey Baldwin as a passenger. The Silver Dart was damaged beyond repair at the end of the fourth flight that day. This flight was the first of a powered, heavier-than-air, aircraft in Ontario and the first before the Canadian military. Baldwin's trip as a passenger was the first flight in Canada of a powered, heavier-than-air, aircraft carrying more than one person.

1910

21 September 1914

Canada’s First Military Aircraft Departs for Quebec City from the USA

The Burgess-Dunne floatplane was purchased for the Canadian Aviation Corps (CAC). Clifford Webster flew the aircraft with Captain E.L. Janney of the CAC as a passenger. It left Isle la Motte, Vermont, situated on Lake Champlain, on this date, bound for Quebec City. After several delays, it arrived in Quebec City on 29 September. It was loaded the next day on the SS Athenia for overseas service. On arrival in the United Kingdom, the Burgess-Dunne float plane was found to have been damaged in transit. It was left to rot on Salisbury Plain, where the Canadian Expeditionary Force was training, in preparation for deployment to France. The Burgess-Dunne was the first aircraft purchased for the Canadian military.

Flight Sub-Lieutenant Arthur Strachan Ince.

1910

14 December 1915

Ince is First Canadian Credited with shooting down and enemy aircraft

Flight Sub-Lieutenant Arthur Strachan Ince, while acting as an observer to Flight Sub-Lieutenant C.W. Graham, shot down a German seaplane off the Belgian coast. Ince was the first Canadian credited with shooting down an enemy aircraft. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for this.
Caption: Arthur Strachan Ince, the first Canadian to shoot down and enemy aircraft. Credit: Rupert Chimo, through Ancestry.ca

1920

1 April 1924

Authorization of the RCAF

The RCAF was formed on 1 April 1924. It had three components – a full-time permanent force (regular force), a part-time non-permanent force (air reserve), and a reserve of non-active personnel. No non-permanent units were created at that time as the funding was not available. The RCAF was not an independent organization as it reported to the Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Militia (the name of the Canadian Army at the time). The RCAF was now a full-time organization with its own orders: the King's Regulations and Orders for the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Pay and Allowance Regulations for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Although its role did include the defence of Canada, this role would take a back seat to flying operations performed for other government departments.
Caption: Wing Commander Barker, VC, DSO, MC, the first director of the RCAF when it was formed on 1 April 1924. He was in the position temporarily, until 19 May 1924.

Personnel stand beside an aircraft in one of the Hudson Strait Expedition Base camps.

1920

17 July 1927

Hudson Strait Expedition Sails

With the government of Canada considering the establishment of a port at Churchill, MB, there was a need for accurate information about ice conditions in the Hudson Strait across the top of Quebec. RCAF pilots and mechanics supported the mission in response to a request from the Department of Marine and Fisheries. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals were also among the group that sailed from Halifax on 17 July 1927. With three sites set up along the Hudson Strait, the RCAF pilots would fly through the winter and into the next year, returning to Halifax in November 1928. Support from local Inuit attached to each site aided the mission's success.

1930

19 November 1938

RCAF Becomes Independent of the Canadian Militia

From the time of its formation, the RCAF had been under the command of the Chief of the General Staff (CGS), the head of the Canadian Militia, as the Canadian Army was then known. On this date, the RCAF no longer reported to the CGS but directly to the Minister of National Defence.
Caption: Air Vice Marshal George Mitchell Croil was one of the original members of the RCAF. He led the RCAF from January 1934 to May 1940 and was the architect of the RCAF’s independence from the Canadian Militia.

RCAF Recruiting Poster from World War Two

1930

3 September 1939

Mobilization

Although Canada had not declared war on Germany yet, the RCAF had begun mobilizing on 3 September 1939. The RCAF's Permanent Force (regular force) was now on active service. Members of the Non-Permanent Force (air reserve) were asked if they wished to volunteer for active service, which most did. The RCAF began to open recruiting centres and plan for the increased intake of new recruits to bring squadrons and units up to their wartime strength.

1940

26 August 1940

No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron Engages in Battle

No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron engaged the Luftwaffe on this date. Claiming three enemy aircraft destroyed and four damaged, while losing one pilot, No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron became the first RCAF squadron to engage in combat. Flying Officer R.L. Edwards became the RCAF's first Battle of Britain casualty.

