Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force



The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) was an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, based in Hong Kong. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, the unit was disbanded on 1 April 1993.

Although technically an armed military unit, run on the lines of an RAF squadron, latterly its responsibilities were mostly involved in providing non-military aviation services such as police support, search and rescue, air ambulance and firefighting in the colony.

History
The RHKAAF came into existence in 1949 as part of the Hong Kong Defence Force. From 1949 to 1950, it was known as HKAAF and the Royal title was approved by King George VI in 1951. The RHKAAF was finally disbanded on 1 April 1993. All non-military operations were taken over by the Government Flying Service (GFS), a newly created civilian unit with the original service staff of the RHKAAF. The remaining military duties were transferred to other RAF units based in the colony, and passed to the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison (Shek Kong Airfield, Shigang Air Base, Guangdong and Guangzhou Shadi Air Base) on the actual transfer of sovereignty in 1997.

The RHKAAF was based at Kai Tak Airport from 1979 to 1993, with a sub-station at Sek Kong Airfield.

Fleet
Over the years, the RHKAAF fleet comprised:

Personnel
RHKAAF personnel were a mixture of full-time and part-time staff. Most were mostly locally recruited, in the latter years mostly local Hong Kong Chinese. The ranks used were similar to those of the Royal Air Force.


 * Controller
 * Chief Pilot
 * Chief Aircraft Engineer
 * Senior Pilot
 * Senior Aircraft Engineer
 * Senior Aircrewman Officer
 * Pilot I
 * Aircraft Engineer
 * Aircrewman Officer I
 * Pilot II – added in the 1990s to less experienced pilots and a step above Cadet Pilot
 * Aircrewman Officer II
 * Chief Aircraft Technician
 * Senior Aircraft Technician
 * Aircrewman Officer III
 * Cadet Pilot – added in the 1990s are part of the localization effort by the Government of Hong Kong to transfer roles prior to handover in 1997
 * Aircraft Technician

Crest
The last crest of the force was used until 1993, after which time, the Hong Kong Coat of Arms was used on GFS aircraft, until the handover in 1997:


 * St Edward's Crown
 * Octagon-shaped badge with a Chinese dragon, propeller
 * Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force is contained on the band of the badge
 * Motto contain the wording Semper Paratus (Latin, "Always Ready")
 * Oak Laurel wreath