Made during WWII, this silent footage shows homefront activities in Canada. It was apparently shot in and around Vancouver, British Columbia. The start of the film shows recruits marching past (:16) a local newspaper office and downtown (1:05). At 1:22 another recruit joins the group. At 1:40 oxen carrying wheat move slowly through a city street. At 2:42 the recruits walk past clothing set on a line to dry. At 3:42 “Duke Street” in Vancouver is shown (footage flopped). At 5:14, Royal Canadian Air Force Avro Lancasters are shown in flight as well as Spitfires (6:00). The Lancaster buzzes a field at 7:25. At 8:20 aerial footage from aboard a Spitfire. At 8:56, a large ceremony is shown with RCAF members receiving awards (9:20). This is possibly a final induction ceremony prior to deployment. At 11:56 RCAF drum corps moves past a parked aircraft. At 13:00 totem poles are shown symbolizing the native peoples of Canada’s Pacific NW. At 13:47 the recruits troop through Stanley Park.
During the Second World War, the RCAF was a major contributor to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and was involved in operations in Great Britain, Europe, the north Atlantic, North Africa, southern Asia, and with home defence. By the end of the war, the RCAF had become the fourth largest allied air force. During WWII the Royal Canadian Air Force was headquartered in 20-23 Lincolns Inn Fields, London. A commemorative plaque can be found on the outside of the building.
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