As of , the Royal Canadian Air Force consists of 12, Regular Force and 1, Primary Reserve personnel, supported by 1, civilians, and operates manned aircraft and nine unmanned aerial vehicles. The Royal Canadian Air Force is responsible for all aircraft operations of the Canadian Forces, enforcing the security of Canada's airspace and providing aircraft to support the missions of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army. As a NATO member, the force maintained a presence in Europe during the second half of the 20th century.
Most of its work was civil in nature, with forest patrols of the northwest a major part of its operations; [ 12 ] however, in the late s other agencies took up most civil tasks, with the notable exception of aerial photography surveys, and the RCAF evolved into more of a military organization. Eight thousand, eight hundred and sixty-four Americans came north to volunteer for the RCAF and over died in action.
After the war, the RCAF reduced its strength. Both auxiliary and regular air defence squadrons were run by Air Defence Command. Coastal defence and peacekeeping also became priorities during the s and s. This initiative was overseen by the Defence Minister, Paul Hellyer. The controversial merger maintained several existing organizations and created some new ones: In Europe, No. The force performed combat air patrols over operations in Kuwait and Iraq, undertook a number of air-to-ground bombing missions, and, on one occasion, attacked an Iraqi patrol boat in the Persian Gulf.
The wing stood down on 18 August Seven CF Hornet fighter aircraft and several other aircraft served under Task Force Libeccio as part of the military intervention. The change was made to better reflect Canada's military heritage and align Canada with other key Commonwealth countries whose military units use the royal designation.
Though traditional insignia for the RCAF was restored in , there has been no restoration of the traditional uniforms or rank structure of the historical service apart from a rank of "aviator", which replaced that of "private" in The Canadian Forces have leased aircraft from vendors to help transport troops and equipment from Canada and other locations in the past decade.
