OK Time for a little education.
Seniority is tracked by the Air Historical Branch monthly. It is worked out on reckonable service which is effectively active service not in a 'reserve' role. For example 56(R) became the Tornado F3 OCU in mid nineties and so its seniority 'froze' at that stage. Time disbanded doesn't count for anything and I seem to recall this means that II(AC) is the senior squadron because 1(F) spent a short time on the bench. Role doesn't count for much either as 25 Sqn gained a large lump of seniority as a Bloodhound Sqn and 100 Sqn earn equal credit to a frontline unit despite having what some might consider a second-line role. It is only the training units that pick up (R) roles who's seniority is frozen.
When it comes to selecting which number to cull there is a policy paper which comes into play. First of all you look at the base to lose a sqn then go for the junior sqn at that base. In the late nineties this led to 29(F) being disbanded at Coningsby despite it being senior to 43 or 111 at Leuchars. Their airships then enter the equation and issues such as role changes, relocations and 'special pleading' come into play and the last time we did this exercise we also ensured that a proportion of ex-RNAS sqn numbers were retained (can you imagine the dark blue being equally even handed or sympathetic to us?) hence 201. 216 etc despite their relatively junior status.
The upshot is that the last 2 sqns in the RAF will be 1 Sqn and 617 Sqn unless the CAS of the day happens to have been OC II(AC) Sqn .......................
Are you reading this Sir Jock?