RCAF crews load penicillin into a B-17 Flying Fortress

1940

16 October 1945

Penicillin Flights to Poland

At the request of the Polish Red Cross for penicillin through the Canadian United Allied Relief Fund, the first of the RCAF's penicillin flights to Poland took off on 16 October 1945. The RCAF used No. 168 Squadron's B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators, and C-46 Dakotas to carry at least five loads of penicillin from Canada to Poland. One B-17 crashed in Germany, killing all five RCAF members onboard. The mission ended on 25 January 1946. This was the RCAF's first international humanitarian mission, and many more were to follow. It was made possible by the progress made in long-range transport aircraft during the Second World War.
Caption: Boxes of penicillin are loaded into a B-17 Flying Fortress to be flown by Air Commodore John Plant.

1950

25 October 1951

The First Para-Belles graduate

The first group of four nursing sisters graduated as fully qualified para-rescue (today's Search and Rescue Technicians). A second group of three graduated in 1952. They did not participate in rescues all the time, but only when needed and due to nursing regulations, they could no longer serve when married. The last Para-Belle retired from rescue duties in December 1956. They laid the groundwork to show that women could excel in this demanding field, showcasing their ability to perform in high-pressure, life-and-death situations that require exceptional physical fitness, advanced medical knowledge, and the mental fortitude to handle emergencies. Although it took several decades for the field to open up to women fully, Tammy Negraeff's success in 1998 highlighted the progress made. It reinforced the importance of inclusivity in search and rescue roles. Caption: Flying Officer Marian Neily, one of the original group of trainees.

Three RCAF F-86 Sabres from 439 Squadron fly over England

1950

23 May 1952

Transfer of RCAF F-86 Sabres to Europe

In what was named Operation LEAP FROG, the RCAF flew 11 squadrons equipped with F-86 Sabre aircraft from Canada across the North Atlantic to fill No. 1 Canadian Air Division. This operation lasted from 23 May 1952 – 7 September 1953. Altogether the RCAF had 12 F-86 squadrons serving with NATO. They would be among the best pilots in western Europe.

1950

6 November 1956

RCAF Support to the United Nations Emergency Force

When the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) was proposed, the RCAF began to airlift Canadian personnel to Egypt and was later expanded to include personnel from other contingents. Later the RCAF would operate an air service between the United Nations (UN) base in Italy and Egypt to supply UNEF forces. The RCAF would also provide in-theatre air transport and patrol services. UNEF was the start of the UN calling upon the RCAF to provide transport services for many of its missions, including several in which the RCAF was the sole provider of air services. The RCAF would benefit from learning to operate in conditions not common in North America or Europe.
Caption: Signalman David G. Stephenson and Sergeant S.G. Freeman, Right, based at Sharm el Sheik at tip of Sinai, talk with an armed guard of the Swedish battalion of UNEF.

Air Marshal Roy Slemon and Minister of National Defence Paul Hellyer

1960

1 February 1968

Canadian Forces Reorganization Act Comes Into Effect

On 1 February 1968, the Canadian Forces Reorganization Act Come came into effect, amalgamating the RCAF, Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Army. The RCAF was broken up to be part of Air Defence Command, Air Transport Command, Materiel Command, Training Command, Maritime Command and Mobile Command. The first four were largely composed of former RCAF units.
Caption: Air Marshal Roy Slemon met with Minister of National Defence Paul Hellyer in 1964 prior to Slemon’s retirement.

1970

2 September 1975

Air Command Begins Operations

On 2 September 1975, Air Command began bringing air units under its command and administrative control. It also began to develop air-related policies for all air units and personnel. This was the start of one unified air force again.

Vietnamese refugees board a CC-137 Boeing 707.

1970

1 July 1979

Transport to Canada of Vietnamese Refugees

On 1 July 1979, Operation MAGNET II began as a much-expanded version of Operation MAGNET. The Canadian Forces would again provide support to Vietnamese refugees being brought to Canada. Air Transport Command would fly missions to Malaysia, bringing back refugees, alongside civilian airlines. One child was even born on a Canadian Forces flight. Operation MAGNET II ended on 31 December 1981 after processing over 32,000 refugees.

1980

4 October 1980

MV Prisendam Rescue

The largest search and rescue operation to date was on 4 October 1980. Search and Rescue aircraft from Canada and the United States Navy and Coast Guard rescued 520 crew and passengers from the cruise ship MV Prinsendam. While sailing in the Gulf of Alaska, the ship had a fire declared out of control in the engine room. The CH-113 Labrador helicopter were operating at the extreme end of their range.

A CF 188 on the runway in the Middle East.

