Beechwood Cemetery ceremony remembers Canadian contributions to the Battle of Britain
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) marked 84 years since the Battle of Britain in a ceremony on Sunday at Beechwood National Military Cemetery.
"It was a defining moment when ordinary men and women through extraordinary acts of heroism ensured that the freedom of democracy would prevail," said retired sergeant, Wendy Jocko.
The event honoured the heroes who defended the skies in the more than three-month long campaign in 1940, during the Second World War.
The first major battle fought almost exclusively in the air and the contribution of the RCAF No. 1 Squadron marked the first time Canada sent a squadron into battle.
"I saw them jump out of the airplane- hit by aircraft. I wonder how they made out after the war. Did they get home?” said veteran Ronald Moyes.
It's what Moyes thinks about on this day. The ones he never met and the ones who never made it home.
The 98-year-old veteran joined the RCAF as an air gunner at 17 years old. Commonly known as one of the most dangerous jobs, he was responsible for defending the aircraft from behind. He recalls the details just like it was yesterday.
"We didn't take our fingers off the trigger, there was so much aircraft coming up at us and so many shots being shot at us, but we finally got out of there and back home," Moyes said as he recalled on mission.
When the war ended, he was only 19 years old. He re-enlisted after the war as an armourer with the RCAF and retiring in 1974.
Throughout the battle, more than 2,300 airmen, including 100 Canadian pilots took to the sky. In the end, 544 lost their lives, 23 of whom were Canadians.
"Every year we get together at this time to recognize the significance of that decisive battle," said Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, RCAF Commander. "The very first and really one of only ones we talk about being a decisive air battle that really turned the tides of the war."
A victory that may have seemed impossible at the time, the ceremony paying tribute to everyone who fought one of the most crucial battles of the Second World War and laid the foundation for the RCAF.
"I think when we come together to commemorate events like this, it's always wonderful to reflect on our past and see the veterans around us, but to also see that next generation of young aviators present in the form of young cadets, young Canadians, high school kids, most of them coming together with the veterans," said Renee Hansen, RCAF command chief.
Sunday's ceremony also coincides with the centennial celebrations of the RCAF.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Environmental racism': First Nations leaders claim cancer-causing contamination was covered up
The people of Fort Chipewyan believe the federal government believe the federal government knew its water was contaminated and hid the issue for years. Now the chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is leading the call for immediate action.
Death toll from Hurricane Helene rises to 227 as grim task of recovering bodies continues
The death toll from Hurricane Helene inched up to 227 on Saturday as the grim task of recovering bodies continued more than a week after the monster storm ravaged the Southeast and killed people in six states.
Car flies into B.C. backyard, lands upside down
A driver suffered only minor injuries after going airborne in a residential neighbourhood in Maple Ridge, B.C., on Friday, the car eventually landing on its roof in someone’s backyard.
Donald Trump, Elon Musk attend rally at same Pennsylvania grounds where gunman tried to assassinate Trump
Donald Trump returned on Saturday to the Pennsylvania fairgrounds where he was nearly assassinated in July, holding a sprawling rally with thousands of supporters in a critical swing state Trump hopes to return to his column in November's election.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.
'No one has $70,000 dollars lying around': Toronto condo owners facing massive special assessment
The owners of a North York condominium say they are facing a $70,000 special assessment to fix their building's parking garage. '$70,000 is a lot of money. It makes me very nervous and stressed out of nowhere for this huge debt to come in,' said Ligeng Guo.
Police ID mom, daughter killed in Old Montreal; video shows person break into building before fatal fire
Police released the identities of the mother and daughter who were killed after a fire tore through a 160-year-old building in Old Montreal on Friday.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
'I screamed in shock and horror': Family faces deadly Vancouver hit-and-run driver during sentencing
The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.