The RCAF in Newfoundland

• Published in: University of Toronto Quarterly
• Main Author: MacKinnon, M.H.M
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: University of Toronto Press Inc. (UTPress) 1946
• Subjects: General Arts and Humanities; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/utq.15.3.213; https://utpjournals.press/doi/pdf/10.3138/utq.15.3.213

The major contributions of the RCAF in the war just ended were the provision of training facilities in Canada for many thousands of Allied airmen, and the maintenance of a large overseas air force, as part of the RAF and in the form of RCAF squadrons. Quite rightly most of the publicity has been given to these enterprises, since they were of first-line importance. Some notice should be taken however of the “home war” commands, on the East and West Coasts. The airmen and airwomen who served in these less dangerous areas had all volunteered for service anywhere in the world; they had no choice in the matter of where they went and consequently they often feel themselves unfairly discriminated against for having no overseas service. In addition to giving proper credit to them, this article is intended to help keep the record straight by describing exactly what the Canadian Air Force accomplished in one particular area of operations. There is no desire to disparage the work of other services or other nations; it is clear however that the RCAF will not be given due credit unless Canadians write about the subject. FinallY, it is felt that the Canadian taxpayer is entitled to a better understanding of the use that was made of his money. With these general purposes in mind, the work of the RCAF in Newfoundland and Labrador will be outlined. Many of the activities carried on in this area were also carried on throughout the Maritimes, and, with certain differences, on the West Coast also. The Newfoundland-Labrador area is selected because the writer spent two years there with the RCAF, and because the Canadians there were working in partnershlp with American and British forces, and can thus be compared with those forces.