Known as The Commonwealth Air Force Memorial: a large metal globe of the world, with an eagle on top, on a circular platform of white stone. It is flanked by two walls with inscribed plaques.

The Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) was set up by Great Britain and the Dominions shortly after the start of World War II. The main signatories were Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The broad agreement was to provide trained aircrews to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Before World War II it had become increasingly obvious that with the rise in the

importance of air power and the advances in aeronautical technology, more aircrews than ever before would be needed. This realisation was particularly in relation to bombers which were becoming increasingly bigger and requiring more crew members to operate. As well as bomber crews, the RAF required fighter pilots, maritime patrol crews to patrol the waters around Great Britain (to counter the threat of German submarines) and transport crews. The scheme did not contribute ground staff, only trained aircrews.

The goals and structure of the EATS were formulated at a conference held in Ottawa, Canada, in October 1939. After several weeks of bargaining, an agreement was reached in mid December 1939. Eventually, some 37,000 Australian airmen would be trained under the EATS.

Under the scheme, aircrews could be trained in Australian, New Zealand,

Canadian and British flying schools. All of the RAAF's EATS started their training in Australia and some did all their training up to Operational Training Unit (pre-squadron) level within Australia, proceeding directly to Europe or the Middle East to be posted to squadrons. Canada, however, was a very important area for aircrew training and thousands of young Australian men were sent there to complete intermediate and advanced training before proceeding to Britain. The first EATS course was sent overseas to Canada in early 1940.

The Ottawa Memorial commemorates almost 800 men and women of the Air Forces of the Commonwealth who lost their lives while serving in units operating from bases in Canada, the British West Indies and the United States of America or while training in Canada and the USA and who have no known grave or were buried at remote crash sites which are deemed to be unmaintainable.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Public Works Canada, 1959

Owner: Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Canada.

From Ottawa International Airport take the Airport Parkway Pvt (Ottawa Rd 79), turn right onto Hunt Club Rd then left onto Banks St (Ottawa Rd 31). Turn right onto Riverside Dr which continues into Vanier Pkwy then turn left onto St Patrick St, right onto King Edward Ave and right onto Sussex Dr. Continue over the bridge onto Green Island. The memorial is on the left.