Development during the World War. The directorate of mil- itary aeronautics had, prior to the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, drawn up a mobilization scheme providing for the dispatch overseas of 4 squadrons and the retention in England of 2 squad- rons. The register of civilian pilots and privately owned machines had also been drawn up. All the existing squadrons were short of pilots, though nearly up to establishment in N.C.O.'s and men. The Central Flying School had been formed on a scale calculated gradually to build up the establishment of the naval and military wings that had been laid down, and was not capable of meeting at short notice the requirements that arose out of the emergency. Even the mobilization of four squadrons, therefore, was rather more than the existing resources of machines and pilots justified, and it became necessary to draw upon the Reserve and the Central Flying School.
On Aug. 3, when mobilization commenced, Maj.-Gen. David Handerson, director of military aeronautics at the War Office, was appointed general officer commanding the R.F.C., with the Expeditionary Forfe, and Maj. W. S. Brancker took over the War Office work as assistant director.
On Aug. 13 and 15, Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5 Squadrons (less one flight of No. 4 left behind for Home Defence), flew from Dover to Amiens, followed by R.F.C. headquarters, .the mechanics and transport of the squadrons, and the Aircraft Park, proceeding by boat and train. The Park was established at Amiens. 1
The three main problems confronting the military aeronautics directorate at the War Office, after the departure of the Expedition- ary Force, were (a) the training of pilots, (6) provision of skilled other ranks, (c) manufacture of aeroplanes and engines.
With regard to (c), coordination between the military aeronautics directorate and the Air Department of the Admiralty had hitherto been regulated by the air committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence ; but on the outbreak of war the other preoccupations of its members led to a complete cessation of its functions and no con- trolling influence remained to balance the claims of the two wings.
With regard to (a) and (6), the existing organization provided for no expansions on the scale to be expected in the near future, and, with the exception of the Central Flying School, which had already been seriously depleted in both personnel and equipment, Farn- borough was the only station in commission. No. I (Reserve) Aeroplane Squadron was formed at Farnborough and undertook the training of pilots. The number of mechanics was short, and skilled civilians were enlisted direct into the R.F.C. At the end of Sept. 1914 some pilots were sent home from France in order to reenforce the instructional resources at home, the demand for the replacement of wastage and for forming new squadrons promising to become heavy in the near future. The policy of expansion adopted was for the form- ation of as many reserve squadrons as the personnel permitted, and for each reserve squadron, in addition to training pilots ab initio, to be responsible for producing the nucleus of a service squadron.
By Oct. 1914 the scheme for the organization of the new armies had been drawn up by the War Office, and since experience in the field had made one artillery observation squadron per division a basis for estimating requirements, with, in addition, two or three fighting and reconnaissance squadrons per corps, it thus early be- came apparent that eventually at least 60 service squadrons would be required by the B.E.F. The question of long-distance bombing raids ^ into Germany was not overlooked, but the urgency of the army's needs for cooperating units was such that their provision was for the time of primary importance and detailed consideration of an aerial offensive was postponed.
With the gradual increase in the number of units both at home and in the field, the need for decentralization became apparent, and led to the adoption of the " Wing " as an intermediate organization between the squadron and headquarters. Further, it was found in France that the tactical employment of aircraft suffered through their being controlled directly by G.H.Q. instead of being allotted permanently to subordinate commands. Accordingly, in Nov. 1914 wings were formed, and this reorganization of the R.F.C. (head- quarters and squadrons) in the field synchronized with that of the higher army commands, the 1st Wing being allotted to the I. Army, and the 2nd Wing to the II. Army. It was laid down at the time that wings would be allotted to certain areas and would cooperate with units in that area. Special missions and strategical recon- naissances would be ordered by R.F.C. headquarters.
At home in the meantime the formation of No. I and No. 7 Squadrons (temporarily held up in order that all efforts might be concentrated cm preparing No. 6 Squadron for overseas) was being
1 On Oct. 7 eight machines of No. 6 Squadron flew to Bruges to take part in the operations of the 7th Division. By the l6th of the month, however, this squadron had withdrawn S. and had come under the orders of R.F.C. headquarters.
proceeded with, the two squadrons being moved a little later to Netheravon, where a school had been started as an annex to the Central Flying School. The formation of other squadrons and re- serve squadrons soon followed.
