Following a series of extensive air raids against London during summer 1917, and the consequential public outcry, the Cabinet of the UK commissioned the Air Organisation Committee. Under the chairmanship of South African Gen Jan Smuts, the group recommended the creation of an Air Ministry a month later. In turn, this led to the announcement of the Air Force (Constitution) Act in Parliament eight weeks later; it received Royal Assent on November 29,1917. With the Air Ministry authorised, the Royal Air Force was formed on April 1,1918 by amalgamating the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).
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