RNAS ranks

At what date the specific RNAS ranks, squadon commanders, wing captains, etc. were adopted.
Thanks in advance

[Graeme]

Lucien

The first specific mention I have found is 1 July 1914, when the London Gazette of 24 July, 1914 announced the pay and pensions for members of the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps:

'' We beg leave humbly to recommend that Your Majesty may be graciously pleased to sanction the proposals set forth in the accompanying schedule, to take effect as from the 1st July, 1914.

" The Lords Commissioners of Your Majesty's Treasury have signified their concurrence in these proposals.

" SCHEDULE.
" I.—OFFICERS.
" 1. Officers and Warrant Officers appointed to serve in the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps (which will be designated the Royal Naval Air Service) to be graded and to receive pay as follows: —

listed were the ranks -

Wing Captain
Wing Commander
Squadron Commander
Flight Commander
Flight Lieutenant
Flight Sub-Lieutenant
Warrant Officer, 1st Grade
Warrant Officer, 2nd Grade
Chief Petty Officer Mechanic, 1st Grade
Chief Petty Officer Mechanic, 2nd Grade
Chief Petty Officer Mechanic, 3rd Grade
Petty Officer Mechanic
Leading Mechanic
Air Mechanic, 1st Grade
Air Mechanic, 1st Grade (acting)
Air Mechanic, 2nd Grade

Graeme

[MikeW]

On the 15th July 1912 Admiralty Circular Letter No.22 outlined requirements for Officers, Men, and also private individuals (holding RAeC flying licences).

The following grades of Officers were recognised in this document:

Commanding Officer (Naval Wing)
Squadron Commander
Flight Commander
Flying Officer


Later, in 1913 and 1914 before the date that Graham mentions in his post, new trainee pilots would be Probationary Sub Lieutenants in the Royal Naval Reserve - the Mad Major, Christopher Draper being a good example. Lieutenants were also recognised at this time, as were Engineering Lieutenants and Lieutenant Commanders.

Mike

Thanks to both of you.

[Graeme]

As Mike correctly points out, there were earlier references to members of the Naval Wing of the RFC, the first London Gazette being dated 26 July 1912 in which the pay for the following grades were announced:

Commanding Officer, Naval Wing
Squadron Commander
Flight Commander
Flying Officer
Warrant Officer
Chief Petty Officer
Petty Officer
First Class Air Mechanic
Second Class Air Mechanic.

These, Commanding Officer apart, were the grades that could receive flying pay in addition to their ordinary pay; for instance, a Squadron Commander would receive 25 shillings (about 1.85 Euros at today's exchange rate) per day ordinary pay plus 8 shillings per day flying pay. By comparison, a Second Class Air Mechanic had to make do with 2 shillings per day ordinary pay plus either 2 or 4 shillings per day flying pay, dependent upon proficiency.

The first mention of the RNAS (as a separate Air Service) and associated ranks, rather than grades of Officer, that I have come across was the Gazette of 24 July 1914.

Graeme

I may be wrong but I wonder if this additional pay is not concerning naval officers and ratings involved in flying duties ? I mean, those are not ranks but functions.

[Graeme]

Lucien

The announcement in the London Gazette of 26 July 1912 covered the pay and allowances for the Officers and Men of the stated grades (not ranks) of the RFC, Naval Wing. The announcement begins as follows:

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 19th day of July, 1912.

PRESENT,

The KING'S Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

WHEREAS there was this day read at the Board a Memorial from the Right
Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, dated the 15th day of July, 1912, in the words following, viz.: —

" Whereas by Section 3 of the Naval and Marine Pay and Pensions Act, 1865, it is enacted, inter alia, that all pay, pensions, and other allowances in the nature thereof, payable in respect of services in Your Majesty's Naval or Marine Force to a person being or having been an Officer, Seaman, or Marine
therein, shall be paid in such manner and subject to such restrictions, conditions, and provisions as are from time to time directed by Order in Council:

" And whereas Your Majesty by Your Royal Warrant dated the twenty-second day of April 1912 was graciously pleased to approve of the establishment of a combined naval and military flying service under the designation of the Royal Flying Corps, and to sanction provision being made for the emoluments
of Officers and others serving in the military wing of that Corps:

" And whereas it is desirable that similar provision should be made for the emoluments of the Officers and others serving in the naval wing of the said Corps:

" We beg leave humbly to recommend that Your Majesty may be graciously pleased by Your Order in Council to sanction the following arrangements: —

" (1) Officers, Warrant Officers and men appointed to serve in the naval wing of the Royal Flying Corps to be graded and to receive pay as follows: —

" Commanding Officer, Naval Wing £800 per annum, with quarters, inclusive of all allowances.

Ordinary pay. Flying pay.
Per day. Per day.
" Squadron Commander 25s. 8s.
" Flight Commander - 17s. 8s.
" Flying Officer - 12s. 8s.
" Warrant Officer - 9s. 8s.
" Chief Petty Officer or
Petty Officer - 6s. 4s. or 2s.
" First Class Air 4s. 4s. or 2s.
Mechanic
" Second Class Air
Mechanic - 2s. 4s. or 2s.

" (2) The rates of flying pay to be granted to Warrant Officers and men to be dependent upon their flying proficiency under such conditions as may be laid down.

Clearly, these rates of pay related to those Officers and Men of the Royal Navy who served in the Naval Wing of the RFC.

If I have worked out the corresponding ranks correctly (MikeW will correct me if I haven't), a Squadron Commander would have held the naval rank of Lieutenant-Commander, a Flight Commander the rank of Lieutenant and Flying Officers would have been Sub-Lieutenants.

Graeme

It seems to confirm that proper ranks, I mean worn on uniforms, came latter, probably in 1914.

Thanks again.

[Purser]

I wonder if I could add to MikeW's note on Admiralty Circular Letter No.22 of 15 July 1912 and Graeme's reference to corresponding ranks.

The Admiralty letter listed the grades of officer in the Naval Wing, noting that this was irrespective of their RN rank. Officers were thus graded in their respective roles.

In the Royal Navy, comparison of ranks between its various branches and with the Army was by relative rank, this based primarily on seniority. Royal Navy officers serving in the Royal Naval Air Service held an RNAS rank in addition to their substantive Royal Navy rank.

To risk further confusion, relative rank is not the same as equivalent rank or even individual rank !

Officers of the Royal Navy were grouped as Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers (not the same as today's WO), or Subordinate Officers (the latter included Midshipmen and Naval Cadets).

Purser