01/04/2026
ON THIS DAY 1ST APRIL 1918 – FORMATION OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
In 1918 the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) amalgamated to form the RAF. Whilst Hugh Trenchard had led the RFC, he was not keen on the political leadership of the new body, and in fact resigned days before the official creation. Instead for a time he led the Independent Bombing Force, an organisation set up to undertake the strategic bombing of Germany.
At the time of the RAF’s formation, Biggin Hill was home to 141 Squadron on home defence duties, flying Sopwith Dolphins and Bristol Fighters. The photo shows members of the squadron days earlier, sitting atop a sand heap with airfield buildings under construction in the background.
Trenchard – known as the ‘Father of the RAF’ – is remembered most not for his wartime leadership, but more for successfully preserving the RAF as an independent air arm following the Armistice. He battled against the efforts of the Navy and Army to have the RAF split in two once again. In his ten years at the helm of the RAF he successfully fought off three attempts to disband it by the process of parliamentary inquiry, all finding in favour of a separate RAF. Even so, the RAF went from a peak wartime strength of nearly 300,000 personnel and over 22,000 aircraft, to having only 3 squadrons of fighters for home defence duties in 1922.
Trenchard officially retired from active duty in 1930, having been made Marshal of the RAF in 1927 and Viscount Trenchard of Wolfeton in 1930. Instead he became Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1931-35. For the remainder of his life, he travelled the world visiting units and acting as an ambassador for the RAF.
He is thought to have visited Biggin Hill on several occasions during WWII. He certainly did so on 11 July 1941 in company with the New Zealand PM, when he took the opportunity to tour the Squadron dispersals, including those of 92 and 609 Sqns (Spitfires).
He may also have been present in September 1943 at the opening of St George’s RAF Chapel in its original location in the South Camp. But a photo of the occasion which has appeared in some books and is said to be of Trenchard reading the lesson, is now thought to be another officer. Partly this is based on age (Trenchard would have been 70 at the time); and partly that the officer pictured appears to be wearing the rank insignia of an Air Commodore, rather than those of a Marshal of the RAF. Unfortunately, the visitors book – which might have provided conclusive proof - was lost in the devastating 1946 fire.
(Thanks Ian for your research, and photos courtesy of Bob Ogley, Biggin on The Bump!)
