HC Deb 02 July 1968 vol 767 cc211-2W
Mr. Goodhew

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish figures showing the manned strength of the Royal Air Force and its Reserves each year since 1920.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Following is the information:

MANNED STRENGTH (AT 1ST APRIL)
Year Royal Air Force (including WRAF and PMRAFNS but excluding locally enlisted personnel and members of Commonwealth Air Forces serving with the RAF Royal Air Force Reserves (2)
1920 28,708
1921 27,303(1)
1922 29,465
1923 30,083 465(1)
1924 31,427 6,782
1925 32,684 6,927
1926 34,009 7,361
1927 30,037 10,610
1928 30,484 12,851
1929 31,070 13,634
1930 31,989 13,022
1931 32,469 12,645
1932 32,287 11,478
1933 31,202 10,157
1934 30,500 10,676
1935 32,145 11,594
1936 45,804 11,486
1937 56,163 13,378
1938 69,465 16,909
1939 101,199 38,810

MANNED STRENGTH (AT 1ST APRIL)
Year Royal Air Force (including WRAF and PMRAFNS but excluding locally enlisted personnel and members of Commonwealth Air Forces serving with the RAF Royal Air Force Reserves (2)
1940 249,112
1941 590,358
1942 933,155
1943 1,135,040
1944 1,183,092
1945 1,142,698
1946 648,957
1947 331,469
1948 256,827 3,275
1949 224,967 11,765
1950 201,658 25,750(1)
1951 237,800 40,892
1952 270,785 81,729
1953 277,125 126,128
1954 265,113 189,366
1955 258,188 211,233
1956 242,649 229,171
1957 227,936 217,595 (3)
1958 191,019 194,121
1959 173,221 179,177
1960 163,476 154,552
1961 158,152 492,935(4)
1962 148,912 508,631
1963 143,765 538,370
1964 136,061 541,509
1965 131,304 84,707
1966 127,011 84,274
1967 124,104 81,478
1968 120,337 83,555

Notes:

  1. (1) 1st July figures.
  2. (2) The figures for the reserves cover:—
    1. (a) R Aux AF, WR Aux AF and their Reserves;
    2. (b) RAFVR including University Air Squadrons, WRAFVR;
    3. (c) Retired officers and pensioners of the RAF, WRAF, PMRAFNS;
    4. (d) RAF and WRAF Reserves of officers (including National Service Reserve officers);
    5. (e) RAF Emergency List of Officers and Class 'G' airmen;
    6. (f) Classes 'E' and 'H' airmen;
    7. (g) The pre-war Special Reserve and Class ' F' airmen.
  3. (3) Reflects disbandment of Auxiliary flying squadrons.
  4. (4) The numbers of Emergency List officers and Class ' G ✶ airmen prior to 1961 are not available.
  5. (5) Separate figures for reserves are not available for the periods 1920–22 and 1940–47. Reservists were embodied in the RAF.