History

After the closing of the RCAFA 101 Atlantic Wing, Halifax in 1967, a group of Royal Canadian Air Force Association Members at Large met at CFB Shearwater in 1975, to dicuss with the staff from National Head-Quarters (RCAFA), the feasibility of forming a Wing in the Halifax - Dartmouth area. An organization was formed with R. E. Sacre as chairman. Over the next three years Organization meeting, fund raising events, and recruiting, took place and on 20 April 1978 111MIC MAC WING received its' CHARTER. The Charter Members were: Gerald M. MOSSMAN, M.M. HOLLAND, Robert E. SACRE, Robert C. SKINNER, Harry K. HOWLETT, R.G. ARMSTRONG, J.H. NOONAN, C>S> O'LEARY, Dnial R. LORDLY, R.R. BURLEY, Margaret MacDonald, Joseph W. OAKES, and Donald S. FARMER.

Following nearly 30 years after the demise of the Royal Canadian Air Force a name change for the Association was proposed by Air Command to reflect that reality. Passed at the 1993 AGM inWinnipeg the vote was 82.6% in favour. On 1 July 1994 "THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION OF CANADA" became the New Official Title of Our Association.

The Wing operated for many years (1975) without permanent Quarters, meeting in the Warrant Officers and Sergeant's Mess, CFB Shearwater. In 1995 in agreement with Base Shearwater our Wing gained residency in the Flight Deck Lounge and were able to display the Air Force Association logo as well as the other paraphernalia thus achieving some degree of permanency. There is a strong desire to keep the Air Force presence alive and functioning at Sheawater, as can be identified with the co-operation that has been acheived between members of the Regular Forces and AFAC members of 111 Mic Mac Wing.

In the fall of 2006, due to 12 Wing requiring training space the Wing moved its office to the Shearwater Aviation Museum, where we hold most of our meetings and Christmas Party. During the winter months we have been holding luncheon meetings in both Dartmouth and Halifax.

Wing members have been very active with Air Cadets since 1978, the Wing were the Sponsors for 342 Bedford RCAC Squadron in the 80's and 90's, we took on the sponsorship of 615 Bluenose RCAC Squadron in 2003, and work with the Cadets and Officers in fund raising projects. Currently we assist in the distribution of the Armed Forces publication TRIDENT for the financial benefit of 615 Squadron Air Cadets. In the past we have organized Cadets Tags Days, Model Aircraft competitions and Bowling competitions for all seven Cadets Squadrons residing in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The Wing has been a Sponsor and Parade Organizer of The Annual Battle Parade along with 12 Wing Shearwater and Somme Branch Royal Canadian Legion. The Parade is held on the Sunday closest to the 15th September, to Honour those members of the RCAF and RAF who fought during this battle and to Remember those who paid the Supreme Sacrifice. We also participate in all othe Remembrance Veterans' Parades and Services in the Metro area, "Battle of Atlantic", "D-Day", "VE-Day", "Remembrance Church Service" and "Remembrance Day Parades".

Our Past Presidents


Gerald Mossman 1st President

Donald Deans 2nd President



Harold Nurthrup 3rd President

Stewart Logan 4th President



John Bowser 5th President

Robert Sacre 6th President



Earl McFarland 7th and 10th President

Micheal Kelly 8th President



Jack Malloy 9th President

Elizabeth Steeves 11th President



Gordon Campbell 12th President

Mary Boutin 13th President



Bud Berntson: 14th President



Serge DeSerres: 15th President

The Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain is celebrated as 'the greatest battle in the history of air warfare'. By June 1940, Nazi Germany had conquered the whole of continental Europe in less than a year. This was accomplished with such speed and relative ease that the Germans were thought to be invincible. With a fresh victory over France, the only thing that separated Britain from Nazi control was the English Channel.

At first hesitant to invade Britain, Adolf Hitler eventually committed to an amphibious attack plan to conquer the last remaining free European Country:"As England, in spite of her hopeless military position, has so far shown herself to be unwilling to come to any compromise, I have decided to begin preparations --- to carry out the invasion of England. This operation is dictated by the necessity to eliminate Great Britain as a base from which the war against Germany can be fought....The following preparations must be undertaken to make a landing of England possible: The English air force must be eliminated to such an extent that it will be incapable of putting up any substantial opposition to the invading troops..." Hitler remarked.

Britain recognized the threat long befor Hitler uttered these words. The country had been producing fighter planes at record pace in the months leading up to The Battle of Britain. However, due to the losses incurred during the Battle of France, Britain found herself short of trained pilots to fly them.

In dire need, England called upon the Commonwealth to come to her aid. Canada and her Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) were among those who offered trained aviators. The RCAF sent 95 pilots to defend Britain. This supplementary force included many fully trained officers and, even before the Battle began, they were able to man a combat ready Hurricane Squadron.

Before the start of the Battle, The RAF had managed to accumulate some 900 aircraft and pilots to combat the Luftwaffe's 2,800 aircraft. Outnumbered three to one, the RAF took to the skies on July 10, 1940.

What followed for the next 82 days was one of the most epic battles of our time. On September 15th, Squadron Leaded E.A. McNab, 242 Squadron wrote:" It was a terrific spectacle. There were so many aircraft in the sky that there was as much danger of colliding with another fellow as there was of being shot down. There were more than a thousand aircraft in the sky just south of London. I counted nine aircraft falling at one time, and there were parachutes everywhere."

September 15th was Canada's finest day in the Battle of Britain, a battle that garnered over 130 air victories and several awards and honours by war's end. On this day the Luftwaffe was so weakened they could not mount another air offensive. The Germans were successfully repelled from the English shores, and Hitler postponed invasion plans indefinitely.

Today we celebrate courage in the darkest of moments, resilience through overwhelming odds, and a victory when it seemed all too impossible--we celebrate The Battle of Britain.

by Second Lieut. Cameron Hillier
12 Wing Shearwater