Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1949 |
| Jurisdiction | Hong Kong |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong International Airport |
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| Royal Air Force air component of the British Armed Forces |
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| Components |
| History |
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| Aircraft |
| Structure |
| Personnel |
The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) was an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, based in Hong Kong. It was formed in 1949 as part of the Hong Kong Defence Force. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, the unit was disbanded on 1 April 1993.
Although technically an armed military unit, run on the lines of an RAF squadron, latterly its responsibilities were mostly involved in providing non-military aviation services such as police support, search and rescue, air ambulance and firefighting in the colony.
History
The RHKAAF came into existence in 1949 as part of the Hong Kong Defence Force. From 1949 to 1950, it was known as HKAAF and the Royal title was approved by King George VI in 1951. The RHKAAF was finally disbanded on 1 April 1993. All non-military operations were taken over by the Government Flying Service (GFS), a newly created civilian unit with the original service staff of the RHKAAF. The remaining military duties were transferred to other RAF units based in the colony, and passed to the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison (Shek Kong Airfield, Shigang Air Base, Guangdong and Guangzhou Shadi Air Base) on the actual transfer of sovereignty in 1997.
The RHKAAF was based at Kai Tak Airport from 1979 to 1993, with a sub-station at Sek Kong Airfield.
Fleet
Over the years, the RHKAAF fleet comprised:
| Builder/Model | Type | Number | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk / UH-60 Blackhawk  United States | utility helicopter | 3 (B-HZJ, B-HZI and B-HZK) | 1992–1993 | To GFS |
| Sikorsky S-76C United States | utility helicopter | 2 | 1991–1993 | To GFS |
| Sikorsky S-76A United States | utility helicopter | 6 | 1990–1993 | To GFS |
Slingsby T-67M-200 Firefly  United Kingdom | trainer | 4 | 1987–1993 | To GFS |
| Beech B200C King Air United States | utility aircraft | 2 | 1987–1993 | To GFS |
Aérospatiale SA-365-C Dauphin 2  France | utility helicopter | 3 | 1980–1990 | |
| Cessna 404 Titan United States | light utility aircraft | 1 | 1979–1987 | |
| SAL Bulldog United Kingdom | trainer | 2 | 1977–1988 | |
| Britten-Norman Islander United Kingdom | light utility aircraft | 1 | 1972–1993 | |
| Beech B23 Musketeer II United States | light utility aircraft | 2 | 1971–1979 | |
| Aérospatiale Alouette III SA3160 France | utility helicopter | 4 | 1965–1980 | |
| Auster AOP9 United Kingdom | trainer | 4 | 1965–1971 | |
| Westland Widgeon United Kingdom | utility helicopter | 2 | 1958–1965 | |
| Supermarine Spitfire XIX United Kingdom | fighter | 2 | 1954–1955 | |
| Supermarine Spitfire F24 United Kingdom | fighter | 8 | 1952–1955 | |
| Supermarine Spitfire XVIII United Kingdom | fighter | 6 | 1951–1952 | |
| Auster T7 United Kingdom | trainer | 4 | 1950–1971 | |
| Harvard IIB United States | trainer | 11 | 1950–1958 | |
| Auster AOP6 United Kingdom | trainer | 5 | 1949–1971 | |
| Auster V United Kingdom | trainer | 1 | 1949–1950 | |
| DH60 Moth United Kingdom | utility aircraft | 2 | 1941 | |
| DH687 Hornet Moth United Kingdom | utility aircraft/trainer | 2 | 1941 | |
| Avro Tutor 621 United Kingdom | training biplane | 4 | 1936–1941 | |
| Avro Avian IVM Cadet 631 United Kingdom | biplane trainer | 2 | 1934–1941 | |
| Avro Avian IVM 616 United Kingdom | light biplane trainer | 3 | 1930s |
Personnel
RHKAAF personnel were a mixture of full-time and part-time staff. Most were mostly locally recruited, in the latter years mostly local Hong Kongers. The ranks used were similar to those of the Royal Air Force.
- Controller
- Chief Pilot
- Chief Aircraft Engineer
- Senior Pilot
- Senior Aircraft Engineer
- Senior Aircrewman Officer
- Pilot I
- Aircraft Engineer
- Aircrewman Officer I
- Pilot II – added in the 1990s to less experienced pilots and a step above Cadet Pilot
- Aircrewman Officer II
- Chief Aircraft Technician
- Senior Aircraft Technician
- Aircrewman Officer III
- Cadet Pilot – added in the 1990s are part of the localization effort by the Government of Hong Kong to transfer roles prior to handover in 1997
- Aircraft Technician
Commanding Officers
| Start Date | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 May 1949 | Sqn Ldr M.N. Oxford |
| 1 October 1950 | Wg Cdr A.W. Wood DFC BEM |
| 1 January 1955 | Wg Cdr J.E.L. Larsen, AFC |
| 15 October 1955 | Wg Cdr P.O. Scales, AE |
| 12 October 1962 | Wg Cdr G.J. Bell, OBE, AE & clasp |
| 19 September 1966 | Wg Cdr R.P. Smith, OBE, AE & clasp, JP, QCVSA |
| 1 October 1971 | Wg Cdr S.P.J. Ellis, AE |
| 1 June 1975 | Wg Cdr R.G. Penlington, OBE, AE & clasp |
| 1 April 1983 | Wg Cdr A.P. Asprey, OBE, AE, JP |
| 1 January 1988 | Wg Cdr R.W. Brooks, MBE, AE & clasp |
| 1 January 1991 | Wg Cdr P.D. Yip, MBE, AE & clasp, JP, QCVSA |
Crest
The last crest of the force was used until 1993, after which time, the Hong Kong Coat of Arms was used on GFS aircraft, until the handover in 1997:
- St Edward's Crown
- Octagon-shaped badge with a Chinese dragon, propeller
- Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force is contained on the band of the badge
- Motto contain the wording Semper Paratus (Latin, "Always Ready")
- Oak Laurel wreath
References
- RHKAAF - dedicated to the people who served in the RHKAAF
- World Air Forces – Historical Listings – Hong Kong (HKG)
- GFS
- Hong Kong Defense Forces – 1991
- RHKAAF
- Aerospace History in HK
External links
Media related to Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force at Wikimedia Commons