As we all are aware, this year marks the 250th anniversary of the US revolution; July 1776 was known as the mensis horriblis in British history, not only because of that event, but also by the almost simultaneous Canadian revolution.
In fact, the Canadians became the first in declaring its independence from Britain in July 1st 1776, followed 3 days later by the US.
Contrary to the US, Canada became a predominantly Francophone country, being the largest one, just after France itself.
Having supported the Canadian Revolution (just like it did with the US), France became the major partner and influence in the new Canadian Republic.
This support took many shapes, one was the influx of new settlers; this movement, together with the movement of many English speaking Canadians to the USA, changed the demographic layout of the new country; in several decades, the French speaking citizens outnumbered the English speaking one more than 5 to 1.
Although a minority, English speaking Canadians still had a great influence in the country and its history.
These characteristics have also shaped the Armed Forces.
The air service, like all other government agencies, have bilingual titles and documentations, this being introduced in 1970; as such, the air Force is officially the Armée de L'Air Canadiene/Canadian Air Force; much of its equipment and organization, though, still reflects a strong influence from France.
The same can be said of the aerial branches of the Army and Navy; these are the Aviation Legere de l’Armee/ Army’s Light Aviation and the Aéronavale- Marine Canadienne/ Air Fleet- Canadian Navy.
Originally part of the Army, and known as the Corps Aérien, it was created as an independent branch in 1930; although leaning heavelly on the French for its flying material, it still flown aircraft from other origins, including indigenous ones.
Below are some of the aircraft used by the AAC/CAF throughout the years and also some used by the Army and Navy (aircraft not to scale)
1- Breguet XIV B2, 3, Escadrille BR-67, XII Corps Aérien, Armee Canadien, 1925
2- Waco CSO, 6, Groupe de Bombardement I/ 12e Escadre de Bombardement (GBI/12), Armee de L’Air Canadien, 1935
3- Avions D. Tremblay, DT-5, 9, Groupe de Chasse I/5 (GC I/5), Armee de L’Air Canadien, 1940
4- Dassault MD450 Ouragan, BB, 2éme Escadron d’Instruction en Vol, l'Ecole de chasse, Armée de l’Air Canadien, 1958
5- Dassault Mirage IIIC, 2-EF, Escadron Chasse1 /2, Armee de L’Air Canadien, 1967
6- Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000C, 5-OP/74, Escadron de Chasse 2/5- Fighter Squadron 2/5, Armée de l’Air Canadien/Canadian Air Force, 1991
7- Dassault Rafale B, 4-HT/323, Escadron de Chasse 1/4, Escadrille BR 66, Fighter Squadron1/4, Flight BR66, Armée de l’Air Canadien/Canadian Air Force, 2015
8- Sud-Aviation Alouette III, 19356, Aviation Legere de l’Armee/ Army’s Light Aviation, 1975
9-Quebec-Ontario Helicopters QOH AH-24, 19624, Aviation Legere de l’Armee/ Army’s Light Aviation, 1995
10- Lockheed C-130J, 61-OP, Escadron de Transport 2/61- Transport Squadron 2/61, Armée de l’Air Canadien/Canadian Air Force, 2020
11-Canadaire CT-114 Tutor, 114051/2, Phoenix aerial team, 431e Escadron de démonstration aérienne/ 431st Air Demonstration Squadron, Armée de l’Air Canadien/Canadian Air Force, 2023
12-Vought F-8E(FN) Crusader, 35, Flottille 12.F, Aeronavale-Marine Canadienne/ Air Fleet- Canadian Navy, NRC-CRS Valiant aircraft carrier, 1999
13-Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard Modernisé, 47, Flottille 11F, Aeronavale-Marine Canadienne/ Air Fleet- Canadian Navy, NRC-CRS Valiant aircraft carrier, 2005
14- Dassault Rafale M, 46, Flotille 17F, Aeronavale-Marine Canadienne/ Air Fleet- Canadian Navy, NRC-CRS Brave aircraft carrier, 2024
