A brief history of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, The Air Cadet League of Canada and 18 Dartmouth Lions Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron.
18 Dartmouth Squadron at Summer Camp Summerside PEI, 1948 or 1949
History of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets
18 Dartmouth Lions Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron (RCACS) is one of Canada’s premiere Air Cadet Squadrons with a long and honourable history dating from the granting of its charter on September 24th, 1941 – making 18 Dartmouth Lions one of Canada’s first Air Cadet Squadrons!
During the early stages of World War II, it was recognized that there was a critical need to supply trained men to fly as aircrew in the ranks of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). In 1940, then Air Minister Power gathered a group of civilians to work on a partnership basis with the RCAF to help achieve this goal and on November 19, Order-in-Council PC 6647 was passed authorizing the formation of the air cadet squadrons and the Cadet League of Canada.
At the end of the war, it was realized that the cadet program was far too valuable to end. The character-building aspect of Air Cadet training appealed strongly to youth leaders across the country and resulted in contributions offered by service clubs, educators, boards of trade and many community organizations. In 1964, the Government of Canada put into effect a peacetime program based on a combination of aviation and citizenship training sponsored jointly by the Air Cadet League and the RCAF.
Thereafter, more emphasis was put on the citizen-building aspects of the Cadet Program focusing on three aims of the program: To develop in you the aspects of good citizenship and leadership; To promote physical fitness; and, To stimulate an interest in the air activities of the Canadian Forces. Many training subjects and course formed at the onset of the program remain in existence today such as flying scholarship and international exchange programs and leadership, sports, and survival training courses.
History of 18 Dartmouth RCACS
18 Dartmouth’s history began around a year prior to it’s formation on October 15th, 1940, when a committee of local citizens lead by Mr. Donald C. Keddy met at the Town Hall in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia with the goal of forming a cadet corps in the town. At this time, it was felt that the cadet corps should be organized as a Public School Corps under the sponsorship of the Dartmouth School Board. On September 27th, 1941, a letter was received from the Air Cadet League of Canada advising that the application for the affiliation with the Air Cadet League of Canada had been accepted as of September 24th, 1941 and that the unit should be known as “18 Dartmouth Flight, Air Cadets of Canada”. With our new Charter came the appointment of Clyde Teasdale Sr. as our first Commanding Officer, with R. Logan Clarke as Adjutant, and Dr. E. I. Glenister as Hon. Medical Officer. Shortly thereafter, authorization was arranged for the manufacture of 50 uniforms for a price of approximately $15 each, excluding badges. During this time, the corps was also known as “18 Dartmouth Boys”.
The Dartmouth School Board ceased their sponsorship of the corps in June, 1949. The Air Force Ex-Officers’ Association (the forerunner of what is now the Air Force Association of Canada) with Mr. R. Graham Murray as chairman briefly sponsored the corps until 1951, when the Dartmouth Lions Club took over as our sponsor. The corps hence became known as 18 Dartmouth Lions Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron. The Dartmouth Lions Club continue to sponsor and lend their name to the squadron today.
The squadron, having existed since 1941, have had former cadets go on to have successful careers in both the Canadian Armed Forces and in the private sector, many as pilots and in the aviation industry in general. Some of our former cadets went on to pay the ultimate sacrifice, and give their life for their country in both the Second World War and Korea.
As can be expected, many changes have occurred since our formation back in 1941. The squadron changed locations several times; from the Town of Dartmouth, to Hampton Gray School at then-CFB Shearwater, to a former aircraft hangar – Building 4 at Shearwater “lower base” (which was demolished in 2018 after storm damage), briefly back to Hampton Gray School, and since 2020 now meets at another former aircraft hangar, Building 5 – 12 Wing Shearwater. In 1975, legislation was changed to officially allow the enrolment of female cadets into the Royal Canadian Sea, Army, and Air Cadets. The uniforms have changed style many times and are today supplied by DND, as with all other cadet corps. The initial “battle dress” style woollen air force blue uniform was changed to a CAF rifle green safari style uniform to align with the Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces. The style and weight were more suited to the indoor and summer training reality of the program. The first of these was issued to cadet squadrons commencing in 1978. A new embellished brass cap badge was issued and air cadet wings were worn on the left breast rather than the right. When the CAF went back to separate uniform colours in the mid-1980s, cadets followed again with a new air force blue cadet uniform being issued but following the same style as the outgoing green uniform. Squadrons received these new uniforms commencing in the fall of 1992.
18 at the Dartmouth Natal Day Parade, Date Unknown
Commanding Officers of 18 Dartmouth RCACS
- 1941 – 1943: Flight Lieutenant Clyde Teasdale, Sr.
- 1943 – 1950: Flight Lieutenant Gerald Flynn
- 1950 – 1970: Major Clyde Teasdale, Jr.
- 1970 – 1976: Major John Smith
- 1976 – 1980: Captain Bill Degen
- 1980 – 1986: Captain Bill Vance
- 1986 – 1990: Captain Bill Findlay
- 1990 – 1995: Captain Phillip Chatterton
- 1995 – 1997: Captain John Cater
- 1997 – 2000: Major Rod Collyer
- 2000 – 2001: Captain Tammy Hellier
- 2001 – 2003: Captain Jack Shapka
- 2003 – 2004: Captain Rob Watkins
- 2004 – 2006: Major Shane MacLeod
- 2006 – 2010: Major Barb Sand
- 2010 – 2012: Major Bernice McKenzie
- 2012 – 2016: Major Karen Mayo
- 2016 – 2019: Captain Kevin Byrne
- 2019 – 2022: Captain Jeff Meaney
- 2022 – 2025: Captain Sarah Brannen
- 2025 – Present: Captain Ashley Skidmore
The Air Cadet League of Canada
The Air Cadet League of Canada is a volunteer, non-profit, civilian organization established on April 9th, 1941 to support the Royal Canadian Air Cadets (RCAC). The League, in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces, are responsible for providing financial support, oversight, and community-based sponsorship to over 450 squadrons across Canada. The Cadet Instructor Cadre (CIC) branch of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve is responsible for cadet training, supply, and program administration. In its history, the Air Cadet League has raised millions of dollars in support of the Air Cadet Program, providing citizenship and aviation training for young men and women since its formation in 1940.