British Military Aviation in 1918 - Part 1

Part 2

January
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in Salonika is re-equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory SE5As, Bristol Monoplanes and Sopwith Camels to replace the Nieuport 27s previously operating in this theatre. This marked the beginning of British air supremacy on this Salonika front.

2 January
An Order in Council defines the composition and duties of members of the Air Council and a separate Air Ministry is formed in London.

3 January
The first Air Council is formed and Lord Rothermere is appointed the first Secretary of State for the Air Force (re-titled Secretary of State for Air from March 1918).

18 January
Major General Sir Hugh Trenchard is appointed as the first Chief of the Air Staff. He is succeeded as General Officer Commanding of the Royal Flying Corps in France, by Major General John Salmond.

28-29 January
The first unqualified air combat victory at night against another aeroplane takes place, when two Sopwith Camels of No.44 Squadron shoot down a Gotha bomber during a raid on London.

30 January
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Captain J.B. McCudden of No.56 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, for "conspicuous bravery, exceptional perseverance, keenness and very high devotion to duty."

1 February
The 41st Wing is renamed VIII Brigade.

12 February
The Air Council approves the introduction of the terms 'areas' and 'groups' for the Royal Air Force's higher formations.

3 March
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is concluded between Germany and the Soviet Revolutionary Government, ending hostilities between Russia and the Central Powers. Germany becomes free to transfer forces from the Eastern to the Western Fronts and to participate in a major offensive in the West, timed to take place later in the month.

12-20 March
This period is marked by greatly intensified air operations on the part of the Luftstreitkräfte (the German Army Air Corps), enabling it to gain air superiority on the Somme sector. Over the Somme, 730 German aircraft, including 326 fighters, are opposed by 579 Royal Flying Corps aircraft, which include 261 fighters.

21 March
The German offensive on the Western Front (Operation Michael) opens with a massive assault against British forces in Picardy by 56 German Army Divisions. The offensive achieves a number of spectacular early successes, shattering the British defensive line.

During the initial stages of the offensive, the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) is instrumental in gathering intelligence about the timing and composition of the attack and on the first day of the offensive, 250 British aircraft from 27 squadrons strafe and bomb the advancing German Army, disrupting its operations and damaging enemy morale. 50 aircraft are lost and he German advance forces 17 Royal Flying Corps Squadrons to evacuate airfields that are in danger of being overrun.

27 March
The Victoria Cross is awarded to 2nd Lieutenant A.A. McLeod of No.2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. At 19 years old, he is the youngest airman to receive this award during the First World War, for action during a bombing mission over Bray-sur-Somme in France and for saving the life of his observer, Lieutenant A.W. Hammond, after being shot down in an Armstrong Whitworth FK8 (B5773).

30 March
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Lieutenant A. Jerrard of No.66 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, for gallantry displayed during an offensive patrol over Italy in a Sopwith Camel (B5648).

1 April
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is formed by the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). The Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) is also formed from those serving in air units of Women's Royal Naval Service, Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, the Voluntary Aid Detachment and the Women's Legion.

1 April
The Royal Aircraft Establishment is formed from the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough.

2 April
Miss Sylvia Hodkinson becomes the first Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) recruit.

11 April
The Royal Air Force Marine Craft Section is formed, with personnel from the Section initially tasked with operating support vessels that have transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF) from the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).

12 April
Following a dispute with Lord Rothermere, Major General Hugh Trenchard resigns from the post of Chief of the Air Staff and is succeeded by Major General Sir Frederick Sykes.

Part 2