Royal Canadian Air Force

Royal Canadian Air Force

The Royal Canadian Air Force is the air force of Canada. Its role is to provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower. It is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Armed Forces. The RCAF is a partner with the U.S. Air Force in protecting continental airspace. It also provides all primary air resources to and is responsible for the National Search and Rescue Program.

About Royal Canadian Air Force in brief

Summary Royal Canadian Air ForceThe Royal Canadian Air Force is the air force of Canada. Its role is to provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower. It is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Armed Forces. The RCAF is a partner with the U.S. Air Force in protecting continental airspace under the North American Aerospace Defense Command. It also provides all primary air resources to and is responsible for the National Search and Rescue Program. It was formed in 1920 as the successor to a short-lived two-squadron Canadian Air force that was formed during the First World War in Europe. It has served in the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Persian Gulf War, as well as several United Nations peacekeeping missions and NATO operations. In 1968, it was amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army, as part of the unification of the Canadian forces. In 1975, some commands were dissolved, and all air units were placed under a new environmental command called simply Air Command. In August 2011, Air Command reverted to its historic name of \”RoyalCanadian Air Force\” The R CAF is currently commanded by Lieutenant-General Al Meinzinger, Chief of the Air Force Staff.

It consists of 14,500 Regular Force and 2,600 Primary Reserve personnel, supported by 2,500 civilians, and operates 258 manned aircraft and 9 unmanned aerial vehicles. It traces its history to the CanadianAir Force, which was formed in 1920. The Canadian Air Air Force was granted royal sanction in 1924 by King George V to form the Royal Canada Air Force. In 1924, the Canadian Air. Force, was granted the royal title, becoming the RoyalCanadian Air force. In 1950, the RCA.F became involved with the transport of troops and supplies to the Korean. War; however, it did not provide RCAf combat units. During WWII, the force maintained a presence in Europe during the second half of the 20th century. It established No. 1 Air Division, consisting of four wings with three fighter squadrons each, based in France and West Germany. In 1957, Canada and the United States created the joint American Air Defense Command, No 1 Europe, in order to protect North America from the Soviet threat.