In my opinion, it played an important role.
It was a key role that we took, and one that the allies very much wanted us to take. At the time, we looked to take on challenging roles, ones that we were fully capable of doing, and ones that, in fact, gave the highest visibility to Canada. That's why we ended up in the central gulf.
The aircraft were taking on these CAP missions, and close air sweep escort missions. It was what was needed most by the allied effort, and that's what we tried to meet if we were capable of doing it, and if it was safe to do so.