Independent Air Force: Difference between revisions
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Through late 1916 and early 1917 the [[Royal Naval Air Service]] had attempted a co-ordinated series of bombing raids on German held targets. Whilst the attacks were generally unsuccessful the principle of deep penetration bombing raids against strategic targets was proved.{{fact}} General [[Jan Smuts]], a member of the War Cabinet, prepared [[Smuts Report|a report]] which recommended that a separate Air Ministry and Air Force should be set up, independent of the Army and Navy, and that a strategic bomber force should be formed whose sole purpose was to attack Germany. |
Through late 1916 and early 1917 the [[Royal Naval Air Service]] had attempted a co-ordinated series of bombing raids on German held targets. Whilst the attacks were generally unsuccessful the principle of deep penetration bombing raids against strategic targets was proved.{{fact}} General [[Jan Smuts]], a member of the War Cabinet, prepared [[Smuts Report|a report]] which recommended that a separate Air Ministry and Air Force should be set up, independent of the Army and Navy, and that a strategic bomber force should be formed whose sole purpose was to attack Germany. |
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Following the |
Following the perceived success in bombing Germany of the [[VIII Brigade RAF|VIII Brigade]], and its anticedent formation the [[No. 41 Wing RAF|41st Wing]], the British Government decided that it should be expanded into an independent force.<ref>{{cite book |title=Pictorial History of the RAF |last=Taylor |first=John |authorlink= |coauthors=Moyes, P J R |year=1968 |publisher=Ian Allan Ltd |location=Shepperton, Surrey, England |pages=16,17}}</ref> Before the creation of the Independent Air Force, the VIII Brigade was under the tactical command of Field Marshal [[Douglas Haig|Haig]].<ref name="LG1">{{LondonGazette |issue=31101 |date=31 December 1918 |startpage=133 |supp=x |accessdate=2009-05-25}}</ref> |
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After Parliamentary approval in November 1917, the [[Royal Air Force]] was born on 1 April 1918, and the forthcoming creation of the Independent Air Force was announced on [[13 May]] [[1918]] with its [[General Officer Commanding]] Major-General [[Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard|Trenchard]] who had recently stepped down as [[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]]. Trenchard had only agreed to serve as GOC after he received criticism for resigning his position as professional head of the RAF during a time of war.<ref>http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/36552?docPos=2</ref> The deputy commander was Brigadier-General [[Cyril Newall, 1st Baron Newall|Cyril Newall]] who had previously been the commander of the VIII Brigade.<ref>http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Newall.htm</ref> |
After Parliamentary approval in November 1917, the [[Royal Air Force]] was born on 1 April 1918, and the forthcoming creation of the Independent Air Force was announced on [[13 May]] [[1918]] with its [[General Officer Commanding]] Major-General [[Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard|Trenchard]] who had recently stepped down as [[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]]. Trenchard had only agreed to serve as GOC after he received criticism for resigning his position as professional head of the RAF during a time of war.<ref>http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/36552?docPos=2</ref> The deputy commander was Brigadier-General [[Cyril Newall, 1st Baron Newall|Cyril Newall]] who had previously been the commander of the VIII Brigade.<ref>http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Newall.htm</ref> |
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The Independent Air Force came into being on |
The Independent Air Force came into being on 6 June 1918 with its headquarters situated near [[Nancy]] in France. The Trenchard took over tactical command of the VIII Brigade from Haig on 5 June 1918 and complete control on 15 June 1918 when Newall became the deputy commander of the Independent Force.<ref name="LG1"/> |
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==Composition== |
==Composition== |
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Revision as of 17:57, 25 May 2009
The Independent Air Force (IAF), also known as the Independent Force or the Independent Bombing Force and later known as the Inter-Allied Independent Air Force, was a World War I strategic bombing force which was part of the British Royal Air Force and used to strike against German railways, aerodromes and industrial centres without co-ordination with the Army or Navy.
Establishment
Through late 1916 and early 1917 the Royal Naval Air Service had attempted a co-ordinated series of bombing raids on German held targets. Whilst the attacks were generally unsuccessful the principle of deep penetration bombing raids against strategic targets was proved.[citation needed] General Jan Smuts, a member of the War Cabinet, prepared a report which recommended that a separate Air Ministry and Air Force should be set up, independent of the Army and Navy, and that a strategic bomber force should be formed whose sole purpose was to attack Germany.
Following the perceived success in bombing Germany of the VIII Brigade, and its anticedent formation the 41st Wing, the British Government decided that it should be expanded into an independent force.[1] Before the creation of the Independent Air Force, the VIII Brigade was under the tactical command of Field Marshal Haig.[2]
After Parliamentary approval in November 1917, the Royal Air Force was born on 1 April 1918, and the forthcoming creation of the Independent Air Force was announced on 13 May 1918 with its General Officer Commanding Major-General Trenchard who had recently stepped down as Chief of the Air Staff. Trenchard had only agreed to serve as GOC after he received criticism for resigning his position as professional head of the RAF during a time of war.[3] The deputy commander was Brigadier-General Cyril Newall who had previously been the commander of the VIII Brigade.[4]
The Independent Air Force came into being on 6 June 1918 with its headquarters situated near Nancy in France. The Trenchard took over tactical command of the VIII Brigade from Haig on 5 June 1918 and complete control on 15 June 1918 when Newall became the deputy commander of the Independent Force.[2]
Composition
The Independent Air Force eventually consisted of nine squadrons of aircraft which were equipped with:[5]
- de Havilland DH4s
- de Havilland DH9s and de Havilland DH.9As
- Handley Page 0/400s
- Royal Aircraft Factory FE2bs
- Sopwith Camels for escort duties
Actions
During the last five months of World War I, Independent Air Force aircraft dropped a total of 550 tons of bombs, including 390 tons of bombs dropped by night.[5]
A considerable portion of the Independent Air Force’s efforts was in tactical support of the Allied armies, and the war ended before the IAF could conduct any sustained strategic bombing. Thus The Independent Force achieved little material effect on the German war industries, in return for heavy losses in men and machines.
References
- ^ Taylor, John (1968). Pictorial History of the RAF. Shepperton, Surrey, England: Ian Allan Ltd. pp. 16, 17.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "No. 31101". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 31 December 1918. - ^ http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/36552?docPos=2
- ^ http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Newall.htm
- ^ a b British Military Aviation in 1918 - Part 2 RAF Museum. Retrieved 14 March 2008
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