As an aside but possibly worth mentioning. Smuts had been heavily influenced by the capabilities of aircraft for reconnaissance during his campaign to capture German South-West Africa from the Germans in 1915. The aircraft and men involved were all volunteers and were a very mixed bag of flying nuts. They were known as the South African Flying Unit.
Following the campaign Smuts arranged for the pilots and men involved to be sent to the UK to train as a formal unit. This became No. 26 (AC) Squadron formed at Netheravon on 8th October 1915 and finally disbanded (largely for political reasons) at Wyton on 1st April 1975.