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To Download the PDF File The Making of a Cold War Air Force: Planning and Professionalism in the Postwar Royal Canadian Air Force, 1944-1950 By Alexander Angus Babcock, B.A, M.A. A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In partial fulfilment of The requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy: History Department of History Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario December 2008 © 2008, Alexander Angus Babcock Library and Bibliotheque et 1*1 Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-47471-6 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-47471-6 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par Plntemet, prefer, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans loan, distribute and sell theses le monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non­ sur support microforme, papier, electronique commercial purposes, in microform, et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. this thesis. Neither the thesis Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels de nor substantial extracts from it celle-ci ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement may be printed or otherwise reproduits sans son autorisation. reproduced without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformement a la loi canadienne Privacy Act some supporting sur la protection de la vie privee, forms may have been removed quelques formulaires secondaires from this thesis. ont ete enleves de cette these. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires in the document page count, aient inclus dans la pagination, their removal does not represent il n'y aura aucun contenu manquant. any loss of content from the thesis. Canada ABSTRACT This dissertation examines the role of planning and enhanced professionalism played in the growth of the RCAF between postwar demobilization and the assumption of NATO commitments in 1950. This period represents the nadir and the conditions for the apogee of postwar air force fortunes, in terms of organizational size and capabilities. There were a range of influences on the postwar growth of the RCAF. The Soviet Union posed a threat to North American and European security and the air force was best situated to respond to it. Defence collaboration with the United States fostered development of a vast air defence system. The creation of a NATO Integrated Force led to a large fighter-interceptor contribution from Canada. RCAF leadership was effective in presenting plans to the government and in managing air force interests. Political leaders within Canada in the late 1940s embraced opportunities to engage with the international community and take part in multilateral defence initiatives. Theories of civil-military relations inform assessments of the interaction between the government and the RCAF. The dissertation concludes that all of these influenced, in varying degrees, the nature and degree of success of RCAF, but focuses on the crucial role of planning and professionalism. Improvements to planning processes, procedures and capabilities allowed an increasingly professional RCAF to take advantage of these opportunities, resulting in the creation of a Cold War air force. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation was made possible through the support and assistance of many individuals and organizations. Library and Archives Canada staff was consistently helpful in accessing records. Staff at National Defence's Department of History and Heritage deserves special recognition for their willingness to assist researchers. Elsie Lafontaine, Heather Campbell, Nancy Stroud and Laurie McKim at the National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) Library reliably provided assistance tracking down hard to find books and articles. During my service career, Gord Graham and Paul Poirier allowed me the opportunity to pursue academic upgrading. My current workplace, the Centre for Operational Research and Analysis at NDHQ, provided support and I am grateful to Maria Rey, Jocelyn Tremblay and Paul Massel for the opportunity to complete my thesis. Over the years, Joan White at Carleton University managed to keep me registered and in good standing with the doctoral programme. Her great patience, warmth and kindness are a blessing for all that deal with her. My sister, Janet Weber, provided timely and much needed administrative assistance during the thesis vetting process. I had the good fortune to have two thesis supervisors. Stephen Harris was