1990

30 January 1991

CF-188s engage an Iraqi patrol boat

While on patrol during the first Gulf War, two CF-188s were diverted to attack an Iraqi fast patrol boat. After two strafing runs with the CF-188s 20 mm guns, the boat was irreparably damaged and later found to have sought safe-haven in Iran. This marked the first time since the Korean War that Canadian pilots had attacked an enemy.

1990

1 February 1991

Female Aircrew Fires Shots in Anger

While deployed in the Persian Gulf, Master Corporal Karin Lehmann, flying in a CH-124 Sea King, fired machine gun warning shots at a dhow that was headed towards Coalition ammunition ships and had failed to heed warnings to leave the area. This was the first-time shots had been fired in anger from a Sea King and the first time a Canadian female aircrew had fired them. Master Corporal Lehmann was Canada's first female airborne sensor operator.
Caption: Airborne Electronic Sensor Operator Master Corporal Karen Lehmann, 423 Squadron. HMCS Protecteur detachment.

1990

9 April 1994

Support to UN Forces in Rwanda

The Canadian Forces dispatched two Hercules to Uganda under Operation SCOTCH, which lasted from 9 April to 1 October 1994. The first role was to evacuate personnel from Rwanda. The Hercules were then re-tasked to fly personnel and supplies into that country. For a period, these Canadian Forces flights were the only ones going into the war-torn city of Kigali during the Rwandan genocide.

Soldiers disembarks from a CH-147 Chinook

2000

30 December 2008

Joint Task Force Afghanistan Gets Chinooks

The transfer of six D-model Chinook medium-to-heavy-lift helicopters from the US Army to the Canadian Forces was completed. They already carried Canadian colours and were placed on the inventory of the Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing. They would soon be flying in support of the International Security Assistance Force in southern Afghanistan. Using the helicopters reduced the opportunities for the Taliban to attack Canadian resupply convoys and thus helped reduce casualties.

2000

6 January 2009

Griffons Fly Troops

The crews of two CH-146 Griffon helicopters made history: they flew a group of soldiers to a forward operating base in Afghanistan, thus completing the first sorties by Canadian helicopters in a theatre of war. The Griffons arrived in Afghanistan in December 2008.

2010

26 April 2011

HMCS Charlottetown Information

On 26 April, HMCS Charlottetown observed pro-government fire striking civilian areas of Misrata, Libya, as they were about to begin an offensive. This fire was reported to an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). They, in turn, directed Coalition aircraft, including two CF-188s, to investigate. After identifying the source of the fire and receiving permission, Coalition aircraft were able to destroy several dozen assault vehicles, including a main battle tank and artillery pieces. This was the first time a Canadian warship passed information to Canadians in an AWACS, who tasked Canadian fighter aircraft.

2010

25 February 2013

Canada’s First Military Satellite Launched

On 25 February 2013, the Indian Space Research Organisation launched Sapphire, Canada's first military satellite. Sapphire is designed to monitor space debris and satellites within an orbit of 3,728 to 24,855 miles (6,000 to 40,000 kilometres) above Earth. In January 2014, it began to feed data to the United States Space Surveillance Network.
Caption: The Sapphire satellite being built at MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. Credit: NATO Association of Canada

2010

25 June 2018

UK Public Duties

Over 120 members of the RCAF were part of the contingent to the United Kingdom, with personnel representing each of the RCAF's 14 Wings and including the 35 members of the Canadian Armed Forces Band. The RCAF contingent was the first non-infantry contingent from Canada given the honour of guarding Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. As the "Queen's Guard," they would be charged with guarding Her Majesty and the official royal residences doing so on 25 June 2018 and six other occasions at Buckingham Palace, St. James' Palace, and the Tower of London. On 9 July, the guard was mounted at Windsor Castle.

A CH-149 Cormorant provide support for Operation LENTUS.

2020

17 November 2021

Support to BC Floods

On 14 November, an atmospheric river brought two days of intense rains to southwest British Columbia. There was severe flooding in the Fraser Valley and landslides. Even before the Canadian Armed Forces was authorized to assist on 17 November, CH-149 Cormorants from 442 Squadron had started evacuating what would be over 300 people from isolated stretches of highway. CH-146 Griffons were on the scene on the 17 November, as was one CH-148 Cyclone. A CC-177 Globemaster transported three Griffons from 430 Squadron to Abbotsford, while two CH-147 Chinooks from 450 Squadron also took part in the operation. The RCAF had 12 aircraft on the mission rescuing stranded individuals, flying supplies to isolated communities, conducting medical flights, and providing aerial surveying. Operation LENTUS 21-06, as the mission was named, ended on 17 December.