Mike
How about R31, built at RAF Cardington, first flown for 2 hrs by Sqn Ldr W C Hicks AFC RAF in July 1918 and adorned with a RAF roundel? She flew a 2nd test flight on 16 Oct 18 from Cardington for 2 hrs.
See here
Airshipsonline : Airships : R31
She was
not an H.M.A. and the RNAS had dissolved before first flight, so she was
de facto RAF by default. She also flew for 4hrs 55mins in the last 5 days of the Great War after commisioning as a RAF airship on 6 Nov 18.
I can find Hicks' appointment of a Permanent Commission and promotion to Wg Cdr in the Gazette here in 1919:
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issu...11919/page.pdf
This is a direct quote from the London Gazzette from the Air Ministry in 1918:
All Officers serving with the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps on the 31st March 1918, or in connection with those Services in certain Government Departments, in other than the undermentioned capacities, are granted temporary commissions in the Royal Air Force, with effect from the 1st April, 1918, in ranks which will appear in the Royal Air Force List.
Can I claim my virtual beer for this?
LJ