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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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Air Ministry Orders relating to General Organisational Matters
The Social Welfare Organisation for the Royal Air Air Force
It has been decided to establish a Welfare Organisation for the consideration of all questions affecting the social welfare of RAF personnel stationed at home. Group Captain F C Halahan, CMG, CBE, DSO, MVO has been appointed as head of the Welfare Organisation and he will be directly responsible to the Director of Personal Services. The former officer will keep in touch with the local authorities and the various welfare organisations operating, in areas in which RAF personnel are stationed and he will give particular attention to the welfare needs of isolated units or small detachments.
The objects of this scheme and the detailed arrangements for giving effect to them are set out in the following paragraphs.
It is not practicable to adopt entirely for the Royal Air Force the Army Welfare Organisation, since the Army commands, which are organised on a geographical basis, as opposed to the functional basis on which the RAF commands and groups are distributed, are enabled to operate their scheme through the County Territorial Army and Air Force Association.
The County Associations, however, have each set up Social Welfare Committees for the purpose of co-ordinating within their respective areas the efforts of societies and individuals for the betterment of the conditions of service personnel. These committees have been invited by the Air Ministry to extend to RAF formations in their areas the facilities available under the Army Welfare Organisation and they are willing to give what assistance they can. It is necessary, therefore, that unit commanders should make direct contact with the social welfare committees and also that they should keep in touch with the local county associations. No opportunity should be lost of enabling personnel to attend or participate in any special entertainments, concert parties, or other activities organised for the benefit of the forces stationed in the locality.
Arrangements for the welfare of airmen and airwomen, whether at operational or training units, are also undertaken by existing officers, chaplains, medical officers, sports and entertainment officers, and by organisations such as the Navy, the Army, the YMCA, YWCA, and others.
These agencies do not, however, cover all welfare needs and it is often desirable to enlist assistance from local authorities, neighbouring landowners, householders and other persons.
Under war conditions junior officers in units have to spend a great part of their time flying, or standing by to fly, on operational duties at the shortest possible notice and, as a consequence, they are unable to give the time they could formerly spare to attend to the details of their men's welfare. Moreover the influx of reserve and other additional personnel presents many problems of a kind which do not arise under normal peace-time conditions.
It is necessary, therefore, that a serving officer should be detailed to assume the duties of social welfare, not only at command headquarters, and groups, but at each station and unit.
This officer should normally be the air officer in charge of administration for commands, the senior personnel staff officer for groups, the squadron leader administration for stations and, for units. either the physical fitness officer, chaplain, educational officer or some other nominee of the CO who is likely to remain in the unit for some time and who has an aptitude for such work.
The first duty of the RAF welfare officer will be to get in touch with the secretary of the social welfare committee of the county territorial association for the area in which he in stationed.
Comforts for the Royal Air Force are dealt with by central collection and distribution by the RAF Comforts Committee to whom demands are sent from units through groups. There are also county schemes for the supply of comforts and in some cases the county associations may supply units direct, particularly Auxiliary Air Force units which have been raised in their own area. In those cases the welfare officers should see that demands on the RAF Comforts Committee are restricted so as to avoid duplication of supply.
In order to co-ordinate welfare activities, a small committee consisting of the welfare officer, the entertainment officer, the physical fitness officer, and a WAAF officer (where WAAF personnel are serving on the station), assisted by the chaplain and/or educational officer, should be formed at units and stations.
The success of the scheme will depend very largely on the initiative of the welfare officers in groups, stations and units end on the encouragement given to them by COs. It will be noted that welfare officers are to be appointed from existing strengths although it may be found necessary in the light of experience, to appoint additional officers at a later date.
The appointment of welfare officers does not, of course, relieve COs from general responsibility for the welfare of officers and airmen under their command. Many questions intimately effecting welfare, such as the provision of playing fields, special accommodation, transport facilities, etc, arise in the ordinary course of administration. The welfare officer will make it his concern to see that those requirements are brought to notice, but the appointment of this officer in no way affects the responsibility of the staffs of the services concerned.
Source - Air Ministry Order A142/1940 dated 7 March 1940, amended by AMO 235/40 dated 25 April 1940.
Officers for Technical,
Administrative and Special Duties
TECHNICAL BRANCH
The Air Council have decided to establish a technical branch, both in the regular and non-regular air forces for officers employed on the following duties: -
Engineering
Signals
Armament
Electrical engineering
Permanent officers of the general duties branch of the Royal Air Force will opportunities of transferring to the new branch as indicated below, but owing to expansion it will be necessary that all existing specialists who can be made available for employment on specialists' shall be so employed during, the war, whether or not they apply for transfer to the technical branch. Selections will be made by the Air Ministry from among applicants for transfer, only fully qualified specialists being eligible for selection. Armament specialists cannot be considered unless they belong to the class of officer whose primary function is armament work, as opposed to those who are employed partly on armament work and partly on general duties.
The personnel of the new branch, which will be exclusively composed of officers possessing the requisite technical qualifications will be drawn from the following sources: -
Regular personnel -
Existing permanent specialist offices of the general duties branch who desire and are selected for transfer to the technical branch.
Certain officers entered solely for specialist duties immediately before the war, on permanent commissions in the general duties branch.
Existing commissioned engineer, signals and armament officers.
Airmen on normal regular engagements who are in future granted commissions for the engineering, signals, armament or electrical engineering duties.
Non-regular personnel -
Specialist officers of the general duties branch and officers of the administrative and special duties branch employed on the above duties. Only qualified specialists will be transferred to the technical branch, and officers employed on the repair and maintenance of mechanical transport vehicles, on certain signals duties not requiring a high standard of technical knowledge or on other similar duty will not be transferred. The Air Council's decision as to suitability for transfer will be final.
Entrants from civil life and airmen serving on other than normal regular engagements who are in future are commissioned for the above duties.
The personnel of the technical branch will be shown in the Air Force List under heading of their respective specialist qualifications. i.e. engineering, signals, armament or electrical engineering.
Officers of the general duties branch who, in future, become unfit for flying duties and who possess the necessary technical qualifications for employment on the above specialist duties may be offered transfer to the technical branch.
Officers of the technical branch (other than those commissioned from warrant rank) will be paid at the same rates as those at present in force for officers of the general duties branch
Officers holding Permanent commissions in the general duties branch of the Royal Air Force who are transferred to the technical branch will remain eligible on retirement for retired pay on the general duties branch scale.
Officers commissioned from warrant rank who hold permanent commissions in the Royal Air Force will retain their existing scale of retired pay, except that while serving in the ranks of flying officer, flight lieutenant and squadron leader, officers commissioned from warrant rank will be paid at the rates at present in force for commissioned engineer, signals and armament officers (see para 3421A of KR & ACI, as modified by AMO A189/39), namely: -
| s | d | |
| Flying officer | 18 | 2 |
| If commissioned before 1st September 1937 | 19 | 0 |
| Flight lieutenant | 19 | 10 |
| After three years in the substantive rank | 21 | 8 |
| After six years in the substantive rank | 23 | 3 |
| Squadron leader | 29 | 10 |
All transferred officers will retain their existing rank and seniority (including acting rank, subject to the conditions governing such rank generally) and their previous service will reckon for all purposes as if it had been rendered in the technical branch. Transfers will take effect from the date of this order. Promotion above existing rank will be as indicated in para 12 below.
Officers of the category described in para 3 (i) (a) above who wish to be considered for transfer to the technical branch should forward applications through the usual channels as soon as possible. Transfers of other officers will be effected automatically and applications need not be forwarded.
Separate instructions will be issued regarding the commissioning of airmen for specialist duties during the war (see para 3 (i) (d) and (ii) (b) above.)
Entrants from civil life into the technical branch of the RAF Volunteer Reserve (eee para 3 (ii) (b) above) who require training will be granted the rank of acting pilot officer and will be regraded as pilot officer if recommended on satisfactory completion of training. On the satisfactory completion of their course of technical training and on posting to a unit for technical duties in executive posts they will be eligible for transfer to the technical branch in the rank of pilot officer. They will be strictly on probation until confirmed in their appointments and will be eligible for confirmation and promotion to flying officer if recommended on completion of a year's satisfactory service as pilot officer. Officers will be eligible for promotion to flight lieutenant, if recommended after three years service as flying officer. Promotion to squadron leader and above will be by selection to fill vacancies in the establishment of the technical branch.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND SPECIAL DUTIES BRANCH
Officers remaining in the administrative and special duties branch will in future be shown shown in the Air Force List under the following headings: -
Administrative
Intelligence
Marine craft
Photographic
Physical training
Special duties
A new administrative and special duties branch will be formed in the regular air force, which will consist of: -
existing officers commissioned in the Royal Air Force from warrant rank for administrative, marine craft, photographic physical training or provost marshal's duties;
airmen serving on normal regular engagements who are in future commissioned for the above-mentioned administrative duties.
Officers commissioned in the RAF Volunteer Reserve from warrant rank for administrative, etc, duties will be transferred to the administrative and special duties branch of the RAF Volunteer Reserve. Similarly airmen serving on other than normal regular engagements who are in future commissioned for administrative, etc, duties will be commissioned in that branch of the RAF Volunteer Reserve,
The scale of pay for officers of the administrative and special duties branch will be as laid down in para 2 of AMO A341/39 except that while serving in the ranks of flying officer, flight lieutenant and squadron leader, officers commissioned from warrant rank will be paid at the rates at present in force for such officers, namely: -
| Photographic officers | s | d |
| Flying officer | 18 | 2 |
| if commissioned before 1st September 1937 | 19 | 0 |
| Flight lieutenant | 19 | 10 |
| After three years in the substantive rank | 21 | 8 |
| After six years in the substantive rank | 23 | 6 |
| Squadron leader | 29 | 10 |
| Other officers | ||
| Flying officer | 17 | 2 |
| Flight lieutenant | 19 | 0 |
| After three years in the substantive rank | 20 | 10 |
| After six years in the substantive rank | 22 | 8 |
| Squadron leader | 29 | 0 |
The provisions of paras 8 and 9 above in regard to the rank, seniority, retired pay (where applicable, etc, of the officers commissioned from warrant rank who are transferred to the technical branch will apply equally to such officers who are transferred to the administrative and special duties branch.
