100 Objects for 100 Years:
A History for the Royal Canadian Air Force Centennial

Review by Bill Zuk,
CAHS National Membership Secretary
posted September 2024
100 Objects for 100 Years is the first of a trio of bilingual books published by the Department of National Defence in commemoration of the centenary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Available in print or digital download, and researched by a team of historians.
Mike Bechthold, Richard Mayne and Brad St. Croix. 100 Objects for 100 Years: A History for the Royal Canadian Air Force Centennial. (2024), 192 pages. Available digitally at: https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2024/mdn-dnd/D2-658-2024-eng.pdf
French language edition: Cent objets représentant un siècle d’histoire: centenaire de l’Aviation royale canadienne. Download :
https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2024/mdn-dnd/D2-658-2024-fra.pdf
In 100 Objects for 100 Years: A History for the Royal Canadian Air Force Centennial, each of these 100 objects tells a part of the RCAF's story. From the early days of biplanes to the advanced technology of modern fighter jets, from personal letters to sophisticated training tools, these objects collectively paint a comprehensive picture of the RCAF's history.
 
To encapsulate this rich narrative, the 100 carefully curated objects provide a comprehensive and vivid picture of the RCAF's evolution. Each entry is accompanied by a background story that establishes the personal connection to the object, depicted in archival and contemporary photographs alongside the commentary.  A bibliography, suggested reading list and glossary accompany the text along with a listing of the RCAF museums and their contact information.
 
The 100 objects range from everyday items to significant historical artifacts that were preserved at 17 Canadian military museums. The objects are chronologically sequenced and represent the personal stories from the inception of the RCAF and even earlier as the first entry is the Silver Dart whose flight in 1909 ushered in the age of powered flight in Canada. The Silver Dart and a companion aircraft were briefly tested at Camp Petawawa. After a number of successful flights, both aircraft were written off in crashes, ending interest from military brass in further demonstrations.
 
The next series of objects link to the aviators who volunteered to fight in European skies, initially as the short-lived Canadian Aviation Corps. Most notable is a helmet from a Gotha bomber crewman, paired with the story of the first German bombing raids. Canadian servicemen flew in the First World War in British units until the formation of the Canadian Air Force in the final year of the conflict.

On 1 April 1924, the Royal Canadian Air Force came into being and is generally considered the birth of the military air arm, although its first years were in operations with the Civil Air Board, carrying out forestry and coastal patrol, fire-fighting and mapping. An imposing Speed Graphic Speed Survey and later F.24 aerial cameras framed the era.

The largest number of objects came from the Second World War with the beautiful Battle of Britain lace tapestry, now resident at the Bishop Building, 1 Canadian Air Division, Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg. Along with other notable objects, is the spoon carved by Squadron Leader Leonard Joseph Birchall, the “Saviour of Ceylon” who was the ranking officer in a Japanese prisoner of war camp.

Ordinary objects tell the personal stories of the men and women who have served, their experiences, and the sacrifices made by military families. The inclusion of a “sweetheart” ring carved by an “Erk” from a shard of Plexiglass retrieved from a crash is one such object. Womens' contributions to the RCAF are conveyed through an award given to the RCAF Women’s Division (WD) in wartime.

The remainder of the objects represent the Cold War and modern eras that brought new challenges and expanded roles for the RCAF both in NORAD and NATO missions.
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