Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force

The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) was an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, based in Hong Kong.[1] It was formed in 1949 as part of the Hong Kong Defence Force.[2] 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.[3]

Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force badge
Active1949 - 1993
CountryBritish Hong Kong
TypeAir Force
RoleAerial Defence Force
Motto(s)
Insignia
roundel
Aircraft flown
HelicopterSikorsky S-70
Sikorsky S-76
PatrolBeechcraft Super King Air B200C
RHKAAF Aérospatiale SA365C1 Dauphin at Kai Tak in 1982
Royal Air Force
of the British Armed Forces
Components
History
Aircraft
Structure
Personnel

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, flying doctor,[4] air ambulance and firefighting in the colony.[5]

History
This Supermarine Spitfire F.24 (VN485) was used by the HKAAF from 1952 to 1955, it is displayed at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford
Slingsby T67 Firefly in the colours of the RHKAAF
RHKAAF SA365C1 Dauphin at RAF Sek Kong in 1983

The HKAAF came into existence 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). Royal title was approved by King George VI in 1951 to the Royal Hong Kong Defence Force (RHKDF).[2] 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 a new ordinance as separate units. The RHKAAF was finally disbanded on 1 April 1993.[6] All non-military operations were taken over by the Government Flying Service (GFS),[7] 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.

The RHKAAF was based at Kai Tak Airport from 1949 to 1993.[8]

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,[9] until the handover in 1997:

  • St Edward's Crown
  • Octagon-shaped badge with a Hong Kong dragon, propeller[10]
  • 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.[6] The ranks used were similar to those of the Royal Air Force.

  • Honorary Air Commodore
  • Commanding Officer
  • 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 as 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

Fleet

On 31 March 1993, the RHKAAF fleet comprised:

Aircraft Origin Role Variant Quantity Introduced Notes
Helicopters
Sikorsky S-70 United States Utility S-70A-27 2[11] 1993[1] Customized version UH-60 Black Hawk for the RHKAAF.[12] Both built in 1992 and entered service on 2 March 1993.[13]
They were retired in 2002 and sold back to the US in 2003.[14][15]
Sikorsky S-76 United States SAR S-76A++ 3 1990 Three SAR version S-76s were delivered in October 1990,[16] this type has a forward-looking infrared sensor.[17]
Retired in 2002.
Sikorsky S-76 United States Utility S-76C 5 1990 First three S-76s entered service on 14 July 1990.[16]
Retired in 2002.
Transport
Beechcraft Super King Air United States Utility B200C 2 1987[18] Retired in 1999.
Trainer Aircraft
Slingsby T67 Firefly United Kingdom Basic trainer T67M200 4 1987[18] Retired in 1996.

Historical aircraft
Aircraft Origin Class Role Quantity In Service Retired Notes
Aérospatiale SA365C1 Dauphin France Helicopter SAR 3 1980 1990 Replaced by eight S-76s.[18][19]
Cessna 404 Titan United States Piston Utility 1 1979 1987 Replaced by two Beechcraft Super King Air B200Cs.[18]
Scottish Aviation Bulldog United Kingdom Piston Basic trainer 2 1977 1988 Replaced by four Slingsby T67M200s.[18]
Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander United Kingdom Piston Utility 1 1972 1992 Crashed on 15 Dec 1992.[20]
Beech B23 Musketeer II United States Piston Utility 2 1971 1979 Replaced by a Cessna 404 Titan.[1]
Aerospatiale SA3160 Alouette III France Helicopter Utility 3 1965 1980 Replaced by three Aérospatiale SA365C1 Dauphins.[11]
Taylorcraft Auster AOP9 United Kingdom Piston Utility 4 1965 1971 [1]
Westland Widgeon United Kingdom Helicopter Utility 2 1958 1965 One of the Widgeons crashed in 1965. Replaced by three Aerospatiale SA3160 Alouette IIIs.[11]
Supermarine Spitfire XIX United Kingdom Piston Reconnaissance 2 1954 1955 Transfered from No. 81 Squadron RAF.[1]
Supermarine Spitfire F.24 United Kingdom Piston Fighter 8 1952 1955 One of the Spitfire F.24s is exhibited at the Imperial War Museum.[21]
Supermarine Spitfire XVIII United Kingdom Piston Fighter 6 1951 1952 Transfered from No. 80 Squadron RAF.[1]
Taylorcraft Auster T7 United Kingdom Piston Utility 4 1950 1971 [1]
North American Harvard MkIIB United States Piston Trainer 11 1950 1958 Transfered from Far East Air Force.[1]
Taylorcraft Auster AOP6 United Kingdom Piston Utility 5 1949 1971 [1]
Taylorcraft Auster V United Kingdom Piston Utility 1 1949 1950 [1]

See also

References
  1. Royal Air Force Reserve and Auxiliary Forces - RAF Museum (PDF). UK: RAF Museum. 2003. p. 173-176. ISBN 9780953034512. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  2. "Winged dragon: The history of the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force". www.britishempire.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  3. http://www.gfs.gov.hk/eng/aboutgfs.htm 1 April 1993 immediately after the disbandment of its predecessor, the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. It is one of the disciplined services of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
  4. "1977 Aerial views from the Flying Doctor". Gwulo: Old Hong Kong. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  5. FlightGlobal (1981) Hong Kong. UK: FlightGlobal. 1981. p. 346. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  6. The Statesman's Year-Book 1993-94. UK: Palgrave Macmillan. 1993. p. 684. ISBN 9780230271227. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  7. "Unit History: RAF Kai Tak". www.forces-war-records.co.uk. Clever Digit Media Ltd. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  8. "Sikorsky S-70A-27 - Hong Kong Government Flying Service". www.airliners.net. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  9. "badge, headdress, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force". www.iwm.org.uk. Imperial War Museums. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  10. "Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force". www.helis.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  11. "Sikorsky S-70 H-60 Black Hawk - Hong Kong". Shipbucket. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  12. "S-70A-27 B-HZI". www.jetphotos.com. JetPhotos. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  13. "S-70A-27 Black Hawk HKG-23". www.aerialvisuals.ca. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  14. "Three S-70s in 2003". www.jetphotos.com. JetPhotos. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  15. "輔助空軍購新直升機 S七十六昨正式服役". 華僑日報. 14 July 1990. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  16. "To the rescue". FlightGlobal. 15 February 2000. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  17. FlightGlobal (1987) Hong Kong. UK: FlightGlobal. 1987. p. 60. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  18. "SA365C1 Dauphin 2". www.helis.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  19. "Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-7 Islander off Hong Kong". www.baaa-acro.com. Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  20. "Supermarine Spitfire F.24 ( Mk.24 )". www.iwm.org.uk. Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 18 January 2021.

Further reading

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

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