Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force

Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force badge
Active	1949 - 1993
Disbanded	31 March 1993 (succeeded by the Government Flying Service)
Country	British Hong Kong
Type	Air Force
Role	Aerial Defence Force
Motto(s)	Semper Paratus Always ready
Insignia
roundel
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	Sikorsky S-70 Sikorsky S-76
Patrol	Beechcraft Super King Air B200C

RHKAAF Aérospatiale SA365C1 Dauphin at Kai Tak in 1982

The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) was a Hong Kong Government department based in Hong Kong. It was formed as an air force 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 31 March 1993.

History

The history of the unit goes way back to the early days of Hong Kong as a British colony. On 30 May 1854, with the departure from Hong Kong of the British men-of-war on anti-piracy duties in the north, following the Shanghai precedent, an appeal was made by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir William Caine, for willing citizens to assemble for the purpose of forming an auxiliary police force to protect the lives and property of Hong Kong’s inhabitants. Ninety-nine worthy men turned up and the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps was formed. Following numerous incarnations, the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) and the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force were spawned from this original corps of volunteers.

The HKAAF came into existence as an air force in 1949 as part of the Hong Kong Defence Force. From 1949 to 1970, it was known as the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (HKAAF). Its royal title was approved by King George VI in 1st May 1951, as was that of what became the Royal Hong Kong Defence Force (RHKDF). This was the first time that a volunteer force had been so honoured.

When the Royal Hong Kong Defence Force was disbanded in 1970, the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) and Royal Hong Kong Regiment (RHKR) were formed under new ordinances as separate units. The RHKAAF was finally disbanded on 31 March 1993, and succeeded the following day by the Hong Kong Government Flying Service (GFS), a newly created civilian unit using the original service staff of the RHKAAF.

Although technically an armed military unit, run on the lines of an RAF squadron, latterly the unit's responsibilities were mostly involved in providing non-military aviation services such as police support, search and rescue, flying doctor,air ambulance and firefighting in the colony.

The RHKAAF was based at Kai Tak Airport from 1949 to 1993.

Badge

The last badge 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 Hong Kong 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

Personnel

RHKAAF personnel were a mixture of full-time and part-time staff. Most were locally recruited, in the latter years mostly local Hong Kongers. The ranks used were the same as those of the Royal Air Force, up to Air Commodore.

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Royal Air Force v t e
	Marshal of the RAF		Air chief marshal		Air marshal		Air vice-marshal		Air commodore		Group captain		Wing commander		Squadron leader		Flight lieutenant		Flying officer			Pilot officer /acting pilot officer			Officer cadet
Government Flying Service v t e
									Controller		Chief Pilot Chief Aircraft Engineer		Senior Pilot Senior Aircraft Engineer Senior Aircrewman Officer		Pilot I Aircraft Engineer Aircrewman Officer I		Pilot I Aircraft Engineer Aircrewman Officer I		Pilot II Aircraft Engineer Aircrewman Officer II Chief Aircraft Technician		Pilot II Chief Aircraft Technician Senior Aircraft Technician Aircrewman Officer III		Cadet Pilot Senior Aircraft Technician Aircraft Technician Aircrewman Officer III
Rank group	General/flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet

Commanding officers

Fleet

On 31 March 1993, the RHKAAF fleet comprised:

Aircraft

Slingsby T67 Firefly in the colours of the RHKAAF

Historical aircraft

RHKAAF SA365C1 Dauphin at RAF Sek Kong in 1983

Further reading

• Penlington VA: Winged Dragon - The History of the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (Odyssey Productions Ltd, 1996) ISBN 9622174663

External links

Media related to Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force at Wikimedia Commons

• 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