Separate instructions will be issued regarding the commissioning of airmen for administrative, etc, duties during the war.
The position of officers commissioned for balloon operating duties is under, consideration and a further order in regard to their disposal will shortly be issued.
Source - Air Ministry Order A228/1940 dated 24 April 1940, amended by AMO A612/40 dated 22 August 1940, A700/40 dated 26 September1940, A268/1941 dated 17 April 1941 and AMO A387/41 dated 29 May 1941.
Appointments of Catering Officers
In order to assist commands in maintaining a high standard of messing and in preventing any waste of foodstuffs, it has been decided to appoint Catering Officers to the headquarters of each command in the United Kingdom and on the Continent. These appointments will be held by officers of the Equipment Branch possessing special qualifications and experience in catering duties.
The intention is that these catering officers will visit the stations within their commands as frequently as possible for the purpose of assisting station commanders in all matters relating to messing and kindred subjects. They will act as officers to the AOC-n-C or the AOC of their command. Their activities will be co-ordinated by the Chief Adviser and Inspector Catering at the Air Ministry (E41) under the Director General of Equipment.
The following outline of duties is designed to make clear
the purpose for which command catering advisors have been appointed and to
serve as a basis for such instructions an each AOC-in-C or AOC may wish to
issue.
to issue.
The responsibilities of command catering officers will embrace the following duties: -
To visit stations and advise station commanders on messing generally and to investigate difficulties on the spot.
To maintain and foster by personal contact an enthusiasm for the work, in all who are connected with messing.
To ensure that an efficient domestic economy is maintained: to see that rations and groceries are provisioned in the most economical manner and carefully checked on receipt, and are properly stored,
To see that the food is skilfully prepared and cooked and that the cooks are adequately trained in all branches of service cooking,
To ensure that the airmen are provided with appetising meals of adequate food value, with as much variety as the rations and cash allowances permit,
To see that cookhouses and dining halls are kept scrupulously clean and are properly equipped, arid that the apparatus is serviceable,
To pay particular attention to the steps taken to avoid waste, To inspect swill tubs for waste and general cleanliness,
To examine the messing and by products accounts in order to see that they are properly and regularly maintained
To see that National Food Control regulations are complied with,
To examine ideas and suggestions for the improvement of catering, cooking and service and disseminate such information throughout the command.
To refer ideas and suggestions and any complaints that cannot be dealt with within the command, to the Chief Adviser and Inspector of Catering, Air Ministry, for action.
To check staff available against establishment and watch the number of hours being worked.
To advise on similar questions in connection with officers' and sergeants' messing, if required.
To ascertain from COs and local institute committees whether they have any suggestions to make for improving the services rendered by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes.
Source - Air Ministry Order A313/1940 dated 23 May 1940, amended by AMO A656/41 dated 21 August 1941 (Title changed from Catering Advisers to Catering Officers).
Officers for Balloon Duties
The Air Council have decided to establish, with effect from 27th March 1940, a balloon branch, both in the regular and non regular air forces, for officers employed on balloon operating duties.
Officers of the new branch will be drawn from the following sources: -
Regular personnel - Airmen on normal regular engagements who are appointed to temporary commissions for the duration of the war in the regular Air Force for balloon operating duties.
Non-regular personnel -
Non-regular officers who are employed on balloon operating duties.
Airmen serving on other than normal regular engagements who are in future granted temporary commissions for the above duties.
Entrants from civil life.
Subject to the provisions of paras 3 4, 5, 7 and 8, of AMO A341/30, officers who are employed on balloon operating duties will be transferred to the new branch with effect from the date of commencing such employment, or 27th March 1940, whichever is the later.
The scales of pay for officers of the balloon branch will be at the following daily rates: -
| £ | s | d | |
| Acting pilot officer | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Pilot officer | 0 | 11 | 10 |
| Flying officer | 0 | 13 | 6 |
| After three years in the substantive rank | 0 | 16 | 4* |
| If commissioned from warrant rank | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| Flight lieutenant | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| After thee years in the substantive rank | 1 | 0 | 10* |
| After seven years in the substantive rank | 1 | 2 | 8* |
| Squadron leader | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| Wing commander | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| Group captain | 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Air commodore | 2 | 18 | 0 |
*Only mobilised or embodied service, or service during a period of special employment with the regular Air Force, counts towards increments of pay.
AAF officers employed on balloon operating duties will be eligible for the rates of pay set out above for the ranks of squadron leader and below with effect from 3rd September 1939. In all other cases, but subject, to the previsions of paras 5 and 7 of AMO A341/39, the above rates will be payable only as from the date of transfer to the balloon branch.
Transferred officers will retain their existing rank and seniority (including acting rank subject to the general conditions governing the grant of such rank) and their previous service will reckon for all purposes as if it had been rendered in the balloon branch.
Entrants from civil life will be appointed in the rank of acting pilot officer and all officers, whether entered from civil life or commissioned from the the ranks, will be strictly on probation until confirmed in their appointments.
Acting pilot officers will be regraded as pilot officers on posting to a unit for duty on satisfactory completion of training and will be eligible for confirmation after a total of one year's satisfactory service. They will be eligible for promotion to flying officer, if recommended, on completion of a year's satisfactory service as pilot officer. Promotion above the rank of flying officer will be by selection to fill vacancies in the establishment. The promotion of those officers who are commissioned from warrant rank will be dealt with in a further order.
A separate order will be issued regarding the commissioning of airmen for balloon operating duties during the war, to whom reference is made in paras 2(i) and (ii) (b) above.
The personnel of the balloon branch will be shown separately under an appropriate heading in the Air Force List.
Source - Air Ministry Order A348/1940 dated 6 June 1940.
General Education Scheme - Re-Appointment of Station Education Officers
In continuation of AMO A221/40, it has been decided to re-appoint a number of education officers, each of whom will be responsible for education work with RAF and WAAF personnel on a small group of neighbouring stations
The types of work for which, subject to service requirements, facilities are to be arranged, will be as follows:
"Service" education, i.e. assistance to personnel who wish to improve themselves in service subjects of a technical kind, or who hope to be selected for air crew duties; holding of such preliminary educational tests as COs may require, etc.
Provision in the shape of lectures or classes in (a) general subjects, including languages, (b) semi vocational subjects, including arts and crafts; the purpose in both being primarily to help personnel to occupy their leisure, particularly when days shorten.
Assistance to young men recently entered as volunteers or under the National Service Act who may wish to continue some professional course which they commenced before entry.
The "Service" instruction will be undertaken by the education officer himself, as far as possible, for the other types under pars 2 (ii) and, (iii) above he will organise facilities afforded by local education authorities and by regional committees set, up under the Central Advisory Council for Adult Education in HM Forces.
Numbers of correspondence courses in civilian professional subjects are being drawn up by the professional institutions concerned and will be available to students in the Forces.
The education officer, will also be responsible for adequate provision of books and in this he will avail himself; so far as may be possible of the county library system.
The education officer will become an ex-officio member of the station welfare committees at the stations to which he is appointed. This will ensure the proper co-ordination of his work with the welfare organisation of the station on its broadest lines.
The general scale of provision of education officers contemplated is approximately one to each four neighbouring stations in operational commands and in the Flying Training Command, and, one to each balloon centre of two squadrons. At the establishments in the Technical Training Command there are, in general, officers already appointed, and these can undertake such work under this general scheme as may be required.
Education officers will visit at; regular intervals all
stations or centres for which they are responsible. These will not
necessarily be all in one command and hence some education officers will be
responsible to more than one command in regard to their education duties.
For administrative purposes, however, they will remain unde the command
which contains the station or centre to which they are posted.
Source - Air Ministry Order A809/1940 dated 31 October 1940.
Dispatch Rider Letter Service
The Dispatch Rider Letter Service is designed to function as the channel of communication between RAF formations in the event of dislocation of land line communications and possible disorganisation of rail transport. The service is under the control of the Director of Signals, Air Ministry, Whitehall, who delegates the administrative control to Headquarters, No 26 Group.
Time-tables have been prepared and issued to provide for three services daily, known respectively as the Brown, Blue, and Green services. The two latter will be brought into use, if and when required, by means of "K" broadcast or by DRLS. Meanwhile the Brown service alone will continue to operate.
These time-tables, together with all orders relating to executive control, will be issued by the Air Officer Commanding, No 26 Group.
The service covers Air Ministry branches and most RAF units and formations, but COs of those stations not included in the system are to arrange delivery to, and collection from, the nearest points on the DRLS routes and to inform the Air Officer Commanding No 26 Group, of such arrangements. Where such local routes can conveniently serve more than one unit, a subsidiary time-table should be prepared and agreed by the COs concerned and recommendations forwarded to Headquarters, No 26 Group.
Units responsible for the maintenance and supply of vehicles are indicated on the time-tables. Personnel and vehicles for DRLS duties will be held against the establishments of the units with which they are operating but may be attached to other units at the discretion of the Air Officer Commanding, No 26 Group.
COs of units are to ensure that accommodation and bedding are available for DRLS drivers who have to sleep away from their home station.
Source - Air Ministry Order A818/1940 dated 31 October 1940.
Belgian Subjects in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve - Disciplinary Position
Belgian subjects who volunteer to serve with the Royal Air Force are commissioned or enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve for the duration of the war. They are subject to the Air Force Act; in the same manner as British subjects serving in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
The position of personnel who are nationals of other allied countries or members of other air forces serving in association with HM forces will be the subject of further orders.
Source - Air Ministry Order A893/1940 dated 5 December 1940.
