Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force - part of RAF?
Had the modern equivalent of a bar room conversation (Zoom!) with an old chum about whether or not the RHKAAF was considered ‘part ‘ of the RAF or not. He says it was, I’m not so sure but then I’m a bit younger than him!
what is the opinion of the pprune experts? |
As far as I remember, it was always an "auxiliary" organisation to the Royal Air Force. Two (at least) of its officers, the Chief Pilot and the Chief Engineering Officer, were RAF squadron leaders on exchange. Former members (it was disbanded in 1993) would be able to give a more accurate answer.
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It looks like it was RAF and Army.
In Robbie Shaw's book on Kai Tak, The Final Decade, there are a number of images of helos with RAF numbering and in one case a Royal Air Force Wessex. He says they were operated by 660 Squadron. On the opposite page to the Wessex is an Army Scout .Later there is an image of an S76 in VR Rego when they became the GFS. Wunwing |
28 Sqn RAF should not be confused with the RHKAAF.
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A couple of thoughts:
The RAF’s last Spitfires(Mk24) were operated by the the RHKAAF. The RAF’s 28 Sqn did operate from HKGFS’s Kai Tak base for its last few months before being disbanded. |
Background to the Auxiliaries page 19, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force page 173. Part of the RAF, yes.
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documen...ary-Forces.pdf |
Part of the RAF, no. Alongside the RAF, yes. Their personnel were, apart from a few on exchange, volunteers, their COs were civilians.
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I spent two longish detachments in Hong Kong flying to Katmandu with the Britannia in the early seventies. We spent quite a lot of time in the bar of the RAF Officer's mess at Kai Tak and I can't remember meeting anyone from the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. I think they only had helicopters at thet time.
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The HKAAF had its own officers mess downtown. Kai Tak was far too difficult to get to for a party.
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There's a very nice video of the final flypast of the HKAAF Spitfires on http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/it...ect/1060042560. Might be of interest?
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Originally Posted by VictorGolf
(Post 11001878)
There's a very nice video of the final flypast of the HKAAF Spitfires on http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/it...ect/1060042560. Might be of interest?
It was, I believe, the last ever official formation flight by any Spitfires in RAF service. Hence the title. |
Originally Posted by megan
(Post 11001474)
Background to the Auxiliaries page 19, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force page 173. Part of the RAF, yes.
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documen...ary-Forces.pdf |
Originally Posted by brakedwell
(Post 11001651)
I spent two longish detachments in Hong Kong flying to Katmandu with the Britannia in the early seventies. We spent quite a lot of time in the bar of the RAF Officer's mess at Kai Tak and I can't remember meeting anyone from the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. I think they only had helicopters at thet time.
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According to Wiki RHKAAF was based at Kai Tak from 1949 to 1993 when it was disbanded and the non military operations moved to the newly formed Government Flying Services. They did make use the runway at Sek Kong when it was not operating as a camp for the boat people.
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Originally Posted by chevvron
(Post 11005495)
I always thought the RHKAAF operated from Sek Kong rather than Kai Tak.
They did make use the runway at Sek Kong when it was not operating as a camp for the boat people. |
Originally Posted by happybiker
(Post 11005717)
According to Wiki RHKAAF was based at Kai Tak from 1949 to 1993 when it was disbanded and the non military operations moved to the newly formed Government Flying Services. They did make use the runway at Sek Kong when it was not operating as a camp for the boat people.
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Yes, my mistake, I meant GFS. The RHKAAF staff went home in RAF uniforms and the next day wore their new “local government issue”. The aircraft were retained, albeit on civilian plates. The unit crest was along the same lines as all other RAF ones, with the Royal Crown and "Semper Paratus" as it's motto.
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was an 'auxiliary unit of the Royal Air Force' formed in 1949 and disbanded on 1 Apr 1993 |
I think they were part of the RAF. There were always some supervisory RAF staff posted there, i.e. QFIs /QHIs. Would the RAF "give" away a squadron of Mk24 Spitfires to a non RAF organisation? I doubt it and after all the "R" in RHKAAF stood for "Royal". The unit had a royal crown on its badge.
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Originally Posted by ShyTorque
(Post 11001917)
I have what is possibly the only remaining original example of that video, on a 16mm film. The video is a shortened version.
It was, I believe, the last ever official formation flight by any Spitfires in RAF service. Hence the title. |
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