Aircraft Identity Corps

The Aircraft identity Corps was a Canadian civil defence organisation operating between 1940 and 1945. It was formed in 1940 by Air Vice-Marshal George Croil. By war's end it had over 30,000 members.

The corps was to report suspicious aircraft and guard against German, Japanese, and Italian attack. The use of observers was deemed important since Radar was not yet in widespread use.

There was also a Newfoundland Aircraft Detection Corps.

The Commissioner of Defence for Newfoundland was L.E. Emerson. At the Royal Canadian Air Force's behest he amalgamated the Aircraft Detection Corps Newfoundland with the Canadian Aircraft Detection Corps.

In a March 15, 1942, Commissioner Emerson circulated a letter stating the "Aircraft Detection Corps Newfoundland" would be organized by the RCAF as a unit of the "Canadian Aircraft Identity Corps".

One of the letter's recipients was a volunteer named P.W. Crummey. Crummey also received a letter from Flight Lieutenant H.H. Graham, commanding officer of Torbay Airport (No. 1 Group RCAF. St. John's); glosseries of airplanes and ships; an identity card and procedural instructions. At war's end volunteers received a brass Volunteer Aircraft Observer button and certificate of thanks from Canada's Ministry of Defence.