Czechoslovak Personnel - Discipline
Agreement has been reached with the Czechoslovak Provisional Government by which Czechoslovak personnel will be commissioned or enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and organised into Czechoslovak units attached to the Royal Air Force. Such units, although organised in this way for reasons of practical convenience, will be recognised as units of the Czeebos1ovk Air Force. Czechoslovak personnel serving in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve will be subject to the Air Force Act, but a court-martial convened for the trial of a Czechoslovak officer or airman will consist of equal numbers of British and Czechoslovak officers as members with, in addition, a British officer as President of the Court.
By virtue of the revisions of section 48 (3) and (4) of the Air Force Act; Czechoslovak officers will not be eligible to sit as members of a general or district court-martial, since the period of any former service as an officer in the Czechoslovak Air Force ís not allowed to count for this purpose. The service qualifications required of members of a field general court-martial are not so rigid, however, and to enable Czechoslovak officers to be members of a court in accordance with the agreement referred to in para 1 above, a field general court-martial will be convened for the trial of a Czechoslovak accused. While Rule of Procedure 106 (C) provides that members of a field general court-martial should be officers who have held His Majesty's commission for not less than one year, the appointment of an officer not qualified in this regard is not precluded, but the instructions in note 4 to Rule of Procedure 106 must be observed. A field general court-martial held in such circumstances will be conducted on the same lines as a district court-martial.
Source - Air Ministry Order A915/1940 dated 12 December 1940.
General Education Scheme - Correspondence Courses
With reference to para 4 of AMO A809/40. Correspondence courses in the following subjects are now available for all RAF and WAAFJ personnel: -
Banking.
Engineering (civil, electrical and mechanical),Insurance
Law
Details of these course are shown in appendix A to this order.
Other courses - Arrangements are in hand for the provision of additional courses, detail of which will be notified in due course.
Enrolment fee - Applicants will be required to pay an enrolment fee of 10s. They should be warned against undertaking the study of more subjects than they can readily manage at any one time, but where more than one subject is taken, no further fee will be charged.
Method of enrolment - Applications will he made in the form shown in appendix B to this order. as follows: -
The applicant will insert particulars against items Nos 1 to 8 and will sign the form in the appropriate place.
The unit accountant officer will debit the applicant's pay ledger account with the sum of 10s, which will be credited to the public, and will certify in the appropriate place that this has been done.
The CO, if he approves the application will countersign it and forward it to command headquarters.
The command education officer will sign the form inserting the title of the command, forward it to the Under Secretary of State, War Office (AE3), Hotel Victoria, Northumberland Avenue, WC2.
The War Office (AE3) will then communicate direct with the applicant giving details of the method of taking the course.
Recovery of enrolment fee - Should the application be refused for any reason the applicant will receive a notification either from command headquarters or the War Office (AE3). The applicant, on production of this notification to the unit accountant officer, will have his pay ledger account credited with the amount of the fee paid.
Books - Necessary hooks, where these are not available on the station, may be obtained, on demand, from the Central Library.
Inquiries - An enrolled student will address all communications regarding details of: courses direct to the War Office - see para. 4 above. General inquiries as to correspondence courses will be made to the station education officer or, where there is no station education officer, to the CO. If necessary, such inquiries will be submitted by the station education officer (or CO where there is no station education officer) to the command education officer.
Note - Where a group education officer has been appointed to a group which communicates direct with the Air Ministry, "group" should be substituted for "command" wherever the latter appears in this order.
APPENDIX A
Banking
A course of the Standard of Parr I of the Associate Examination of the Institute of Bankers.
Subjects
Practice and law of banking
Economics
Book-keeping
English Composition
Commercial Geography
A course of the Standar of Part II of the Associate Examination.
Subjects
Practice and law of banking
Economics
English Composition
Foreign Exchange
Accountancy
Engineering (Civil, Electrical and Mechanical)
Courses adapted to the examination requirements of the Institute of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, respectively, are being arranged in the following subjects (the refereence given against each is to the relevant section in the examination syllabus of the institute concerned).
English I Mech E - Sec. A, Part II (a); IEE - Part I (I)
Fundamentals of Industrial Administration I Mech E - Sec. A, Part II (a); IEE - Part 1, Group II (5)
Engineering Science Inst CE - Sec AI; I. Mech. E - Sec. A, Part I (a); IEE - Part 1 (2)
General Science I Mech E - Sec A, Part I (b); IEE - Part 1 (3)
Electrotechnics Inst CE - Sec A3; I. Mech E - Sec. B (C4); IEE - Part 1 (4)
Strength of Materials Inst CE - Sec A2; I Mech E - Sec. B (b)
Theory of Structures Inst CE - Sec A4 (a)
Theory of Machines Inst CE - Sec A4 (b); I Mech E - Sec B (a)
Steam Engines Inst CE - Sec B3 (3a); I Mech E - Sec B (C1)
Internal Combustion Engines Inst CE - Sec B3 (3b); I Mech E - Sec B (C2)
Hydraulics Inst CE - Sec B2 (1); I Mech E - Sec B (C3)
Metallurgy Inst CE - Sec B2 (3); I Mech E - Sec B (C5)
Surveying Inst CE - Sec B1 (I)
Geology and Mineralogy Inst CE - Sec B3 (I)
Electricity Supply and Electrical Installations IEE - Part II (1 and 2)
Electrical Communications IEE - Part II (1 and 2)
The subjects dealt within Nos 1-5 above would be suitable for students who have not yet obtained the Ordinary National Certificate, nor passed Section A or Part I of an Institution Examination, but who have matriculated or have obtained the School Certificate with credits in mathematics and science subjects or the Higher School Certificate in mathematics and science subjects.
Nos 6 - 16 would be suitable for students who have obtained the Ordinary National Certificate or have passed Section or Part I of an Institution Examination.
Insurance
General course in the basic princi9ples and practice of each of the six main branches of insurance: -
Fire
Ordinary life
Industrial Life.
Accident.
Marine
National
Special courses in all subjects of the Syllabus of Part I of the Associate Examination of the Charted Insurance Institute, in respect of each of the above mentioned branches of Insurance
Law. Courses in: -
Contract
Negotiable instruments.
Bankrupcy
Tort.
English Legal System.
Sale of Goods
Company Law.
Criminal. Law.
Appendix B, para 3. was amended by AMO A362/1941 dated 22 May 1941, as follows: - Delete " Unit and Official Postal Address" and substitute "Official Postal Address of RAF Station or AM Establishment (The unit is not to be stated.)"
Copies of the application form already prepared are to be amended accordingly.
Source - Air Ministry Order A1/1941 dated 2 January 1941.
Exercise of Command by Officers of the Technical Branch
An officer of the technical branch will command an air force station or unit in similar circumstances and subject to the same conditions as an officer of the administrative and special duties branch.
KR & ACI, para 3, clauses 1 and 2, will be amended in due course.
Source - Air Ministry Order A43/1941 dated 16 January 1941.
Move of Part Of the Record Office
Part of the Record Office will move to Gloucester at an early date. The address will be The Record Office, Royal Air Force, Gloucester. The effective date of the move, the telegraphic address, and the telephone number will be published later, by broadcast message to all home units.
The Record Office, Gloucester, will be a self-accounting unit for all purposes, and will be placed in No 24 (Training) Group, Technical Training Command
Correspondence -
The move will necessitate some correspondence, forms, documents, etc, being dispatched to Gloucester and some to Ruislip. The appendix to this order shows the subjects regarding which correspondence is to be forwarded to Gloucester. Correspondence relating to all other matters is to continue to be sent to Ruislip. In order to prevent delays, COs and all others concerned must ensure that despatches to the Record Office are carefully made in the light of the appendix.
The Record Office receives a large volume of correspondence from the next-of-kin and other relatives of airmen and airwomen. The correspondence will be required at the new location, and not at Ruislip COs are therefore to inform airmen and airwomen under their command of the new address of the Record Office.
Casualty notification in respect of airmen and airwomen - For a period extending from two days prior to the date of the move to two days after the date of the move, i.e. for a total period of five days, casualties to airmen and airwomen serving in units in the United Kingdom are to be notified by COs by telegram direct to the next-of-kin, except where the next-of-kin or person to be notified of casualty is resident abroad. The usual signal to the Air Ministry, Record Office, etc, required by AP 1301 is also to be be despatched. This signal must state that the next-of-kin has been informed. The Record Office will then send the usual official confirmatory letter and take the normal follow up action. Signals sent to the Record Office during the two days prior to the move are to be sent to Ruislip. Those sent on the day of te move and subsequently are to be sent to Gloucester.
Attention is directed to AMO N203/40 (currently not available) regarding the necessity for restricting telephone calls to the Record Office to matters of such urgency that they cannot be adequately dealt with by letter, postagram or signal.
APPENDIX
LIST OF SUBJECTS REGARDING WHICH CORRESPONDENCE, ETC, FOR THE AIR OFFICER I/C RECORDS IS TO BE FORWARDED TO GLOUCESTER INSTEAD OF RUISLIP.
Absence (illegal) -
reports and inquiries.
Aircraft - types on which airmen are being employed.
Careers of airmen and airwomen.
Casualties - all signals (see para 4) letters and queries.
Commissions - copies of recommendations for.
Courts of Inquiry - proceedings of.
Discharge matters (but only prior to the issue of the discharge authority
by the Record Office - correspondence subsequent to such issue should be
addressed to Ruislip).
Disposal of airmen, ex-overseas including those drafted to home establishment on
suspension from flying training.
Documents (service) - for redirection to home units only,
Documents (service) of deceased airmen and airwomen.
Drafting overseas of airmen
DROs (India).
Engines - types on which airmen are being employed.
Extensions of service - queries regarding.
Families - passages for airmen's families to overseas commands.
Fleet Air Ann - posting
of airmen on loan to.
Formation of new units.
FORMS - 2 ; 47; 47A; 48 (for recompilation or renewal); 58; 115; 124; 129; 155;
167; 292; 408 483 (and attachments); 483A (and attachments); 551; 705 (C); 784
(units in commands abroad and Fleet Air Arm only); 1070; 1375; 1753; 1754.
