THE ROYAL AIR FORCETHE ROYAL AIR FORCE

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GENERAL SERVICE TRAININGGENERAL SERVICE TRAINING

PART 1PART 1 DEVELOPMENT OF THE RAFDEVELOPMENT OF THE RAF

1912

Military Aviation started in May 1912 with the formation of the Royal Flying Corps, (RFC).

All Pilots were trained at the Central Flying School at Upavon – all aircraft were unarmed and used for reconnaissance in support of military & naval operations.

1914

It was decided that the use of support of Naval Operations posed special problems and the Navy broke away from the RFC to form the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).

The aircraft were still mainly used for reconnaissance work and it was not until the Germans began to use fighter aircraft to shoot them down that we countered with our own British Fighters to protect them.

The introduction of Fighter aircraft on both sides led to battles over the Western Front in which men like Ball, McCudden, Mannock, Von Richthofen, Immelmann and Boelcke fought for air superiority.

1916

By 1916, as a result of the early Zeppelin raids, it was quickly realised that aircraft could also be used for Bombing – both RFC & RNAS commenced bombing attacks against Germany.

1918

On the 1st of April, 1918, the RAF was born through amalgamation of the RFC & RNAS.

At the end of 1918, the RAF had 190 Squadrons with 290,000 officers & men.

In less than 2 years the strength had dropped to 30 Squadrons with 25,000 officers & men.

Lord Trenchard (Father of the RAF) & Sir Winston Churchill (Secretary of State for War & Air) agreed that the Force should be kept at about this operational strength. The annual budget was used to build up a sound training organisation.

RAFC Cranwell was opened in 1920.RAF Halton (Apprentices School) – opened in 1922.RAF Staff College – Andover – opened in 1922.

Training

1925

1 Jan 1925- Air Defences of Great Britain formed (Commander Air Marshal Sir John Salmond), and comprises Bombing Area, Fighting Area and Special Reserve and the Auxiliary Air Force.

1936

14 Jul 1936- As a result of RAF expansion, the Air Council decides to re-organised the Air Defence of Great Britain into four specialised Commands:

Bomber - Commanded by Air Marshal Sir John Steel at UxbridgeFighter - Commanded by Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding at StanmoreCoastal - Commanded by Air Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore at Lee-on-Solent Training - Commanded by Air Marshal Sir Charles Burnett at Ternhill.

Under this system, the individual Air Officers Commanding were responsible for the planning and development of their Command, whilst the Chief of the Air Staff remained in overall control of operational policy.

Introduction of RADAR

The most important achievement to be produced around these years was the development of radio location to detect & locate aircraft.

RAdio Detection And Ranging (RADAR).

As a result, we had an early warning chain of 18 Radar stations being used along the East coast, which together with the Royal Observer Corps, was to provide such vital assistance during later battles.

1940

10 Jul 1940 - First phase of the Battle of Britain begins.

600 – 700 fighters – Spitfires & Hurricanes flew daily against Luftwaffe’s force of 1000 fighters & 1250 bombers.

The German Invasion was planned for September but the Luftwaffe failed to gain air superiority.

They suffered crippling aircraft losses in combat, while shipping, assembled in the invasion ports, was decimated by Bomber Command.

This difficult battle between July & October 1940 was a turning point in the war against Germany.

POST WAR

As in 1918, the end of the hostilities again led to the contraction of the RAF. From over 1,100,000 Officers & Men in 1945 the RAF had been reduced to around 200,000 by 1950, and to less than 100,000 by 1970

Wartime conscription was continued after the war in the form of National Service but this ended in 1962.

The RAF is now a regular force supported by:

RAuxAF Royal Auxiliary Air Force

RAF VR Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves