Royal Caledonian Air Force


The air force of the Kingdom of Caledon is a small force dedicated to defending the airspace and territorial integrity of the kingdom, and is known as the Royal Caledonian Air Force.  As such, it possesses little to no weapons that are overtly offensive in nature.  The Caledonian government has also publically rejected the development and/or use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons, citing them as "offensive, in both senses of the term."  In fact, all of the RCAF's original equipment was captured during the country's liberation from the Movement for a Communist Zartania (MCZ) forces.  The MCZ, in turn, obtained most of the equipment from the former Thistland when they succeeded in subverting that government.  Below you will find a listing of all of the air force's current subordinate units and equipment, as well as information about some of its personnel, missions, and symbols.  The Royal Caledonian Air Force is commanded by Air Marshal Sir Henry Wemyss, with its headquarters located in the city of South Kiltown, south-southwest of the capital.


SYMBOLS
The Royal Air Force has only one flag that is used, the RCAF standard.  The Royal Caledonian Air Force standard has a pale blue field with the national flag in the canton.  In the fly of the flag is the RCAF badge topped by a gold royal crown.  The badge itself a winged blue and white national thistle badge.  The standard is flown at airbases and facilities belonging to the Royal Air Force, but is not carried by individual units.  It is simply the air force version of the national flag.  In addition to the RCAF standard, each subordinate unit within the air force has its own badge, which appears both on crew uniforms and painted onto the fuselages of the aircraft.  But the most visible symbol of the kingdom used by the air force is the national roundel, which appears boldly on all aircraft operated by the RCAF.  The roundel is the identifying symbol, usually on the wings and fuselage, that denotes the aircraft as being Caledonian.  The Caledonian roundel takes the form of a circle, quartered black and gold, the colors of the kingdom.  Some aircraft also feature a tail flash, which is an additional national marking to complement the roundel.  Most tail flashes in the RCAF are sported by transport aircraft, and take the form of the national flag.  However, the 1st Fighter Squadron features a plain black and gold rectangular flash on the tails of its fighters.

Caledonian Air Force flag (1:2)
Royal Caledonian Air Force standard, est. 301AP


Royal Caledonian Air Force roundel, est. 301AP



UNITS
The Royal Caledonian Air Force is the only branch of the armed forces authorized to operate aircraft, and is therefore tasked with provided helicopter transport to the National Guard in time of war.  Also because of the kingdom's defensive stance, all National Guard units at the company level and above are consistantly at half-strength during peacetime, each company being composed of one active duty platoon and one reserve platoon.  Reservists drill one weekend every two months in order to maintain efficiency in their combat arms.  The National Guard, both active and reserve, is completely volunteer, with most soldiers enlisting for four- to six-year tours, while officers are career.  Women are allowed to join the Guard, but may only serve in non-combat units at present.  Below you'll find a list of the current order of battle of the Caledonian National Guard, as well as major unit commanders and equipment.
 
Royal Caledonian Air Force - Air Marshal Sir Henry Wemyss
1st Fighter Wing - Group Commander Alfred Dunbar
    1st Fighter Squadron
        Fighter Flight #1
(4 x F-1A/F/T "Hunter" fighter-interceptors)
        Fighter Flight #2 (4 x F-1A/F/T "Hunter" fighter-interceptors)
        Fighter Flight #3 (4 x F-1A/F/T "Hunter" fighter-interceptors [scheduled Fall 305AP])
        Fighter Flight #4 (4 x F-1A/F/T "Hunter" fighter-interceptors [scheduled Fall 305AP])
    2nd Fighter Squadron
        Fighter Flight #5 (4 x "Echo" fighter-interceptors)
        Fighter Flight #6
(3 x "Echo" fighter-interceptors)
        Fighter Flight #7 (3 x "Echo" fighter-interceptors)
        Fighter Flight #8 (3 x "Echo" fighter-interceptors)
2nd Composite Wing - Group Commander Robert Mullens
    1st Attack Squadron
        Attack Flight #1 (3 x "Delta" medium-range bombers)
        Attack Flight #2 (6 x "Grinder" propeller-driven ground attack)
        Attack Flight #3 (4 x A-1A "Raider" ground attack)
        Attack Flight #4 (4 x A-1A "Raider" ground attack [scheduled Fall 305AP])
    2nd Transport Squadron
        Transport Flight #1
(4 x C-1 transport)
        Transport Flight #2 (4 x C-1 transport)
        Transport Flight #3 (4 x C-1 transport)
        Transport Flight #4 (4 x C-1 transport)
    3rd Helicopter Squadron
        Helo Flight #1 (4 x H-1G gunship)
        Helo Flight #2 (4 x H-1 transport helo)
        Helo Flight #3 (4 x H-1 transport helo)
        Helo Flight #4 (4 x H-1 transport helo)


Last updated December 27, 304AP.
©2004 Randy Young