Home drafting (see also "Posting of airmen etc.")
Illegal absence - reports and. inquiries.
Instructors, technical - provision of
"Investigations" (on Form 2).
Letters, etc, for re-direction to an airman's present unit.
Location of airmen - inquiries.
Location statements from commands and groups (Note - Copies of these are to
be sent direct to Ruislip as well.)
Maintenance of the permanent records of airmen and airwomen (Form 543).
Moves of units -
information regarding.
National Registration Identity Cards (except when included in the attestation
documents of a recruit on first enlistment).
Next-of-kin of airmen - letters notifying changes of particulars,
Overseas drafting.
Passages for airmen's families to overseas commands.
PORs (all from non-operational units, units overseas and Fleet Air Arm, i.e. all
except those sent for reproduction - AMO, A517/39 and A173/40 refer).
Posting of airmen and airwomen between units of the home commands (including to
and from courses of trade training) and of airmen to the Fleet Air Arm on loan.)
Prolongation of service.
Promotions of airmen and airwomen.
Reclassification of airmen and airwomen.
Re-engagements.
Remustering of airmen and airwomen.
Technical instructors - provision of
Training - Recommendations of airmen and airwomen, as appropriate, for air crew
training, trade training, conversion courses, specialist courses, administrative
sub-officer courses, and employment as instructors. (Correspondence concerning
disciplinary training of recruits, and ab initio trade training of recruits
enlist u/t will continue to be addressed to Ruislip.)
Type of airframes and engines on which airmen are being employed.
Source - Air Ministry Order A63/1941 dated 23 January 1941.
Appointment of Area Catering Advisers
To ensure sound and economical messing in war time, the catering organisation introduced by AMO A313/40 is to be augmented by the appointment of area catering advisers. These officers will form part of the staff of the Chief Adviser and inspector of Catering at the Air Ministry and will be allocated to areas which correspond approximately to the army command areas and sub-areas through which supplies are obtained. A list of the areas is given in the appendix to this order.
The object of this arrangement is to enable more frequent visits to be made to all units with the minimum loss of time due to travelling. Area advisers will assist station commanders generally in all matters relating to messing and kindred subjects and will form a local liaison with the representatives within their areas of the other Government departments and interests concerned with the supply of foodstuffs, disposal of by-products, and agriculture. In this manner they will acquire a specialised knowledge of the local supply and distribution organisation and of any alternative arrangements which will be put into operation in the event of an emergency.
These officers will be available to all AOCs-in-C. at home for the investigation of questions affecting messing at units under their command situated within the adviser's area. As each area will contain units of several commands, requests for such services are to be addressed to the Chief Adviser and Inspector of Catering who will maintain a continuous contact with the advisers in their areas.
Nothing in this scheme is intended to relieve AOCs-in-C, of any of their responsibility for the satisfactory feeding of their personnel, and command catering officers will be retained at command headquarters to advise AOCs-in-C, generally on all matters pertaining to food and catering, including ration and supply questions, cooking equipment, etc. The routine advisory visits will be covered in the main by the area catering advisers.
Area catering advisers will also: -
acquaint themselves with all RAF stations, satellites and dispersed detachments within their area and to assist station staff in the maintenance of an adequate general standard of messing, will visit, as frequently as possible, such units as are fed under service arrangements.
pay special attention to the points referred to in para 4 of AMO A313/40 and in particular to the steps taken for the conservation of by-products and the avoidance of extravagance or waste of foodstuffs.
render to the Chief Adviser and Inspector of Catering, brief reports on all stations visited, copies of which will be forwarded to the appropriate command.
inquire as to the extent of unit gardening undertaken and act as a liaison with the Air Ministry Gardening Officer.
contact the following in their areas: -
RASC supply officer.
NAAFI headquarters and district managers.
Army command salvage officers.
Ministry of Food chief divisional officers and divisional food officers.
Area chairman, Fat Melters Association.
Agricultural executive committees.
RAF command headquarters as necessary or convenient.
study the supply and catering problems within their area and all emergency arrangements so that in the event of an emergency they could render the beat possible assistance to the units for which they are responsible.
APPENDIX
CATERING ADVISER'S AREAS
Scottish Area.
Northern (Northumbrian) Area.
Northern (West Riding) Area.
Western (Lancashire) Area.
Western (Wales) Area.
Eastern (East Anglian - North) Area. (Includes Norfolk, Suffolk, Huntingdon and Cambridge.)
Eastern (East Anglian - South) Area. (Includes Bedford, Hertfordshire, Essex and Middlesex.)
Eastern (Home Counties and London) Area.
Southern (South Midland) Area,
Southern (South Western) Area.
Southern (Southern etc) Area. (Includes all the Army
Southern Command Area except Areas 9 and 10.)
Source - Air Ministry Order A203/1941 dated 24 March 1941.
Appointment of Command Salvage Officers
Officers have been established as part of the staff of the equipment service at the headquarters of all home commands, including Northern Ireland. for the purpose of supervising the salvage and disposal of all material other than aircraft and the by-products of messing.
Their duties are as follows: -
To ensure that there is no wastage in their commands of materials of any kind which, if salvaged and disposed of through the proper channels, would assist the war effort by conserving raw materials and shipping space, saving man-hours and reducing expenditure of hard currencies.
To he responsible for compliance, within their commands, with any orders issued by the Air Ministry on the subject of the salvage of' materials and in particular, AMO A37/41.
To maintain close contact with the presidents of station anti-waste committees in order to give full effect to any recommendations regarding the salvage of materials which may be submitted by such committees, and to such recommendations to the Air Ministry (D of E (c) Sal.) with a view to their possible introduction throughout the service.
To effect liaison at command level, with the army and local authorities' salvage organisations.
Source - Air Ministry Order A212/1941 dated 27 March 1941.
Unit Catering Officers - Duties
In some instances unit catering officers are being employed on duties which interfere with the special duties for which they are established. The duties for which they are responsible are set out below, for the guidance of COs. They are: -
To co-ordinate all arrangements for feeding the airmen and airwomen on the station.
To demand rations from the unit ration store and, the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute; to check receipts against demands to distribute rations to the various cookhouses.
To compile Form 848 and maintain records in connection with disposal of by-products.
To compile a diet sheet so constituted as to provide an adequate and balanced diet.
To supervise the cooking of meals.
To ensure that no waste occurs and that economy is practised throughout the catering organisation.
To supervise the conservation of the by-products of messing and to ensure that the utmost value is extracted, not only for the financial benefit of the- mess but also in the interests of the national war effort.
To ensure that nationally rationed foodstuffs drawn by messes are not in excess of the maximum daily quantities laid down from time to time.
To ensure that the cookhouses, the utensils and apparatus used therein are kept clean, and to supervise the cookhouse staff.
To ensure that cleanliness is observed in the dining rooms and to arrange the duties of the staff employed therein.
To be present at the serving of all meals, as far as is practicable.
The unit catering officer may be detailed to carry out all or some of these duties for sergeants' and officers' messes, but should not he employed as officers' mess secretary.
Unit catering officers may be employed on other duties only if such employment does not interfere with the efficient performance of the duties listed in para 1 above.
Source - Air Ministry Order A278/1941 dated 17 April 1941.
Utilisation of Professional and Technical Qualifications of Air Force Personnel
It is necessary to ensure that personnel in the fighting services who have special qualifications should, so far as possible, be employed on work for which those qualifications make them particularly suitable. In particular, the requirements of the service and of industry for qualified engineers, physicists, chemists, surveyors (quantity and building), fully qualified accountants, personnel with teaching or professorial experience and personnel experienced in high grade administrative work are very great.
AOCs have been asked under AMOs A366/40 and A265/41 to recommend for commissions or officer appointments in the appropriate branches all airmen and airwomen, irrespective of rank, who have the necessary qualifications. Recommendations for commissions should continue to be made under the procedure there laid down. AMOs A691/40 and A136/41 stress the importance of remustering suitable airmen to higher trade groups.
The man power situation demands, however, that further steps should be taken to see that the special qualifications possessed by RAF and WAAF personnel are used to the best advantage in the national war effort. Officers (both RAF and WAAF), airmen and airwomen who in civil life had the qualifications mentioned in para 1 above and who feel that they are not in their present postings being employed on work for winch their special qualifications fit them are, therefore, requested to forward to the Air Ministry through the' usual channels (i.e. through the CO and the AOC the group) particulars in the form set out in the appendix to this order. These forms should be forwarded in the case of RAF officers to the Director of Personal Services, in the case of airmen, to the Director of Manning, and in the case of WAAF officers and airwomen, to S7 (g).
There may be in the service men who possess the qualifications mentioned, but who (e.g. as a cook and butcher) have been content to enjoy freedom from the responsibility which the full exercise of those qualifications would entail. If there are any such, they should realise that it is in the national interest that their special qualifications should be used, if possible, and they should therefore complete the form.
While no guarantee can be given that it will be possible in all cases to change the employment of an individual, careful consideration will be given to the particulars on the forms with a view to ensuring that full use is made of any special qualifications held. For this reason, it is important that the particulars in the form shall be full and accurate.
COs should give personnel every assistance and encouragement in filling up the forms and should themselves approach personnel who, in their opinion, have the qualifications mentioned.
A copy of this order is to be placed on the notice boards of all units and it should be given the widest publicity.
APPENDIX
Number, rank and name.
Branch or trade.
Unit.
Age.
Present employment.
*Occupation in civil life.
Branch of work in which expert or specialised.
Details of training and experiences in chronological order (most recent experience first).
| Dates | Name and address of employer | Your own position and duties |
| - | - | - |
| - | - | - |
*Professional, technical or scientific qualifications: degrees (with class), diplomas, etc.
Additional information, e.g. nautical, wifeless knowledge of other countries, etc.
Particulars of education.
Particulars of service in any Government department or with the services, stating rank held.
