imperial gift donation aircraft british surplus stocks world war canada australia new_zealand south_africa british cabinet agreed aircraft countries plus replacements aircraft donated countries britain war aircraft formed core newly established air forces countries canada aircraft supplemented related supplies equipment establish later australia aircraft supplemented additional related supplies equipment establish royal_australian_air_force new_zealand initially refused later accepted reduced aircraft loaned private aviation companies returned government constitute new zealand permanent air force south_africa aircraft related items supplemented led establishment colonial government india accepted aircraft use establish air force allocated royal_air_force raf india civil government departments sold commercial private operators background following world war royal_air_force estimated surplus aircraft production end war sir chief air staff argued establishment air forces argued coordinated uniform approach organising air forces essential facilitate air component defence empire proposal taken secretary state air described opportunity giving assistance valued great use general interest defence empire air british cabinet approved proposal chose widen offering aircraft colonial governments governments notified offer june canada canadian military personnel served raf canadian air services created operate independent military force nearly end war squadron squadron established britain august established home defence september canadian units reached operational status end hostilities saw combat director lieutenant colonel studied types offered specified aircraft suitable civil operations peacetime force undertake number roles involved surveillance fire fighting mapping combat aircraft offered large stock surplus aircraft canada share mainly consisted following multi purpose aircraft small number fighters included trainers bombers fighters patrol flying boat patrol flying boat bristol fighter seat fighter fighters patrol seaplane final deliveries included non rigid balloons additional aircraft including single examples vickers replacement bringing total aircraft addition aircraft numerous sent including engines equipment cameras seaplane gear support vehicles consisting motor transports trailers value million money canadian government spent aviation aircraft formed basis postwar later sponsored project conduct flight determine feasibility flights air mail passenger services flown major remainder relay completed aircraft considered suitable harsh canadian weather aircraft 1930s aircraft service retired australia australia originally consisted aircraft spare engines tools motor transport shipped packing cases additional aircraft provided time replace aircraft donated people australia great_britain world war australia aircraft consisted trainers fighters bombers bombers june recommended creation temporary formed wings wing meet needs navy army enabled formation royal_australian_air_force march answering minister defence administer new service aircraft shipped australia assembled delivery served years longest serving aircraft written february original surviving aircraft australia stored canberra collection australian war memorial exhibited main australian war memorial displays new_zealand new_zealand refused offer later accepted aircraft engines trainers bombers bristol fighter seat fighters bombers retained government use balance issued loan transports training aircraft civil aviation companies private firms involved collapsed surviving aircraft taken government constitute new zealand permanent air force aircraft military service wrecked scrapped burnt survived south_africa south_africa second country britain establish air force independent army naval control february share bombers trainers fighters bombers war loss replacements sponsored additional donated city birmingham initial fleet completed left wartime recruitment campaign handed october according author record equipment materials donation included steel portable wood canvas radio photographic equipment complete engine airframe workshops tools trucks trailers gallons engine gallons total value donation estimated offer type zero turned doubts feet expense replacing estimated useful life months harsh south african sunshine batch aircraft arrived south_africa september established january combined facility known aircraft sold piece land miles east acquired named nearby hill flight formed april equipped formation second flight squadron established early branch housed original steel india india share bombers trainers unlike recipients india use gift establish national air force raf india received military use rest went colonial government departments entities sold commercial private operators remains discovered disused elephant stables palace taken parts restore aircraft addition engine storage display facility
Imperial Gift