Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Ministry Orders relating to transfer of the FAA to the Admiralty

Transfer of Short Service and Medium Service Officers of the General Duties Branch to the Air Branch of the Royal Navy

1. By agreement with the Lords commissioners of the Admiralty, the following arrangements have been made for the selection of a limited number of officers who are serving or have served on short service commissions (including those extended to medium service) in the general duties branch of the Royal Air Force for appointment to short service commissions in the air branch of the Royal Navy.

2. Officers of the air branch will be employed on flying duties in the Fleet Air Arm both at shore stations and in seagoing ships, including aircraft carriers.  They will, at some point after joining be required to carry out a course of training in those naval aspects of their duties which have not already been imparted to them. These duties will include all of those which fall to, a naval officer of the executive branch in the course of his Fleet Air Arm work and can include the command of Fleet Air Arm units or bases and certain other admini8strative functions, but not  the command or navigation of seagoing vessels.

3. Eligibility - To be eligible for consideration, officers must be qualified pilots and fit for full flying duties.  Officers now in the Reserve must have completed four or more years on the active list of the Royal Air Force.  Officers need not have had experience with the Fleet Air Arm during their RAF service.

4. Applications - Officers now serving who comply with the above conditions and wish to be considered for appointment to the air branch of the Royal Navy should submit their applications to the Air Ministry, through the usual channels, for transmission to the Admiralty as early as possible.  The names of applicants serving abroad should be be reported by signal.  Officers now in the Reserve who comply with the above conditions and who wish to be considered should submit their applications to the AOC, No 26 (Training) Group, Royal Air Force Hendon, The Hyde, NW9, who will forward them to the Air Ministry.  Officers in the Reserve, before being accepted will be examined by a medical board to determine their fitness for transfer. Applicants serving at home may be required to attend at the Admiralty for interview.  All travelling expenses incurred by officers in connection with interview, medical boards, etc, must be borne by the officers concerned.

5. Date of effect - Transfers to the air branch, if approved, will take effect on or after 1st April 1938.  The active period of an officer's RAF commission which terminates before that date will not however be extended pending transfer.  Officer serving abroad will normally be brought home before transfer at public expense and granted leave for which they may be eligible provided the exigencies of the Service permit.

6. Conditions of transfer -  An outline of the conditions of appointment to and service in the air branch officers of the Royal Navy applicable to transferred officers is contained in the the appendix to this order.

7. Officers will be liable to removal from the list of the Navy at any time on account of misconduct.  They will also be liable to removal from the active or emergency lists on account of physical or general incapacity.

8. Employment in civil life - The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Officers' Civil Employment Committee, which is composed of serving and retired officers, is established at the Admiralty with the object of finding suitable employment for naval officers on retirement.  This Committee employs full time liaison officers to maintain contact with the civilian world, and officers transferring from the Royal Air Force will be given every assistance by the committee.

9. It should be understood that officers transferred under this order will terminate finally their connection with the Royal Air Force.
   

APPENDIX

RANK AND SENIORITY ON TRANSFER

1. Officers still on the active list of the Royal Air Force - The rank and seniority of these officers will be as follows:

   Rank in Royal Air Force	Rank and seniority in Royal Navy
   Acting pilot officer	Acting sub-lieutenant (A) with the same seniority
   Pilot officer	Sub-lieutenant (A) with the same seniority
   Flying officer	Lieutenant (A) with the same seniority, provided this does not exceed two years.  Flying officers with more than two years seniority will be granted two years seniority only as lieutenant (A).
   Flight Lieutenant	Lieutenant (A) with two years additional seniority

    

2. Officers who have completed four years or more active service with the Royal Air Force and have been transferred to the Reserve - —These officers will granted commissions as lieutenants (A) RN, whether they hold the rank of flight lieutenant or not.  Officers who held the rank of flight lieutenant, RAF on terminating their active service in the Royal Air Forces will be granted the same seniority as lieutenant (A) R.N. as they then held in the rank of flight lieutenant.   The seniority of other officers will date from transfer.

PERIODS OF SERVICE

3. Officers transferred from the active list of the Royal Air Force -

   1. Officers transferred will be required to serve seven years on the active list of the Royal Navy.

   2. On completion of their seven years on the active list of the Royal Navy, officers will be permitted (provided their services are still required) to continue on the active list to complete a total of fifteen years on the active lists of the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.

