Andrew Chaplin wrote:
"Jacques & Laurie" wrote in message
. ..
Xcuse me! . . .

Did you also know that CFB Bagotville was also referred to as "BAG Town"? I
have come to know it as such because every service man that I knew in Canada
called it as such. Endearing term, if you wish . . .

As far as I was concerned, I served with the "Air Force" in Canada
(1972-1977) even though WE all wore GREEN. Remember those days?

Jacques
(former corporal, CANADIAN AIR FORCE)

I first joined a unit that is widely known in Ottawa and The Royal Regiment of
Canadian Artillery as the "Bytown Gunners," but widespread usage does not in
any way make the name official.

It is fine to use colloquialisms like "Air Force" in places where they will
not confuse. You are, however, posting to an international forum where not
everyone is au fait with the National Defence Re-organization Act, 1967, its
disestablishment of the navy, army and air force as services in Canada, and
its establishment of the single service with "forces" (regular, reserve and
special) as the basis for managing personnel establishments.

I really think that you should loosen up a bit.

It is highly unlikely that anyone, apart from you maybe, has any
problems with those who fly military aircraft in Canada being referred
to as "air force" as a means of identification. Similarly, for those who
serve in ground based, or sea based rôles there is no problem with
references to "army" or "navy" in terms of their particular rôles.

To quote a sombre note from the RCAF website: "The Canadian Forces
Reorganization Act came into effect on 1 February 1968. With that, the
identity of the RCAF, its records and its achievements, were laid to
rest in the pages of Canadian aviation and military history."

The same website, however, also confirms the right to an identity by
stating: "In 1999 the Canadian Air Force celebrated its Diamond Jubilee
after 75 years serving Canadians. With its current unified command
structure, new programs, and new aircraft Canadians can be proud of
their air force and look to the future with much optimism."

Canada's armed services have a proud heritage and have made a
disproportionate contribution to world security over a great many years,
and an act of parliament, passed for whatever reason, seemed an attempt
by some, it has been said, to dilute the spirit that made them great.
It's interesting that this was driven through parliament by Prime
Minister Pierre Trudeau and Defence Minister Paul Hellyer, both of whom
seemed to court controversy. Indeed, the attempt to abandon service
traditions was less than popular in some quarters as was the concept of
one single uniform and rank structure throughout, hence the fact that it
was not fully implemented across the board - personnel of Maritime
Command, for example, maintained their naval rank designations.

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Moving things in still pictures!