The Royal Air Force Educational Service was a civilian-manned service within the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

which provided instruction for aircraft apprentices and airmen, mainly in engineering, but also in other subjects. The service was established shortly after the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918. Preference for recruitment as civilian education officers was given to men who had served as

commissioned officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent ...

s in the armed forces during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

until 1930, when it was extended to all ex-servicemen. From 1937, advertisements no longer stated that ex-servicemen would be given preference. From 1930, a degree was required. On 1 October 1946, the Educational Service was disbanded and replaced by the commissioned officers of the new RAF Education Branch.''Flight'', 10 October 1946
/ref> Many education officers had already been commissioned during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Footnotes

See also