Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).  A few weeks ago, Branch 25 of the Royal Canadian Legion visited the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco to present Consul General Rana Sarkar with some memorabilia from the former 900 “Golden Bear” Wing of the RCAF Association.

The 900 “Golden Bear” Wing of the RCAF Association was first established in San Francisco in 1966.  The San Francisco International Airport was the hub for several US-based airlines and many retired RCAF pilots and technicians found work with those companies.  The wing produced a monthly or bi-monthly newsletter, and also hosted an annual Battle of Britain service.  While the details have been lost as members have passed away or just fallen away, the wing ceased to exist around 2010-11.

Many of the members of the 900 “Golden Bear” Wing of the RCAF Association were also members of the Royal Canadian Legion.  In fact, Branch 25 still has two former Presidents of the 900 “Golden Bear” Wing of the RCAF Association.

In an effort to recognize this local history, as well as the 100th anniversary of the RCAF, Comrades Michael Barbour, Craig Downing, Charles Martin, Trevor Page, and Roger Weed (himself a former President of the 900 “Golden Bear” Wing of the RCAF Association) visited with Consul General Rana Sarkar to present him with an RCAF beret and lend the Consulate some 900 “Golden Bear” Wing memorabilia – including this actual golden bear that was presented to the then President Bill Simpkinson on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the wing.

The branch also provided the Consulate with a binder of information that included:

• • historical RCAF photos from our members
  • the following issues of the Bear Facts (Golden Bear RCAF Wing) newsletter
    • April 1995
    • April 1997
    • May-June 1997
    • October 2000
    • February 2001
    • October 2002
    • February 2005
    • May 2005
    • February 2008
    • August 2008
    • February 2009
    • August 2010
  • programs from the following services
    • The Battle of Britain Service (16 September 2001)
    • The Battle of Britain Service (15 September 2002)
    • The Battle of Britain Service (14 September 2003)
    • The Battle of Britain Service (19 September 2004)
    • The Battle of Britain Service (13 September 2009)

If you visit the Consulate in the coming months you should be able to look through this binder.