RCAF in WWII
During the Second World War, The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) became the fourth largest Allied air force. Being active in every major air operation of the war, many Canadians lost their lives serving in the air force. Their sacrifice was vital in securing victory for the allies.
The daily life for most members of the RCAF was usually spent training, or in the classroom prepping for the next mission, and playing cards/baseball.
Living in the barracks or “H-Huts” also meant that part of daily life was seeing the empty bunk of a friend who didn’t survive his mission.
Many young Canadian men wanted to be fighter pilots because of the prestige it garnered. These men had to have good eyesight, could operate under pressure, and had to be well trained in mathematics, aerial combat and navigation. Only the best would be able to make it through the recruiting board and then “get their wings”.
Enemy Fighters & “Flak”
The Luftwaffe (Nazi Germany’s air force) was one of the Allied air forces’ primary rivals during the Second World War and were highly trained pilots. “Flak” was an anti-aircraft weapon fired from the ground against aircraft. Upon explosion, these projectiles sent out metal fragments which would shred nearby aircraft.
A bomber pilot had to not only fly a large, heavy aircraft, but also be a leader for his crew and make decisions that affected them all. With the oldest pilot being around 22 years of age, these young men carried heavy responsibility for one so young.
Bombers were difficult to fly. Due to limited autopilot functions (and distrustful ones at that) the pilots had to rely on manually controlling the bombers in order to evade both enemy fighters and flak. Stress and fear were constant companions.
Temperatures high in the air could reach from -40°C to -51°C. Many of the aircraft were not pressurized, so the crew were exposed to the elements. Crew members had to be warmly dressed (see the photo) to survive long flights and complete their tasks as pilots, navigators, bomb aimers and gunners.
The navigator played a key role in the bomber crew. He had to be well trained in map reading and mathematics, and was constantly at work. Having to account for many factors such as weather or enemy movement, he had to be carefully accurate for his crew to complete its mission and return safely.
The amount of navigational instruments used by the navigator left him working in a cramped position. He had an escape hatch directly below him due to this. He was also responsible for reconnaissance and aerial photographs of the bombs’ impacts.
The bomb aimer had two main duties during the bombers’ mission. He had to calculate and accurately aim the bombs on the given target, and was responsible for dropping the bombs. Then, when not in his prone bombing position he would operate the front gun turret.
The bomb aimer had a difficult and stressful job. He had to be aware of the exact location of his bomber and potential enemy planes, and had to ensure that his bombs were primed and directly on target. He would spend a long time in a tight spot in a prone position.
“Ditching out” was slang for when airmen would be forced to abandon their aircraft. Trying to land a damaged plane on the ground was dangerous and often deadly. Enemy territory was often where these men found themselves and they could face violence at the hands of civilians or soldiers, or internment and possible death in a P.O.W. (prisoner of war) camp.
Photo: RCAF Airman Laurie Cormier when he was interned at a Dulag Luft, P.O.W. camp.
The ground crew served a vital role in making sure that the aircraft was ready and running smoothly. Completing and safely returning from a mission required a ground crew’s engineering, electrical, mechanical and armament skills in preparing for the flight.
When Canada first entered the Second World War, many women were eager to serve their country. However, they were restricted from most armed forces roles. This changed for the Air Force on the 2nd of July, 1941, when the Women’s Division of the RCAF was created. Thousands of women enlisted and represented their nation during one of the largest conflicts in world history.
Jobs that women in the RCAF undertook included mechanics, clerical work, parachute rigging, aerial photography and more. Many women also acted as ferry pilots, flying newly built, large aircraft across the Atlantic to military air bases in Britain.
The Guinea Pig Club was an organization established in 1941 to aid badly injured allied aircrew. Made up of hundreds of medical professionals, they used plastic surgery to help allies with life-changing disfigurements. By paying attention to airmens’ psychological health, “guinea pigs” were able to fare remarkably well in their recovery.
Throughout the Second World War, the RCAF contribution had been vital to the war effort. Serving in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, Italy, and the North Atlantic, its personnel endured heavy casualties, but continued to fly into battle with courage and determination.
”Without the camaraderie and trust in each other’s skills, we never would have been able to pull-off the number of successful runs that we did and return home.” – Stanley Stone
A total of around 250,000 men and women served the RCAF during the Second World War. Of these, 17,101 did not return home. Casualties resulted from both combat and training exercises (about 4,000 Canadians died in training). Those who survived often suffered from psychological injuries and/or physical disfigurements.
Stanley Edward Stone, Sr., was born on October 7th, 1916 in Kamsack, Saskatchewan. He trained in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan as an Air Bomber/Aimer, and served in RCAF Bomber Command from 1943 to 1945. In a Handley Page Halifax bomber, he flew numerous missions across the English Channel to German targets beyond the front lines.
After the war, Stone was an avid member of the community and was involved in many organizations, such as the Royal Canadian Legion (he was president of the Kamsack Branch in 1946). Stone passed away on December 29th, 2012.
Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1978-106-25
Veterans Affairs Canada
The RCAF Overseas: The First Four Years. 1944. Oxford University Press.
Bishop, Arthur. Courage in the Air: Canada’s Military Heritage. Vol 1. 1992. McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
Motiuk, Laurence. Thunderbirds at War: Diary of a Bomber Squadron. 1998. Larmot Associates.
Fydenchuk, Peter. Before the Battle: Life on a RCAF Station During World War II. 2005.
Written by: Mason Hausermann & Eric Salminen Villarmin, of the University of Regina.
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