unstintingly generous with his profound knowledge of the RCAF and military professionalism, and provided friendship and a sounding board for my various ideas on how to proceed. Norman Hillmer gave crucial and timely advice, guidance and support, and was instrumental in saving me from myself. His comprehensive knowledge of Canadian political and defence matters was critical for this dissertation. Lastly, my wife, Susan Babcock, provided constant love, enduring encouragement and continuous support throughout the years, and is responsible for any success that I may achieve, academic or otherwise. iii Table of Contents Page Abstract ii Acknowledgements iii Table of Contents iv Abbreviations and Acronyms vii Introduction 1 Chapter One: Visions of a Multi-purpose Air Force: RCAF Postwar Planning 1944-1945 29 The Post Hostilities Problems Working Committee 30 Initial RCAF Postwar Planning 38 RCAF Post War Organization Proposals 43 The Evolving Perception of the Security Environment 57 Conclusion 63 Chapter Two: "A Very Bitter Stage": Postwar Retrenchment, 1945-1946 66 Postwar Government Direction 67 Postwar Canadian Security Situation 76 Demobilization of the Wartime RCAF 80 Implementation of Scheme B 87 Role of Planning 95 Communism and Canada 97 Hope for the Future 99 Conclusion 101 Chapter Three: The Basic Security Plan: Planning for North American Air Defence, 1946-1948 107 Identifying the Threat 108 Political Oversight of the Basic Security Plan 113 The Military Cooperation Committee 123 The Basic Security Plan 128 Air Defence and Inter-service Rivalry 132 Conclusion 141 Chapter Four: Rebuilding the RCAF - 1947-1948 145 Inter-Service Planning Group 146 Development of Plan E 152 iv Countering the Threat 162 An Enhanced Planning Capability for the RCAF 165 Policy Statement on Canada's Defence 171 Regular and Auxiliary RCAF Shortfalls 174 The Strategic Environment 180 New Government Direction 185 A New Beginning - Plan F 190 Conclusion 195 Chapter Five: Gaining Influence: The Rise of the RCAF, 1949 202 Air Defence and Related Plans 203 Prioritization of Air Force Tasks 227 Long Range Plan 229 Changes to the Threat Environment 231 American and NA TO Influences on Planning 23 6 Changes to Canadian Defence Planning 242 Conclusion 249 Chapter Six: A Revitalized Air Force: RCAF NATO and Air Defence Planning-1950 253 Updated Threat Appreciations 254 Planning in Early 1950 257 Preliminary Cabinet Defence Committee Direction — 1950 261 Korea 268 Short and Medium Term Plans 273 Plan G 280 Planning for the Future 286 Conclusion 297 Conclusion 301 Bibliography 310 Tables: Table 1: Postwar Auxiliary Squadron Proposal 45 Table 2: Proposed Aircraft Distribution 55 Table 3: Schemes A, B and C 75 Table 4: Plan B Auxiliary RCAF Proposal 94 Table 5: Plan F Squadron Allocation 192 Table 6: Proposed Fighter Squadron and Airfield Disposition (1949) 210 Table 7: Comparison of Peacetime Defence Budgets, 1951 -53 248 Table 8: RCAF Requirements-1950 262 Table 9: RCAF Contribution for the CUSRPG Short Term Plan (1950) 274 Table 10: RCAF Medium Term War Plan Requirements (1950) 277 Table 11: Plan G Regular RCAF Operational Aircraft Increases 282 v Figures: Figure 1: Initial Postwar Command Structure Plan 51 Figure 2: Initial Postwar Plans Organization Proposal 53 Figure 3: Plan B Command Structure 91 Figure 4: Plan E Geographic Command Structure 154 Figure 5: Plan F Command Structure 193 Figure 6: Air Defence Command Plan 214 Figure 7: Air Defence Control Plan 215 vi ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AFHQ Air Force Headquarters CAS Chief of the Air Staff CF Canadian Forces CSC Chiefs of Staff Committee CUSRPG Canada-United States Regional Planning Group GCI Ground Control Interception DHH Directorate of History and Heritage DND Department of National Defence LAC Library and Archives Canada MCC Military Cooperation Committee MG Manuscript Group mm Millimetre MND Minister of National Defence MPH Miles per hour NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NDHQ National Defence Headquarters No. Number NORAD North American Air Defence NS Nova Scotia OR Operational Requirement PEI Prince Edward Island PHP Post-Hostilities Problems PJBD Permanent Joint Board on Defence PQ Province of Quebec RAF Royal Air Force RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force RCN Royal Canadian Navy RG Record Group US United States USAF United States Air Force USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Vol Volume vii W.D. Women's Division viii Introduction The aim of this thesis
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