|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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): -
| Group I Technical |
Group II Administrative |
Group III General |
Badge | Replaced (RFC) | Replaced (RNAS) |
| Boy (1/-) |
Boy (1/-) |
Boy (1/-) |
No Badge | Boy | Boy Steward |
| Air Mechanic 3rd Class (2/-) |
Clerk 3rd Class (1/8) |
Private 2nd Class* (1/6) |
No Badge | Air Mechanic 3rd Class | Air Mechanic 2nd Class Officers Steward 3rd Class* Officers Cook 3rd Class* |
| Air Mechanic 2nd Class (3/-) |
Clerk 2nd Class (2/-) |
Private 2nd Class (1/6) |
No Badge | Air Mechanic 2nd Class | Aircraftman 2nd Class Aircraftman 1st Class |
| Air Mechanic 1st Class*** (4/-) |
Clerk 1st Class (3/-) |
Private 1st Class* (1/8) |
 |
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 | Leading Mechanic*** Leading Aircraftman** Officers Steward 1st Class* |
| Sergeant Mechanic (6/-) |
Sergeant Clerk (4/9) |
Sergeant (3/3) |
 |
Sergeant | Petty Officer |
| Chief Mechanic (7/-) |
Flight Clerk (5/6) |
Flight Sergeant (3/10) |
 |
Flight Sergeant | Chief Petty Officer 3rd Class |
| Master Mechanic* (8/-) |
Master Clerk** (6/9) |
Sergeant Major 2*** (6/9) |
 |
Quartermaster Sergeant* Sergeant Major (Superintending Clerk) ** Warrant Officer (Superintending Clerk) **
|
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class |
| Chief Master Mechanic* (9/-) |
Sergeant Major 1*** (7/6) |
 |
Sergeant Major (Technical)* Warrant Officer (Technical)* Sergeant Major (Discipline)*** Warrant Officer (Discipline)*** |
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class* |
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 Kings Crown in 1952. |
| Sergeant Major 2* Warrant Officer 2nd Class** |
 |
*Introduced in 1918 for all
trades, replaced by WO2 in 1933 **Replaced Sergeant Major 2 in 1933, discontinued in 1939. |
|
Sergeant Major 1* Warrant Officer** |
 |
*Introduced in 1918 for all
trades, replaced by WO in 1933 **Introduced in 1933 replacing SM1 as the senior Non-Commissioned rank. Became the only Warrant rank in 1939. |
This page was last updated on 01/07/18
Ranks and Insignia Menu
Technician
Ranks
