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Part 2 
11 January
The Department of Civil Aviation is created within the Air Ministry to
regulate commercial aviation in the United Kingdom. Major General Sir
Frederick Sykes becomes the organisation's first Controller-General.
14 January
Following
the 'Coupon' General Election of December 1918, Winston Churchill is appointed
to the post of Secretary of State for War and the Royal Air Force (RAF)
within the new Lloyd George administration.
In combining the posts of Secretary of State for War and Secretary of
State for Air, Prime Minister Lloyd George aimed to facilitate the dissolution
of the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a separate Service.
March
The ministerial title 'Secretary of State for War and the Royal Air Force'
is revised to become 'Secretary of State for War and Air'.
March
Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft in South Russia are moved to Beketova.
31 March
Major General Sir Hugh Trenchard is re-appointed Chief of the Air Staff.
April
A Royal Air Force (RAF) training mission leaves the United Kingdom for
Novorossisk in Russia. The mission arrives during the following month
and is subsequently reinforced by a detachment from No.47 Squadron.
April
No.5 (Operations) Group loses its command status and reverts to the control
of South-Eastern Area.
May
Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft undertake offensive air action against
the Bolshevi Urbabk base in Southern Russia.
17, 20, 24 May
Following the outbreak of the Third Afghan War No.31 Squadron carries
out concentrated raids on the Afghan city of Jalalabad, during which three
aircraft are lost.
24 May
The Handley Page V/1500 four-engined heavy bomber 'Old Carthusian' successfully
bombs the Afghan capital, Kabul, dealing a huge blow to Afghan morale
and helping to ensure a quick settlement to the conflict.
29 May
The War Cabinet approves a proposal put forward by the Secretary of State
for War and Air, that up to 100 surplus aircraft from Royal Air Force
(RAF) stocks should be gifted to each dominion of the Empire and to India.
Small numbers of aircraft are also made available to any Colonial Government
or Protectorate requiring them.
The aircraft offered include de Havilland DH9 and DH9A bombers, Sopwith Dolphins and Salamanders, Bristol F2Bs, Royal Aircraft Factory SE5A fighters and Avro 504 trainers. The 'Imperial Gift' paves the way for Australia, Canada and South Africa to establish air forces and India also receives aircraft for government purposes.
14-15 June
Captain
John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown make the first non-stop
flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Alcock and Brown fly from St John's
in Newfoundland to Clifden in County Galway in Eire in a modified Vickers
Vimy bomber.
After a total flying time of 16 hours 27 minutes they crash land in a
bog at Clifden Station, having mistaken soft ground for hard ground. Both
Alcock and Brown were knighted in recognition of their achievement.
25 June
The Treaty of Versailles is signed. Under the terms of the Treaty, all
German naval and military air forces are to be disbanded and all air material
either handed over to the Allies in reparation, or destroyed. In practice,
the German military authorities endeavoured to circumvent the provisions
of the Treaty from the outset.
Part 2
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