The Royal Air Force

Korero (AEWS), Volume 2, Issue 14, 17 July 1944, Page 8

The Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force was created on April i, 1918. Its first communique, issued a few days later, reported that No. 20 Squadron dropped sixteen 20 lb. bombs » No. 1 Squadron thirteen 25 lb. bombs ; and No. 206 Squadron seventy-four 25 lb. bombs. In addition, four 40 lb. phosphorous bombs were dropped. In terms of this war’s 8,000 lb. blockbusters, this may not seem like a very auspicious start, but within three months the R.A.F. had command of the air over Europe. Against the Germans’ 340 planes, Britain could rank 1,390 better machines better manned. By the end of the war, when the rout of the first Luftwaffe was complete, the R.A.F. had 22,647 airplanes, 103 airships, 291,000 officers and men plus 25,000 women in the W.R.A.F. In the short eight months of its wartime life, it had become the world’s first great air force. Many of the men who are leading the R.A.F. to victory in its second great trial gained their first experience with the infant R.A.F. and its immediate predecessors, the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. Sir Charles Portal, Marshal of the R.A.F. and Chief of Air Staff, flew as an observer in the R.F.C. as early as 1915, once pot-shotted the German ace Immelmann with a rifle. Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, Deputy Allied Commander in Europe, flew with the R.F.C. in 1916, was squadron leader in the R.A.F. in 1919. Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris commanded the first experimental night-flying detachment in World War I for defence against Zepplin attacks on London. — U.S. Army-Navy Journal of Recognition.