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Old 16th Jul 2008, 20:26
  #22 (permalink)  
Archimedes
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Swindonshire
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Sliding back into the history:

Trenchard has no claim to being the father of the RFC, that's most definitely Henderson. Henderson had written about the potential of aerial reconnaissance in 1907 when he was Director of Military Training, sat on the sub-cttee of the CID which led to the creation of the RFC and had been involved in the development of military aviation since 1909 when that committee had been set up. He was the first GOC RFC as well as being DGMA, a post he held until the creation of the RAF.

Trenchard always disclaimed the title of 'Father of the RAF' and argued that Henderson deserved it - not least because Henderson acted as Smut's chief advisor and wrote possibly the most influential memo that Smuts recieved during Smuts' inquiry, in which he called for the creation of a separate air service.
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