   3. Officers not so retained will be transferred to the emergency list of the air branch until they complete fifteen years combined Royal Air Force and Royal Navy service.  Officers on the emergency list of the air branch will be required (a) to keep them selves in flying practice and (b) to undergo periodical training either of a fortnight annually or a month biennially.  The annual or biennial will take place in RN ships or naval establishments; the necessary flying practice will he arranged at an aerodrome  (not necessarily naval) as near as possible to officers' own homes; at least twelve hours flying a year will be required (apart from the naval training).  On completion of their emergency list service, officers will be transferred to the retired list of the Royal Navy and will no longer be required to keep themselves in flying practice or to undergo further periodical training; they will however, be liable to be called out for service in war or emergency should their services be required.

   4. it is anticipated that the Admiralty will be able to offer to some of the officers who complete fifteen years on the active list the option of remaining for a further period in order to become eligible for retired pay.  Officers will become eligible for retired pay on reaching the age of forty or completing twenty years' combined RAF and RN service, whichever is later.

4. Officers transferred from the Reserve of Air Force Officers  -

   1. Officers transferred will be required to serve seven years on the active list of the Royal Navy.

   2. On completion of their seven years on the active list of the Royal Navy, officers will be permitted (provided their services are still required) to remain to complete fifteen years on the active list of the Royal Navy.

   3. Officers not so retained will be transferred to the emergency list of the air branch until they complete a total of fifteen years on the active list of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. (For emergency list conditions see Para 3 (iii), of this appendix)

   4. it is anticipated that the Admiralty will be able to offer some of the officers who complete fifteen years an the active list the option of  remaining for a further period in order to become eligible for retired pay.  Officers will become eligible for retired pay on completion of twenty years' or on attaining the age the of forty, whichever is later.

PROMOTION

5. (i) Acting sub-lieutenants (A) will be eligible for promotion to the rank of sub-lieutenant (A) on attaining one year's seniority in that rank, provided they are recommended by their COs, and have satisfactorily completed training.
   (ii) Sub-lieutenants (A) will be eligible for promotion to the rank of lieutenant (A) on attaining two years' (A) seniority in the rank of sub-lieutenant, provided that they are recommended by their C.O. for such promotion.
   (iii) Officers will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander (A) on attaining eight years' seniority as lieutenant (A) provided that they are still on the active list of the Royal Navy.
   (iv) In exceptional circumstances, officers of the rank of lieutenant commander (A) may be selected for promotion to commander (A) when they will come under the same general conditions of service as other officers of the rank of commander RN.
   

RETIRING GRATUITIES OR RETIRED PAY

6. Officers transferred from the list of the Royal Air Force -

   1. Officers transferred from the active list of the Royal Air Force will be eligible on completion of seven years on the active list of the Royal Navy, and if not retained for further service on the active list of the Royal Navy, for a gratuity of £100 for each completed year on the active list of the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy combined, except the first.

   2. Officers who complete seven years on the active list, and are retained for a further period, will be eligible, on completing a total of fifteen years Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, for a gratuity of £1,600.

   3. If such officers are permitted to transfer to the emergency list, or retired list, before completing their full period of fifteen years, they may, at Admiralty discretion, be granted a gratuity not exceeding £600, for a total of seven years on the active lists of the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, with additions not exceeding £100 for each subsequent complete year.

   4. Officers who are retained on the active list, of the Royal Navy beyond a total of fifteen years on the active lists of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force will be eligible for gratuities at the rate of £1,600 for fifteen years on the active lists with additions not exceeding £100 for each subsequent complete year.

   5. Officers who complete twenty service combined RAF and RN and have attained the ago of forty may be granted retired pay at the rate of £250 a year, plus £12 for each complete year of service beyond twenty.

   6. Officers who are promoted to commander (A) will be eligible for retired pay on the scale laid down for commanders of other branches of the Royal Navy.
      

7. Officers transferred from the Reserve of Air Force Officers -

   1. Officers transferred from the Reserve of Air Force Officers who compete seven years on the active list of the Royal Navy and are not retained for further active list service, will be eligible for a gratuity of £600 on transfer to the emergency list.

   2. Officers who complete seven on the active list and are retained for a further period, will be eligible on completing fifteen years on the active lint, for a gratuity of £1,600.

   3. If such officers are permitted to transfer to the emergency list, or retired list, before completing their full period of fifteen years, they may, at Admiralty discretion, be granted a gratuity not exceeding £600 for seven years on the active list with additions not exceeding £100 for each subsequent complete year of service.

   4. Officers who are retained beyond fifteen years on the active list will be eligible for gratuities at the rate of £1,600 for fifteen years on the active list with additions not exceeding £100 for each subsequent year of service.

   5. Officers who complete twenty years service and have attained the age of forty may be granted retired pay at the rate of £250 a year, plus £12 a year for each complete year of service beyond twenty.

