RAF inventory

[David B]

What happened to the thousands of aircraft of all types that the RAF had on its inventory after the end of the war in 1918.

According to current news the RAAF was given 100 planes on its formation in 1921 (were they 504K's) but with the wind down

were surplus aircraft put into mothballs or just scrapped

david

[phil@basildon]

Most of the obsolete types were scrapped. Types such as the Avro 504K were adapted as trainers. The DH9 carried on in service until about 1930 and some were sold to the Americans who re engineered most of them and they also carried on until the thirties many of them were used for the pioneer air-mail services. Many also were adapted as airliners mostly twin engined types but again many were DH9's.

[fitzee]

The caption of this photo reads "Dh9's stacked to conserve space at ADC. By 1931, all the remaining aircraft of this vast stock were taken outside and burned"

[Terry_Reeves]

Many were sold off by the Ministry of Munitions Disposal Board, the records of which at the the National Archive in MUN 4. In 1920 a firm called the Aircaft Disposal Company was set up to relieve the Ministry of Munitions of this work. This site tells you a little about it:

http://www.aviastar.org/manufacturers/0017.html

TR

[David B]

Thanks Terry and Fitzee,

What a waste of aircraft tho, just taking them outside and burning. The poor old taxpayer takes a beating again

David

[Dolphin]

According to current news the RAAF was given 100 planes on its formation in 1921 (were they 504K's?).

David

In June 1919 the Imperial authorities offered gifts of 100 aircraft (sufficient for 4 service squadrons) to the governments of Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and South Africa. Lt Col Richard Williams of the AFC successfully argued that the aeroplanes themselves weren't really useful without a supply of spare parts.

Under the Imperial Gift Scheme, as it became known, some 19000 packing cases were delivered to Melbourne from March 1921, and the contents included 128 aircraft (the extra 28 were replacements for aircraft donated by Australians during the War). They were 35 Avro 504K trainers, 35 SE 5a fighters, 30 DH 9A day bombers and 28 DH 9 day bombers.

Cheers

Gareth

[mickdavis]

A large proportion of the machines serving with the BEF were scrapped in France/Belgium. Certain squadrons were designated as Demobilisation Squadrons Usually one per type operated). Macines from other similarly equipped units were flown in, stripped of ennines (usually), guns and watches and then scrapped and buried. There must have been a treasure trove out there.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Many surplus aircraft were used for barn storming and pioneer air services during the interwar period. Stephen Morris and Pilotage by Nevil Shute evoke the era.