Report by General Smuts on Air Organisation and the Direction of Aerial Operations

This report by General Jan Smuts, a prominent South African military leader, was presented on 17 August 1917 to the UK War Cabinet. It recommends the establishment of a separate air service and is seen as the founding document of the Royal Air Force.

This report was written at a time when London was being bombed by German airships and aircraft. For expert advice Smuts relied on Lieutenant General Sir David Henderson who was a pioneer of military aviation and had been Commander-in-Chief in France of the Royal Flying Corps. Henderson did much to help bring about this new organisation and became known as 'The maker of the RAF'.