Trenchard is often referred to as the Father of the RAF, but reportedly said that Henderson deserved the title.
The War Cabinet set up the Smuts Committee on 11 July 1917. By the 19th Henderson had written two papers, the first setting out the background to the problem and the second detailing how "a complete department and a complete united service dealing with all operations in the air, and with all the necessary services which that expression implies" might be set up.