GB 3188 JSCSC IF 1/5 - Independent Force, Royal Air Force, Honours and Awards

1 file (27 foolscap sheets)

Archive created by the Royal Air Force Staff College (1922-1997) and passed on to the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Bracknell in 1997 which relocated to Shrivenham in 2000. These documents are part of a collection of papers and books donated to the Royal Air Force Staff College by the family of Viscount Trenchard following his death in 1956. Most of Lord Trenchard's private papers were donated to other establishments. The records of the Independent Force form a discrete collection within the donation. Many of the books that had previously formed Lord Trenchard's personal library were passed to the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell in 1996 prior to the closure of the Royal Air Force Staff College.
GB 3188 JSCSC IF 1/5 1918-1919 Collection (Sub-fond of Royal Air Force Staff College collection) 1 file (27 foolscap sheets) Trenchard , Hugh Montague , 1873-1956 , 1st Viscount Trenchard of Wolfeton , Marshal of the Royal Air Force x Trenchard of Wolfeton , 1st Viscount

The Independent Force was established by the Royal Air Force on 6 June 1918 to conduct a strategic bombing campaign against Germany, concentrating on strategic industries, communications and the morale of the civilian population. The Independent Force was formed out of the Royal Flying Corp's Forty-First Wing which commenced operations in October 1917. This initiative was partly in response to German airship and aeroplane raids on England but it also built upon earlier, small scale attempts at strategic bombing by the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps. As its name implied, it operated independently from the land battle and struck at targets in central Germany including Cologne, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Bonn, and Mannheim. It was also intended to operate independently of the control of the Allied Supreme Commander, Marshal Foch, although this was later changed.

The Independent Force was commanded, reluctantly at first, by Major-General Hugh Trenchard who was gradually converted to the idea of strategic bombing by the operations of the Independent Force. The squadrons were based on airfields in the Nancy region, well to the south of the British sector of the Front Line. Although the effort appears miniscule compared to later bombing campaigns, four day and five night bomber squadrons dropped just 550 tons of bombs during 239 raids between 6 June and 10 November 1918, the effect on the German war effort was remarkable. The main targets were railways, blast furnaces, chemical factories that produced poison gas, other factories, and barracks to which had to be added airfields in an effort to reduce attrition from enemy fighter aircraft.

The effect on morale was out of all proportion to the size of the bomber force or the material damage caused and the air raids resulted in the movement of German air defence units away from the Front Line. Trenchard ordered statistics and records to be kept to demonstrate the work of the Independent Force and the role of strategic bombing in modern war.

Archive created by the Royal Air Force Staff College (1922-1997) and passed on to the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Bracknell in 1997 which relocated to Shrivenham in 2000. These documents are part of a collection of papers and books donated to the Royal Air Force Staff College by the family of Viscount Trenchard following his death in 1956. Most of Lord Trenchard's private papers were donated to other establishments. The records of the Independent Force form a discrete collection within the donation. Many of the books that had previously formed Lord Trenchard's personal library were passed to the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell in 1996 prior to the closure of the Royal Air Force Staff College.

The family of the 1st Viscount Trenchard post-1956.

Correspondence and papers relating to honours and awards for Officers and Other Ranks serving with the Independent Force, Royal Air Force during the period 25 February 1918 and 1 October 1918.

Covering letter from GOC Independent Force, Major General H Trenchard to the Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force dated 30 October 1918 relating to honours and awards for Officers and Other Ranks who served with the Independent Force, Royal Air Force during the period 25 February 1918 and 1 October 1918. 1p, typescript.

New Year's Honours Despatch, 1919. List of Recommendations, in order of merit: Officers. Major General Commanding Independent Force. Dated 29 October 1918. 1p, typescript.

New Year's Honours Despatch, 1919. List of Recommendations, in order of merit: Other Ranks. Major General Commanding Independent Force. Dated 29 October 1918. 1p, typescript.

