Government of Canada honours national historic significance of Canadian Participation in the Royal Flying Corps

News release

November 9, 2018  
Ottawa, Ontario 
Parks Canada Agency

During the First World War, airpower became increasingly important to warfare. More than 22,000 Canadians joined the British flying services, many of them served in the Royal Flying Corps, where they made a significant contribution to the war effort.

Today, Ms. Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa — Vanier, commemorated the national historic significance of Canadian Participation in the Royal Flying Corps with a special plaque unveiling ceremony at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. The announcement was made on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna.

In 1917–1918, recognizing the growing importance of airpower, the Royal Flying Corps ran a training scheme for aircrew and ground crew in Canada. The construction of large-scale aerodromes and hundreds of aircraft and the participation of many Canadians in the Royal Flying Corps also catapulted Canada into the aviation age. By the end of the war, Canada had a substantial number of skilled aviation mechanics, technicians, pilots, and airplanes as well as an aviation school, which helped pave the way for the formation and development of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Following the unveiling of the bronze plaque commemorating the national historic significance of Canadian Participation in the Royal Flying Corps, Parks Canada presented a Hometown Heroes panel featuring Second Lieutenant Alexander William “Billy” MacHardy (1894–1918) to the Royal Canadian Air Force as part of the Hometown Heroes initiative. MacHardy served in the Royal Flying Corps from 1917 until his death on November 10th, 1918, when his plane was shot down over Belgium. A copy of that panel will be installed in Froidchapelle, Belgium during a ceremony organized by Parks Canada on November 10th, a century later, to the day and to the hour.

The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant people, places, and events that shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians and youth connect with their past. The commemoration process is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,000 designations have been made. 

Quotes

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I am pleased to commemorate the national historic significance of Canadian Participation in the Royal Flying Corps. Canada’s contribution to the Allied victory developed a generation of skilled Canadian aviators. We will never forget those who lost their lives while they fought with courage, honour, and duty. Historic designations reflect Canada’s rich and varied history and I encourage all Canadians to learn more about Canadian Participation in the Royal Flying Corps and its important contributions to Canada’s heritage.”


Ms. Mona Fortier,
Member of Parliament for Ottawa — Vanier

Quick facts

  • The Royal Flying Corps training scheme produced several hundred pilots, 7,000 workers trained as aviation mechanics, and roughly 700 aircrafts.

  • After the war, many Canadian veterans of Britain’s Royal Flying Corps went on to provide leadership in the developing field of aviation, became bush pilots in the Canadian North, or joined the Royal Canadian Air Force following its establishment in 1924.

  • Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national historic significance of places, people, and events that have marked Canada’s history.

  • Launched by Parks Canada as a community-based initiative, Hometown Heroes honours and tells the stories of ordinary citizens, both military and civilian, who contributed to Canada’s efforts during the world wars while providing Canadians with unique opportunities to connect with history. To date, more than 130 individuals have been recognized as Hometown Heroes at 30 Parks Canada’s places.

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Contacts

Bruce MacMillan
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Georgian Bay and Ontario East Field Unit
Parks Canada
613-923-5261 ext. 122
bruce.macmillan@pc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca

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