No. 1(Fighter) Squadron predates the Royal Flying Corps with its origins in No 1 Balloon Company of the Royal Engineers in 1878. It became the No 1 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps in 1912 and upgraded to aircraft in 1914.
Excellent, so when some idiot signs up for "blimps" for the RAF (see below), and we have scrapped the last remnants of the Harrier Force to pay for it, then No 1 Balloon Company can live again.
Not too sure if it's an "upgrade" or a "downgrade" to the Harrier, though???
