The Part-timers: A History of the RAAF Reserve 1948-1998

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was formed in r1921, with the Citizen Air Force (CAF) and the Reserve as component parts. When war was declared in 1939, a quarter of the RAAF were reservists. Along with their permanent colleagues, these Part-Timers played a major role in shaping what became the world's fourth largest air force by war's end. Post-war, the fortunes of the RAAF's reserves have varied greatly, waxing and waning according to various political and RAAF initiatives.

In 1948 the RAAF formed Citizen Air Force fighter squadrons in the main capital cities as an integral part of Australia's air defence. Made up of a mix of regulars and Part-Timers, these CAF squadrons successfully operated Mustangs, Vampires and Meteors for over a decade, providing an important contribution to Australia's defence and a high profile to the CAF. However, in 1960 flying ceased in the CAF when the RAAF could not afford to replace their ageing aircraft.

Without aircraft, the CAF squadrons were much reduced in size and given "auxiliary", rather than operational, status. For the next 20 years, a few hundred Part-Timers served a largely indifferent RAAF through affiliations with operational squadrons and general support for host bases. Skills were kept alive and good work done, but the great potential of the CAF was largely ignored for two decades.

Fortunately, champions eventually emerged, and in 1981, their worth re-appraised, the CAF became the RAAF Active Reserve with more squadrons and more people. This revitalised the Air Force Reserve which since then has adopted an increasingly operational and integrated role. Today, Part-Timers serve in nine RAAF Active Reserve squadrons. Other Reserve elements provide seven days a week support to the RAAF in areas as diverse as operations management, technical and staff support, airfield defence, and specialist medical and legal services.