COLLECTION - The Royal Flying Corps
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Photograph: Royal Flying Corps pilot’s badge.
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was formally established on 13th May 1912. It absorbed the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers and was initially comprised of five sections – a Military Wing, a Naval Wing, a Reserve, a Central Flying School near Upavon on Salisbury Plain and the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough. The Naval Wing was later designated the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and generally developed as a separate branch of aviation.
Early Army pilots learnt to fly in civilian flying schools and thereafter attended the Central Flying School for advanced training. Once accepted into the Royal Flying Corps, they received a £75 refund for the costs of their civilian training.
Photograph: Museum display showing an aircraft workshop. Maintenance of aircraft was undertaken by men recruited for their skills as mechanics, carpenters or upholsterers. They were trained as “fitters” who worked with engines, “riggers” who dealt with airframes or as specialist armourers and metal-smiths.
The Royal Aircraft Factory was primarily involved with research and development and in August 1912, aircraft trials were held at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain to find out which privately made aircraft offered the best potential for development by the Army. At the outbreak of World War One in 1914, the Royal Flying Corps was equipped with a mixture of aircraft including Henri Farmans, Bleriot monoplanes, Avro biplanes, FE-8s and BE-2s. Four Squadrons comprised of 63 aeroplanes and 105 officers joined the War on 4th August 1914 in support of the British Expeditionary Force.
Photograph: Sopwith Pup N5195. This type of single-seater scout aeroplane came into service in late 1916 and was used by both the RNAS and the RFC. It was a popular aircraft with pilots.
Initially, aeroplanes were used for reconnaissance. However, as the war progressed they became involved with a number of different roles including the direction of artillery fire and the strafing and bombing of enemy trenches, supply lines and artillery positions. As air supremacy became important, aeroplanes also became involved in air-to-air combat. This gave rise to the concept of “aces” – pilots who shot down five or more enemy aircraft. The Royal Flying Corps also operated kite balloons as observation posts.
Photograph: Escape survival tin belonging to Major David Gray RFC. Major Gray was shot down over the Western Front and taken prisoner but managed to escape with two other servicemen.
The Royal Flying Corps suffered heavy casualties during the First World War. Thirteen Army pilots were awarded the Victoria Cross. The displays at the Museum of Army Flying tell the story of each of these men.
Photograph: The diary of George Orme Smart RFC who served with 60 Squadron. He was killed in action on 7th April 1917 by the German ace Baron Manfred von Richthofen.
On 1st April 1918 the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service merged to form the Royal Air Force.