Our People

The men and women of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and their civilian colleagues are the RCAF’s greatest strength, the heart of the institution and the foundation upon which the RCAF’s future is built. They are extraordinary and professional, capable of accomplishing great things, setting standards of quality that are respected around the world. Day after day, night after night they contribute directly and indirectly to the delivery of air and space power for our nation.

Our airmen and airwomen are guided and inspired by the achievements of those who have served in the Air Force throughout its history.

Here are some of their stories.

Present

Three men wearing blue military uniforms and holding pens sit at a table covered with a tartan cloth on which there are documents. Behind the men are three flags.

22 Wing North Bay welcomes its new honorary colonel

On July 23, the members of 22 Wing North Bay welcomed Peter Chirico as their new honorary colonel during a virtual ceremony that boasted hundreds of spectators from across Canada and the United States.
August 4, 2020

Six people wearing military uniforms are in a room. Five of them sit on chairs and the one who is standing gives a patch badge to one of the people sitting.

12 Wing identifies five lead squadron Sentinels

New 12 Wing Lead Squadron Sentinels received their patch during a ceremony held on July 13, 2020.
July 31, 2020

Four men in running gear stand in a line, all grasping a relay baton.

Canadians take M55 4x400m Indoor World Record

Canadian runners capture the M55 4X400m Indoor World Record in Toronto.
July 30, 2020

Three men wearing blue military uniforms stand behind a table covered in tartan and on which are documents. Behind the men, are a big blue and white backdrop and three flags.

1 Canadian Air Division welcomes new commander

The Change of Command Ceremony for 1 CAD/CANR was held in Winnipeg on July 6, 2020. During the ceremony, Major-General Eric Kenny succeeded Lieutenant-General Alain Pelletier as the new Commander of 1 CAD/CANR.
July 24, 2020

Four women run on a track during a track and field competition.

Track and field for Masters Athletes 5: Planning your training phases

Athletes cannot expect ready-made programs to meet their needs. Proper planning will greatly impact success: fail to plan, plan to fail!
July 17, 2020

Past

A vintage photo of two men shaking hands, one sitting in the cockpit of an aircraft and the other standing beside it.

The RCAF in the Korean War

From 1950 to 1953, Royal Canadian Air Force personnel served in Canada, the US and Korea in a United Nations-driven effort to rebuff North Korea’s advances into South Korea.
June 25, 2020

A black and white photo of man sitting in the cockpit of First World War fighter biplane.

Billy Bishop, Canada’s first Air Force Victoria Cross winner

On June 2, 1917, Capt William Avery “Billy” Bishop took off from his home base with No. 60 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, near Arras in northern France, on a daring early morning mission that would win him the Victoria Cross.
June 2, 2020

A black-and-white photo of six uniformed women standing in a row with their arms around each other’s waists, looking up.

We have come a long way

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the great accomplishments of women today, but also those of women who paved the way for the generations that followed them.
March 6, 2020

A vintage black and white photo of a woman in operational flying dress speaking into a microphone held by a man wearing a sports jacket.

Grace MacEachern, para-belle: An RCAF pioneer

Pilot Officer Grace MacEachern was a pioneer for women in a revolutionary time for women's roles and rights. As a para-belle in the Canadian Armed Forces in the 1950s, she blazed a trail both for women and for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
March 5, 2020

In a black-and-white photograph, two young men in uniform sit on the leading edge of the wing of a vintage propeller aircraft, and two more stand in front of the wing.

Junius Lyman Edward Hokan: An extraordinary RCAF officer

Pilot Officer Junius Hokan was 20 when he died, but during his service he broke the race barrier barring Black-Canadians from serving in the RCAF, was an accomplished fighter pilot, and invented a navigation device that drew the attention of Great Britain’s air ministry.
February 26, 2020

Date modified: