ROYAL AIR FORCE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1933, Page 6

ROYAL AIR FORCE

3 BEGINNINGS & DEVELOPMENTS D WELLINGTON, October 24. Ah interesting reference to the be--1 ginnings and subsequent development 3 of the Royal Air Force was made by bquadron-JLeader T. M. Wilkes in bis reply to-the toast “The Defence Forces of the Empire,” a.t the Nelson Day dinner held by the Wellington branch of the Navy League. Although the Royal Air Force as a separate service was very young, having been established just over fifteen years, ago, said Squadron-Leader Wilkes, aircraft had played their part in military operations for some fifty years. It was in 1878 that the attenton of the British military authorities had been first turned to aeronautics. In that ye ( ar a Ballooon Equipment Store had been established and bal- ‘ loon units had first taken part in army I manoeuvres in 1880. They had seen I service in 1884 with the Bechuanaland Expedition, and later in the Sudan and South Africa. In 1911 an air battalion had been formed, No 1 Company consisting of airships and No 2 Company of aeroplanes. In 1912. the Royal Flying Corps had been organised, with a military wing and a naval wing. By 1914 the combined strength was 275 officers and 1800 other ranks, with 270 aeroplanes and seaplanes and seven arships. In 1918 the two wings liad been amalgamated and the Royal Air l'orce. form’ed. At the armistice its strength haj been 30,122 officers and 263,410 other ranks, with 2647 aeroplanes and seaplanes and 103 airships. To-day the approximate strength was 3400 officers and 30,000 men with 1434 aircraft.