*State any technical or administrative work, either with the services or in Government departments, for which you regard yourself as having particular qualifications.
Signed.......................................
Remarks of C), with any special recommendation.
Remarks (if any) of AOC the group.
*9 para 1 of the order.
Source - Air Ministry Order A323/1941 dated 7 May 1941.
General Education Scheme - Correspondence Courses
Particulars were given in AMO A1/41 of a number of correspondence courses in banking, engineering, insurance and legal subjects open to all ranks of the Royal Air Force and the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, and of the manner in which application for enrolment should be made.
The work of enrolment has been hampered by the necessity of returning for amendment a large proportion of the application forms received. Before completing an application form consideration should be given to the following points: -
The applicant must study carefully the particulars given in appendix A to AMO A1/41 and in the appendix to this order, of the various subjects in which correspondence courses are available, and must not apply for enrolment for a course in a subject which is not included in these appendices.
The applicant must clearly understand that the serious study of only one of the subjects in any of the four groups of courses set, out in appendix A to AMO A1/41, and of any of the additional subjects set out in the appendix to this order, may normally be expected to occupy the whole of the spare time which a RAF student is likely to have available for the purpose, over a period of at least two or three months. Applications should not, therefore, be made for enrolment for a course in, for example, "Engineering", but for one, or at the most two, engineering subjects which should be selected from the list given in appendix A, para B of AMO A1/41. When these courses been completed the student can, without further payment, apply for enrolment in other engineering subjects, taken singly or in pairs, until all the desired subjects have been studied.
The application form should not be countersigned unless the CO is satisfied that the applicant is likely to be able to derive educational benefit from a course in the subject or subjects selected.
AMO A1/41 was amended as follows: -
Appendix B, para 3. Delete " Unit and Official Postal Address" and
substitute "Official Postal Address of RAF Station or AM Establishment
(The unit is not to be stated.)"
Copies of the application form already prepared are to be amended
accordingly.
Further courses now available - In para 2 of AMO A1/41, notice was given that arrangements were being made for the provision of additional courses. Details of further courses now available are shown in the appendix to this order.
(AMO A1/41 amended.)
APPENDIX
COURSES FOR SURVEYORS, AUCTIONEERS, ESTATE AND LAND AGENTS
Courses, suitable for persons studying for the examinations of the Chartered Surveyors Institution (CSI), the Auctioneers and Estate Agents Institute (AI), Land Agents Society (LAS), or the BSc. degree in estate management of the University of London, are now available in the following subjects (the examination or examinations for which a particular course is appropriate being noted against each subject).
Agricultural science CSI, AI, LAS, BSc.
Elements of agriculture CSI, AI, LAS, BSc.
History and elementary economics of agriculture LAS
Elementary building construction CSI, AI, LAS, BSc.
Central and local government CSI, LAS
Drainage of buildings CSI, AI, BSc.
Elements of forestry CSI, AI, LAS, BSc.
Elements of geology CSI
Heating and ventilation CSI
Land drainage CSI
Elementary quantities CSI
Elementary valuation CSI, AI, LAS, BSc.
Source - Air Ministry Order A362/1941 dated 22 May 1941.
Electrical Engineer Officers
Posts have been established for electrical engineer officers, who will be ordered in a separate war-time section of the technical branch.
Their duties will be to maintain, repair and modify electrical apparatus in use in the Royal Air Force. They will not be responsible for wireless, radio or other signals equipment.
AMO A228/40 was accordingly further amended.
(AMO A228/40, as amended by A612/40, A700/40 and A268/41, amended.)
Source - Air Ministry Order A387/1941 dated 29 May 1941.
Instructions regarding Repatriated RAF Personnel from Enemy and Enemy Occupied Territory
The following instructions regarding reception and disposal of RAF personnel who escape from the enemy and arrive in this country are applicable to all concerned.
Escapers are in three categories: -
Fit - All personnel are to be sent immediately
and by the most direct route to the London Transit Camp, Great Central
Hotel Marylebone, London,
A signal reporting the ranks, names and the time of departure for
Marylebone is to he sent to the Air Ministry (D of I (S)).
The Commandant, London Transit Camp, will inform the Air Ministry of the
time of interview in order to enable a RAF air staff officer to be
present if necessary.
After being interviewed personnel will be available for RAF duties.
Unfit, but able to travel - All personnel are to
be sent to the RAF Hospital, Halton, Wendover.
A signal reporting the ranks, names and time of departure for hospital
is to be sent to the Air Ministry (D of I (S)).
D of I (S) will inform MI9 and instruct RAF hospitals to detain the
personnel until interviewed by MI9.
After being interviewed, personnel will be available for RAP duties on
becoming fit.
Unfit and unable to travel - All personnel are to
be sent to the hospital nearest to the port, of arrival. The
ranks, names and hospital address are to be signalled to the Air
Ministry (D of I (S)).
D of I (S) will inform MI9 and request the hospital to hold the patients
for interview.
All personnel who have escaped and all RAF personnel
contacting them are to be warned as soon as possible against discussing
escape experiences with anyone, whether in the services or not. The
representative of MI9 is the first person who should receive such
information. A special warning should be given concerning any
interviews by the Press or by the BBC and mention of the name of any person
who may have helped in the escape should not, under any circumstances, be
made other than to MI9.
As a general rule, after being interviewed at the London Transit Camp,
personnel will be required to report to D of I (S), Air Ministry, Whitehall.
(AMO A175/40 cancelled.)
Source - Air Ministry Order A449/1941 dated 19 June 1941.
Duties of the Senior Polish Officer or NCO at RAF Stations
To facilitate co-operation between the British authorities and Polish personnel serving at a RAF station, it has been agreed that, the senior polish officer at the station, or, if there is no Polish officer, the senior polish warrant officer or NCO, shall have the functions detailed in paras 2 to 5 below. Seniority for this purpose will be determined under normal RAF rules, by the permanent war rank or acting rank held. The senior Polish officer (or NCO) will not exercise any powers of command, etc, over Polish personnel other than those which he may have under RAF regulations.
When requested to do so by the station commander the senior polish officer, warrant officer or NCO will act as liaison officer with the appropriate RAF authorities on all matters relating to the Polish personnel at the station.
Where practicable, arrangements are to be made for the senior Polish officer, warrant officer or NCO to be present whenever charges against polish personnel are investigated and disposed of. The senior Polish officer is invariably to be informed of all such cases.
The senior Polish officer, warrant officer or NCO will be responsible for all statistical and other reports on the ranks, numbers, progress in training, etc, of the Polish personnel at the station, which he has been instructed by the Inspector-General of the Polish Air Force to furnish. Such reports may be rendered direct to the Inspector-General of the Polish Air Force, proper precautions being taken to ensure secrecy in transmission, but a copy is to be given to the station commander, who will use his discretion as to the necessity for its transmission through the usual channels, to the Air Ministry.
Reports containing recommendations regarding the morale, efficiency, discipline and welfare of Polish personnel, and all reports other than those covered by para 4 above, are to be submitted both in Polish and in English. In the event of difficulties arising in the provision of an English translation, application should be made to group headquarters for the services of an interpreter from the nearest unit to which one is attached. The English copy of such reports is to be forwarded for action through normal RAF channels. The Polish copy is to be forwarded, for information, to the Polish Inspectorate General through the Polish Liaison Officer at group headquarters.
Source - Air Ministry Order A460/1941 dated 19 June 1941.
Gas Defence Courses (Officers and Airmen) at the RAF Anti-Gas School
Gas Defence (War) Courses will be held every three weeks at the RAF Anti-Gas School, Rollestone Camp. The duration of the course will be 21 days.
The course will provide instruction for all officers and senior NCOs to be trained respectively as gas officers and NCO gas instructors, and also for junior NCOs shown in unit establishments for anti-gas duties, if recommended by COs.
The allocation of officers for Gas Defence Courses will be made by the Air Ministry. The provision of NCOs is the responsibility of the AOC, No 27 (Training) Group, who will make block allocations to groups. Group commanders are to allocate these vacancies within their command, and unit commanders who require vacancies on any particular course are therefore to apply to their respective group headquarters. Unit commanders should bear in mind the advantage of selecting NCOs of aircrafthand trade for these courses in order that, on completion of their course, they may he fully employed on gas defence duties.
Instructions for personnel proceeding to the Anti-Gas School - Personnel not travelling by road will be met at Salisbury station by school transport. A request for this should be made through the RTO, Salisbury Railway Station. The telephone number of the Anti-Gas School is Shrewton 42. Personnel travelling by road are to arrive earlier than 1800 hours on the date of assembly. The school is situated between Larkhill and Salisbury and was previously known as "Balloon School"'
Accommodation - Single officers' quarters are available at the school and all officers live in for the period of the course. Camp kit is not necessary. Personnel should be suitably attired for outdoor demonstrations in all weathers. Gum boots are on loan at the school.
Note books - Personnel are to equip themselves with books of the loose-leaf variety (foolscap size) to take their own and school notes.
Pupils are to be in possession of a service type respirator, duly fitted and tested, and should he conversant with the standard respirator drill. Civilian personnel are to be in possession of civilian duty respirators. RAF personnel are to be in possession of Anti-Gas Equipment No 5.
Medical - Personnel detailed for the course are to be medically examined prior to leaving their units and must be physically fit before proceeding to Rollestone Camp; No personnel selected should be the subject of-
bronchitis, either acute or chronic;
eye conditions, e.g. blepharitis or conjunctivitis;
nervous conditions, e.g. neurasthenia.
All personnel are to be provided by their units with a medical certificate as follows :-
Certified that (Name
................................. Rank .....................)
has been medically examined and found physically fit in all respects to
attend the course of instruction at the RAF Anti-Gas School.
Date....................................
Signature of Medical Officer.
Personnel selected to attend these courses must be educationally suitable. Nominal rolls of personnel detailed to attend are to be forwarded (in duplicate) to the Officer. Commanding, Anti-Gas School, Rollestone Camp, seven days prior to commencement of the course. Where civilian personnel are detailed to attend, their status must be clearly stated.
