16 June – On this day in 1925, Commonwealth Navy Order 137 of 1925 was promulgated establishing a Fleet Air Arm for the RAN and inviting applications from officers to undergo a four-year Long Air Course. The first iteration of the Fleet Air Arm was short-lived, however, and it was disbanded by Commonwealth Navy Order 1 of 1929, promulgated on 8 January 1929.
That order stated that the RAAF was to provide all naval aircraft and the personnel to fly and maintain them while the RAN would provide observers and telegraphist air gunners.
RAN pilots and aircrew flew and fought all over the world during WW11. A dedicated Fleet Air Arm was re-instituted in the RAN in 1948 manned and led by that cadre of officers who had experienced war in the air first hand.
