Royal Canadian Air Force: RCAF 100 Years of Service: Volume 1 hardcover
Royal Canadian Air Force: 100 Years of Service: Volume 1 hardcover
September 2024 publication, 384 pages, 800+ photographs and illustrations, glossary, bibliography, index. hardcover, large format, 9 1/4" x 12 1/4" inches
The RCAF’s 1924-2024 Centennial is being highlighted by airshows, dedications, mess dinners, commemorative coins and book launches. For its part, CANAV Books (which produced the RCAF 60th Anniversary history in 1984) 40 years later is publishing a 2-volume Centennial set, The Royal Canadian Air Force: 100 Years of Service– by far the very best such history ever.
Volume I … A Book to be Treasured
Beautifully produced and authoritative, Vol.1 of “100 Years” begins with Canada’s earliest aerial experiments, then covers WWI where Canadians excel in the air war (Bishop, Barker, etc.). The story moves to the Royal Canadian Air Force formed in 1924. The RCAF begins with photography, mapping, coastal patrols, etc., and some daunting northern expeditions. There’s even a flight demonstration team “The Siskins”, similar to today’s Snowbirds, which exemplifies Canada’s small but impressive RCAF.
Our story moves through the 1930s, when troubling world affairs see the RCAF modernize just as war erupts in 1939. Volume 1 covers it all from the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan to the U-boat war to everything overseas from the UK to the Far East. Never has so much of this period been so impressively compacted into one RCAF volume. You’ll enjoy every page!
At war’s end, the RCAF stands down. It’s suddenly a shadow of its wartime self, but troubling global developments arise, so the RCAF again must expand to defend civilization. This is a hint of things to come in Volume 2, which is taking shape “as we speak”. “100 Years” is based on the official record, aircrew logbooks, scrapbooks, photo albums, published histories, and many interviews. Anyone with a love of RCAF heritage will revel for years to come in this spectacular “once in a lifetime” book.
READER's COMMENTS BELOW
Here are some of the first readers’ comments covering The Royal Canadian Air Force: 100 Years of Service. No fan of our great RCAF heritage will mind having this one! After all its the reviewers who count! Even if you already have yours, don’t forget that Christmas and other gift-giving excuses are on the horizon.
"Another winner, Larry. The perfect antidote to wean aviation enthusiasts off their smart phones for the written word -- CANAV style. CANAV always is consistent – chock full of photos and info as our RCAF history unfolded."
"Larry … Anyone who enjoys aviation in Canada will be boggled by the new book. I am so glad you went with 2 volumes because I’m not sure I could have lifted ALL the information in one package! The CANAV shelf in my library groaned when I added the latest volume, and I will need to reinforce it when the second volume arrives. For reference, information or just looking at the pretty pictures, all your books are without equal. Thanks so much for what you have brought all us bibliophiles over the years and I am looking forward to Volume 2!"
"Superb, but I expected nothing less. Worthy to be shelved with Air Transport in Canada"
"I’m truly impressed at the level of detail, the number of stories, photos etc. that are in the book. Having only a brief experience putting together history presentations and seeing how much work is required to pull that material together, it made me reflect on the work required to produce your book. I frankly do not know where Hugh and you found the time and most of all patience to assemble this valuable historical tome! Your dedication has paid off, it is nothing short of an amazing piece of work. Having spent my career in aviation I certainly appreciate the dedication and talent you have put in to producing the book which I think details an important part of Canada’s aviation history that deserves its own story. I will treasure my time exploring it! Thanks for signing both copies."
"Volume 1 is another magnificent work of art! I especially like the knack you have of joining the people with the events. Also … don't you just love the smell of a new book? On behalf of the RCAF, Thank You!"
"I received the books and what a fantastic piece of work! The effort to research all the stories and photos and to arrange them into a big story -- the book -- is huge and highlights the talent and skill and dedication that you and Hugh Halliday possess. Can't wait to see volume 2!"
"Very impressive just as I was expecting, although I've only had just a quick glance through it. Looking forward to the 2nd volume whenever you have it available next Spring."
"My copy of the RCAF 100 book has arrived and it's terrific! I'm (slowly) devouring it. As always, you've done a magnificent job with the content, layout and overall presentation. Well done!"
"WOW! Best tribute to RCAF 100TH that I have seen. Congrats to you, Hugh and the team. Personal pleasure in reading about K.O. Moore, my CO on 407 Sqn and we grew to become good chums. Outstanding!!!"
"Looks wonderful! Looking forward to the full read (and Vol.2). I really like when you identify other author's efforts and show a picture of their book or magazine cover. Especially nice when I can say "I have that" in my library."
"I thought I would just say hi and offer congrats on your new book which I am enjoying enormously. Fan-tastic! I have no idea how you manage to do a book like this. It is an incredible achievement and I hope you both take a lot of satisfaction from it because we know how little support there is around these days."
"It looks fantastic! I'm impressed as always about the richness and diversity and abundance of photos you come up with! Unbelievable! I look very much forward reading it!"
"I just got home from a fishing trip up north and was pleased to find that my copy of your new book had arrived! I've had a quick look through it, and it's outstanding! The detail is a tribute to your research, and hard work, and it looks great! Thank you, and I'm looking forward to many hours of enjoyable reading! And, thanks for the note, and signing on the opening pages! Hope you take time today for 'a cold one on the porch', it's well deserved!"
"Wow, what a book it is! It's a brute! Very excited to be digging into this. And autographed by my favourite author. My wife says "What, another book?" I smile and think "It's definitely not ANOTHER book. It's from Larry!" Great stuff, and I look forward to the next installment! Well done and thanks … always a sincere follower."
