THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE JOURNAL VOL. 3 | NO. 1 WINTER 2014 A Return to Royal Canadian Air Force Ranks: A Historical Examination 5 A Return to Royal Canadian Air Force Ranks: A Historical Examination THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE JOURNAL VOL. 3 | NO. 1 WINTER 2014 he Government of Canada has how one would recognize the appointment of recognized the history of the various master corporal whilst honouring our history environments of the Canadian and heritage. How can one be a squadron TForces through the re-introduction of the leader and yet not command a squadron? In title “Royal” within the Royal Canadian pondering such questions, it is important to Navy (RCN), the Royal Canadian Air Force recognize that the history which we choose to (RCAF) and certain line units of the Canadian recognize was not easily arrived at in the first Army.1 Other recognitions such as utilizing place. This paper will reflect upon the history the executive curl on naval ranks, the use of of RCAF and Canadian Forces (CF) ranks the Naval Jack and returning to the pips and in order to inform the on-going discussions crowns of the Army have led to some personnel across our Air Force. As will be seen, many in the RCAF pondering whether a return to of the same considerations of developing an traditional RCAF ranks will be forthcoming. RCAF esprit de corps, independent of the other Many a lunchroom discussion has centred on environments, are as relevant today as they how one could implement the former RCAF were at the birth of our Air Force. rank structure wherein political correctness necessitates addressing gender neutrality or 6 THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE JOURNAL VOL. 3 | NO. 1 WINTER 2014 The birth of an air force The initial CAF headquarters opened Though the RCAF chooses to recognize 17 May 1920 at 529 Sussex Street in Ottawa 1 April 1924 as its formation date, the history and consisted of six personnel: Wing of the Canadian Air Force (CAF) extends back Commander R. F. Redpath, Flight Lieutenant further to the establishment of a Canadian wing G. J. Blackmore, Warrant Officer H. H. in Europe which “became operational nine Atkinson, Flight Sergeant F. Aldridge and days after the First World War had ended.”2 Sergeant A. H. McKay.8 With such a small Demilitarization post World War I (WWI) headquarters, initial CAF regulations were was the first challenge of a burgeoning air adapted from those of the Royal Air Force force. At the time, “middle-ranking civil (RAF). The CAF chain of command for the servants in Ottawa” took up the challenge of first air officer commanding was a relatively “converting the expansive potential of aviation, direct line through the inspector general to so clearly demonstrated in war, to constructive the Air Board. peacetime uses.”3 “[T]he government delegated responsibility for aviation to an autonomous While the initial cadre of CAF officers Air Board in the summer of 1919.”4 This Air and enlisted men were considered “in Board was primarily concerned with conserving continuous service but on inactive, unpaid the aviation experiences of WWI through the leave except when on refresher training,”9 promotion of civil flying. The military arm of their ranks were transferrable from their the Air Board, the CAF, was established along former RAF or army ranks held during WWI, militia lines. Colonel Oliver Mowat Biggar, “one once they completed their first training period. those few middle-ranking personnel in Ottawa,” Hence, both RAF and traditional army ranks proposed the formation of the Canadian were acceptable10 and used interchangeably Air Force “as a non-permanent service”5 in at the discretion of the holder. In the earliest November 1919 to work alongside the civil days, the choice to use army or RAF ranks aviation division under the control of the Air seemed to be along civil versus military flying Board. The government accepted the argument duties. Quite often, members employed the for the creation of the Canadian Air Force in army ranks when flying in support of the February 1920, and Sir Willoughby Gwatkin civil branch of the Air Board. The same became the first inspector general of the CAF individual would then utilize the air-force in April 1920 with Air Commodore A. K. Tylee rank when flying within the military branch.11 appointed as air officer commanding. The The rank structure laid down for the CAF decision to have this militia arm within the included: air vice-marshal, air commodore, Air Board was not universally accepted and, group captain, wing commander, squadron indeed, almost did not happen. leader, flight lieutenant, flying officer, pilot officer, warrant officer, flight sergeant, The question of whether Canada would sergeant, corporal, air mechanic (1st class) even have an air force was best summed up and air mechanic (2nd class).12 by then leader of the opposition, William Lyon Mackenzie King, when he asked in the House, As mentioned, the Air Board was “Where does the Minister expect invasion from? comprised of two flying divisions—the civil … defence against whom[?]”6 The concept and the Canadian