What did canadians do during the battle of britain? did they join the RAF in Bri

Question: What did canadians do during the battle of britain!? did they join the RAF in Britain!?
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It was fortunate that an invasion did not come, for the forces in Britain were not yet prepared to meet such a powerful foe!. While the troops had been rescued from Dunkirk, they had been compelled to leave behind most of their equipment!. Further, many of them had not yet received adequate training!. The 1st Canadian Division, which still possessed the bulk of its equipment, therefore assumed a position of vital importance!. In July the Canadians became part of the 7th British Army Corps!. This new formation, comprising British, Canadian and New Zealand troops, came under the command of General McNaughton!. It engaged in intense preparation for a role of counter-attack against the expected German assault!.

Many Canadians served in the squadrons of Spitfires and Hurricanes which repulsed the Luftwaffe in the summer of 1940!. No!. 1 Fighter Squadron, RCAF, equipped with modern eight-gun fighters, became the first Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) unit to engage enemy planes in battle when it met a formation of German bombers over southern England on August 26, 1940!. It shot down three of them and damaged four others with the loss of one pilot and one plane!.

Other Canadians flew with the Royal Air Force during that difficult period!. No 242 (Canadian) Squadron RAF, which had been formed in 1939 from some of the many Canadians who flew directly with the Royal Air Force, was not reinforced with Veterans from the French campaign and joined in the battle

Canadians also shared in repulsing the Luftwaffe's last major daylight attack!. On September 27, 303 Squadron RAF and 1 Squadron RCAF attacked the first wave of enemy bombers!. Seven, possibly eight enemy planes were destroyed, and another seven damaged!. The Royal Canadian Air Force thus received its baptism of fire!.

Their invasion plans wrecked, the Germans turned to night bombing to destroy Britain's will to fight!. For nine months, the British people suffered an aerial bombardment of their major cities that was then without precedent!. It only strengthened the determination of the people!. The attacks became less frequent!. Great Britain survived the blitz!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

By far the largest number of RAF crew were British, but fighter pilots of many other nations flew with them, including some 80 Canadians!. Of these, 26 were in the RCAF's No!. 1 Squadron, which arrived soon after Dunkirk; 16 flew as a team in the RAF's 242 "Canadian" Squadron; the rest were scattered among a dozen other RAF squadrons!.

These last included men such as PO!. Johnnie Bryson, an ex-Mountie; Flt!. Lt!. Johnnie Kent of Winnipeg, who flew with the Poles in 303 Squadron; and FO!. W!. H!. Nelson, who served in 74 Squadron with the South African ace Adolph "Sailor" Malan!. Another 200 Canadian airmen fought in RAF Bomber and Coastal commands!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The flew alongside and with the RAF, in large numbers, and acquitted themselves well!.

Canadian forces remain amongst the world's most effective today!.Www@QuestionHome@Com