Australian Flying Corps

Australian Flying Corps
Captain Harry Cobby (centre), Lieutenant Roy King (fourth from right), and other officers of "A" Flight, No. 4 Squadron AFC, with their Sopwith Camels on the Western Front, June 1918
Active	1912–21
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Part of	Australian Imperial Force
Engagements	World War I Mesopotamian campaign Sinai and Palestine Campaign Western Front
Commanders
Notable commanders	Edgar Reynolds Richard Williams

World War I

The Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was the branch of the Australian Army responsible for operating aircraft during World War I, and the forerunner of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The AFC was established in 1912, though it was not until 1914 that it began flight training.

In 1911, at the Imperial Conference held in London it was decided that aviation should be developed by the various national armed forces of the British Empire. Australia became the first member of the Empire to follow this policy. By the end of 1911, the Army was advertising for pilots and mechanics. During 1912 pilots and mechanics were appointed, aircraft were ordered, the site of a flying school had been chosen and the first squadron was officially raised. On 7 March 1913, the government officially announced formation of the Central Flying School (CFS) and an "Australian Aviation Corps", although that name was never widely used.

Units were formed for service overseas with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during World War I. They saw action, initially, in the Mesopotamian Campaign. The AFC later saw action in Palestine and France. In addition, a training wing was established in the United Kingdom. The corps remained part of the Australian Army until 1921, when it was re-established as the independent RAAF.

On 30 December 1911, the Commonwealth Gazette announced that the Australian military would seek the "...appointment of two competent Mechanists [sic] and Aviators", adding that the government would "accept no liability for accidents". On 3 July 1912, the first "flying machines" were ordered: two Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 two seat tractor biplanes and two British-built Deperdussin single seat tractor monoplanes. Soon afterward, two pilots were appointed: Henry Petre (6 August) and Eric Harrison (11 August).