Air Force Constitution Established
The Air Force Constitution of 1917 was laid down with a provision for an Air Force Reserve and an Auxiliary Air Force.
Plan for a Reserve Air Force
Sir Hugh Trenchard decreed that a Reserve Airr Force should be set up on a Territorial basis. He envisaged the Auxiliariesas a corps d'elite composed of the kind of young men who would have been interested in horses but who now wished to serve their country in machines!
The Formation of the Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 by amalgamating the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps into a single independent Force.
Territorial Air Force
Air Ministry document proposed the creation of a Territorial Air Force.
Reserve Air Force Bill
A Reserve Air Force Bill was drafted to raise 6 Auxiliary Squadrons and seven Speciaal Reserve Squadrons with a longer term plan to raise a total of 20 Auxiliary Squadrons. The Bill was initially opposed, and it did not become law until 1924.
Order in Council
An Order in Council made in the name of the King established the Auxiliary Air Force was signed on 9 October 1924. The first Squadrons were formed the following year.
First Special Reserve Squadron
The first Special Reserve Squadron to be formed was 502 (Ulster) Squadron at Aldergrove on 15 May 1925. It became an Auxiliary Air Force Squadron in 1937.
First Auxiliary Squadron
The first Auxiliary Squadron to be formed was 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron at Renfrew.