History of the Royal Canadian Air Force

by Christopher Shores

Bison Books Ltd., London, Reprinted 1986, 128 pages, HB/DJ both in very good condition, protected with new mylar cover. DJ has minor wrinkling at edges. Interior pages are clean bright and tight. Oversize, 4to. - 9 1/4 x 12", B&W and Color photos and illustrations. The Birth of Canadian Military Aviation; The Inter-War Years; The RCAF at Home 1939-45; The RCAF Overseas 1940-46; The Postwar Years; Index & Acknowledgments.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1984

About the author

A career surveyor, Christopher Francis Shores earned an international reputation as one of Britain’s finest aviation historians.

Reviews

[spike marlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book although a little thin on some details. It tracks the development of the RCAF from its creation at the end of WWI, through the lean interwar years, the build up and fighting of WWII, and the slow reduction of the force in the post war years. It finishes at the purchase of the CF-18s. It also tracks some of the battles of WWII, that Canadian squadrons fought it, the aces, and the different services, I.e. bomber command, fighter command, transport, coastal, etc. There is very little said about the RCN carrier aircraft and its development as they are not in the RCAF. It is also very weak on helicopters used by the RCAF, only really mentioning them is the last couple of pages. Still it is a decent book to get acquainted with the history of the RCAF.

[Chris Tschirhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Pictures but not the greatest of supporting text.

[Mark Moxley-Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice summary of RCAF history up to the 1980s. Loads of photos. Coverage of units, outstanding personalities, actions.