The Courier

The Royal Canadian Air Force: 100 Years of Service Volume 1 By Larry Milberry and Hugh A. Halliday – Supplied Photo

The RCAF’s 1924-2024 Centennial has been highlighted by airshows, dedications, commemorative coins and book launches. Adding to the list and having long ago produced the RCAF 60th Anniversary history in 1984, CANAV Books introduces its 2-volume Centennial set The Royal Canadian Air Force: 100 Years of Service.

Beautifully produced in massive detail, “100 Years” begins with Canada’s earliest aerial experiments, covers WWI where Canadians excel in the air (great coverage of Canada’s first fighter pilots), then moves to the birth of the RCAF in 1924. The RCAF gains renown in training, photography, forestry and fisheries patrols, and daunting northern expeditions. Like today’s Snowbirds, its 1930 “Siskins” flight demo team spotlights Canada’s small but impressive air force.

Our story moves through the 1930s, when events see the RCAF modernize just as war re-erupts in Europe. In one case, its ancient 140mph Siskin fighters give way to 300 mph Hurricanes. Vol.1 covers it all from the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan to the U-boat war plus everything overseas from the UK to the Far East. All the action and bravery are here, much of it for the first time in any book. The “fighter scene” is especially well covered from Hurricanes and Kittyhawks to Spitfires, Typhoons, Thunderbolts, Beaufighters and Mosquitoes. Come war’s end, the RCAF shrinks to a shadow of its wartime self, but new world troubles arise — a hint of things to come in Volume 2 (1946-2024), due for publication by the end of Centennial Year (April next). “100 Years” is based on archival records, aircrew logbooks, scrapbooks, photo albums, published histories and interviews. Anyone keen on Canada’s great military heritage will revel for years in this incomparable tribute to the RCAF!

The authors? Larry Milberry (Member, Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame) has published nearly 40 aviation books. Hugh A. Halliday is a retired Canadian War Museum historian renowned for his meticulous RCAF research and authorship.

Our readers have their say: *Best tribute to RCAF 100th that I have seen. Congrats to you, Hugh and the team. *I have no idea how you manage to do a book like this. It is an incredible achievement. *Your book arrived today — it looks fantastic! I’m impressed as always by the richness and diversity, and the abundance of photos you come up with! Unbelievable! *The perfect antidote to wean aviation enthusiasts off their smartphones for the written word — CANAV style. *Having spent my career in aviation, I appreciate the dedication and talent you have put in to producing the book which details such an important part of Canada’s aviation history.

Specifications (Volume 1) 

  • 384 pages, 9 x 12 inches hardcover
  • Dust jacket, 20 chapters, 300,000 words and 800 photographs
  • Maps, Glossary, Bibliography, Index
  • ISBN 978-0-921022-46-6
  • Retail price $75.00 + shipping and tax = $100.00 all-in

Ordering To get your copy in plenty of time for Christmas … send $100.00 to larry@canavbooks.com by PayPal or Interac or mail your cheque to: CANAV Books, 51 Balsam Ave., Toronto, Ontario M4E3B6 

Tel (416) 698-7559

Email larry@canavbooks.com

Blog www.canavbooks.wordpress.com

 

The preceding article is part of a paid partnership between The Courier News and Larry Milberry, Publisher, CANAV Books.

 

Supplied Photo

 

Share via
Copy link