Wings for Victory: Remarkable Story of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada

In the late 1930s, mindful of the need to play an important role in the looming war, Canadian politicians conceived of a plan that would entail a major commitment to the war effort, yet keep the country's young men at home and avoid the horrendous loss of Canadian lives experienced on the ground in World War I. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BACTP) was born, whereby young recruits from Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand would join their Canadian counterparts in training schools to be set up across the country. Here they would be trained to fight the battles of the new war, in the air. Canada was the ideal location, far enough away from the threat of air raids and with plenty of wide-open space for the business of building airfields and teaching men to fly. In a huge, country-wide mobilization of personnel and resources, training facilities were hastily erected from Vancouver to Charlottetown. And, when young recruits from around the globe started pouring into the scores of towns and villages selected as sites for the BACTP, communities were turned upside down. The author follows these raw, young recuits through the lengthy selection process and training regimen that awaited them so far from home. Many wouldn't make it. Large numbers found to their indignation that they weren't considered pilot material and would have to serve some other way. The training process would injure some and kill some more. A handful would discover that, although they had dreamed of flying since childhood, they loathed and feared the reality of it. The successful ones would eventually take their place on a parade ground to receive the coveted wings that testified to their skill as airmen. Thus equipped, they took to the air over Europe and were counted among the best-trained airmen in the world becoming, by war's end, Canada's principal contribution to victory. Spencer Dunmore is the author of "Reap the Whirlwind: The Untold Story of 6 Group, Canada's Bomber Force of World War II", and the novels "Bomb Run", "Tower of Strength", "Collision", "Final Approach" and "No Holds Barred". He is also the author of a short story collection, "Squadron".

Review :
"Canadian history at its most enjoyable and most proud...A truly important work." -"St. John's Evening Telegram "Rich and engaging." -"Hamilton Spectator