Royal Canadian Air Force
RCAF: 1940 - 1965
Today's Flag
is the former ensign of the Royal Canadian Air Force, adopted in 1940 and discontinued in 1968. This flag is flown today to celebrate the elevation of the Canadian Air Force to the Royal Canadian Air Force on 1 April 1924, as granted by King George V. In existence in various forms beginning in World War 1, the Canadian Air Force had developed an expressed interest in a national symbol by 1921. In the interest of maintaining the unity of effort between Air services throughout the Empire however, it was decided that the RCAF would continue to use the well-known RAF flag, in use by all Commonwealth Air Forces. By 1940, desire for a national symbol again became imperative, and this time, the RCAF replaced red disc of the RAF roundel with a red Maple Leaf. RCAF units continued to display this ensign until the new Canadian flag was adopted in 1965, and the RCAF ceased to exist. After experimenting with force unification between 1982 and 2011, the RCAF was restored as a separate military service and command, and employs an altered ensign in which the Canadian flag is substituted in place of the Union Jack in the canton. Currently, the flag shown above is referred to as the Association Ensign, and is used as a symbol of the Air Force Association of Canada, representing all those who fought in World War Two, the Cold War, and the many other missions executed in defence of Canada, by veterans of the RCAF.
CF100s and RCAF Ensign, DND Archives
Quick Facts
Commander: Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, RCAF
Appointed: 12 August 2022
Honourary Colonel-in-Chief: Loreena McKennitt
Strength: 12,074 Regular force members
Reserves: 1,969 Reserve force members
Civilians: 1,518 Civilian support members
Aircraft Inventory:
Fighter: 63
Rotary-wing: 133
Transport: 36
Trainer: 116
Tanker: 6
Special Mission: 24
Flag Adopted: 1 April 1940
Map: RCAF Map
Today's Flag: ©1989-2024 DJ CLIFFORD, All Rights Reserved