It was April 1st of 1924 that the Royal Canadian Air Force officially came into being.

Beginning tonight (Mon) in Moose Jaw the City Hall clock tower will be illuminated blue to mark the occasion as part of a world record attempt for the most landmarks illuminated with the same colour at the same time. Bell towers at some of the city’s schools are also going to be lit tonight.

Moose Jaw has a storied history with the Royal Canadian Air Force dating back to the 1920s with the creation of the local flying club that was contracted during the Second World War to train student pilots for the RCAF during wartime. Moose Jaw is now home to 15 Wing along with the NATO Flying Training in Canada program and the Snowbirds air demonstration team.

According to the Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan, in 1940 the British organized a training plan and built aerodromes in Assiniboia, Estevan, Swift Current, North Battleford, and Moose Jaw over the following two years. Both training campaigns provided air crews for a prolonged air war in Europe.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says in a statement that, “In times of war and peace, members of the RCAF have shown unwavering courage.” He notes that the Second World War was the first significant challenge for the RCAF, with over 200,000 Canadians joining the Air Force to fight against tyranny and fascism, and since then, generation after generation of Canadians have served – from Afghanistan to the Arctic.

The RCAF works with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Canadian Space Program, and United Nations peacekeeping operations. At home, Trudeau says, the RCAF has supported Canadians by delivering disaster relief, including during last year’s devastating wildfire season. (with files from Discover Moose Jaw online)