Personnel numbers in the Royal Air Force

Other programmes were developed outside of conflict such as the Options for Change in 1990 (end of the Cold War),[1] and the Defence Costs Study (or Front Line First) in 1994.

[3] At Armistice Day in 1918, the fledgling Royal Air Force consisted of a combined personnel of 291,170, which was expected to be reduced to 60,000 by 1 October 1919.

[6] In response to German re-armament, particularly that of the Luftwaffe, an expansion of the RAF was announced in May 1935, stating a near trebling of aircraft and staff by the end of the next financial year (31 March 1937), resulting in an additional 22,500 personnel.

[7][8] A re-assessment of necessary staffing after the end of the Cold War, prompted a Defence review called Options for Change.

However, further cuts were implemented during 1993 which were not part of the original Options paper after natural wastage did not produce enough of a drop in numbers, and with the additional loss of one Tornado squadron in the meantime; estimates were recalculated to 70,000.

Officers of No 1 Squadron, RAF with SE5a biplanes at Clairmarais aerodrome, near Ypres, July 1918
RAF personnel, Calshot, 1936; the RAF had just over 32,000 personnel
No. 640 Sqn at RAF Leconfield, December 1944. At this time, numbers of personnel were over one million
The Vulcan at RAF Waddington, 1982. Post the Falklands Conflict, the RAF had just over 89,000 people in service.
RAF 7 Force Protection Wing delivers training to support mass school testing in 2021. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, personnel numbered around 33,000