RAF Publications introduction, with a focus on technical publications
When the RAF was formed in April 1918, it was made up of the RFC and RNAS units. The Air Ministry had inherited a number of aircraft related publications from both of these former entities. While the Air Ministry released publications under its own authority, some of these publications date back to before it was formed, for example Air Publication, AP143 "Training Manual, Royal Flying Corps Part I provisional" dates from 1914. It appears that the first publications were identified in the following matter, F.S Publication XX. While I have not been able to confirm what the letters stand for, it appears that this naming convention was changed about 18 months latter and all publications after that were titled as AP's. As FS publications were revised they also became AP's. I have also seen some publications titled as AF publications. There are not many and this may simply be a typo in the records I am making reference to. The first RAF aircraft related forms were also titled as F.S documents for example F.S.1, General Equipment Indent. The most likely reason that publication titles were changed from FS to AP was to remove the obvious confusion there must have been between the books and the forms.
An example of a FS publication front page
RFC and RNAS forms cross reference to RAF forms , 1918
The Provisional Vocabulary of Stores for the RAF was published as FS publication 133 in May 1920. This publication was superseded by the AP1086 " Priced Vocabulary of RAF Equipment" in 1924.
In 1918 a series of publications give direction as to what stores various units were entitled to hold.
FS publication 29, Establishment of Stores for Aeroplane and Seaplane Stations, Wings, Squadrons, Parks, etc.
FS publication 29A, Establishment of Stores for Balloon Units
FS publication 29B, List of Stores to be held by Night Landing Grounds - Appendix III to AP 29
FS publication 29C, Establishment of Gunnery and Armament Stores and Equipment. Part 1. Service Squadrons and Seaplane Units - Section 11-15 of AP 29
FS publication 29D, Establishment of Special Aerodrome Equipment for Heavy Bombing Machines - Appendix XII to AP 29
FS publication 29E, Establishment of Stores for a Repair Park Salvage Section, RAF - Appendix XIII to AP 29
FS publication 29F, Additional Stores to be demanded by Units proceeding Overseas - Appendix XV to AP 29
FS publication 29G, Establishment of Aircraft Stores for Battle Cruisers and Cruisers Carrying Aircraft - Appendix XVI to AP 29
FS publication 29H, Establishment of Photographic Stores for all Units at Home and Overseas - Sections 16 and 16a of AP 29
FS publication 29I, Establishment of Stores for Aerial Route Stations. No 1 Route, London to Cairo. Appendix XVII to AP 29
FS publication 29/WT, Establishment of Wireless Stores and Equipment, Provisional
FS publication 29/WTA, Establishment of Wireless Telegraph and Telephony Stores. Part 1, Training Units and Schools
These are in effect scales of equipment and were later superseded by the AP830 series of publications.
Numbering of Technical Publications relating to Aeroplanes and Aero-engines
An Air Ministry order, A.819/30, issued in 1930 laid out the three-volume scheme for technical publications relating to aeroplanes and aero-engines. Air Ministry order, A.201/34, issued in 1934, set a standard system of numbering each of the constituent parts of the three volumes issued under the earlier order. This system is illustrated as tables A and B that show the scheme for aeroplanes and aero-engines respectively. The AP number assigned to a new aeroplane or aero-engine was promulgated by an Air Ministry Order introducing the type, the suffixes which were subsequently added to identify publications dealing with later marks of the type were also published in the Air Ministry Orders.
In 1963, AP3196 ( training manual for Armament trades) was amended to explain the AP system at the time.
It explains that each air publication is allotted a number e.g. A.P. 4343, that when a suffix letter is added to the number, e.g. A.P.3434X , this indicates that the publication relates to a specific type or mark of equipment or aircraft. An air publication without suffix letters indicates an omnibus manual covering all marks of aircraft or equipment under the scope of the title.
Each aircraft is divided into 6 volumes; older types of aircraft may have 3 or 4 volume of air publication. The contents of a 6 volume aircraft air publication may be as follows:
Volume 1 General and Technical Information. This volume describes the airframe and its systems, and gives instructions for ground handling.
Volume 2 General Orders and Modifications. This volume contains general orders and modification leaflets.
Volume 3 Equipment Schedules and Scales. This volume contains a schedule of spare parts, scales of unit equipment and servicing spares, and a schedule of the airframe equipment.
Volume 4 Progressive Servicing Schedules. This volume contains safety and servicing instructions, the master servicing schedule and all the work cards and servicing procedure for progressive servicing.
Volume 5 Periodic Servicing Schedules. This volume contains safety and servicing instructions the master servicing schedule and all the work cards and servicing procedure for periodic servicing.
Volume 6 Repair and reconditioning Instructions. This volume contains information on how to repair the airframe.
The full list of AP's will be found here in time.