Royal Cape Breton Air Force: Nothing written on CFS Sydney could be considered complete without reference to the RCBAF. This august organization was officially founded on 25 April 1956 on the occasion of an Officers Mess Dinner honoring the departure of a native Cape Bretoner, F/O SB Roach. Prior to that time the RCBAF had existed only as an intangible morale factor in the life of Station Sydney.
One must remember that Cape Breton has a special place in the annals of aviation history. After all, the first powered flight in Canada and the British Empire took place on 23 February 1909 at Baddeck Bay. On that occasion, JAD McCurdy flew the Silver Dart a distance of a half mile at a height of about thirty feet. In addition, in the early days, CFS Sydney, located as it is somewhat off the beaten track, received relatively few visitors from Headquarters Staff Officers. Consequently, an in-house jocular clich‚ developed that CFS Sydney was running its own Air Force and only paying lip service to the official RCAF hierarchy. Out of this grew the shape of the RCBAF as the personification of Air Force operations in the Cape Breton area, as practiced by Station Sydney. Doing things RCBAF style came to be synonymous with doing things differently and at least one cut better than any run-of-the-mill RCAF organization. This special RCBAF flair, a result of the Cape Bretoners natural independence and pride combined with our insular location, is soon imparted to the new arrival. In this context, the FCBAF organization has become more and more a real entity and the focal point for morale on the Station.
On the 25 April 1956, at the aforementioned farewell do, it was decided to give the RCBAF some tangible form and F/O Roach was therefore presented with the first membership scroll. This unique item was individually prepared, and from it, the final and current membership scroll was developed in printed form. However, the rather irreverent wording of the present scroll preserves the sentiment and sense of the original.
Originally, membership was to be restricted to RCAF members of the Officers Mess, Station Sydney, who had served at least six months at the Station. Since then provisions have been made to include Associate Members, and visiting Officers. On the 31 May 1956 on the occasion of A/V/M Wrays visit, the first Air Officer Commanding (AOC) to inspect CFS Sydney, honorary membership was devised to pay special recognition to distinguished visitors.
Evolution being what it is, the organization could not remain static and certain customs and traditions were incorporated. To cite several examples: the establishment of an RCNAF Mess Kit Mess Dress with the Cape Breton tartan bow tie instead of a mundane black one; special rum toast to the RCBAF in the true highland fashion all present, climbing onto their chairs with the right foot upon the table, reverently saying Chimo The RCBAF; the embodiment of the motto Nil Illegitimus Carboron Dum, translated Dont let the bastards grind you down; the replacement of the usual farewell mugs, with a sword which the faithful use to protect the homeland in times of great crises: the retention of former RCAF ranks on the scroll is another innovation; and finally the establishment of the office of Honorary Marshall of the RCBAF. To qualify for this exalted position one must be male, a Cape Bretoner and a member of the Officers Mess with a minimum of fifteen years continuous employment at CFS Sydney. Such customs and traditions only gave voice to the undefinable spirit which is the RCBAF something more than a mere esprit de corps. The good humored spirit, although somewhat impertinent, provides the focus for the RCBAF Station Sydney, as it is, THE BEST!
By the time this Issue appears in print, the RCBAF will have celebrated its 20th anniversary with a reunion and Mess Dinner scheduled for 24 April 1976.
--This article was written by Lt. JE Fitzgerald and was published in C&E Newsletter 1976/2.