   6. Officers who are promoted to commander (A) will be eligible for retired pay on the scale laid down for commanders of other branches of the Royal Navy.

Full Pay, Flying Allowance and Retaining Pay

8. Full pay

Officers of the (A) branch of the Royal Navy will be eligible for employed pay and half-pay at the rates and under the same conditions as laid down for executive officers entered as cadets.

9. Flying pay - Flying pay is payable with full pay to officers holding appointments involving frequent ascents in aircraft.

   Rank	Per diem
   Acting sub-lieutenant (A)	6s	6d
   Sub-lieutenant (A)
   Lieutenant (A)
   Lieutenant commander ()

    

10. Retaining fees - Officers on the emergency list who undergo their periodical naval training and also keep themselves in flying practice will be granted a sum of £25 per annum.

OFFICERS INVALIDED OR RETIRED FOR SPECIAL REASONS

1. Officers with not more than fifteen years combined service, if invalided for causes not attributable to the service, will in general be granted gratuities on a similar scale to those earned by service.

2. Officers below the rank of commander retained 0n the active list after fifteen years under paras 3 (iv) and 4 (iv) of this appendix, if invalided for causes not attributable to the service before becoming eligible for service retired pay, will be eligible for retired pay the rate of £91 a year with additions of £9 a year for each year of service in the rank of lieutenant (A) and above.

3. Officers invalided for causes accepted as attributable to the service will be eligible -

   1. if they have not more than fifteen years, combined service, for retired pay at rates ranging in a case of 100 per cent disablement from £150 to £200 according to rank and, in addition, for the full proportionate gratuities earned by service, or

   2. if they have been retained beyond fifteen years, but have not yet qualified for retired pay under paras 8 and 7 of this appendix, for retired pay as at (ii) above plus a disability addition ranging from £20 to £100 according to the degree of disabi1ity.

   3. if they are eligible for retired pay under paras 8 and 7 of this appendix, for such retired pay plus a disability addition as under (6) above.

4. In the event of officers being discharged for misconduct or incapacity the rates of gratuity or retired pay laid down may be witheld or awarded at such reduced rates as the Admiralty may determine.

WIDOWS' PENSION

12. 1. The widows, children, and other dependants of air branch officers who are killed or die as a result of wounds, injuries or disease certified by the naval medical authorities to be directly attributable, to the service, will be eligible to receive pensions and allowances on the usual naval scale.  In the case of officers retained on the active list beyond fifteen years under paras 3 (iv) or 4 (iv) of this appendix, who die from causes not directly attributable to the service while serving on the active list, or after retirement with retired pay, their widows and children may be eligible for pensions and allowances at "ordinary "rates.

    2. Payment of pensions and allowances under this head will be subject to the general conditions laid down in naval regulations.

GENERAL

13. 1. "Service" for the purpose of retired pay and withdrawal gratuity means full pay service as defined in the naval regulations.

    2. No officer shall be entitled to claim as a right any promotion, emolument, retired pay, pension or other be conferred by any provision of these regulations in the event of such provision being at any time varied or cancelled.

OUTFIT GRATUITY

14. 1. Officers transferred from the Royal Air Force to the air branch of the Royal Navy will receive an outfit gratuity of £50 to assist in the purchase of the necessary naval uniform.  Should they fail to serve on the active list of the Royal Navy for four years they will be liable to be called on to refund all or part of the gratuity.

    2. The uniform of the air branch of the Royal Navy will be similar to that for the executive branch with the addition of a distinctive badge.

Source - Air Ministry Order A74/1938 dated 24 February 1938.

Also see - Air Ministry Order A107/1938 dated 24 March 1938.

Transfer of Short Service and Medium Service Officers of the General Duties Branch to the Air Branch of the Royal Navy

1. The attention of officers who may be considering volunteering under AMO A74/38 for transfer to the air branch of the Royal Navy is called to recent announcements concerning the introduction of marriage and children's allowances for naval ofticers

2. These allowances will be paid to married officers of the air branch over the age of thirty, under the same conditions as for other naval officers, which are briefly as follows: -

   1. Married officers will receive allowances at the following rates in addition to allowances at present authorised, when serving afloat or in general, when separated film their families for service reasons :-

      Marriage allowance	4s 6d a day
      Children's allowance
      First child	2s a day
      Other children	1s a day

       

   2. The same allowances will be paid to officers serving on shore at home when not provided with married quarters but lodging allowance will not, in general be paid in addition.

   3. Officers serving on shore abroad will receive these allowances in addition to lodging allowance when married quarters are not provided.