15 foolscap sheets listing names of those recommended for awards or promotions, each type of award listed on a separate sheet. This file consists of: The Order of St Michael and St George (1p); Distinguished Flying Cross (1p); Brevet promotion in Army, or substantive promotion in Royal Air Force (1p); Order of the British Empire (2p); Air Force Cross (1p); Distinguished Flying Medal (1p); Air Force Medal (1p); Meritorious Service Medal (2p); Mention in Despatches: Officers and Other Ranks (5p). 15p, typescript.

Peace Despatch, Independent Air Force. List of Officers and Other Ranks recording name, rank, unit and award recommended. Includes Army troops serving with the Independent Force. 5p, typescript.

New Year's Honours Despatch, 1919, Independent Air Force. List of Officers and Other Ranks recording name, rank, unit and award recommended and actually awarded. Includes Army troops serving with the Independent Force. 4p, typescript.

1 file as outlined in Scope and Content. Shelved with Royal Air Force Staff College collection.

Open. Access to the Joint Services Command and Staff College Library is by appointment only. Contact Chris Hobson, Head of Library Services, Joint Services Command and Staff College, Faringdon Road, Watchfield, Swindon SN6 8TS. Information on personnel is subject to Ministry of Defence regulations.

Copies, subject to the condition of the original and normal copyright restrictions, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to Chris Hobson, Head of Library Services, Joint Services Command and Staff College.
English

No additional finding aids.

Sources: The War in the Air Volume VI by H A Jones, Oxford University Press, 1937. Compiled by Chris Hobson. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. January 2009 Air force personnel State security Armed forces Air force Organizations Military organizations International conflicts Wars (events) World War One (1914-1918) War World wars (events) Medals Awards Social norms Social behaviour Trenchard , Hugh Montague , 1873-1956 , 1st Viscount Trenchard of Wolfeton , Marshal of the Royal Air Force x Trenchard of Wolfeton , 1st Viscount Independent Force , Royal Air Force

The family of the 1st Viscount Trenchard post-1956.

Correspondence and papers relating to honours and awards for Officers and Other Ranks serving with the Independent Force, Royal Air Force during the period 25 February 1918 and 1 October 1918.

Covering letter from GOC Independent Force, Major General H Trenchard to the Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force dated 30 October 1918 relating to honours and awards for Officers and Other Ranks who served with the Independent Force, Royal Air Force during the period 25 February 1918 and 1 October 1918. 1p, typescript.

New Year's Honours Despatch, 1919. List of Recommendations, in order of merit: Officers. Major General Commanding Independent Force. Dated 29 October 1918. 1p, typescript.

New Year's Honours Despatch, 1919. List of Recommendations, in order of merit: Other Ranks. Major General Commanding Independent Force. Dated 29 October 1918. 1p, typescript.

15 foolscap sheets listing names of those recommended for awards or promotions, each type of award listed on a separate sheet. This file consists of: The Order of St Michael and St George (1p); Distinguished Flying Cross (1p); Brevet promotion in Army, or substantive promotion in Royal Air Force (1p); Order of the British Empire (2p); Air Force Cross (1p); Distinguished Flying Medal (1p); Air Force Medal (1p); Meritorious Service Medal (2p); Mention in Despatches: Officers and Other Ranks (5p). 15p, typescript.

Peace Despatch, Independent Air Force. List of Officers and Other Ranks recording name, rank, unit and award recommended. Includes Army troops serving with the Independent Force. 5p, typescript.

New Year's Honours Despatch, 1919, Independent Air Force. List of Officers and Other Ranks recording name, rank, unit and award recommended and actually awarded. Includes Army troops serving with the Independent Force. 4p, typescript.

1 file as outlined in Scope and Content. Shelved with Royal Air Force Staff College collection.

Open. Access to the Joint Services Command and Staff College Library is by appointment only. Contact Chris Hobson, Head of Library Services, Joint Services Command and Staff College, Faringdon Road, Watchfield, Swindon SN6 8TS. Information on personnel is subject to Ministry of Defence regulations.

Copies, subject to the condition of the original and normal copyright restrictions, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to Chris Hobson, Head of Library Services, Joint Services Command and Staff College.

• Engels

• Latijn

English

No additional finding aids.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• Engels