Flight Firsts: A Showcase of Trailblazing Canadian Aviators

In late 1939, Canada was at war for the second time in a generation. Many individuals made significant contributions to the Canadian war effort despite discrimination. They began the process of bringing a more diverse group of people into the RCAF.

With the outbreak of war in 1939, many Canadian women were eager to enlist in the armed forces. The government was initially reluctant to accept them in non-medical roles.

With recruitment of men slowing, women were finally allowed to join the RCAF in non-combat roles in 1941.

MacGill was the first female engineer in Canada and the first woman to be the chief of aeronautical engineering at an aircraft company. As the first person to mass produce Hawker Hurricanes, she gained the nickname, "Queen of Hurricanes."

Beginning in 1938, the RCAF adopted a policy of exclusionary enlistment. Recruits to the RCAF had to “be of pure European descent.” Many Canadians were excluded. 

Despite this policy, many individuals overcame the discrimination to make important contributions to the RCAF.

With the outbreak of war in 1939, Bundy attempted to enlist as a pilot but was rejected. He later joined the RCAF and trained as a pilot after the racist recruiting policy was removed.

He flew with the No 404 Squadron in an anti-submarine role.

Coming from an Indigenous family, Bolduc enlisted in the RCAF in June 1941 in North Bay, Ontario. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery on two operational sorties in Europe.

The Cold War saw the RCAF undergo many changes. From the types of aircraft to the individuals wearing the uniform, these years were ones of progress and, in some cases, regression.

High costs led the RCAF to stop training medical personnel for pararescue. 

It would be decades before another woman served in the RCAF pararescue.

In 1979, Deschamps joined the RCAF as a pilot trainee but became a victim of the “LGBT Purge” where suspected LGBTQ military personnel were forcibly removed from service.

He was readmitted after the Douglas settlement of 1992. He worked in flight simulation and retired in 2013.

The work done towards having a diverse group of people in the RCAF continues. Much good has happened but work remains to be done for more firsts to be achieved.

In November 2000, Captain Maryse Carmichael became the first woman pilot with the famous Snowbirds. In 2010, she returned as the Commanding Officer of the Snowbirds. To this day, women have proudly filled every role on the team.

McCrimmon began her RCAF career as a navigator. She overcame difficult treatment from some fellow aviators. She was the first woman to command a Canadian Forces flying squadron, No 429 Transport Squadron, in 1998.

Tremblay choose to pursue a career in maintenance in the RCAF. She was the first woman to command 3 Air Maintenance Squadron in Bagotville, Quebec.

There is so much opportunity for the members of the RCAF to accomplish more firsts. From space missions to whole new areas of warfare, new trailblazers will emerge in the RCAF's future.