Source - Air Ministry Order A488/1941 dated 3 July 1941, amended by AMO A553/41 dated 24 July 1941.
Duties of the Senior Czechoslovak Officer or NCO at RAF Stations
At all stations having Czechoslovak personnel on the strength the senior Czech officer, warrant officer, or NCO is to act as liaison officer between Czechs on that station and the appropriate RAF authority on the one hand, and between the Czech Liaison Officer of the command and the Czech Inspectorate on the other.
Where practicable, arrangements are to be made for the senior Czech officer, warrant officer or NCO to be present whenever charges against Czech personnel are investigated and disposed of. The senior Czech officer or NCO is invariably to be informed of all such cases.
Reports containing recommendations regarding the morale, efficiency discipline and welfare of Czech personnel are to be submitted in duplicate, through normal RAF channels, to the Air Ministry (DAFL), which will transmit one copy to the Czech Inspectorate.
Source - Air Ministry Order A588/1941 dated 31 July 1941.
Appointment of Catering and Messing Officers
In order to clarify the position of officers employed on catering and messing duties the following information is published -
Area catering advisers - These officers form part of the staff of the Air Ministry, directly under the control of the Chief Adviser and Inspector of Catering (E41), under the Director-General of Equipment. Their duties are briefly indicated in AMO A203/41.
Command catering officers - Their duties are outlined in AMO A313/40.
Unit catering officers - These officers are specially selected from the service, commissioned from civil life or appointed to commissions from the ranks, because of their knowledge of catering duties gained from civil or service experience, and are posted to units where the establishment provides for a catering, officer. Their duties are defined in AMO A276/41.
Unit messing officers - In units where a catering officer is not borne on the establishment or in units to which, although established, a catering officer has not yet been posted, the CO is required, under para 1728 of KR & ACI, to appoint an officer to supervise the airmen's messing. This appointment is usually additional to the officer's other duties. To indicate that he is responsible for airmen's messing the officer so appointed is known as. the "unit messing officer".
The "command catering adviser" has been renamed "command catering officer" and the Air Ministry Orders concerned were accordingly amended as follows: -
AMO A203/41 amended accordingly
AMO A.313/40 amended accordingly
(AMOs A313/40 'and A203/41 amended.)
Source - Air Ministry Order A656/1941 dated 31 July 1941.
The RAF School of Administration - Administration Courses
The RAF School of Administration will move from Loughborough to Stannington (Northumberland) in September 1941, and will further expand to carry out instruction on the following courses: -
| Junior course | 360 students |
| Senior course | 120 students |
Both courses are of three weeks' duration. The junior course will include WAAF officers to be subsequently employed in straight substitution for RAF administrative officers.
The selection of officers to attend these courses is governed by the following policy: -
Junior course - This course will be assembled on the third Monday of each month, and is designed for officers who are required to fill vacancies as station adjutants, squadron adjutants and other junior administrative posts not above the rank of flight lieutenant or flight officer. The intakes will be divided into three parts which will be filled as follows: -
Part A - For newly appointed RAF officers who have passed through the Officers' School and have completed a period of employment on administrative duties at a RAF station, usually of not less than two months. The officers for this course will be detailed by the Air Ministry (D of P).
Part B - For newly appointed WAAF officers who are to fill appointments in RAF administrative posts in straight substitution for RAF officers. These officers will be posted to the School of Administration direct from the WAAF Officers' School on completion of the WAAF officers' initial course (see AMO A350/41). This part of the junior course will be assembled on the second Monday of the month.
Part C - For officers not above the rank of flight lieutenant who have not hitherto completed any course at the School of Administration. The Air Ministry (D of P) will allot a definite number of vacancies to commands which in turn will allot vacancies to groups. Groups are to notify direct to the School of Administration the names of officers who have been detailed to fill their allotment. Commands are to notify to the Air Ministry (DP5), by the first day of each month, the number of vacancies required for the course commencing on the third Monday of that month. The balance to complete each junior course up to 360 students will be made by Air Ministry detail from Part A and Part B.
Senior course - This course will be assembled on the first Monday of each month and is designed for officers not below the rank of flight lieutenant. The syllabus covers the instruction required for the duties of a station administrative officer. The intakes will be divided into two parts which will be filled as follows: -
Part D - By officers who have completed the junior course and may, after a suitable period, be considered ready for further progressive training. These officers will be detailed by the Air Ministry (D of P).
Part E - For officers not below the rank of flight lieutenant filling appointments as station administrative officers who have not hitherto completed the senior course, or officers whom group commanders consider would obtain benefit from the course. The Air Ministry (DP5) will allot vacancies to commands, which in turn will allot vacancies to groups. Groups are to notify direct to the School of Administration the names of officers who have been detailed to attend. Commands are to notify to the Air Ministry (DP5), by the first day of each month, the number of vacancies required for the following month. The balance to complete each senior course up to 120 students will be made by Air Ministry detail from part D.
It is the aim that every officer appointed to or filling an administrative post shall have completed the course appropriate to that post by 1st May 1942, which should go some way towards the maintenance of a high standard of administrative efficiency throughout the Royal Air Force.
The following general instructions are to be observed by all officers attending these courses: -
Before leaving their parent station, RAF officers are to obtain the following :-
A return railway warrant;
Two copies of Form 95, temporary duty certificate, in respect of each calendar month into which the course extends;
A copy of KR & ACI and the Manual of Air Force Law.
These publications must be provided by stations from within the
special scale laid down for administrative officers in AMO A118/40.
Copies are not available for loan at the school, and instruction is
impeded if students fail to bring these publications.
This will not apply to WAAF officers, who will be posted to the
school.
All officers are to report to the school before 1500 hours on the day ordered for the assembly of the course. The nearest railway station is Morpeth (LNER) and the transport is available for conveyance to Stannington.
Results of course are to be reported on Form 292, under the following specially modified procedure: -
Forms 292 are to be prepared in duplicate only.
The original copy is to be forwarded to the Air Ministry (T Admin.).
The duplicate copy is to be forwarded to the parent unit concerned, through command and group headquarters.
(AMO A198/41 cancelled.)
Source - Air Ministry Order A716/1941 dated 4 September 1941.
Daily Duties at Stations
It has been decided that the air or other officer commanding may approve the employment of officers of the equipment and accountant branches below the rank of flight lieutenant to perform orderly officer's duties at any type of unit, either as a permanent measure during war-time, or temporarily, at his discretion.
Para 820, clause 5, of KR & ACI, is to be regarded as modified accordingly.
There will be no modification of para 821 of KR & ACI relating to the station or squadron.
Source - Air Ministry Order A756/1941 dated 18 September 1941.
Instructions regarding Repatriated RAF Personnel from Enemy and Enemy Occupied Territory
The following instructions regarding the reception and
disposal of RAF personnel who return to the United Kingdom from enemy or
enemy occupied territory and foreign countries are applicable to all
concerned. This includes both escaped prisoners of war and personnel
who have evaded capture.
Escapers are in three categories: -
Fit - All personnel are to be sent immediately
and by the most direct route to the London Transit Camp, Great Central
Hotel, Marylebone, London.
A signal reporting the ranks and names and the time of departure for
Marylebone is to be sent to the Air Ministry (D of I (S)).
MI9 (b) will inform the Air Ministry (D of I (S)) of the time of
interview in order to enable a RAF air staff officer to be present if
necessary. After being interviewed, personnel will be available
for RAF duties.
Unfit but able to travel - All personnel are to
be sent to the RAF Hospital, Halton, Wendovor.
A signal reporting the ranks and names and the time of departure for
hospital is to be sent to the Air Ministry (D of I (S)).
D of I (S) will inform M19 and instruct RAF hospitals to detain the
personnel until interviewed by MI9.
After being interviewed, personnel will be available for RAF duties on
becoming fit.
Unfit and unable to travel - All personnel are to
be sent to the hospital nearest to the port of arrival. The ranks,
names and hospital addresses are to be signalled to the Air Ministry (D
of I (S)).
D of I (S) will inform MI9 and request the hospital to hold the patients
for interview.
All personnel who have escaped and all .RAF personnel
contacting them are to be warned as soon as possible against discussing
escape experiences with anyone, whether in the services or not. The
representative of MI9 is the first person who should receive such
information. A special warning should be given concerning any
interviews by the Press or by the BBC, and mention of the name of any person
who may have helped in the escape should not under any circumstances, he
made other than to MI9.
After being interviewed at the London Transit Camp, personnel will be
required to report to D of I (S), Air Ministry, Whitehall
(AMO A419/41 cancelled.)
Source - Air Ministry Order A767/1941 dated 25 September 1941.
Attachment of Air Force and Military Personnel to Units or Formations of the other Service
Revised Directions for the attachment of air force and military personnel to the army and air force respectively were made on 1st September 1941, by the Air Council and Army Council, in substitution for the Directions reproduced on pages 610-612 of the Manual of Air Force Law (1939 reprint). These Directions are reproduced below.
"Directions given by the Air Council with the concurrence of the Army Council pursuant to the regulations dated 12th June 1918, made by the Army Council and Air Council under the powers granted to them by Section 179A (1) of the Army Act and Section 179A (1) of the Air Force Act.
The following officers and airmen of the regular air force shall be temporarily attached to the regular forces, namely: -
Any officer or airman of the regular air force who is ordered to serve with the regular forces by the officer commanding a unit or formation of the regular air force with the assent of the officer commanding the unit or formation of the regular forces with which he is to serve; but where any such order is issued on the authority of the officer commanding a unit of the regular air force, the officer issuing the order and the officer who assents thereto shall communicate the fact for the information of their immediate superior officers. An officer or airman attached to the regular forces in pursuance of this clause shall continue to be so attached for so long as may be prescribed by the order by which he was attached, or until such time as an order revoking such attachment is made by the officer commanding the military unit or formation with which he is for the time being serving with the assent of the officer commanding the air force unit or formation concerned, or until such time as an order revoking such attachment is made by superior military authority with the assent of superior air force authority.