   4. Married officers appointed to posts on shore at home will, in general, receive a lump sum of £40 towards their families removal expenses if the duration of the appointment is intended to be over one- year, or £20 for appointments of shorter duration.

3. Consequent on the grant of these allowances the pay of lieutenant commanders (A) as shown ins para. 8 of the appendix to AMO A74/38 will be reduced by two shillings a day to

   Lieutenant-commander ( A) on promotion	25	2
   Lieutenant-commander (A) after 3 years	27	0
   Lieutenant-commander (A) after 6 years	28	10
   Lieutenant-commander (A) after 9 years	30	10
   Lieutenant-commander (A) after 12 years	32	10

Source - Air Ministry Order A107/1938 dated 24 March 1938.

Transfer of Airmen to the Aircraft Maintenance Branches of the Royal Navy

1. By agrrement with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the following arrangements have been made for the selection of a limited number of airmen who volunteer for transfer to the aircraft maintenance branches of the Royal Navy.

2. Ratings of, the aircraft maintenance branches will be employed on FAA duties both at shore stations and in seagoing ships including aircraft carriers.

3. Eligibility - To be eligible for consideration, airmen must, be below the rank of flight sergeant and mustered in one of the following trades  - fitter, grade I (NCOs only); fitter (aero-engine); metal rigger; fitter, grade II; flight mechanic; flight rigger. Airman pilots and air observers are not eligible for transfer.  Candidates need not have had experience with the Fleet Air Arm during their RAF service.  Airmen desiring transfer must be examined by the medical officer of their unit and classified as "fit, grade I " before their application is proceeded with.

4. Applications - This order is to be brought to the notice of all eligible airmen, and AOCs are to forward as soon as possible lists of applicants serving under their command who are considered suitable and have been found medically fit, for transfer, containing no following details: - number, name, rank, seniority, trade and date of mustering thereto, last trade proficiency and character assessments, nature of current engagement and date of its commencement.  The lists are to be forwarded to the Air Ministry in duplicate, a copy being forwarded at the same time to the Officer i/c Records, for information.

5. Date of effect - Transfers to the Royal Navy, if approved, will not take effect before 1st August, 1938.  Individual transfers will be effected from the date of joining or, if already serving with the Fleet Air Arm, from the date of acceptance.  An airman who has been accepted for transfer but whose engagement terminates before he is due to join for duty will be granted an extension or prolongation of engagement as necessary, pending transfer.  Leave under KR & ACI, para. 1403, will not be admissible in respect of such an extension or prolongation.  Airmen serving abroad will normally be brought home before transfer at public expense and granted any leave for which they may be eligible, provided the exigencies of the service permit.

6. Conditions of transfer  - The conditions of appointment to and service in the aircraft maintenance branches of the Royal Navy applicable to transferred airmen are outlined in the appendices to this order.

7. Transferred airmen will be liable to discharge from the Royal Navy at any time on account of misconduct, physical unfitness or inefficiency.

8. Transferred airmen will be eligible (see Appendix I, para. 4) to complete twenty-two years' service qualifying for naval pension.  The engagements of transferred airmen who have re-engaged in the Royal Air Force will on transfer be reduced to twenty-two years - the normal period for the Royal Navy.  RAF service which would have counted towards eligibility for pension and rate of pension under air force regulations will count for those purposes in the Royal Navy.  Airmen transferred will be eligible for Good Conduct Badges and Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and gratuity under the conditions applicable to naval ratings, service in the Royal Air Force being reckoned.  Transferred airmen will not, however, retain a right to any entitlement under air force regulations or to any privileges provided for in air force regulations but not in naval regulations, eg, right to discharge with modified pension on completing twenty years' service.

9. It should he understood that airmen transferred under this order will terminate finally their connection with the Royal Air Force.

10. When the control of Fleet Air Arm material is transferred to the Admiralty. tool kits appropriate to their trade and similar to the personal tool kits now issued to them on loan, will be issued free to ratings of the Air Artificer branch and Air Fitter and Air Rigger branch who have transferred thereto from the Royal Air Force, This tool kit., issued without charge will become the property of the rating who will then be required maintain it in an efficient condition during his naval service.  Until control of material has been transferred to the Admiralty, tool kits appropriate to their trade will continue to be available for issue to ratings as required.  The special tool kit appropriate to the aero-engine on which the rating is working will remain part of the store equipment available for issue on lean as necessary.  Tools required by air mechanics will be available from general stocks held in the ship or at the base, for issue as required.

