- Title:
- The making of a Cold War air force: planning and professionalism in the postwar Royal Canadian Air Force, 1944-1950
- Creator:
- Babcock, Alexander Angus
- Date Created:
- 2009
- Degree Awarded:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Subjects:
- Cold War World politics 1945-1989
- Geographical Focus:
- Canada
- Supporting Materials:
- n/a
- Description:
- This dissertation examines the role of planning and enhanced professionalism played in the growth of the RCAF between postwar demobilization and the assumption of NATO commitments in 1950. This period represents the nadir and the conditions for the apogee of postwar air force fortunes, in terms of organizational size and capabilities. There were a range of influences on the postwar growth of the RCAF. The Soviet Union posed a threat to North American and European security and the air force was best situated to respond to it. Defence collaboration with the United States fostered development of a vast air defence system. The creation of a NATO Integrated Force led t0 a large fighter-interceptor contribution from Canada. RCAF leadership was effective in presenting plans to the government and in managing air force interests. Political leaders within Canada in the late 1940s embraced opportunities to engage with the international community and take part in multilateral defence initiatives. Theories of civil-military relations inform assessments of the interaction between the government and the RCAF. The dissertation concludes that all of these influenced, in varying degrees, the nature and degree of success of RCAF, but focuses on the crucial role of planning and professionalism. Improvements to planning processes, procedures and capabilities allowed an increasingly professional RCAF to take advantage of these opportunities, resulting in the creation of a Cold War air force.
Source
- Preferred Citation:
- Babcock, Alexander Angus. 2009. "The making of a Cold War air force: planning and professionalism in the postwar Royal Canadian Air Force, 1944-1950", Department of History, Carleton University
- Link to this page:
- https://cuhistory.github.io/grads/items/hist_121.html
Rights
- Rights:
- Copyright the author, all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.