Every officer and airman of the regular air force who is a patient in a military hospital or convalescent establishment shall be temporarily attached to the regular forces from the time of admission until discharged.
Every officer of the regular air force who is ordered in writing to do duty for a period in a military transport or troop freightship shall be temporarily attached to the regular forces during the period specified in such order.
Every airman of the regular air force who may for the time being be on board any vessel employed as a military transport or troopship shall be temporarily attached to the regular forces while on board, and during such time only as there may not be on board the same vessel an officer of the regular air force or a naval or military officer attached to the regular air force (other than an officer holding only an honorary commission)."
"Directions given by the Army Council with the concurrence of the Air Council pur8uant to the regulations dated 12th June, 1918, made by the Army Council and Air Council under the powers granted to them by Section 179A (1) of the Army Act and Section 179A (1) of the Air Force Act.
The following officers and soldiers, of the regular forces shall be temporarily attached to the regular air force: -
Any officer or soldier of the regular forces who is ordered to serve with the regular air force by the officer commanding a unit or formation of the regular forces with the assent of the officer commanding the unit or formation of the regular air force with which he is to serve; but where any such order is issued on the authority of the officer commanding a unit of the regular forces, the officer issuing the order and the officer who assents thereto shall communicate the fact for the information of their immediate superior officers. An officer or soldier attached to the regular air force in pursuance of this clause shall continue to be so attached for so long as he may be prescribed by the order by which he was attached, or until such time as an order revoking such attachment is made by the officer commanding the air force unit or formation with which he is for the time being serving with the assent of the officer commanding the military unit or formation concerned, or until such time as an order revoking such attachment is made by superior air force authority with the assent of superior military authority.
Every officer and soldier of the regular forces who is a patient in an air force hospital or convalescent establishment shall be temporarily attached to the air force from the time of admission until discharged.
Every officer of the regular forces who is ordered in writing to do duty for a period in an air force transport or freightahip (men) shall be temporarily attached to the regular air force during the period specified in such order.
Every soldier of the regular forces who may for the time being be on board any vessel employed as an air force transport or freightship (men) shall, during such time as there may not be on board the same vessel an officer of the regular forces or an officerof the regular air force attached to the regular forces, be temporarily attached to the regular air force while on board."
KR & ACI and the Manual of Air Force Law will be amended in due course.
Source - Air Ministry Order A774/1941 dated 25 September 1941.
Annulment of Transfers of Certain Army Personnel Transferred to the Royal Air Force
Regulation 8 of the Defence (Armed Forces) Regulations, 1939, and the Regulations made thereunder by the Army Council and Air Council on 26th August 1941, are reproduced below.
Regulation 8 of the Defence (Armed Forces) Regulations, 1939.
Where a soldier has been transferred to the Air Force, whether before or after the coming into force of this Regulation, under section three of the Air Force (Constitution) Act, 1917, his transfer may, in accordance with regulations made by the Army Council and the Air Council, be annulled, without prejudice to the validity, of anything done in the meanwhile; and thereupon he shall resume the rank which he held in His Majesty's military forces at the date of the transfer, any acting rank or lance rank being disregarded, and shall be deemed to have been attached to the Air Force under the said section three from the date of his transfer to the date of its annulment.
Regulations made by the Army Council and Air Council under Regulation 8 of the Defence (Armed Forces) Regulations, 1939.
Where a soldier has been transferred to the Royal Air Force under Section 3 of the Air Force (Constitution) Act, 1917, for aircrew duties during the present emergency under the conditions provided for in Army Council instruction No 1520 of 1940 , and he is found to be unsuitable, either during training or thereafter, for employment in any aircrew category, his transfer may be annulled by order of the competent Air Force authority. In that event his service with the Royal Air Force will be deemed to have been on attachment, under the provisions of Section 3 of the Air Force (Constitution) Act, 1917, from the date of transfer to that of its annulment. On rejoining the Army, the soldier will accordingly resume the substantive or war substantive rank (but not any acting rank or lance rank) held in the Army at the date of his transfer to the Royal Air Force, and his service with the Royal Air Force will be deemed to be Army service for the purpose of pay, pension, gratuity and any decoration or reward.
The provisions of paragraph 1 of these Regulations will apply also to: -
any soldier transferred to the Royal Air Force under the provisions of Army Council Instruction No 1520 of 1940* who desires to return to the Army with the consent of the Army Council, in the event of his services in the Royal Air Force being no longer required for reasons other than those given in paragraph 1 above or who for any reasons is finally withdrawn from flying duties;
any soldier transferred to the Royal Air Force under conditions other than those provided for in Army Council Instruction No. 1520 of 1940* who desires to return to the Army with the consent of the Army Council in the event of his service in the Royal Air Force being no longer required;
any soldier serving on a normal regular engagement who has transferred to the Royal Air Force under the provisions of Army Council Instruction No 1520 of 1940 * and who before the end of the war is for any reasons finally withdrawn from employment on flying duties, or who at the end of the war and during the continuance in force of these regulations, exercises his right under the foregoing Army Council Instruction to return to his original regiment or corps in the Army.
The competent Air Force authority for the purpose of paragraph I of these Regulations will be the Air Officer-in-Charge of Records, or an officer on his staff not below the rank of Wing Commander.
Reproduced in AMO A206/41.
Source - Air Ministry Order A795/1941 dated 2 October 1941.
Provost Marshal's Branch - Addresses of Regional Assistant Provost Marshals
With reference to the recent reorganisation of the Provost Marshal's Branch (see AMO A66/41) the addresses and telephone numbers of the assistant provost marshals of the twelve regions referred to and of the Assistant Provost Marshal for Northern Ireland are as follows: -
| No. I Region | 6, Roseworth Terrace, Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne. (Telephone No. - Gosforth 52295). |
| No. II Region | 18, Coney Street, York. (Telephone No. - York 4824, Extn. 32). Changed by AMO A1006/41 dated 4 December 1941 by: - Odeon Buildings, |
| No. III Region | 44, Parliament Street, Nottingham. (Telephone No. - Nottingham 2100) |
| No. IV Region | King's College, Cambridge. (Telephone No. - Cambridge 56673). |
| No. V Region | 47, Grosvenor Square, London, S.W. (Telephone No. - Mayfair 9735-7). |
| No. VI Region | P.O. Box 42, Reading, Barks. (Telephone No. - Reading 2782) |
| No. VII Region | Idmiston House, High Street, Cheltenham. (Telephone No. - Cheltenham 53171). Changed by AMO A1006/41 dated 4 December 1941 by: - Langford Lodge, Bristol, 8. |
| No. VIII Region | University College, Cathay's Park, Cardiff. (Telephone No. —Cardiff 7028). |
| No. IX Region | 8, Temple Street, Birmingham. (Telephone No. - Midland 6646). |
| No. X Region | 9, Jordan Street, Preston, Lancs. (Telephone No. - Preston 2705) |
| No. XI Region | 2, Douglas Gardens, Edinburgh, 4. (Telephone No. - Edinburgh 33978-9) |
| No. XII Region | Chancellor House, (Flat 51), Tunbridge Wells, Kent. (Telephone No. - Tunbridge Wells 3320, Extn. 55). |
| Northern Ireland | Headquarters, RAF in Northern Ireland. (Telephone No. - Belfast 47484) |
Source - Air Ministry Order A823/1941 dated 9 October 1941.
General Education Scheme - Correspondence Courses
Particulars were given in AMOs A1/41 and A362/41 of a number of correspondence courses open to all ranks of the Royal Air Force and the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, and of the manner in which application for enrolment should be made. Details of further courses now available are shown in the appendix to this order.
Application may not be made for more than one course at a time but any number of single courses in either the accountancy or secretarial group may be taken in series without payment of a further enrolment fee.
The application form should not be countersigned unless the CO is satisfied that the applicant is likely to be able to derive educational benefit from a course in the subject or subjects approved.
Enrolment - The receipt of every application form will be acknowledged by the War Office (AE3) and every enrolled student will, in due course, receive an enrolment form giving him the name and address of his tutor, together with a copy of the syllabus of the course for which he has enrolled. The receipt of these documents is to be acknowledged by the student to the War Office (AE3) as soon as possible.
Change of address - Owing to the failure of
applicants to notify the War Office. (AE3) of changes of address subsequent
to the completion and submission of their application forms, considerable
numbers of enrolment forms and syllabuses have, during past months, failed
to reach students.
It is essential that any change of address occurring at any time after the
completion of an application form should be notified to the War Office (AE3)
by the applicant at the earliest possible moment.
AMO A1/41 was further amended accordingly.
(AMO A1/41, as amended by A362/41, amended.)
APPENDIX
ACCOUNTANCY AND SECRETARIAL COURSES
Accountancy courses - Courses adapted to the requirements of either the intermediate or final examinations of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA), the Society of Incorporated Accountants and Auditors (SIAA) or the Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants (ACCA). Against each course it is indicated for which particular examination or examinations the course is appropriate.
Of intermdiate standard
Book-keeping and accounts. ICA, SIAA, ACCA
Auditing. ICA, SIAA, ACCA
Cost accounts. ICA, SIAA, ACCA
General commercial knowledge. ICA, SIAA, ACCA
Mercantile law. SIAA, ACCA
Economics. ACCA
Of final standard
Advanced bookkeeping and accounts. ICA, SIAA, ACCA
Advanced auditing. ICA, SIAA, ACCA.
Advanced cost accounts. ICA, SIAA, ACCA
Company law. ICA, SIAA, ACCA
General commercial knowledge. ICA, SIAA, ACCA
Mercantile law (including arbitrations and awards). ICA, SIAA.
Partnership law and accounts. ACCA
Bankruptcy law (including deeds of arrangement, receiverships and trusteeships). ICA, SIAA, ACCA.
