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

Two people, one kneeling and one standing, are on a snowy tarmac with a fighter jet behind them. Both wear military uniforms and “Santa” hats.

Canadian NORAD Region announces Santa’s 2019 escort teams and trackers

RCAF pilots, maintainers and trackers are ready for Santa Claus’ flight through Canadian airspace on December 24, 2019.
December 17, 2019

Two men.

Holiday greetings from 1 Canadian Air Division / Canadian NORAD Region

The commander and chief warrant officer of 1 Canadian Air Division / Canadian NORAD Region sent holiday greetings to 1 CAD personnel in December 2019. Here is their message.
December 17, 2019

A man wearing an RCAF uniform holds a flag as he stands in a cemetery.

RCAF personnel participate in commemoration of Italian Campaign

Sergeant Terry Gibbins from 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base North Bay, Ontario, was part of contingent of more than 180 Canadian Armed Forces members who participated in commemoration ceremonies to remember the 96,000 Canadians who served in the Italian Campaign of the Second World War.
December 13, 2019

A line of people wearing RCMP or military uniforms or civilian clothing, and Santa Claus, stand in a row in front of a large aircraft.

RCAF helps RCMP deliver toys to northern kids

On December 6, 2019, the RCAF again assisted the RCMP in their annual “Toys for the North” campaign to deliver toys to children in some of Canada’s most remote northerly locations.
December 12, 2019

A man wearing a military flight suit stands in front of an aircraft.

RCAF announces pilot for 2020 CF-18 Demonstration Team

Captain Dan Deluce will be the 2020 Demo Hornet pilot. The CF-18 Demonstration Team is looking forward to thrilling audiences across Canada this summer and demonstrating the RCAF’s capabilities to Canadians.
December 10, 2019

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

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