War Clouds – Squadron Expansion Programme
War Clouds – Balloon Squadrons
War Clouds – Women ’ s Auxiliary Air Force
ROYAL AUXILIARY AIR FORCE I 100 th ANNIVERSARY
War Clouds – Squadron Expansion Programme
The growing threat from Germany re-armament programme was such that , on 30 August 1936 , to allow for rapid war expansion , the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve ( RAFVR ) was formed with recruiting commencing in 1937 . From 1936 , as the situation in Europe deteriorated , including the 1938 Munich Crisis , an additional eight AAF Sqns were formed ; 609 ( West Riding ) formed at Yeardon , 610 ( County of Chester ) formed at Hooton and 611 ( West Lancashire ) formed at Hendon in February 1936 . In 1937 , 612 ( County of Aberdeen ) formed at Dyce , 614 ( County of Glamorgan ) formed at Cardiff and 615 ( County of Surrey formed at Kenley . In 1939 , 613 ( City of Manchester ) formed at Ringway .
During the same period , in 1937 , the five SR squadrons transferred into the AAF , and 503 ( City of Lincoln ) Squadron was disbanded to reform on 1 November 1938 at Doncaster as 616 ( South Yorkshire ) Squadron .
It was during the period 1938-39 where 14 AAF squadrons changed role from light bomber to fighter squadrons , and five AAF squadrons re-rolled into Coastal Command and Army Co-operation Command . The re-rolling was timely and meant the AAF were ready to play their part in the up-coming conflict .
War Clouds – Balloon Squadrons
As part of the plans for the defence of London and as part of the National Balloon Defence Organisation . In 1936 the Committee of Imperial Defence approved a barrage of 450 balloons as part of the AAF under the control of Fighter Command . On 17 Mar 1937 , No 30 Balloon Barrage Group was formed followed on 1 November 1938 by the establishment of RAF Balloon Command .
Recruiting began in January 1939 and the first 10 squadrons ( 900 series )
RAF Balloon ( mobile winch ) formed ; each squadron having 45 balloons .
The hydrogen filled balloons would be flown up to 5000 ft from either fixed or mobile winches , each operated by 10 - 14 personnel under 2 SNCOs .
By March 1939 the command had expanded to 47 squadrons which were embodied into the Royal Air Force . In total 89 balloon squadrons were formed , all of which were disbanded when hostilities ceased .
War Clouds – Women ’ s Auxiliary Air Force
In April 1938 , the War Office put forward a proposal for the formation of a Reserve of women for the Army and for the Royal Air Force . The Air Ministry however , wanted those women enrolled within the Royal Air Force to be segregated into 48 special separate companies of the Auxiliary Territorial Service ( ATS ), and moved to locations where they could be affiliated to an AAF unit .
By June 1939 , it was decided that the Royal Air Force needed a completely separate women ’ s Service and the Women ’ s Auxiliary Air Force ( WAAF ) was constituted by Royal Warrant . Subsequently , it has been calculated that around 150,000 men were released for front-line service owing to the existence of the WAAF covering their roles on stations and in headquarters .
In 1947 , when the WAAF became the Women ’ s Royal Air Force , a female auxiliary element was formed within what eventually was to become the Royal Auxiliary Air Force . Recruiting females into the RAuxAF re-commenced in 1948 and since that date part-time female Reservists have served continually with the RAuxAF in a variety of roles .
In 1994 , the WRAF was disbanded , as was the WRAuxAF ; Females became part of the RAF and RAuxAF respectively .
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