John
Now we have got the introductions out of the way I will give you my honest answer.
I don’t know why you’re picking on the RAF in particular. If your suggestion was to merge all of the forces I think it would be something more worth debating.
The current set up works just fine albeit with some obvious duplication in HQ roles.
If you wanted to subsume the RAF into the other services then you may as well go the whole hog and amalgamate the whole lot. Just disbanding the RAF wouldn’t be worth the bother on its own.
Emotion aside a single force structure could be something that is worth doing.
My opinion though (for what it’s worth) is to leave it be. The amount of cost, ill will and years of power struggles that would ensue are just not worth the investment.
I know this will sound glib and laden with banter (which it is) but it’s hard enough to develop airmindedness amongst RAF personnel. The idea of persuading the other services to embrace ‘Air’ to a greater extent does not fill me with glee.
Other opinions may vary of course.
BV