Multiple Roles For An Air Force

Picking up where I left off yesterday. This display details our air force involvement in the Second World War- the RCAF grew to be the fourth biggest air force in the world as the war went on.

Part of the RCAF job since the aftermath of the Second World War has been involvement in search and rescue missions in collaboration with other agencies, a job air crews have proven to be very good at. 

In January 1978, a Soviet nuclear powered satellite broke apart over the Northwest Territories. The RCAF worked with their American counterparts to find and clear the radioactive debris in what was called Operation Morning Light.

The RCAF has also taken part in peacekeeping missions for the United Nations.

The F-86 Sabre was a stalwart of the Canadian military during the Cold War.

Search and rescue is, as mentioned, part of the mission for the Air Force, and definitely never more important than in cases of disaster, at home or abroad.

This includes humanitarian missions.

And they maintain a strong presence in the Far North.

Sapphire is the name of an RCAF military satellite launched in 2013.

A Canadian invention that has become standard in allied naval forces is the Beartrap, which allows helicopters to safely land on warships, and thus take part in anti-submarine operations, as well as search and rescue work.

A lot of different roles for a branch of the Canadian military, and a centennial well worth marking. I found this display insightful.