Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

Prior to 1924, Canadian airmen flew with the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service, the short-lived Canadian Aviation Corps, or thel two-squadron Canadian Air Force, attached to the Royal Air Force, during the First World War.

On April 1, 1924, the Canadian Air Force , concerned mostly with military flight training and civil operations, was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and focused on civil aviation, anti-smuggling patrols, forest fire watches, aerial forest spraying, mail delivery, mercy flights, law enforcement, and surveying/aerial photography.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was to be organized into a Permanent Force and an auxiliary or Non-permanent Force (Non-Permanent Active Air Force NPAAF), but the NPAAF did not become active for another eight years

At the outbreak of World War II. the RCAF fielded eight of its eleven permanent operational squadrons.
By October, 1939, 15 squadrons were available, 12 for homeland defence, three for overseas service.
The RCAF was involved in three areas: the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), home defence, and overseas operations.

In 1939, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand agreed to train aircrew for wartime service called the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), administered by the Canadian government and commanded by the RCAF.
Training airfields and facilities were lset up throughout Canada, and these training facilities supplied the majority of aircrew for overseas operational service.

The Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF provided 48 squadrons for overseas operational duties in Britain, northwest Europe, North Africa, and Southeast Asia.
The RCAF squadrons participated in most roles, including fighter, fighter intruder, reconnaissance, anti-shipping, anti-submarine, strategic bombing, transport, and fighter-bomber, playing key roles in the Battle of Britain, antisubmarine warfare during the Battle of the Atlantic, the bombing campaigns against German industries, notably with No. 6 Group, RAF Bomber Command, and close support of Allied forces during the Battle of Normandy and subsequent land campaigns in northwest Europe.
RCAF squadrons and personnel were also involved with operations in Egypt, Italy, Sicily, Malta, Ceylon, India, and Burma.