Air Force—and would of an Air Board was not novel. The United remain a dual system until 1922. It was not Kingdom had established an Air Board in until the elimination of the dual system that 1916 and replaced it with an Air Council in the concurrent usage of army and air-force 1917. However, unlike Canada’s Air Board, ranks within the Air Board was resolved. the developments of command and control of This was eloquently demonstrated in Camp air power in the United Kingdom were centred Borden’s routine orders of 28 November 1922, on the military aspects only.7 wherein it stated: A Return to Royal Canadian Air Force Ranks: A Historical Examination 7 THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE JOURNAL VOL. 3 | NO. 1 WINTER 2014 The use of Military Equivalent of Prior to the official designation of the Royal Canadian Air Force ranks will be Canadian Air Force, uniforms were loosely discontinued throughout the Service styled on the army dress, with army-style forthwith and only the ranks hereunder rank badges (pips and crowns).15 Afterwards, quoted (i.e., group captain to pilot officer) it was decided to adopt the dress and motto of will be used both in correspondence and the RAF, and the uniform was patterned on conversation.13 the RAF uniform of the day. These changes would remain extant until unification on The Royal Canadian Air 1 February 1968. As an aside, the translation Force of Royal Canadian Air Force to French was not On 1 January 1923, the former Air Board resolved until June 1940, thereafter referred to (predominantly civilian in nature prior to this as Corps d’aviation royal canadien, abbreviated point) was consolidated within the CAF under as CARC.16 The date 1 April 1924, which we the newly formed Department of National now celebrate as the “official” birthdate of the Defence, under the control of the chief of the RCAF, was significant in that the new King’s general staff. Although discussion of seeking Regulations and Orders (KR&O) for the RCAF the “Royal” designation had preceded the were now completed after two years of staff amalgamation of 1 January 1923, application for work and came into effect on this date. It also said designation was not made to the Secretary marked the commencement of the new fiscal of State for External Affairs until 5 January year, after which the new pay and allowances 1923. Formal reply from the Secretary of State could be administered.17 It also marked the date for the Colonies in England was received on after which the use of the “Royal” designation 15 February 1923. Weekly Order No. 21/23 was now approved by KR&O. As demonstrated, on 12 March 1923 promulgated the new title however, the true date for the birth of Canada’s “Royal Canadian Air Force.”14 Although the Air Force could have been much earlier. promulgation of “Royal” within the title was conferred in 1923, it was not formally adopted With the adoption of the KR&O for the until 1 April 1924. RCAF, largely based on the RAF and the 8 A Return to Royal Canadian Air Force Ranks: A Historical Examination THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE JOURNAL VOL. 3 | NO. 1 WINTER 2014 United Kingdom Force Act, the enlisted ranks would remain in effect in the RCAF until were adjusted to the following: warrant officer unification many years later in 1968. During 1st class (WO1), warrant officer 2nd class (WO2), World War II, gender-specific language flight sergeant (FS), corporal (Cpl), leading would be included in the rank titles, such as aircraftman (LAC), aircraftman 1st class (AC1) aircraftman/aircraftwoman, to address the and aircraftman 2nd class (AC2). No significant inclusion of women in uniform. Concurrent changes were made to officer ranks with the with the maturing of the RCAF, questions were exception of adding air marshal and air chief already beginning to arise about dedicated air marshal. The RAF had arrived at this rank support to the Navy. structure as a means of severing the Air Force from the other services. The intent was “to Even before unification in 1968, the use preserve and emphasise the principle of the of the RAF rank structure within the RCAF independence and integrity of the Royal Air was not without some controversy. In a Force as a separate service among fighting memorandum to the RCAF Senior Advisory services to the Crown” while recognizing Group in February 1965, the author (Deputy the requirement for the Air Force to serve Chief of Personnel)20 suggests that the titles, the special needs of the both the Army and “in many instances, originated with the Royal the Navy “in addition [to having] a strategic Naval Air Service and later were adopted by the and tactical sphere of action independent Royal Flying Corps, which in turn became the of the other two fighting services.”18 Just as RAF in 1918.”21 Principal among the arguments Canada’s burgeoning Air Force was seeking its was that the ranks in use by the RCAF were independence, so too, the RAF was seeking to no longer indicative of the officer’s function establish itself as a credible and independent as it was 40 years previously when the ranks force separate from the Army and the Royal were created.