APPENDIX I

RATES OF PAY AND GENERAL CONDITIONS GOVERNING ADVANCEMENT

1. (i) The 1925 scale of pay is payable to men who entered the Royal Navy after 4th October 1925 - corresponding date for Royal Air Force is 30th September 1925.
   (ii) The 1935 scale of pay is payable to men who entered the Royal Navy before 5th October 1925 - corresponding date for Royal Air Force is 1st October 1925.

   Air Artificer Branch.
   	Pay per diem.
   	1925 scale		1935 scale
   	s	d	s	d
   Air artificer, 4th class, acting and confirmed (petty officer)	8	0	0	0
   Air artificer, 3rd class, (chief petty officer)	9	0	10	0
   Air artificer, 2nd class, (chief patty officer)	9	6	10	6
   Air artificer, 1st class	10	0	11	0
   Chief air artificer, 2nd class	10	6	11	6
   Chief air artificer after six yea's' service as such and rated chief air artificer, 1st class	11	6	12	6

   
   (iii) The conditions of advancement of air artificers will conform generally to the conditions applicable to ordnance artificers and electrical artificers, viz: -

   From	To
   Air artificer, 4th class	Air artificer, 3rd class, after three years' as air artificer, 4th class.
   Air artificer, 3rd class	Air artificer, 2nd class, after seven years as air artificer, 4th class and above.
   Air artificer, 2nd class	Air artificer, 1st class, after twelve years as air artificer, 4th class and above. Subject to re-engagement to complete time for pension.

   (iv) Air artificers are eligible to advancement to chief air artificer in vacancies to meet requirements.  A minimum period of six years' qualifying service as air artificer, 4th class and above is required, and advancements will be made by roster.

   Air Fitter and Air Rigger Branch
   	Pay per diem.
   	1925 scale		1935 scale
   	s	d	s	d
   Air fitter	3	9	4	6
   Air rigger
   Leading air fitter	5	6	6	6
   Leading air rigger
   after three years as such	6	0	7	0
   after six years as such	6	6	7	6
   Petty officer air fitter	7	0	8	0
   Petty officer air rigger
   after three years as such	7	6	8	6
   after six years as such	8	0	9	0
   Chief petty officer air fitter	9	0	10	0
   Chief petty, officer air rigger
   after three years as such	9	6	10	6
   after six years as such	10	0	11	0

   With subsequent triennial increments of 6d a day,

   (v) Advancement to petty officer and chief petty officer ratings will be made in vacancies to meet requirement. Selected leading air fitters and leading air riggers will receive a further course of one year to qualify for acting artificer, 4th class.

   Air Mechanic Branch
   	Pay per diem.
   	1925 scale		1935 scale
   	s	d	s	d
   Air mechanic probationer	2	6	-	-
   Air mechanic	3	6	4	6
   after three years' man's service	3	10	4	9
   after six years' man's service	4	3	5	9
   Leading air mechanic	4	10	5	9
   after three years as such	5	2	6	0
   after six years as such	5	6	6	3
   Petty officer air mechanic	7	0	8	0
   after three years as such	7	6	8	6
   after six years as such	8	0	9	0
   Chief petty officer air mechanic	9	0	10	0
   after three years as such	9	6	10	6
   after six years as such	10	0	11	0

   With subsequent triennial increments of 6d a day.

   (vi) Advancement to leading petty officer and chief petty officer ratings will be made in vacancies to meet requirements. Selected leading air mechanics will undergo a special qualifying course for advancement to petty officer air mechanic.

2. The ratings and rates of pay with which RAF ranks will be transferred to the Royal Navy are shown in Appendix III.

3. Uniform, kit, and kit upkeep allowance

   1. Naval ratings of the aircraft maintenance branches will be dressed as follows: -
      Air artificers - As other naval artificer ratings, i.e., class III for petty officers and class I for chief petty officers.
      Air fitters and air riggers - As naval artisan ratings, i.e., class III for petty officers and class I for chief petty officers.
      Air mechanics - As seamen ratings, i.e., class II for ratings below the confirmed rating of petty officers; class III with gilt buttons, for confirmed petty officers and class I for chief petty officers.

   2. A free issue of the necessary kit will be made on joining.  An adequate allowance is paid for upkeep of kit.

4. Engagements and periods of service -

   1. Engagements for continuous service in the Royal Navy are normally for twelve years and, later, to complete time (twenty-two years) for pension.  Transferred airmen who have already completed ten years' pensionable service, will therefore engage to complete time for pension at the time of their transfer.
      (ii) Airmen with less than ten years' pensionable service at the date of transfer will sign an engagement for twelve years.  On completing ten years' pensionable service including pensionable time in the Royal Air Force they will be eligible, if recommended and medically fit, to re-engage to complete time for pension.  Service under the age of eighteen is not allowed to reckon.

