2453 AC&W Sqn (Auxiliary)
Three Rivers, PQ

National Archives of Canada

18 Feb 60

Squadron Leader Dumas, Your Worship, Flight Lieutenant Desjardins, Flight Lieutenant Johnson, Gentlemen:

I am delighted to be able to spend this evening with you, and it makes it a special occasion to have the honour of the presence of His Worship. I have heard much of your lively community, and I am happy to know that the RCAF plays such a prominent part in it. This indicates to me a very high quality of leadership, both in civic government and public spirit among individuals interested in the RCAF.

It is always questionable in my mind, whether the good fellowship and enjoyment of a dinner in such pleasant surroundings, should be interrupted by a speech. However, I have no choice, as I am in the hands of Squadron Leader Dumas.

It is only natural that I should speak to you on the matter of defence generally, and the RCAF in particular.

INTRODUCTION

Canada's Defence Organization has been a prominent feature of the Canadian Scene for the past twenty years, and there is every indication that it wil continue to be a matter of major importance to every Canadian for the foreseeable future. It is also observed that in a world of conflicting idealogies and competing power blocs, accompanied by a rapid, almost headlong development in the scientific and technological fields, the element of flexibility in a defence organization has assumed new importance. To survive in an environment of this kind, our defence organization must be truly dynamic; that is, it should be capable of changing in shape and substance as the situation demands, or better still, to anticipate situations.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Pressures are already being felt which indicate the need for a major change and they stem from six scientific developments during the post-war years:

1. A revolutionary advance in the design and performance of aircraft, which makes possible flights at great heights and very high speeds, and, perhaps, which is more important, the ability to travel immense distances without refuelling on the ground.

2. The appearance of jet engines with thrust of 20,000 pounds and up, and, more recently, the development of rocket engines to power such vehicles such as the X15 to be used in exploration of the problems of manned flight on the fringe of the atmosphere.

3. The appearance of long-range, unmanned ballistic missiles.

4. The exploitation of atomic and nuclear reaction in devices of staggering destructive power.

5. New techniques, and improvements in existing techniques to receive and send intelligence, leading to a greatly increased capacity to detect, warn and react.

6. and, just around the corner, the incorporation of satellites and orbital vehicles into weapons systems, and the strong possibility that these vehicles can and will be manned to obtain the utmost efficiency from the so-called "man-machine loop", or combination.

The military advantage of being able to warp time and space through the medium of speed and control, together with a vey high degree of flexibility, in all facets of operations, needs no elaboration, and will be pursued relentlessly, periods of real or assumed disarmament notwithstanding. Also, it would be foolish indeed to expect the concept of deterrent against deterrent to prevail for any extended period. There will be a hard, unremitting effort in both the East and the West to give relief from an unnatural, fearsome existence on the edge of disaster. Unfortunately, the speed of advance is so great and the destructive power is so overwhelming, and the cost in scientific brains, technological skills and money so demanding, that the making of decisions carries with it responsibilities far heavier than ever encountered before. Sins of omission or commission in the whole programme of scientific advance in the field of defence becomes progressively more expensive and dangerous.

THE THREAT

I view the basic threat as Communism, as defined and practised by the Communist party of the USSR and supported by countries which may be classed as sympathizers or opportunists. I believe we must make the basic assumption that the Communist vision of world power will encompass a course of action covering all aspects of human society; political, sociological, econmic and military. Furthermore, while we will undoubtedly experience infiltration, subversion and economic pressures in an endeavour to break down the will to resist, Communism will always endeavour to back up activities of this kind with a potent, offensive force. These forces must be neutralized.

Scientific Factors

Scientific and technological advances will have perhaps the most direct effect upon the shape of Canada's Armed Forces.

1. We know that new materials with an almost infinite variety of uses will be invented. These materials will withstand almost any change of temperature or stress, and they will be of great strength and lightness.

2. New sources of power will be available, including atomic and solar. There will be great strides made in the development of power plants, freed from the limitations of air-breathing engines.

3. Super fuels, both liquid and solid, will yield many times the energy per pound of weight of present-day fuels.

4. Communication will be revolutionized, not only in mode of transport, but by voice and signal code.

5. Weather forecasting will undergo a great change, and weather may be controllable locally.

6. Problems of control at very high altitudes will be overcome.

7. The incorporation of the human cranium into automatic systems involving both air and ground environments, vehicles both manned and unmanned, within and without the atmosphere, will go forward apace.

With these developments clearly in sight, it does not require much imagination to come to the conclusion that weapons systems will undergo considerable change.

SUMMARY

In brief, as Canada grows, she will have to assume even greater responsibilities if she is to preserve her national identity. This process will pose a very difficult economic problem, which will require a degree of teamwork and cooperation at all levels of society never achieved before and superb, wise leadership, if they are to be surmounted.

It is considered that the era of missiles, both offensive and defensive, and the evolution of elaborate, complex and expensive weapons systems for defence, including the usual elements of detection, early warning, control, interception and destruction, whether space, the atmosphere, or the sea, or combinations of all three are involved, will tend to draw the three services closer together. At the same time, it will be apparent that most of the important elements of continental defence in the future, involve natural extension of the present role of the RCAF. Furthermore, it seems likely that the descendant of the present-day airman will operate at ever-increasing heights, in mediums which give him progressively greater flexibility and control, quite aside from low level maritime warfare and airlift responsibilities. The RCAF should therefore play a prominent part in the evolution of future defence systems.

CONCLUSION

To sum up, I believe that the RCAF has been going in the right direction. We will gain valuable experience from the introduction of Bomarc and we are becoming experienced in the maintenance and operation of very complex early warning systems.

And what of your own roles? I cannot say with certainty what the specific roles of your various units will be. My advice to you however, it that as in the case of many other groups involved in the defence effort, both regular and auxiliary, you should be prepared for change as new commitments appear to answer the challenge of a consistently changing requirement to meet the threat in a new environment. Airforces have undergone two changes in the last forty years, and we are embarking now on another. It is difficult to say what our form and substance will be. Even so, you can readily see that automaticity, new equipment of greater power and range and the complexity of communications without which our defence effort is dead, will bring about new requirements. Preparation for them involves an open mind, receptive to new ideas. Are you prepared?