The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was created on April 1, 1924. It drew together those who served in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War, and in the Canadian Air Force of 1920 to 1924. In 1968, with the unification of the Canadian Forces, the RCAF lost its formal title; however, its proud traditions live on in Canada's current Air Force.
In 1984, a small museum was opened at CFB Trenton and granted exclusive use of the title RCAF Memorial Museum. A fascinating collection of artefacts and memorabilia were preserved and by 1992, a new and larger facility was needed.
A fund-raising program was launched in July 1993 and a total of $335,000 was contributed by donors from across Canada. The function of the Museum is to perpetuate the heritage of Canadian Military aviation and it is dedicated to the memory of the airmen and airwomen who gave their lives in both peace and war.
In the spring of 1984, the museum moved into a 13,000 square-foot building situated within a large Airpark on a public road with unrestricted access for visitors. The Airpark quickly became the home of an extensive collection of aircraft valued at over $4 million. An extension to the museum, providing an additional 7,200 square feet of space, was added in 1996.
The volume of donations of artefacts and memorabilia continuesd and the museum's inventory outgrew its housing capacity. The next phase involved a further extension to provide a total space of approximately 64,000 square feet. Expected to cost almost five million dollars, a major fund-raising program was initiated. A "Donors' Wall" highlights specific aircraft plaques which are allocated according to the donation level. An "AD ASTRA" Commemorative Stone program has also been established.
