Where to find Royal Canadian Air Force records and how to research Canadian air force ancestors.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) achieved a huge milestone on 1 April, 1924: 100 years as an independent military element, and there’s no better time to research the air force ancestors in your family tree. We’ll guide you through the wealth of collections available on Forces War Records to help you make exciting discoveries and bring your ancestors’ service to life. Whether your ancestor served with the air services before or after the RCAF* was formed, we’ve got you covered.
Before the Royal Canadian Air Force: a brief early history
Canadian airmen and ground crew made considerable contributions to the Allied war efforts during both world wars. Perhaps your ancestor flew in dogfights over the Western Front during WWI or was involved in Bomber missions over occupied Europe in WWII. Maybe they were ground crew, servicing planes and keeping them in the air.
The Royal Canadian Air Force was still a decade away from creation when Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914; Canada did not possess its own air force as the world descended into war. A month later, the Canadian Aviation Corps was formed in an attempt to create a Canadian air force, but by May of the following year, it had become redundant. Where did Canadian airmen go, then?
During WWI, 22,000 Canadians served with British flying services in the air and on the ground.
FWR Fact: Did you know that the British Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed on 1 April 1918? Before this, Britain had the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) under the army and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), controlled by the navy. You may find your Canadian ancestors serving with these units.
The Canadian Air Force was formed from two squadrons in the later stages of WWI. It would last until 1920 when it was dissolved. Another Canadian Air Force was established in 1920 as a peacetime establishment with part-time members. It would become a permanent, professional body on 1 April 1924, when the Royal Canadian Air Force was officially formed. Here’s how you research an ancestor who served in the flying services during WWI.
WWI: starting your research with pre-Royal Canadian Air Force records
A great place to start your WWI research is with our WWI Canadian Soldiers collection. Comprising service records for Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) members, the rich military and genealogical information held within can provide an unparalleled insight into your ancestors’ service. You may find an ancestor in the CEF records before they transferred to one of the British flying services. The clues held in their CEF record may form the start of your research journey and could help you identify your ancestor in additional military collections. Montreal-born Orrin Sutherland, for example, joined the CEF in September 1916 before transferring to the RFC.
Ledgers of CEF Officers Transferring to Royal Flying Corps, 1915-1919
If your ancestor was an officer with the CEF and transferred to the RFC as an officer, like Orrin Sutherland, they may appear in this fascinating collection. The highlight of this set of records is that they document the different units of the RFC and, later, the RAF that your ancestor served with, along with the corresponding dates (see opposite image). These additions allow you to track your ancestors’ movements throughout the war. You can then research each unit, like their squadron, and establish what kind of action they were involved in or the work they carried out.
FWR Tip: The collection often provides the officer’s date of birth, address and their next of kin and their address. These are key clues to help you identify your ancestors in the records, particularly if they have common names. Remember: the pages are double-sided.
WWI, British Army Service Records, 1914-1920 and WWI, British Army Pension Records, 1914-1920
As we established earlier, the RFC came under the control of the British Army. If your airman ancestor was not an officer and served with the RFC during the war, there’s a good chance their record will appear in one of these British collections. Both contain service records, but the latter, as the name suggests, also provides useful pension information; these are great for pre-Royal Canadian Air Force research. When they enlisted, the units they served with and any wounds sustained are just some clues you might unearth, helping you learn more about your ancestor and their wartime service.
FWR Tip: Around 60% of WWI British Army service records were destroyed or badly damaged during a German bombing raid in September 1940. The pension records, however, were stored in a separate location and were spared.
Service with the RAF during WWI
Royal Air Force Airmens’ Service Records, 1918-1940
Where do family historians go if their ancestors served with the RAF during WWI?
If your ancestor was already serving with the RFC when the RAF formed on 1 April 1918, you may find a colour version of their service record in this collection, identical to the type found in the WWI, British Army Service Records, 1914-1920. The information on their RAF service is, however, limited and mainly centres on promotions and discharge dates.
If your non-officer ancestor joined the RAF and was not previously a member of the RFC, you may find a more detailed service record in the Royal Air Force Airmens’ Service Records, 1918-1940 collection. Included are details of ranks, promotions, units, trades and medal entitlements, in addition to personal information, helping us to form a picture of our ancestors’ service. Take the entry for Québec-born Cyril Parsons, for example.
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services, 1848-1939
The Royal Naval Air Service was the navy’s flying service during WWI. The Royal Canadian Navy assisted the British Admiralty in recruiting men for the RNAS. Records of ratings (non-officers) who served with the RNAS can be found in our Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services collection. Basic personal information is provided, in addition to dates of joining and the ships and units an airman served with, helping you to map out their service during the war. Toronto-born William George Stacey, for example, joined the RNAS in June 1917 before transferring to the RAF the following year.
FWR Tip: RNAS ratings have an ‘F’ prefix at the start of their numbers if they had not previously served with the navy.
Airmen Died in the Great War
Service in the air was not without its dangers, made evident when studying the casualty figures: the Canadians suffered 1,388 air service fatalities during WWI.
