Book Review of Aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force:
A Centennial History, 1924-2024

Review by Bill Zuk,
CAHS National Membership Secretary
posted December 2024
Author BGen (ret’d) Terry Letheridge who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for 35 years, is also a publisher and historian; currently, the editor-in chief of Airforce Magazine, the flagship publication of the RCAF Association. His research has identified a total of 415 aircraft/aerial vehicles flown by the RCAF, the first 341 being operational types. Other aircraft temporarily operated in wartime or in test or lease conditions, follow. This comprehensive volume is both a tribute and a scholarly resource, meticulously chronicling the evolution of the RCAF's aircraft, missions and milestones. Aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force … includes a preface from Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, RCAF Commander.
BGen (retired) Terry Letheridge. Aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force: A Centennial History, 1924–2024. Astra, Ontario, Royal Canadian Air Force, Base Trenton. 2024, 444 pages. ISBN: 978-0-660-69744-4.
 
Available digitally at: https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2024/mdn-dnd/D2-657-2024-eng.pdf
French language edition: Aéronefs de l’Aviation royale canadienne: cent ans d’histoire (1924-2024). Download :
https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2024/mdn-dnd/D2-657-2024-fra.pdf
The Aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force … is one of a trio of bilingual books published by the Department of National Defence in commemoration of the centenary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Available in print or digital download, the tome is a coffee-table style book adorned with a dramatic maple leaf graphic based on the RCAF roundel as the cover art.  The design is made up of most of the types in the book in an aerial view drawn to an identical scale, with the stem of the maple leaf being the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and at the top, the Avro CF-105 Arrow.
 
Aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force … is organized into five sections, alphabetically by manufacturer’s name and aircraft name although there is no separation of RCAF operational types with other entries. The author has limited the number of aircraft being profiled to the types on strength when the Royal Canadian Air Force came into being on 1 April 1924. Comprehensive content listings will help the reader to trace a particular aircraft. Additionally, listings by manufacturer and aircraft name are provided at the end of the book, preceded by a listing of abbreviations used.  
 
In the Preface, Dr. Richard Mayne, Chief Historian and Director of RCAF History and Heritage, briefly identifies an earlier era of Canadian military operation. In 1914, the short-lived Canadian Aviation Corps (CAC) attached to the Canadian Expeditionary Force, was flying the Burgess-Dunne Hydro-Plane, Canada’s first military aircraft. Despite high hopes that the aircraft would become the vanguard of the fledgling military air service, the Burgess-Dunne, however, was heavily damaged upon shipping to England, and never flew again.
During the First World War, Canadian aviators served with either the British Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) or the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Later in September 1918, the Royal Canadian Navy formed the Royal Canadian Naval Air Service (RCNAS). The Canadian Air Force (CAF) formed a bomber and fighter squadron with the No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron formed with Sopwith Dolphins at RAF Upper Heyford. The unit became operational shortly after the Armistice. Nonetheless, their Dolphins were left behind when the squadron was disbanded and the personnel shipped home.
 
The author provides in-depth profiles of the aircraft that have served in the RCAF, from the early biplanes of the 1920s to the advanced jets and drones of today. These profiles provide technical specifications, photographs and firsthand accounts from pilots and crew members.
 
In an effort to cover all categories of RCAF flying vehicles/platforms, fixed-wing, rotary, rocket and gliders are fully profiled. Starting with the ubiquitous Curtiss JN-4 Canuck manufactured under license by the Canadian Aeroplanes Limited, the type was taken on strength (TOS) in 1917 as a trainer. In 1919, the British government in recognition of the role played by Canadian aviators in the First World War, received the Imperial Gift of 114 aircraft of various types. Only a small inventory of aircraft was present in the immediate postwar, pre-RCAF era. Throughout the 1920s, most new acquisitions were based on bush operations as the RCAF played a more civil role.
 
In the 1930s, after the mobilization for an impending global conflict, the RCAF began to build its military prowess and the Aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force … reflects that change. The RCAF aircraft in the Second World War were mainly of British manufacture although Canada did participate in a near “shadow factory” scheme to manufacture British types intended for overseas use. Two wartime aircraft that were flown by the RCAF had a disastrous reputation. The Fairey Battle was a front-line light bomber that the author characterizes as “… following a gallant but hopeless exposure in France at the beginning of the Second World War, the type was relegated to training duties …” In Canada, the Battle was a success serving as dual-control trainers, target tugs and gunnery trainers in the vital British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP).
 
Another aircraft that was “slaughtered” in combat operations was the Boulton Paul Defiant, that utilized a four-gun turret with no forward firing weaponry. After its hasty withdrawal from “ops”, the Defiant was converted into a night fighter but the RCAF crews that flew it, met with little success. The type was also converted to a trainer for the BCATP.
 
The book covers all new RCAF developments with the most recent RCAF acquisition, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II profiled as it imminently enters service. Canada’s place in the F-35 multi-nation consortium is described where development, manufacture and flight test of two demonstrator aircraft was undertaken by each team member.
 
One of the exceptional features of Aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force … is its rich visual content. The photographs, many of which are rare or previously unpublished (both in colour and black-and-white), offer a compelling visual narrative that complements the detailed textual history.
 
Interwoven with the historical and technical content are personal stories and anecdotes from those who have served in the RCAF. These narratives add a human dimension to the book, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the experiences and sacrifices of RCAF personnel. One example illustrates the poorly designed Canadian Vickers Velos, a twin-engined floatplane designed for bush operations, TOS in 1927. Not only was the aircraft overweight, the fact that it “sat low in the water” was a portent of what was to come. Nearly sinking in tests, the prototype Velos did sink after a heavy snowfall. The RCAF and the manufacturer thought better of salvaging the aircraft, considering it worthless and resigned to being one of the worst aircraft ever considered by the RCAF.
 
The author’s expertise is evident in his thorough analysis of the RCAF's role in key historical events, such as the Second World War, Korean War, the Cold War, NATO and NORAD as well as recent peacekeeping missions. The book does not shy away from discussing the challenges and controversies faced by the RCAF, including budget constraints, political decisions, and the impact of technological changes. Both the Boeing IM-99B Bomarc “Missile Flap” and the controversial cancellation of the Avro CF-105 Arrow receive a balanced analytical rendering.
 
Aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force: A Centennial History, 1924–2024 is an essential addition to the library of any aviation enthusiast, historian or military professional. Its comprehensive coverage of hundreds of RCAF aircraft, combined with its rich visual and personal content, makes it a fitting tribute to the RCAF's first century. Whether you are a scholar seeking detailed information or a casual reader interested in aviation history, this book offers something for everyone.
 
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