1924 and Beyond: The Royal Canadian Air Force
In 1924, the CAF was officially renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force, solidifying its status as a permanent service. Borden remained the RCAF’s principal air base until 1931, when a second major station opened at Trenton, Ontario.
Despite its military designation, much of the RCAF’s focus during this period remained on civil government air operations, including forestry and fisheries patrols, aerial surveying, and the occasional Arctic expedition. Technical training concentrated on maintaining a modest and aging fleet. The majority of flying and ground training courses were conducted at Borden, with graduates posted to air stations across the country. For many airmen, extended time at Borden was virtually guaranteed.
Given the RCAF’s broad mandate, training courses were often attended by civil servants as well as members of the Army and Navy. Most flying occurred during the summer months to take advantage of favourable weather, while winters were devoted to intensive aircraft maintenance programs. Life at Borden could be isolated. Few personnel owned vehicles, and nearby Angus offered limited diversions. Recreational facilities on camp were heavily used, with hockey and baseball proving especially popular.
Growth, Reorganization, and Public Engagement
Canada’s growing interest in aviation prompted a 1927 government reorganization, creating separate branches for Civil Government Air Operations, Engineering and Technical Services, and the Comptroller of Civil Aviation. While the RCAF retained a role in all areas, the restructuring allowed it to focus more closely on defence-related training, including cooperation with the Army.
One notable outcome was the 1928 purchase of Armstrong Whitworth aircraft, including nine Siskin fighters and six Atlas army cooperation aircraft. Although opportunities for joint Army training were limited, the Siskins proved invaluable as a public relations tool. Based at Borden, the Siskin Flight made its first major public appearance at the 1929 Canadian National Exhibition, thrilling crowds and igniting national interest in aviation.
By 1930, the RCAF had grown to approximately 174 officers and 669 airmen. Nearly half supported civil operations across Canada, while most of the remainder were based at Borden. The training wing now included three flying squadrons and three ground schools, reinforcing Borden’s central role in shaping Canadian airmen.
Depression and Recovery
Rising maintenance costs for aging infrastructure, which was emphasized after a fire destroyed the officers’ mess, led the RCAF to advocate for a new base at Trenton. Construction began just as the Great Depression took hold.
The “Big Cut” of 1931 saw the RCAF’s budget slashed by nearly 50 percent, with one‑fifth of its personnel released. Military activity at Borden was reduced to a minimum. Hangars stored aircraft for which fuel could not be purchased, while local men found relief work replanting trees at fifteen cents an hour plus board.
As WWII Approached
In the years leading up to the Second World War, Borden became the summer training home for RCAF auxiliary squadrons. By 1938, increased funding supported renewed construction and modernization. New bombing and gunnery ranges were established, and a flurry of building activity followed. In August 1939, contracts were awarded for eight new buildings, including a new officers’ mess, drill hall, barracks, and technical stores, only a few weeks before Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939.
A Lasting Legacy
From its earliest days as a reopened RAF camp to its central role in shaping Canadian military aviation, Borden’s legacy is inseparable from the history of the RCAF. For more than a century, it has trained generations of airmen, supported national aviation development, and earned its enduring title as the Cradle of Military Aviation.
Information adapted from Camp Borden: A Century of Service by William A. March & Terry A. Higgins.