In France, during the opening months of 1915, the scope of R.F.C. activities rapidly extended, and the demands made on it for bombing, photography, message-dropping and artillery observation increased. Accordingly, a 3rd Wing was formed (March i) and the number of squadrons in each wing was increased to three, a decision that led to the formation, in France, of No. 16 Squadron and the dispatch from England of Nos. I, 7 and 8 Squadrons (March-April 1915). These increases necessitated a corresponding extension to the Air- craft Park. In Jan. 1915, an establishment of 50 squadrons was sanctioned. At the end of July a programme of development was drafted providing for the raising of 30 service squadrons and 10 reserve squadrons by Jan. I 1916, and another 30 service squadrons with five reserve squadrons Dec. I 1916. This development pro- gramme was based essentially upon what were considered the army's requirements in aircraft, the scale adopted being one squad- ron per corps for artillery observation and photography, one squad- ron for each army and one squadron for G.H.Q.
By this time aerial fighting had become general, and aircraft were armed so as to enable reconnaissance and artillery observation machines to protect themselves. After some experience it became evident that pure fighting machines would be required and that upon their ascendency over the enemy would depend command of the air and consequently the freedom from hostile interference so necessary for artillery machines to function efficiently. The machine that proved itself to have the last word in aerial combat was the fast, easily manoeuvred fighting scout, which though designed for scout- ing ultimately developed into the modern fighting machine.
It was not, however, until early in 1916 that the policy of having scout squadrons was generally adopted, 2 the practice up to then having been to allot a few scouts to each squadron. Thus it was that at the time of the drafting of the 1915 programme the two-seater machine largely predominated.
In Aug. 1915, it was decided that the increase in the number of wings (the 6th Wing being now formed, and the 7th and 8th fol- lowing in Nov.) demanded the institution of a higher intermediate formation, and in Sept. the brigade organization was adopted under this. Each brigade, commanded by a brigadier-general, was to con- sist of three wings and one Aircraft Park the R.F.C. then in the field forming the 1st Brigade. The 2nd Brigade comprised the 4th, 5th and 6th Wings and the independent stations of Montrose and Brooklands. Under the Administrative Wing were placed the units at Farnborough and Northolt. A school of aerial gunnery was also opened at Dover (subsequently moved to Hythe) and the Aircraft Park organization was recast.
A school and officers' depot (subsequently known as the School of Military Aeronautics) was started in Nov. at Reading where officers joining the R.F.C. could be put through a course in engines, rigging, artillery cooperation, map reading, signalling, etc., before joining a reserve squadron for instruction in flying. A wireless telegraphy school was also formed at Brooklands.
Towards the end of 1915 it was decided to increase the strength of the R.F.C. in France so as to have one brigade or two wings with each army, and in addition to have one or two wings with G.H.Q. One of the wings in each brigade to be entrusted with close recon- naissance, photography and artillery work with corps and divisions, the strength of the wing being calculated at one squadron per corps, whilst the other wing would be available as required by the army commander for bombing, reconnaissance and patrol operation. This involved an establishment for the R.F.C. of 70 service squad- rons and 20 reserve squadrons, which besides training pilots func- tioned as draft-producing units.
At the end of Jan. 1916, the brigade organization took definite shape in France, with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd units as "corps wings" and the loth, nth and I2th Wings as " army wings."
The question of home defence against aerial attack now became of primary importance. Up to Jan. 1916, a certain number of aeroplanes and pilots had been allotted to Home Defence, but on the War Office taking over the responsibility for anti-aircraft defence from the Admiralty in Feb. 1916, a definite Home Defence organization was adopted. At first some 25 B.E.C.2. aeroplanes were allotted to the defence of London, but were scattered about in small detachments and placed under officers commanding various reserve squadrons. As this was found unsatisfactory, all the de- tachments were placed under a single officer, whose headquarters were at Hounslow. As further development became necessary cer- tain squadrons were converted into Home Defence Squadrons. In April a new Home Defence Squadron was constituted out of various detachments employed on Home Defence duties, and in June the Home Defence wing was formed to include all Home Defence units. This wing was attached to G.H.Q. Great Britain for operations. The two brigades at home were merged into one, this brigade being known as the 6th Brigade and later as the Training Brigade. It was
1 No. 24 Squadron with De Haviland Scouts was the first of this type to go overseas on Feb. 6 1916.
