A brief history of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, The Air Cadet League of Canada and 18 Dartmouth Lions Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron.
18 Dartmouth Lions Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron (RCACS) is one of Canada’s premiere Air Cadet Squadrons with a long and honourable history dating from the granting of its charter on September 24th, 1941 – making 18 Dartmouth Lions one of Canada’s first Air Cadet Squadrons!
During the early stages of World War II, it was recognized that there was a critical need to supply trained men to fly as aircrew in the ranks of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). In 1940, then Air Minister Power gathered a group of civilians to work on a partnership basis with the RCAF to help achieve this goal and on November 19, Order-in-Council PC 6647 was passed authorizing the formation of the air cadet squadrons and the Cadet League of Canada.
At the end of the war, it was realized that the cadet program was far too valuable to end. The character-building aspect of Air Cadet training appealed strongly to youth leaders across the country and resulted in contributions offered by service clubs, educators, boards of trade and many community organizations. In 1964, the Government of Canada put into effect a peacetime program based on a combination of aviation and citizenship training sponsored jointly by the Air Cadet League and the RCAF.
Thereafter, more emphasis was put on the citizen-building aspects of the Cadet Program focusing on three aims of the program: To develop in you the aspects of good citizenship and leadership; To promote physical fitness; and, To stimulate an interest in the air activities of the Canadian Forces. Many training subjects and course formed at the onset of the program remain in existence today such as flying scholarship and international exchange programs and leadership, sports, and survival training courses.
18s history began about a year prior to its formation when a group of local citizens met with the goal of organizing a cadet corps that would partner in training youth for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Our squadron was formed in 1941 and its charter was signed on September 24th of that year. Following its formation, the squadron was sponsored by the Dartmouth School Board until 1949 and then by the forerunner of what is now the Air Force Association of Canada until 1951. During this time, the squadron was known as “18 Dartmouth Boys”. Following 1951, the Dartmouth Lions Club assumed sponsorship of the squadron and this when the squadron became known as the 18 Dartmouth Lions Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron. The Air Cadet League, in cooperation with the Canadian Forces, is responsible for the recruitment of personnel, the formation, and the development of Air Cadets Squadrons at the community level. The Canadian Forces is responsible for cadet training, supply, and program administration. In its history, the League has raised millions of dollars in support of the Air Cadet Program, providing citizenship and aviation training for young men and women since its formation in 1940.