CFB Borden and the Birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force
Long before Canadian military aviation became a global force, its roots were firmly planted in Simcoe County. Canadian Forces Base Borden holds a unique place in national history as the cradle of Canadian military aviation and the birthplace of what would become the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). From sleigh-borne arrivals and crated aircraft to pioneering training programs and national aviation leadership, Borden’s early years shaped the future of aviation in Canada.
Reopening Borden: A New Beginning in 1920
At the end of the First World War, a developing Canadian Air Force had been formed in England. Although it never saw combat and was dismantled within months, its legacy would profoundly influence aviation in Canada. More than 100 aircraft were disassembled, crated, and shipped from the United Kingdom to Canada. Similar aircraft were also distributed to other British Dominions with the intent of fostering aviation development across the Empire, which was an initiative that would forever alter the history of Borden.
In early January 1920, Flight Lieutenant G.O. Johnson and nine men arrived at Borden by sleigh to reopen the former Royal Air Force camp. Crated aircraft soon followed by train, hauled from rail sidings to hangars by horse‑drawn sled. Each aircraft was carefully inspected and prioritized for reassembly. When aircraft work paused, the small team turned its attention to restoring quarters, hangars, and mess facilities. By February 1920, personnel were fully established, marking the rebirth of Borden as Canada’s aviation hub.
The Early Canadian Air Force Takes Shape
Once reassembled, aircraft were flight tested and either retained at Borden or shipped to support Canadian Air Force (CAF) operations across the country. At this time, aviation in Canada was overseen by a civilian air force, responsible for guiding national aviation development, while the CAF functioned as its non‑permanent military arm.
Most work undertaken during this formative period centred on refresher training, demonstration flights, and early operational missions such as forestry patrols. These tasks laid the groundwork for the uniquely Canadian role of military aviators, later immortalized as “bush pilots in uniform.” Borden quickly became the proving ground where theory met practice.
Work progressed rapidly. In March 1920, the first of many aircraft—an Avro fitted with skis—was successfully flight tested. By May, nearly all aircraft had arrived from overseas. With personnel numbers steadily increasing, Ottawa approved the formation of No. 1 Wing, tasked with overseeing training. Flying units and a ground school soon followed, delivering essential instruction to airmen, many of whom were veterans re‑learning wartime skills.
Pilots during this period were reserve members of the CAF and often received very limited flight time, typically just six hours and six minutes per candidate, highlighting both the constraints and ambition of Canada’s early air force.
Identity and Recognition: The 1920s
The year 1921 marked an important milestone. Although the CAF remained more civilian than military in organization, its leadership pressed for recognition as a legitimate arm of national defence. Discussions included the creation of a uniquely Canadian ensign, but permission was ultimately granted to use the Royal Air Force ensign, which symbolized the correlation between the two services and their shared wartime heritage. For most of the interwar period, Borden functioned primarily as an air base, serving as the centre of training and aviation activity in Canada.
To be continued in Part II: The creation of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Borden’s role in shaping it through the interwar years.
