Aircraft technology was barely a decade old when the First World War
began in 1914, but the needs of warfare quickly fueled incredible
advancements in aviation technology. As Canadian pilots and “aces”
soared through the sky in aircraft such as the Royal Aircraft Factory
S.E.5a, they played an important role in a new era that shaped modern
warfare and ultimately redefined industry and transportation.
Canada did not have its own air force during the First World War, but
that did little to dampen Canadian enthusiasm for aviation. Thousands
of Canadians enlisted to serve as aircrew personnel in either the United
Kingdom's Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) or the Royal Flying Corps
(RFC). In 1917, the RFC established a large-scale training effort in
Canada to bolster its aerial efforts along the Western Front and by 1918,
more than 23,000 Canadians proudly served as pilots, observers and
mechanics.
Canadian “Aces” such as W. G. Barker, Raymond Collishaw and A. A.
McLeod were lauded for their flying exploits; but the most prolific of
Canada's airborne heroes was Lt. Col. William Avery “Billy” Bishop,
the recipient of the Victoria Cross, who shot down 36 of his
credited 72 victories while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a.
celebrates the daring, pioneering spirit of Canadians who took to the sky
and helped steer the course of aviation history!
Special features:
Design:
Designed by Canadian artist David A. Oram, the coin features a richly
detailed, engraved depiction of an airfield where a squadron prepares for
takeoff. A Crossley Light Tender 20/25 truck is parked behind five Royal
Aircraft Factory S.E.5a aircraft, which have lined up in front of several
Bessonneau hangars; the foremost plane is particularly striking thanks to
the use of selective color, which recreates the biplane fighter's dark green
color, as well as the blue, white and red roundel and tail cockade that
identified the aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps.
Seated in the open cockpit, a Canadian pilot wears the leather flying
coat, helmet and goggles that offer him some protection from the wind
and cold temperatures at higher altitudes. The reverse boasts an
impressive amount of detail in its rendition of the wire-braced box
girder, and close examination offers a glimpse of the fuselage-mounted
.303 Vickers gun and the MK-II Lewis machine gun on the upper wing,
which helped make this aircraft one of the most successful Allied
fighter planes of the First World War.
Did you know?
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Specifications:
Mintage - 7,500
Composition - .9999Ag
Finish - Proof
Weight - 31.83g
Diameter - 40mm
Edge - Serrated
Face Value - $20
Artist - David A. Oram (Reverse), Susanna Blunt (Obverse)