Figure 1.--This is a Canadian World War II Air Cadet. The press caption read, "Canadian Air Cadet: Cadet Andre Jobin, of Montreal 14-year old member of No. 2 Jean-de-Brebeuf Squadron of the air Cadet League of Canada, national flying group sponsored by the Department of National Defense for it to start 'em young. Cadet Jobin's nickname is Joe Bean." The photograph was dated July 24, 1941. Andre is a French Canadian boy, in this case the Querbeois. It is interesting that the image we found was a French Canadian boy. Generally French Canadians did not support the war effort and relatively few volunteered for overseas service even though the principal objective was the liberation of France. We suspect that Andre was particularly interested in flying. A Canadian reader comments, "It might be as you wrote that he had a strong interest in flying but even though many French Quebecers were against conscription and fighting for Britain there were many who were Federalists meaning being more Canadian then Quebecers especially then. His dad or another member of his family could have been in the military before the war and he had an interest in also being in the military."
Canada like Britain and the other Dominions had Army and Navy cadet forces, a sort of junior officer training program for teenagers. There were no comparable air force program, although some Army Cadet Corps were informally affiliated with RCAF Air Reserve squadrons. The shortage of pilots at the onset if the war prompted efforts to set of an air force cadet program. Air Minister Power directed that a nation-wide voluntary organization be formed to sponsor and develop and prepare youth for pilot training and other service with the RCAF. [Air Cadet League] The boys of course were primarily interested in becoming pilots. An Order-in-Council was passed establishing the Air Cadet League of Canada to work with the RCAF (November 11, 1940). The first squadrons were organized (1941). There were 135 squadrons and 10,000 cadets (1942). Most of the boys were recruited from the existing Army Cadet program. This had grown to 315 squadrons with a membership of 23,000 (1943). The program reached its peak membership with 29,000 cadets in 374 squadrons (1944). The boys were issued with air force blue uniforms featuring a long tunic with stand-up collar and wedge cap (1941). Andre here is wearing the World War II-style uniform (figure 1). This was changed to the battle dress style uniform after the War.
Sources
Air Cadet League of Canada. "The Air Cadet Story: The Early Days". (Manitoba).
