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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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RAF Non-Commissioned Ranks/Trade Classifications
Ground Trades (All Trades) 1918 - 1950, Non Technical Trades 1950 - present and Aircrew up to 1946
With the formation of the RAF it was necessary to amalgamate the non-commissioned trade classification/rank structures of the RFC and RNAS, with the decision being taken to create a three group trade structure. Trades were divided into Technical, Administrative and General trades, each group having a different set of classification/rank titles, as follows (daily rates of pay shown in brackets): -
| 1 Apr 1918 | 1 Jan 1919 | Badge | Replaced (RFC) | Replaced (RNAS) | ||
| Group I Technical |
Group II Administrative |
Group III General |
||||
| Boy (1/-) |
Boy (1/-) |
Boy (1/-) |
Boy | No Badge | Boy | Boy Steward |
| Air Mechanic 3rd Class (2/-) |
Clerk 3rd Class (1/8) |
Private 2nd Class* (1/6) |
Aircraftman 2nd Class | No Badge | Air Mechanic 3rd Class | Air Mechanic 2nd Class Aircraftman 2nd Grade Officers Steward 3rd Class* Officers Cook 3rd Class* |
| Air Mechanic 2nd Class (3/-) |
Clerk 2nd Class (2/-) |
Private 1st Class (1/6) |
Aircraftman 1st Class | No Badge | Air Mechanic 2nd Class | Acting Air Mechanic 1st Class Aircraftman 1st Grade |
| Air Mechanic 1st Class*** (4/-) |
Clerk 1st Class (3/-) |
Private 1st Class* (until
5 Apr 1919) Leading Aircraftman (from 5 Apr 1919) (1/8) |
Leading Aircraftman |
 |
Air Mechanic 1st Class | Air Mechanic 1st Class*** Aircraftman 1st Class Officers Steward 2nd Class* |
| Corporal Mechanic*** (5/-) |
Corporal Clerk** (4/-) |
Corporal* (2/4) |
Corporal |  |
Corporal | Leading Mechanic*** Leading Aircraftman** Officers Steward 1st Class* |
| Sergeant Mechanic (6/-) |
Sergeant Clerk (4/9) |
Sergeant (3/3) |
Sergeant |  |
Sergeant | Petty Officer Petty Officer Aircraftman |
| Chief Mechanic (7/-) |
Flight Clerk (5/6) |
Flight Sergeant (3/10) |
Flight Sergeant |  |
Flight Sergeant | Chief Petty Officer 3rd Grade Chief Petty Officer Aircraftman |
| Master Mechanic* (8/-) |
Master Clerk** (from 28
Nov 1918) (6/9) |
Sergeant Major 2nd Class*** (6/9) |
Sergeant Major 2nd Class*** |  |
Quartermaster Sergeant* Sergeant Major (Superintending Clerk) ** Warrant Officer (Superintending Clerk) **
|
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Grade |
| Chief Master Mechanic* (9/-) |
Master Clerk (until 28 Nov
1918) Chief Master Mechanic (from 28 Nov 1918) |
Sergeant Major 1st Class*** (7/6) |
Sergeant Major 1st Class*** |
 |
Sergeant Major (Technical)* Warrant Officer (Technical)* Sergeant Major (Discipline)*** Warrant Officer (Discipline)*** |
Chief Petty Officer 1st Grade* |
The daily rates of pay shown above are in shillings and pence, for comparison 10 shillings (10/-) was equivalent to 50p.
On transfer to the RAF it seems that a number of trade classifications, particularly between the RNAS and RAF were not transferred at the exact same level as might be expected so many personnel appeared to drop a classification level on transferring, eg; AM2 (RNAS) being transferred as AM3 (RAF).
On 1 January 1919 the three strands were replaced by a single trade classification/rank structure as shown below. After WW2 new NCO ranks were introduced to differentiate between Technical and Non-Technical trades and between ground trades and NCO aircrew. Until 1950 all ground tradesmen wore the same rank badges, however in that year a separate rank structure was introduced for Technical tradesmen.
| Apprentice/Boy Entrant |
 |
|
| Aircraftman 2nd Class (AC2) | No Badge |
Introduced on 1 Jan 1919 as a trade classification to replace Air Mechanic/Clerk/Private 3rd Class and in some trades 2nd Class. |
| Aircraftman 1st Class (AC1) | No Badge |
Introduced on 1 Jan 1919 as a trade classification to replace Air Mechanic/Clerk/Private 2nd Class and Private 1st Class in some trades. |
| Aircraftman | No Badge |
Introduced on 1 January 1951 as the lowest rank/trade classification in the new RAF rank structure, held by personnel undergoing initial training prior to being assessed on their level of proficiency at the end of their training. |
| Leading Aircraftman/woman (LAC/LACW*) |  |
Introduced on 1 Jan 1919 as a trade classification to replace Air Mechanic/Clerk/Private 1st Class. It became a part of the RAF disciplinary rank structure on 1 January 1951. *Introduced on the formation of the WAAF |
| Senior Aircraftman/woman (SAC/SACW) |  |
Introduced on 1 January 1951 as an intermediate rank between LAC and Corporal. |
| Corporal | |
Introduced in 1918 as the lowest NCO rank for all trades. |
| Sergeant | |
Introduced in 1918 for all trades. |
| Flight Sergeant |
|
Introduced in 1918 for all trades.
Queen's Crown replaced the King's Crown in 1952. |
| Sergeant Major 2* Warrant Officer 2nd Class** |
 |
*Introduced in 1918 for all
trades, replaced by WO2 in 1933 -Air Ministry Order A13/1933 and A36/1933. **Replaced Sergeant Major 2 from 19 January 1933 - Air Ministry Order A13/1933 and A36/1933. From the same date no recommendations for promotion to WO2 from flight sergeant were to be made, with the rank being abolished in 1939. |
|
Sergeant Major 1* Warrant Officer** |
 |
*Introduced in 1918 for all
trades, replaced by WO from 19 January 1933 - Air Ministry Order A13/1933 **Introduced from 19 January 1933 - Air Ministry Order A13/1933, replacing SM1 as the senior Non-Commissioned rank. Became the only Warrant rank in 1939. |
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, the crown on RAF badges was changed from St Edward's (Queen's) Crown to the Tudor (King's) Crown.
This page was last updated on 17/03/25©
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