APPENDIX II

SUMMARY OF PENSIONARY BENEFITS

(1) Pensions for Long Service (twenty-two years)

(2) Disability Pensions

When the causes of invaliding is attributable to service

(i) Men eligible for pensions in respect of both the service and disablement elements will be granted the larger amount in full and one-half' of the other.
(ii) In addition to the above rates of pension, allowances in respect of Good Conduct Badges, Good Conduct Medal and petty time are granted as shown for long service pensioners.
(iii) Men invalided with less than the qualifying period of service required for the award of a pension (service element) will be eligible for a gratuity of £2 for each complete year of pensionable service.
 

When the cause of invaliding is not attributable to the service.

 

	Men entered or re-entered on or before the 31.3.30 provided service is continuous thereafter per day		Men entered or re-entered after 31.3.30 that date after a break in service per week
Service element:	s	d	s	d
After completing fourteen sears' pensionable service	1	6	8	0
After completing sixteen years' pensionable service	1	9	9	4
After completing eighteen years' pensionable service.	2	0	10	8
After completing twenty years'' pensionable service.	2	6	13	4

(iv) In addition to the above rates of pension, allowances in respect of Good Conduct Badges, Good Conduct Medal and petty time are granted, as shown for long service pensioners.
(v) Men discharged with less than the qualifying period of service required for the award of a pension will be eligible for the grant of a gratuity of £2 plus an additional 10s for each ten degrees of disability in excess of 20 per cent, in respect of each complete year of pensionable service.

(3) LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND GRATUITY

Men can qualify for the award of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and the accompanying gratuity of 20, after fifteen years' service with "Very Good" character.  Men receiving this award will also be eligible to earn an additional allowance, which will be payable in a lump sum with the first payment of pension on discharge at the rate of £1 for each year of qualifying service with "Very Good" character rendered subsequent to the award of the medal.

(4) GREENWICH HOSPITAL AGE PENSION

(i) Greenwich Hospital age pensions of 5d a day (£1 18s 0d a quarter) for naval pensioners over fifty-five years of age, and at the increased rate of 9d. a, day (£3 8s 0d. a quarter) for naval pensioners over sixty-five years of age, are awarded in accordance with regulations framed under the Greenwich Hospital Act of 1865.
(ii) The increased pension of 9d a day (£3 8s 0d. a quarter) will not be granted to men who entered or (after a break in service) re-entered the service after 3rd October, 1925.

(5) Notes.

(i) For the purpose of these awards, "service" reckons from the age of eighteen years, and is as defined in King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.
(ii) Men who fail to complete time for the award of a long service pension (twenty-two years) and are discharged for any cause other than disability are ineligible for any award in respect of service on discharge.
(iii) Pensionary benefits to ratings of the Royal Navy are shown in detail on pages 91 to 98 of the Appendix to the Navy List and in Chapter LVI of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, -

APPENDIX III

STATEMENT SHOWING THE RATNGS, RATES OF PAY AND SENIORITY WITH WHICH RAF RANKS WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE  RN.

AIR ARTIFICER BRANCH.

AIR FITTER AND AIR RIGGER BRANCH

AIR MECHANIC BRANCH

Source - Air Ministry Order A251/1938 dated 14 July 1938.

Amended by AMO A426/1938 dated 17 November 1938.

Transfer of Administrative Control of the Fleet Air Arm to the Royal Navy - Pay and Accounting Procedure
 

1. The date on which administrative control of the Fleet Air Arm will be handed over to the Admiralty will be promulgated later.  In the meantime however, the pay, allowances and the value of rations issued to RAF personnel forming part of the Fleet Air Arm will be provided for in Navy Estimates as from 1st April 1939.

2. The procedure to be followed in regard to the maintenance of the accounts of such RAF personnel while serving in HM ships or at naval shore bases, when formed, and the payments made to them, is detailed in paras 3-7; the procedure to be followed in regard to payments to RAF personnel and civilians serving at certain RAF stations which are being handed over to the Navy, and settlement at those stations of bill services and appropriation of receipts, is dealt with in para 8; the procedure to be observed in regard to payments by RAF accountant officers and rations issued from RAF sources to personnel of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines is detailed in para 9-11.

3. RAF personnel serving in HM ships or at naval shore bases, when formed - The accounts of RAF prsonnel are to be maintained as follows: -

   i    In the Mediterranean other than RAF personnel of the Fleet Air Arm accounted for by the Accountant Officer, RAF Station, Kalafrana	By the Accountant Officer, RAF Station, Hal Far
   ii   In the. Far East, other than RAF personnel of the Fleet Air Arm accounted for by the Accountant Officer, RAF Station, Seletar.	By the Accountant Officer, RAF Station, Kai Tak, Hong Kong.
   iii   In all other areas	By the Command Accountant Headquarters, Coastal Command, Lee-on-Solent.

