Aircraft Identity Corps

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During the early days of World War II radar was not yet in widespread use, so the Royal Canadian Air Force instituted the Aircraft Identity Corps organize volunteers who would report suspicious planes and guard against German, Japanese and Italian aircraft.

Newfoundland and Labrador were occupied by Canadian and American troops during the Second World War; this is remembered as the "Friendly Invasion". At the behest of the R.C.A.F., the Commissioner of Defence for the Colony of Newfoundland instituted a local Aircraft Identity Corps.

In the spring of 1942, P.W. Crummey received a manila envelope at the Western Bay Post Office. In the envelope was a letter from L. E. Emerson, Commissioner of Defence for Newfoundland dated March 15, telling Crummey that "Aircraft Identity Corps Newfoundland" would be organized by the Royal Canadian Air Force as a unit of Canada's Aircraft Identity Corps. In the same package, Crummey also received: a letter dated March 15 from Flight Lieutenant H.H. Graham who was the commanding officer of Torbay Airport (No. 1 Group R.C.A.F. St. John's); glosserys of airplanes and ships; an Aircraft Identity Corps identity card and instructions. At war's end P.W. Crummey also received a brass Volunteer Aircraft Obververs button for his lapel pin and certificate of thanks from Canada's Ministry of Defence.