100th aniversary of the Royal Air Force today
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we’d have all been wearing brown for the past or nearly 100 years
HMG was in possession of a huge amount of blue serge which had been made for the Czar's Guard. It couldn't be delivered due to local difficulties at the time, despite having been paid for, so the stuff was available pretty much buckshee and was consequently imposed upon the upstart service.
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To detract from all the misery at the moment; another good news story this week after the news of the royal engagement.
The 100 year experiment is shortly to draw to a close with a year of celebrations all round.
Looking forward to wishing my RAF chums bon anniversaire!
The 100 year experiment is shortly to draw to a close with a year of celebrations all round.
Looking forward to wishing my RAF chums bon anniversaire!
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Yup. That's the colour, jRaven.
The shape shifted a bit, but not much.
The drill was based on Pongo stuff. Though the army limit of three steps sidewards escaped the new drill manual, so we got got our unfortunate nickname.
The shape shifted a bit, but not much.
The drill was based on Pongo stuff. Though the army limit of three steps sidewards escaped the new drill manual, so we got got our unfortunate nickname.
Thread Starter
Not having a copy of the Act to hand, I can't be sure, but I believe it set out the mechanism by which an Air Force would be formed - i.e. by an Order in Council. A draft Order had been prepared by 13 December 1917.
If Jan Smuts' report was effectively the conception of an independent Air Force, the Air Force Act might be regarded as the ante-natal class preparing for its birth on 1 April.
It took me a long time to realise that the choice of 1 April may represent the start of the Civil Service's financial year, and thus a new budget line.
If Jan Smuts' report was effectively the conception of an independent Air Force, the Air Force Act might be regarded as the ante-natal class preparing for its birth on 1 April.
It took me a long time to realise that the choice of 1 April may represent the start of the Civil Service's financial year, and thus a new budget line.
Ahhhh, always follow the money.
A big all-round congratulations.
Early RAF uniforms are very interesting, with several changes in the first year or two of its existence. At one stage officer rank was indicated by bars on the cap. Army officer ranks were used until 1919 I believe, and I have certainly seen WW1 medals named to a Lieutenant RAF (not RFC). I also once had a George V LS&GC named to a Sergeant Major, RAF - not sure how long that rank lasted until it was replaced by WO 1 and 2.
On the subject of officer ranks one set of rank names which was proposed was this rather fanciful list - Ensign, Lieutenant, Flight-Leader, Squadron-Leader, Reeve, Banneret, Fourth-Ardian, Third-Ardian, Second-Ardian, Ardian, Air Marshal. Apparently 'ardian' means "bird leader' in Gaelic!
Any retired Reeves or Bannerets on here?
On the subject of officer ranks one set of rank names which was proposed was this rather fanciful list - Ensign, Lieutenant, Flight-Leader, Squadron-Leader, Reeve, Banneret, Fourth-Ardian, Third-Ardian, Second-Ardian, Ardian, Air Marshal. Apparently 'ardian' means "bird leader' in Gaelic!
Any retired Reeves or Bannerets on here?
Last edited by Tankertrashnav; 29th Nov 2017 at 23:40.
Superb uniform shots above. I have a button off my grandfather's RFC uniform, only issued for what, about 4 years?
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
No Act or Parliament would have meant no Royal Air Force, we’d have all been wearing brown for the past or nearly 100 years.
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Both credible stories.
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Superb uniform shots above. I have a button off my grandfather's RFC uniform, only issued for what, about 4 years?
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rn...w=1366&bih=662