The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was the air force of Canada from 1924 until 1968.

Prior to 1924, Canada's involvement with air defence consisted of Canadian airmen flying with the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service, with the short-lived Canadian Aviation Corps, and with a small two-squadron Canadian Air Force attached to the Royal Air Force in England during the First World War. In 1920 another Canadian Air Force was established in Canada that was concerned mostly with military flight training and civil operations. This Canadian Air Force was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1924 and continued its focus on civil aviation. The RCAF's focus changed to one of a military nature and it became an active participant in the Second World War and the Cold War.

In 1968 the three branches of the Canadian military were merged into the Canadian Forces and the RCAF was disbanded.

The modern Canadian air force has been known as Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) since 1975, but still refers to itself as the "Air Force" and maintains many of the traditions of the RCAF. In August 2011, the government restored the name "Royal Canadian Air Force" to Air Command.

Roayl Canadian Air Force in Southern VictoryEdit

The Royal Canadian Air Force was established as the air war began to heat up in Canada. Canadian planes were easily recognisable by their roundel with the maple leaf in the middle, and their pilots were just as formidable as their US counterparts. Unfortunately, as the war dragged on, the Canadians found themselves hard pressed, and as 1915 began to kick off, the British sent over units of the RAF to help in the air war.

Although out numbered, the RCAF still flew with gusto throughout the war. Although on the defensive, the RCAF was engaged in numerous offensive activities, including reconnaissance, dogfighting, supply raiding, tactical bombing and CAS activities.

The major triumph for the Canadians came in 1916 when they managed to control the skies after the arrival of the Sopwith Pup, which was far superior to the Martin one-decker, forcing the US onto the defensive.

Eventually, the Americans brought up the Wright two-decker, and the air war once more sea-sawed back and forth. Unfortunately, by 1917, the industrial weight of the US was making it's presence felt, and the Canadians began losing ground, but none the less kept up the struggle until the very end. When the armistice was signed and with the countries subsequent annexation, the air force was disbanded.

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