Overview

Pathway to the Stars takes readers on a remarkable journey spanning one hundred years of the Royal Canadian Air Force. This beautifully illustrated book shares the rich history of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on its one hundredth anniversary. Produced in partnership with the RCAF Foundation, Pathway to the Stars tells the story of the people, the technologies, and the events that shaped the RCAF from 1924 to 2024. Presenting one hundred stories to align with the one hundred years of the RCAF, the book explores the many ways in which the RCAF contributed to advances in aviation over the past century, from the invention of the G-suit to the development of the first helicopter landing system on a naval ship to the design of the first flight-safety organization for investigating crashes. It illuminates how the history of the RCAF has been shaped by global events, shedding light on the two world wars, the Cold War, the Korean War, and the formation of NATO. It examines peacekeeping in the 1980s, the First Gulf War, missions within Canada, and the Afghanistan War, and details the past decade as well as the future of the RCAF. Whether they involved fighting in the air in a Hurricane during the Battle of Britain, delivering disaster relief around the globe, or leading search-and-rescue operations in Canada's Arctic, the missions required of the RCAF have challenged it to create aircraft, machines, and other technologies to persevere and succeed. Pathway to the Stars brings to light an inspirational story about Canada and its place in the world over the past century as we look forward to the next generation of the RCAF. Proceeds from this book support the ongoing programs of the RCAF Foundation, a Canadian charity that works to celebrate Canada's rich aviation history and future.

Full Product Details

Author:   Michael Hood ,  Tom Jenkins
Publisher:   University of Toronto Press
Imprint:   Aevo UTP
Dimensions:   Width: 28.70cm , Height: 1.90cm , Length: 22.20cm
Weight:   1.180kg
ISBN:  

9781487547431

ISBN 10:   1487547439
Pages:   264
Publication Date:   24 October 2023
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

About the Authors Foreword Acknowledgements 1. The Origin Story of the RCAF: The First World War through to 1938 2. The Crucible of War: The RCAF and the Second World War, 1939–1945 3. The Cold War Deterrent Force: 1946–1991 4. Unification: Maintaining Canadian Sovereignty 5. Expeditionary Operations 6. Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Operations 7. The RCAF Today and Tomorrow 8. Reflecting on the Impact of the RCAF: Canada and the World Appendices 1. List of RCAF Commanders and Command Chiefs 2. RCAF Victoria Cross Recipients 3. List of Aircraft (Current and Historical) 4. RCAF Organization and Ceremonies 5. Timeline of the RCAF Bibliography Photo Credits Index

Reviews

"""Pathway to the Stars is a treasure-house of history, stories, photos, biographical sketches, facts, and recollections of a great Canadian institution, the Royal Canadian Air Force. An excellent contribution to the RCAF's centenary celebrations, readers will find it hard to put this book down."" - General Paul David Manson, OC, CMM, CD (Ret'd) ""Detailing the earliest days of Canadian military flight, Pathway to the Stars celebrates the bravery of pioneers who set the standard for 100 years. From the tentative early years to a future with stealth and more, the proud tradition of the RCAF soars in this anniversary celebration."" - Kevin Newman, Journalist ""This comprehensive retrospective on the storied 100-year history of the RCAF is an outstanding resource for the amateur and enthusiast alike. Most importantly, Pathway to the Stars serves as an exceptional resource for young Canadians and educators, offering a glimpse into the past and future of this essential Canadian institution."" - Honorary Colonel Kendra Kincade, 417 Combat Support Squadron"

“[Pathway to the Stars] is a splendid new book … Over 250 pages, it is lavishly illustrated with photographs and covers the story of the RCAF from its origins to its future.” -- John Chalmers * <em>Canadian Aviation Historical Society</em> *

"""Pathway to the Stars: 100 Years of the RCAF is a treasure-house of history, stories, photos, biographical sketches, facts, and recollections of a great Canadian institution, the Royal Canadian Air Force. An excellent contribution to the RCAF's centenary celebrations, it describes the people, the aircraft, the roles and missions, and especially the skills that brought such respect for the RCAF over its one hundred years. It is a popular history that readers will find hard to put down, and I expect this will be as true for the casual Canadian reader as it is for those who were part of its storyreaders will find it hard to put this book down."" - General Paul David Manson, OC, CMM, CD (Ret'd) ""The deep detail of the earliest days of Canadian military flightDetailing the earliest days of Canadian military flight, Pathway to the Stars celebrates the bravery of pioneers who set the standard for 100 years. From the tentative early years to a future with stealth and more, the proud tradition of the RCAF soars in this anniversary celebration."" - Kevin Newman, Journalist ""This comprehensive retrospective on the storied 100 year100-year history of the RCAF is an outstanding resource for the amateur and enthusiast alike. Most importantly, it serves as an exceptional resource for young Canadians and educators, offering a glimpse into the past and future of this essential Canadian institution."" - Honorary Colonel Kendra Kincade, 417 Combat Support Squadron"

Author Information

Michael Hood began his military career in the infantry as a guardsman with the Canadian Grenadier Guards before enrolling in the Regular Force and receiving his air combat systems officer wings in 1988. He served as director general of Air Force development and deputy director general of international security policy before being appointed deputy commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force in 2012. In 2013 he was appointed director of staff, strategic joint staff. He was commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force from 2015 to 2018. He is a retired lieutenant general and the former commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He is currently chief of staff at JDS Mining in Vancouver, British Columbia. Tom Jenkins has been affiliated with the Royal Canadian Air Force for more than fifty years. He began his career with the RCAF as a royal Canadian air cadet at CFB Trenton in 1972. He became a squadron warrant officer with the Air Cadets at CFRB Hamilton and later joined the reserves, first as a corporal and then as an officer; he received his commission in 1977 and served at CFB Cold Lake. He has been the honorary colonel of 409 Squadron at CFB Cold Lake and the honorary colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada (RHFC) in Cambridge, Ontario. He has chaired a report on defence procurement for the Canadian government and is currently a member of the RCAF Commanders Advisory Council.

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