In World War II the Royal Canadian Navy provided most of the crewmen for two Royal Navy aircraft carriers, HMS 'Nabob' and `Puncher'. In addition, Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve aircrew on loan to the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm served on other British aircraft carriers. One such pilot was Nelson, British Columbia's Robert Hampton Gray, who was awarded the Royal Canadian Navy's only Victoria Cross. The Canadian Warplane Heritage Corsair is dedicated to Gray.
In 1945 Canada set up the Canadian Naval Air Section, renamed "Air Arm" in 1946. The Navy also acquired in succession three aircraft carriers - HMCS `Warrior', `Magnificent' and `Bonaventure'. The 'Bonaventure' was the last aircraft carrier to be decommissioned, and the Navy never replaced her. Ottawa's desire for a small-ship navy and helicopters made carriers with fixed-wing aircraft impractical.
Also in the Second World War, the Canadian Army had three Air Observation Post squadrons in Northwest Europe. They undertook aerial spotting for the Artillery.