If your ancestor died serving with the air services during WWI, try searching for them in our Airmen Died in the Great War collection. In addition to military details, entries often provide the airman’s place of birth, cause of death, and sometimes their burial place. You may find contextual notes, too. Cadet Allan Watson Fraser, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, was killed while flying on 30 May 1917, serving with 83 Reserve Squadron.
WWII: What Royal Canadian Air Force records can you find?
Service records
As with WWI, service records are the key source for researching Canadians who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII.
Due to Canadian privacy laws, service records for those who survived the war are unavailable online. Instead, you can apply for your ancestors’ records via Library and Archives Canada. When reading their service record, focus on the squadrons and units your ancestors served with. This will help you create a timeline of their service, and later, you can research their squadrons in the Operations Record Books to discover what they were doing on particular dates.
Researching casualties
17,000 Royal Canadian Air Force personnel are believed to have died during WWII. You can explore the service records of deceased personnel in our Canada, WWII Records and Service Files of War Dead collection. The files often contain rich genealogical and military details, helping you understand the part your Royal Canadian Air Force ancestors played during WWII. Some even contain photos of the service person.
Flight Sergeant Mansell Ramsay Deverell of Seabright, Ontario, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in March 1942. He failed to return following a mission over Germany in a Wellington bomber in June 1943.
WWII, Allied Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
Researching a prisoner of war? Almost 9,000 Canadians are believed to have been taken prisoner during WWII, including many serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force over occupied enemy territories.
Our Allied Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 collection comprises rolls and lists of prisoners of war held in Europe and Asia. Entries vary in scope and content: lists of prisoners held in Europe generally contain the person’s prisoner number, service number, name, rank, unit and camp code. The visually impressive index cards for prisoners held by the Japanese, however, contain significant military and genealogical information, helping you confidently identify your ancestor in the records. For a detailed look at the collection and how to research WWII prisoners of war, check out our blog: Researching a WWII prisoner of war: how our Allied Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 collection can help you.
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Medal, 1939-1945
Royal Canadian Air Force personnel displayed countless acts of bravery during the war, whether over the icy seas of the North Atlantic, occupied Europe, North Africa, or the Far East. Some were awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) for their actions.
If you want a collection of WWII records that offers insight into incidents of bravery and heroism during WWII, then this collection is a must-search. The DFM was awarded to other ranks of the RAF and Commonwealth air forces for acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed while flying in active operations against the enemy. Entries provide a full citation for the award in addition to the recipient’s name, number, rank, squadron and trade. If your ancestor was a recipient of the medal, it’s a great way to discover the amazing stories behind the awards.
Canadian Robert Fairful Upcott was awarded the DFM for his actions during operations over Germany in 1945. His citation proclaimed: ‘Flight Sergeant Upcott displayed the most outstanding qualities of leadership on his second operational sortie and set an example of the highest standard to his squadron.’
Women and the Royal Canadian Air Force
From 1941, women were permitted to serve with the Canadian Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, renamed in 1942 to the Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division. The idea was to employ women in non-combatant roles, freeing up men for overseas service. Women took on a range of roles, from cooking, admin, and telephone operators to mechanics and air traffic controllers.
Library and Archives Canada holds service records for women who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division. While not permitted to take up combat roles, women recruits were still exposed to danger, and some lost their lives. Service records for fatalities of the RCAF Women’s Division are available in our Canada, WWII Records and Service Files of War Dead collection. Marion Westgate served as a Nursing Sister with the Women’s Division, attached to Number 15 Elementary Flying Training School in Regina. Tragically, Marion died on 27 October 1943 when, on a familiarisation night flight, the aircraft in which she was a passenger crashed while attempting to make a landing during heavy fog.
Newspapers
Newspapers are a fantastic source for anyone researching their military ancestors, including those who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force or the flying services. Local newspapers sometimes published letters of personnel serving overseas or printed their photographs. You may find references to someone who joined up, was killed in action, taken prisoner or was awarded for bravery. Newspaper articles can contain revealing information not found elsewhere, the kind of information that may get lost over time, so they are incredibly valuable. Obituaries for veterans are also a great source of information.
Newspapers.com has a free 14-day trial to help you get started.
Further research
You may find further references to your Canadian air force ancestors in the following Forces War Records collections:
- WWII, Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
- WWII, Bomber and Fighter Command Losses, 1939-1945
- Royal Air Force Lists, 1919-1945
*Although the focus of this blog is on the RCAF, it should be noted that Canadians also served with the RAF during WWII in aerial and ground roles.
Cover image: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Sources
Canadian Encyclopedia, Canadians in the Royal Naval Air Service, accessed March 2024.
Canadian War Museum, Air Training in Canada, accessed March 2024.
Canadian War Museum, CANADA’S AIR FORCE IN WAR AND PEACE, accessed March 2024.
Canadian War Museum, Canada and the war: The Canadian Armed Forces: Casualties, accessed March 2024.
Canadian War Museum, Canadians in the air, 1914-1919, 1939-1945, accessed March 2024.
Canadian War Museum, Fliers, accessed March 2024.
Government of Canada, A brief timeline of military aviation training in Canada, accessed March 2024.
Government of Canada, Royal Canadian Air Force Centennial, accessed March 2024.
Juno Beach Centre, The Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division, accessed March 2024.