13th Annual Air Force Historical Conference

The press release for the 13th Annual Air Force Historical Conference, 3-5 July 2007, at the Canadian Forces College, 215 Yonge Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario, has been released. Sponsored by the Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre (www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/cfawc/cdd/historical_conference/hist_conf_e.asp) and supported by the Officer of Air Force Heritage and History, 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters, Winnipeg, Manitoba, the theme of this year's conference is "Flea Hunting: The Historical Dimension of Air Power and Counterinsurgency Warfare". As the release notes:

"With the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, counterinsurgency (COIN) warfare is very much a 'hot' topic of discussion within defence circles. There is a growing body of literature devoted not only to current theatres of combat, but also predicting that COIN-type operations will dominate warfare in the near future. If true, air power practitioners will need to explore COIN warfare in all of its dimensions: past, present and future. The rigorous study of air power as it applies to COIN was never a constant priority for the air power community; it waxed or waned depending on the current war or organizational goals. Perhaps the only constant has been that whenever air power was available, it was employed, or misemployed, in COIN conflicts throughout history. It is doubtful that this will change in the future; therefore, the onus is on us to learn from the past."

Speakers for the conference include several experts from the Canada, the United States and Great Britain. For registation or additional information, visit the conference website or contact either Major Bill March (tel 613-392-3811 ext 4656 or march.wa@forces.gc.ca) or Captain Lynn Lacroix (tel 613-392-2811 ext 4387 or lacroix.lv@forces.gc.ca).