   As _regards (i) and (ii) the accounts of RAF personnel which are being accounted for by Kalafrana and Seletar will continue to be maintained by these stations.

4. RAF Officers and Airmen serving on board HM ships - Procedure in regard to issue of pay and allowances and facilities granted to officers for cashing cheques on board HM ships. The procedure laid down in section VI of chapter XXXV of KR & ACI for issuing the pay and allowances of RAF officers and Airmen serving on board HM ships will continue to be observed.  Separate officers' allowances pay lists (Form 504) and airman's pay ledgers (Form 880) are to be maintained for RAF personnel forming part of the Fleet Air Arm so that the amount recoverable from the Admiralty can be readily determined.  Facilities for cashing RAF officers' cheques on board HM ships will continue to be given (see KR & ACI, para. 2850 (3)).

5. Officers' Claims to Allowances (Form 835) and Claims of Officers and Airmen in respect of refund of Travelling etc. Expenses (Form 1771) - Forms 835 are to be certified by the appropriate accountant officer referred to in para 3; Forms 1771 are to be countersigned as provided for in KR & ACIs para 3159.

6. Rations issued to RAF personnel forming part of the Fleet Air Arm: -.

   1. While on board HM Ships or at Naval Shores Bases when formed - Rations will be issued under naval arrangements and the cost of such rations will remain as a charge against Navy Votes.

   2. While at RAF stations - The rations issued are to be recorded in the officers' allowances pay list (Form 504) and in the airmen's pay ledger (Form 880) and the value of the rations, including CRA, and CEAs will be recovered from the Admiralty by the Air Ministry.

7. Casualties affecting RAF personnel serving on board HM ships and at Naval Shore Bases, when formed - Casualties including movements, will be notified by HM ships and naval shore bases to the appropriate station or to Coastal Command (see Para 3); casualty forms will he prepared in accordance with such notifications and will be forwarded to the Air Ministry in support of the relevant accounting documents.

8. RAF Stations which are being handed over to the Navy - Procedure to be followed as from 1st April 1939, until handing over has been effected. The following stations are being handed over to the Navy on dates which have yet to be fixed: -

Donibristle.
Ford.
Lee-on-Solent.
Southampton.
Worthy Down.

1. RAF personnel and civilians - Maintenance of Accounts and issue of pay - Until a station is handed over, the RAF accountant officers will continue to maintain the accounts of, and pay, the RAF personnel and civilians employed by the Royal Air Force.  The pay and allowances of, and value of rations issued to, such personnel, and the salaries and wages of the civilians, excluding RAF personnel and civilians who remain at the station for work not directly connected with the Fleet Air Arm, will be a charge against Navy Votes; separate officers' allowances pay lists, airmen's pay ledgers and civilians' salaries and wages lists will be maintained for RAF personnel and civilians employed on Fleet Air Ann duties.  As from the date of transfer to the Navy, the accounts of RAF personnel will be maintained by the Command Accountant Coastal Command (sea para 3) who will make necessary arrangements for the payment of these officers and airmen.

2. Bill payments - Bill payments which relate to services directly connected with the Fleet Air Arm will fall as a charge against Navy Votes irrespective of whether the service relates to a period before or after 1st April 1939.

3. Receipts - Receipts which relate to services directly connected with the Fleet Air Arm will be credited to Navy Votes irrespective of the date of the service.

4. Closing down of cash accounts on transfer of the station to the Navy - Outstanding Payments and Recoveries - The RAF cash account will be closed as soon as possible after the effective date of transfer, which will be promulgated in due course.  Every endeavour is to be made by the RAF accountant officer to pay outstanding bills, and to collect sums due before the date of transfer.  Lists (in duplicate) of all payments and recoveries outstanding at that date are to be prepared by the RAF accountant officer and the originals of these lists are to be handed to the naval accountant so that he can arrange payment and collection respectively, and bring the amounts to account in his cash account.  The duplicate copies of these lists are to be forwarded to the Admiralty (DNA 1) for audit purposes, and a receipt is to be obtained.

9. Royal Navy and Royal Marine Officers and Men -

   1. Officers and men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, including officers and men under training at RAF units, will be borne on the books of HM ships for both pay and allowances,

   2. Where naval or marine personnel are serving at a RAF station, the station is to send copes of all casualty forms affecting such personnel to the accountant officer of HM ship concerned.

