MORE CANADIAN INVOLVEMENT IN WORLD WAR II

Defense of Hong Kong First engagement in combat for the Canadian Forces Objective: Defend the British Colony

Japan Entered the war on 7 December 1941

Other strategic sites in the Pacific: Malaya, Philippines & Guam

October 1941: Barely trained Canadian soldiers sailed from Vancouver to support British and Indian troops.

Japanese invaders greatly outnumbered the Allied Forces (14,000) Defending vulnerable Hong Kong was impossible

Supplies and Ammunition Ran Out The Allies were forced to Surrender

Unsuccessful Campaign at Hong Kong Came at a High Cost 290 killed 290 killed 500 wounded 500 wounded Many POWs (260 died) Many POWs (260 died) Over ¼ of the Canadians that went did not return Over ¼ of the Canadians that went did not return

The War at Sea

Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Beginning of War: 13 Ships; 3,000 Sailors End of War: 370 Ships; 100,000 Personnel

Widespread Commitment to the War at Sea Submarine Warfare in the North Atlantic West Coast Defense From the Japanese

North Atlantic: Fight for Control of Shipping Lanes German’s wanted to cut off supply lines to Britain

“WOLFPACK” German submarines hunted in teams and targeted Merchant Marine ships

German U-Boats were active in Canadian and Newfoundland Waters

RESPONSE: Began to send Merchant Ships in CONVOY with Canadian Warships with Canadian Warships *Newfoundland became the center of the Allied sea force by 1941 and the Newfoundland Escort Service was by 1941 and the Newfoundland Escort Service was founded. founded.

CONVOY: accompanying or escorting for protective purposes.

RCN Corvette’s provided most of the protection *Corvette: small warship (originally used for coastal patrol

German’s began sending larger wolfpacks Remained quite successful. Nov. 1942: sunk 15 ships out of a 42-ship convoy

The British Also Increased Their Sea Power: - Added more destroyers to the convoy.

Improved training of escort crews Improved training of escort crews Refitted corvettes Refitted corvettes Provided better anti-submarine weapons Provided better anti-submarine weapons Added more ships Added more ships Increased rest stops in St. John’s Increased rest stops in St. John’s

-Royal Canadian Air Force were provided with long-range bombers that covered convoys until they reached British airspace. that covered convoys until they reached British airspace.

By 1944, wolfpacks became far less effective

Canadian Navy and D-Day 100 Canadian ships involved in Normandy Invasion 100 Canadian ships involved in Normandy Invasion Cleared Enemy lines, carried troops and provided protective fire. Cleared Enemy lines, carried troops and provided protective fire.

The War in the Air

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Beginning of War: 4,000 Men End of War: 25,000 men and women Canadian Pilots served over Germany, the Middle East, Far East and coastal Patrols over Canada and Norway.

Served in Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Battle of Britain in 1940.

About 86,000 Canadians passed through the British Commonwealth Air Training Program by Most of these served in the RAF.

Largest Canadian air involvement was the Bomber Command Relentlessly bombed German cities. Killed over 1 million German citizens and lost 10,000 of their own flyers.

Early on, Canadians were given old, outdated bombers and suffered high casualty rates. Early on, Canadians were given old, outdated bombers and suffered high casualty rates. New equipment and more practical missions (France) changed this. New equipment and more practical missions (France) changed this. Bombed troop placements, factories and air fields. Bombed troop placements, factories and air fields. Later years of the war, Canadian bomber group became known for it’s accuracy and low casualty rate. Later years of the war, Canadian bomber group became known for it’s accuracy and low casualty rate.

ACE A pilot who shot down more than 5 enemy planes.

FERRY COMMAND Britain, Canada and the US cooperated to fly nearly 10,000 planes to Britain for combat.

Gander and Goose Bay played key roles

Over 500 flyers died in the Ferry Command Very successful operation: made deliveries of planes much more efficient.