Royal Canadian Naval Air Service

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The Royal Canadian Naval Air Service (RCNAS) was established in 1918 in response to the Royal Canadian Navy's recommendation that defensive air patrols be established off Canada's Atlantic coast to protect shipping from U-boats.

While RCNAS aircrew were being trained in both the United States and the United Kingdom, the United States Naval Flying Corps began to fly convoy escort missions and reconnaissance patrols from two air stations which were established in Nova Scotia near convoy assembly ports:

• Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (Naval Air Station Halifax)
• North Sydney, Nova Scotia (Naval Air Station Sydney)

These shore facilities functioned as sea plane bases throughout 1918 with USNFC aircraft patrolling against the U-boat threat.

The war ended before the RCNAS aircrew had completed training, and the RCNAS was disbanded, with the Canadian Air Force (precursor to the Royal Canadian Air Force) taking over operation of both USN air stations in Nova Scotia.