   3. The RAF station is, at the end of each month to furnish the following information in regard to Royal Navy and Royal Marine officers to the accountant officer of the ship concerned so that suitable pay accounting action can be taken by him: -

      1. whether official quarters were available

      2. whether rations were available and issued; and

      3. the daily rate of the RAF messing charge.

10. Payments made to Royal Navy and Royal Marine Officers and Men while serving at RAF Stations -

    1. Officers - No payment will be made by a RAF accountant officer, to such personnel in respect of pay, allowances, travelling expenses, etc, except at the specific request of the naval accounting officer.

    2. Men - Where the ship or establishment on which the personnel are borne has an official banking account, fortnightly pay lists will be sent to the senior naval officer at the RAF station, accompanied by the appropriate forms and a cheque made payable to him for the total sum involved.  The senior naval officer will cash the cheque with the RAF accountant officer and will pay the personnel, arrangements being made for either a naval or a RAF officer to witness the payment.  If there is any unexpended balance it will be handed to the RAF accountant, officer from whom a cheque will be obtained and forwarded with the fortnightly Pay list, etc., to the Royal Naval accountant officer.
       Where the ship has not an official banking account, the pay and accounting arrangements laid down in AMO A57/33, Section H, will be applicable.

11. Rations issued from RAF sources to Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel - Rations are to be accounted for as laid down in KR & ACI, para. 2865.

12. Adjustment of (i) sums advanced by naval accountant officers for the purpose of paying RAF personnel on board HM ships and (ii) sums paid by RAF accountant officers to Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel serving at RAF units: - Adjustment in respect of sums advanced by naval accountant officers or paid to Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel by RAF accountant officers, will be effected between the Air Ministry and the Admiralty.  In no circumstances should any transfer of funds take place between the Royal Naval and the Royal Air Force Accountant Officers.

Source - Air Ministry Order A97/1939 dated 30 March 1939.

Amended by AMO A182/39 dated 11 May 1939.

Naval Personnel serving in Air Force Training Units - Disciplinary Arrangements

1. The following regulation has been made by His Majesty under Section 71 of the Air Force Act: -
   "Where an officer or petty officer in the Navy is attached to an air force training unit for the purpose of undergoing instruction or is attached for duty on the staff of an air force training unit and is thus subject to the Air Force Act, then for the purposes of command and discipline within such unit, and for the purposes of exercising any powers of punishment that may be vested in him by the Air Council or by the commanding officer of such unit, he shall, while so subject to the Air Force Act and serving at a RAF Station in the manner indicated, be treated and have all such powers over the naval and air force personnel at such unit as if he were an air force officer, warrant officer or non-commissioned officer as the case may be.
   The relative rank of such naval officer or petty officer shall be as is provided by para. 132 of King's Regulations and Air Council Instructions, but nothing in this Regulation will give a claim to any naval officer to assume command of any air force training unit.
   This Regulation is not applicable to naval officers who hold commissions in the Royal Air Force."

2. KR & ACI will be amended in due course.

Source - Air Ministry Order A188/1939 dated 11 May 1939.

Transfer of Administrative Control of the Fleet Air Arm to the Admiralty - Charges for Training of Naval Personnel

1. The financial arrangements arising from the transfer to the Admiralty of administrative control of the Fleet Air Arm provide for payment by the Admiralty of charges for the training at RAF establishments (including elementary and reserve flying training schools) of naval personnel for service with the Fleet Air Arm.

2. Charges for training will be assessed at a capitation rate for each course in respect of the number of pupils who complete the course, except, for the apprentices' course, in which case the charge will be at an annual capitation rate in respect of the average number under training for the year.

3. The capitation charges payable by the Admiralty in respect of training cover the following services to the pupils: -

   1. Instruction.

   2. Accommodation in RAF quarters when available (including  furniture, barrack services, fuel and light).

   3. Services of batmen for officers when available.

   4. Use of RAF transport for service purposes.

   5. Medical attendance at RAF stations other than in hospitals.

   6. Dental service, as in para 1576 of KR & ACI.

   7. Practice flying for pilots at ground courses.

   8. Initial issue of flying clothing (including replacement of initial issue items when the loss or damage is due to a cause which is not attributable to the pupil).

4. Charges covering the services mentioned in para 3 above will be recovered by the Air Ministry and claims should not, therefore, be raised locally in respect of those services.

Source - Air Ministry Order A258/1939 dated 6 July 1939.

Title

Text

Source - Air Ministry Order A258/1939 dated 6 July 1939.

This entry was last updated on 29/04/25

[Top of Page]