It was on April 1, 1924, when the Canadian Air Force was granted a royal sanction by King George V to form the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
Throughout its history, the RCAF has battled in various conflicts, from the Second World War to the Afghanistan War, and also helped with natural disasters such as flooding and forest fires.
Fast forward to 1996, the Canadian Aviation Historial Society (CAHS) New Brunswick Chapter (Turnbull NB) was formed, where Air Force veterans and aviation enthusiasts volunteer to restore aviation displays and memorials, lobby for recognition of historical aviation sites, and erect plaques to inform the public of significant aviation history.
In honour of the 100th anniversary of the Air Force, Turnbull NB recently launched its 100 banners project at Fredericton Government House.
Secretary Harold Wright said the idea came over a cup of tea with long-time friend Eileen Boyd, whose late husband, Cpl. Gordon R. Boyd served in the RCAF in the 1950s.
“We were just throwing around ideas of how we could mark the centennial. Many legions across the country do banners for Remembrance Day but we wanted something that was larger and a bit more special,” said Wright.
The ceremony unveiled the names of 100 New Brunswickers who would be commemorated on bilingual banners. Each banner shows a member’s photo and lists their rank, decorations, place of birth, and years of service in the Air Force.
Wright said the banners are being displayed in 41 different communities. They will be taken down after Remembrance Day and given to the families of the aviators.
“Regardless whether they served during peacetime, wartime, in Canada or overseas, once you join the Air Force, every single man or woman who serves is deserving of our respect,” Wright added.
“We wanted to spread around the province to represent all the communities of New Brunswickers who’ve served.”
The list of banners can be found by clicking here.