Economics. SIAA, ACCA
Statistics. SIAA, ACCA
Secretarial courses - Courses adapted to the requirements of either the intermediate or final examinations of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries or of the Corporation of Certified Secretaries.
Of intermediate standard
Secretarial practice
Economics
Accountancy
Mercantile law
Company law
English
Of final standar
Secretarial practice
Economics
Accountancy
Mercantile law
Company law
GROCERY COURSES
An elementary course (seven to eight months) - Suitable for those who have had some experience in the grocery and allied trades and who are desirous of taking the intermediate examination of the Institute of Grocers.
An advanced course (eight to nine months) - Open to those who have passed the intermediate examination of the institute, or who have completed course (i) above.
All students who have taken course (i) will be eligible to sit for the intermediate examination of the institute in 1942, while those who have completed course (ii) will be eligible to sit for Part I of the first final examination of the institute to be held after the end of the war.
Source - Air Ministry Order A841/1941 dated 16 October 1941.
Air Ambulances
Air ambulances have been established for the transport of casualties and sick personnel in the United Kingdom.
Location - Air ambulances will be located as follows :-
| i One DH 89 at Wick | To collect cases (service and civilian) from the Orkney and Shetland Islands, North and East Scotland and the Hebrides. |
| ii One DH 89 at Abbotsinch | To collect cases (service and civilian) from the Western Isles and West, Central and Southern Scotland. |
| iii Two Oxford aircraft at Hendon | To collect service cases from England, Wales, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland. |
|
iv One Walrus at Abbotsinch (This is being adapted for use, as an ambulance and will not be ready before 1st' January, 1942.) |
To collect cases (service and civilian) from the Western Isles, where no landing ground is available. |
Control -
Air ambulances will be controlled as follows: -
Those located at Hendon, by the Air Ministry (Movements 5).
Those located at Wick and Abbotsinch, by Headquarters, No 18 Group, except -
The Walrus which, being primarily an Air Ministry special communications aircraft, will be controlled by the Air Ministry (Movements 5).
If necessary, the Air Ministry (Movements 5) and Headquarters, No 18 Group, will arrange mutually for the use of the ambulances coming under their respective control.
The controlling authority will arrange for cases to be landed at the aerodrome most convenient to the hospital to which they are to be admitted.
Application for use of ambulances -
The medical officer in charge of the case requiring transport by air is to apply direct to the controlling authority by the quickest possible means, normally by telephone, and is to inform the senior medical officer of the group and the principal medical officer of the command of the action taken. In his application for the use of the ambulances the medical officer is to give to the controlling authority the following information concerning each patient: -
Number
Rank or grading
Name and initials
Unit or ship
Sex.
Diagnosis or disease.
Condition of case, e.g., DI or SI
Any special medical requirements or equipment necessary on the journey. -
The controlling authority will pass their Information to the medical officer of the aerodrome on which the ambulance is based so that any equipment required may be placed on the ambulance before departure. The controlling authority will also notify the medical officer making the application and the aerodrome from which the patient is being collected, of the estimated time of arrival of the ambulance, and will signal particulars of the patient as in sub-para. (i) above, giving the estimated time of-arrival, to the aerodrome to which the patient is being transported, requesting at the same time that particulars of the patient be transmitted to the hospital and that arrangements be made with the hospital for the collection of the patient on landing.
A specially trained nursing orderly, accustomed to air travel, is always to accompany the patient. The RAF station on which the ambulance is based will provide the nursing orderly. Only in exceptional circumstances, when considered advisable, will a medical officer accompany the patient, and this medical officer will also normally be provided by the station on which the ambulance is based. It is most important to ensure that this instruction is carried out in order to prevent any overloading of the ambulance.
(AMO A529/40 cancelled.)
Source - Air Ministry Order A953/1941 dated 13 November 1941.
Use of the Term "Fleet Air Arm"
The use of the term "Fleet Air Arm" is to be restricted as much as possible. Such phrases as "aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm", "Fleet Air Arm training", etc, besides being lengthy, convoy an impression that the Fleet Air Arm is not an integral part of the naval service. These phrases are to be replaced wherever possible by "naval aircraft", "naval air training", etc.
The letters "FAA" are not to be used after the names of officers and ratings of the Royal Navy.
Source - Air Ministry Order A959/1941 dated 13 November 1941.
Duration of Tour of Duty Abroad and in certain British Islands in War Time
Until further notice, the duration of the tour of duty abroad for air force personnel during war time will be regulated in accordance with the following arrangements, and paras. 342 and 590 of KR & ACI are to be regarded as modified accordingly.
-
Iraq, Aden and Sudan - Personnel who have completed three years in Iraq, Aden or Sudan, or two years in one of those countries coupled with a further year in another overseas command, will be returned to the home establishment unless they volunteer to remain. Arrangements will be made, as necessary, by the AOC-in-C, Middle East, for the exchange between Middle East and Iraq, Aden or Sudan, of personnel who have spent two years in one of the three last-mentioned Countries.
West Africa - The tour of duty in Takoradi (Gold Coast) and at stations in West Africa will be for twelve months, on completion of which personnel will normally be sent to the Middle East Command for a further two years. Certain individuals who are suffering from severe malaria, dysentery or other diseases, or who are thereby debilitated, may require to be invalided to the United Kingdom and, for this purpose, must be brought before a medical board. Each case will be treated on its merits.
Malta - The tour of duty in Malta will be for one year, on completion of which personnel will, if possible, be exchanged with personnel in the Middle East. On completion of one year in Malta with a further two yours in another overseas command, personnel will return to the home establishment unless they volunteer to remain. If facilities do not exist for relieved personnel to go to the Middle East after one year in Malta they will normally be returned to the United Kingdom.
Gibraltar - The tour of duty in Gibraltar will be for eighteen months followed normally by a further eighteen months in another overseas command.
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia - The tour of duty will be for not less than two years and may extend to two and a half or three years. This provision does not apply to personnel who proceeded to Canada before 1st October, 1941, for whom the tour of duty will normally be for eighteen months unless they volunteer to remain.
Iceland - The tour of duty will be for one year.
Orkneys. Shetlands. Hebrides and Western Isles of Scotland - The tour of duty in these islands will be for from six to nine months.
Middle East (except Sudan), Palestine and Trans-Jordan, India and the Far East - Married personnel who are accompanied abroad by their families, and single personnel, will remain for four years. Married personnel who are unaccompanied by their families will return to the home establishment on completion of three years' service, unless they volunteer to remain.
All personnel who have been abroad during four consecutive hot seasons, and personnel in whose cases strong compassionate grounds exist, will be returned to the home establishment.
In all cases the length of tour on operational flying of air crew personnel will be governed by the terms of Air Ministry letter dated 22nd November, 1941, addressed to operational commands.
It will be appreciated that, under war conditions, relief of personnel at any particular time cannot be guaranteed but, in the interests of their health and efficiency, every effort will be made to ensure that the recognised duration of a tour of duty is not exceeded and that personnel whose tour of duty has expired are returned to the home establishment at the first opportunity. Commands will be informed as and when reliefs are despatched so that the relieved personnel can be embarked immediately passages are available following the arrival of the reliefs. Any case of hardship in which return from abroad to the United Kingdom seems justified independently of the foregoing provisions. (e.g, on the grounds of deterioration in the health of an officer or airman, or of his family), should be considered individually on its merits.
Source - Air Ministry Order A997/1941 dated 4 December 1941.
General Education Scheme - Correspondence Courses
Particulars were given in AMOs A1/41, A362/41 and A841/41 of a number of correspondence courses open to all ranks of the Royal Air Force and the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, and of the manner in which application for enrolment should be made. Details of further insurance courses now available are shown in the appendix to this order.
As a general rule, applicants will be well advised not to attempt at any one time more than one of the courses in one of the groups I to VI, but simultaneous enrolment for more than one course in one of these groups may, in special circumstances, be allowed.
It is essential that any change of address occurring at anytime after the completion of an application form should be notified to the War Office (AE3) by the applicant at the earliest possible moment.
APPENDIX
A course in the general principles and practice of
insurance (all branches).
This forms an introduction to the subject for those who have not
previously studied insurance, but is not suited to the needs of those who
require specialised knowledge of particular branches of insurance.
Courses, based on the Part II syllabus of the Associate Examination of the Chartered Insurance Institute, in each of the following subjects: -
Fire: -
Policy drafting and endorsements.
Insurance against loss of profits through fire.
Law
Ordinary life. -
Compound interest (elementary).
Extra risks.
Law of contract.
Industrial life: -
Compound interest (elementary).
New business.
Law of contract.
Accident: -
Motor insurance
Law of master and servant.
-
Burglary insurance.
Fidelity guarantee insurance.
Engineering insurance.
Marine: -
Institute clauses.
Shipping and Mercantile practice in connection with marine insurance.
Ship classification and registration.
National: -
-
National Health Insurance law.
Unemployment insurance law and unemployment assistance law.
-
Approved society administration.
Insurance committee administration,
Unemployment insurance administration.
Unemployment assistance administration.
-
Law of contract.
Statistics.
Source - Air Ministry Order A1040/1941 dated 11 December 1941.
Use of the Terms "Radio", "RDF", "Radiolocation " and "Wireless"
In future the word "radio" will cease to be used by the services as having particular reference to RDF but will normally he used in its customary broader sense as an inclusive term for all uses of wireless, including RDF.
The term "RDF" will be used by the services to cover all methods of radiolocation involving reflection or re-radiation. The term "ratiolocation" may he used by the services in matter which is communicated to the public.
The word "wireless" (although strictly synonymous with "radio") will be regarded by the services as applying more particularly to communications, that is, wireless telegraphy and telephony and their applications, including DF but excluding RDF and other forms of radio.
Source - Air Ministry Order A1092/1941 dated 26 December 1941.
Title
Text
Source - Air Ministry Order A1092/1941 dated 26 December 1941.
This entry was last updated on 16/06/25
