History Browser

On 6 June 1944, Allied forces invaded Western Europe along an 80-kilometre front in Normandy, France. Of the nearly 150,000 Allied troops who landed or parachuted into the invasion area on D-Day, 14,000 were Canadians.

The Spitfire Mk. IX was the third-generation of Supermarine's famous fighter, and the final one equipped with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. The L.F. Mk. IX was an aircraft optimised for combat at lower altitudes - note the clipped wings shown in this photograph of a surviving example in the collection of the Canadian Aviation Museum. The aircraft bears the 'AU' code letters of 421 'Red Indian' Squadron, Royal Canadian Airforce. 421 Squadron was one of several Canadian fighter squadrons stationed in Europe. (Canadian Department of National Defence, PCN-5234)

This report is an account of the Japanese balloon attacks against the United States and Canada in the final year of the Second World War, and the measures adopted, especially in Canada, to meet this new type of warfare. It also includes information on the effectiveness of the attacks and the types of weapons dropped by the balloons.

Listing of films from the National Film Board. Canada's Air Force has played an important role in military history. In these films the equipment, training, and types of aircraft that make up this fighting force are explored.

Like many Canadian air units formed during the Second World War, 408 'Goose' Tactical Helicopter Squadron has assumed various roles in its history. A brief profile is included in this resource along with a list of aircraft flown.

429 'Bison' (Tactical Airlift) Transport Squadron began as a bomber unit in 1942 and is active today in the tactical transport role.

The 434 Squadron shows a wider variety of roles and more continuous history than many RCAF units. A list of aircraft the unit has flown is provided.

Listing of films from the National Film Board. Royal Canadian Air Force training films dominate this site. Clips and movies deal more specifically with the aircraft and training required for piloting of aircraft.

The Bristol Bolingbroke was a Canadian version of the British light bomber known as the Bristol Blenheim. Bolingbroke was the name given to the Canadian-built version of the Blenheim Mk. IV. Over 600 were built by the Fairchild plant at Longueuil, Quebec, starting in 1939. The Bolingbroke was the first modern, all aluminium aircraft built in Canada, but it was also obsolete before the first example flew. Nevertheless, for lack of anything better, the design was widely used. In July 1942, a Bolingbroke helped sink a Japanese submarine off British Columbia. The photograph shows a surviving Bolingbroke Mk IVT from the collection of the Canadian Aviation Museum. 457 of the Mk IVT were built and used as navigation and gunnery trainers (DND, PCN-5234)

423 'Eagle' Maritime Helicopter Squadron has assumed mainly maritime operational roles since inception in 1942. The aircraft flown by the squadron is listed here.