The Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom was founded. It amalgamated the Royal Flying Corps (April 13, 1912 – April 1, 1918) and the air arm of the Royal Naval Air Service (July 1, 1914 – April 1, 1918). The newly created RAF was the result of the Smuts Report, prepared by South African Field Marshal Jan Smuts, with assistance from General Sir David Henderson for the Imperial War Cabinet. Henderson had served as the Commander of the Royal Flying Corps from 1914 to 1915. The third person instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force was Major General Hugh Montague Trenchard, who served as commander of the Royal Flying Corps after Henderson, from 1915 to 1918. Trenchard was appointed the first Air Chief Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
