Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

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The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) provides a pool of officers for management the Air Cadet Organisation and University Air Squadrons.

[edit] History

The RAFVR was formed in July 1936 to supplement the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF) which had been formed in 1925 by the local Territorial Associations. The AAF was organised on a Squadron basis, with local recruitment similar to the Territorial Army Regiments. Initially the RAFVR was composed of civilians recruited from the neighbourhoods of Reserve Flying Schools, which were run by civilian contractors who largely employed as instructors members of the Reserve of Air Force Officers (RAFO), who had previously completed a four year short service commission as pilots in the RAF. Navigation instructors were mainly former master mariners without any air experience. Recruits were confined to men of between 18 and 25 years of age who had been accepted for part time training as Pilots, Observers and Wireless Operators. The object was to provide a reserve of aircrew for use in the event of war. By September 1939, the RAFVR comprised 6,646 Pilots, 1,625 Observers and 1,946 Wireless Operators ( "The Right of the Line", John Terraine, 1985).

When war broke out in 1939 the Air Ministry employed the RAFVR as the principle means for aircrew entry to serve with the RAF. A civilian volunteer on being accepted for aircrew training took an oath of allegiance ('attestation') and was then inducted in to the RAFVR. Normally he returned to his civilian job for several months until he was called up for aircrew training. During this waiting period he could wear a silver RAFVR lapel badge to indicate his status.

By the end of 1941 more than half of Bomber Command aircrew were members of the RAFVR. Most of the pre-war pilot and observer NCO aircrew had been commissioned and the surviving regular officers and members of the RAFO filled the posts of flight and squadron commanders. Eventually of the "RAF" aircrew in the Command probably more than 95% were serving members of the RAFVR.

The association with the Air Cadet Organisation began informally during the 1930s as members of the RAF VR would arrange and implement the cadet's training.

[edit] Today

The original function to provide a source of aircrew is no longer necessary. The association with the Air Cadet Organisation has been maintained by members of the RAFVR(T)