Themiclesian Air Force
| Themiclesian Air Force | |
|---|---|
| 震旦空航, tjelh-danh-k′ong-gang | |
| Founded | May 29, 1918 |
| Current form | Jan. 1, 1921 |
| Headquarters | 10 Loop Ave., Sng′rja′ |
| Leadership | |
| Emperor | incumbent |
| Prime Minister | Sla Le |
| Secretary of State for Defence | Sdjem Tsodh |
| Air Staff Chairman | Air Chief Marshal Dong′ |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | Int'l $10.175 bn |
| Percent of GDP | 0.5% |
| Related articles | |
| Ranks | Rank and insignia of the armed forces of Themiclesia |
The Themiclesian Air Force (震旦空航, tjelh-danh-k′ong-gang; commonly abbreviated TAF) is the Themiclesian force primarily responsible for aerial operations in defence of Themiclesia and other points of interest. The TAF is under the Ministry of Defence, with the Minister of State for Aviation as its main responsible minister. The most senior professional officer is the President of the Air Staff, who ex offcio holds the rank of air chief marshal.
Name
Currently, the TAF is the only branch of the forces that officially has "Themiclesian" (震旦) as part of its name. The army and navy originated in the distant past when the forces were considered departments of the civil service, so they were referred to by the specific objectives they were raised to accomplish or, in case of standing forces, the civil servants that administered them. Additionally, only in recent centuries has Themiclesia started to refer to itself as such, previously using only the term "State" (邦) for that purpose.
The term k′ong-gang is a neologism coined specifically for the TAF; literally, it means "air fleet". The word gang "fleet" identifies the navy.
History
The Themiclesian Air Force was founded in 1918 as the Provisional Air Service on the basis of the Aviation League, a federation of amateur aviation clubs, which had been gaining popularity as a sport for the adventurous wealthy. The government was interested of the strategic value of military aviation as reported by its diplomats in Casaterra, which was recently engaged in the highly-destructive War of Sylvan Succession. One motivation for developing an aviation service is the size of the Themiclesian wilderness to the east and north, sparsely inhabited and unfamiliar to land troops. A Minister for Air was appointed the same year to oversee the training and running of an air force. Officers involved in military aviation from foriegn states were invited and consulted during this three-year period, until the Themiclesian Air Force was formally founded in 1921.
The TAF saw considerable development during the Prairie War of 1926 – 33. Originally, the army was also interested in an air service, though this remained in a planning stage and was quickly subsumed by the TAF. As Dzhungestan did not field an air force, the TAF encountered comparatively little resistance, until Menghe entered the war in 1933. The following decade saw rapid development with considerable foreign influence as the TAF adapted to fight a superior enemy, mostly in support of ground forces. However, contests for aerial control also occurred occasionally and, by the end of the 30s, evolved into the defence of air space to protect cities and the industrial sector. In the later segment of the war, the TAF was active both in Maverica and Dzhungestan, pushing Menghean forces eastwards. It also carried out bombing missions to hinder Menghean industrial production.
Since the end of the Pan-Septentrion War, the TAF was withdrawn from Menghe in 1949 along with other Themiclesian forces in the region. The 1960s saw another burst in the TAF's evolution, with the collapse of the Maverican government to communist forces. Maverica outwardly hostile to Themiclesia, the government invested heavily into the TAF and the industries that supplied it. Due to Maverica's massive advantage in manpower, it was decided that only aerial power could threaten key Maverican positions and prevent its land forces from invading Themiclesia effectively and quickly. In the 70s, the government debated the purchase of a pair of aircraft carriers to enhance its ability to deter Maverican aggression, but this never came to fruition, and the TAF remained the primary operator of aircraft.
Equipment
Culture
Uniforms
The TAF's uniforms are distinctive amongst the other forces, being primarily inspired by the Tyrannian Royal Air Force's uniforms, which themselves are similar to those of the Royal Army. The TAF uniforms were the first to be depart from civilian clothing and did not cover the wearers' thighs, which was thought indecent in civilian society.[1] The theme colour of the TAF's uniforms is a creamy teal that, due to its dominance therein, is now called "Air Force Teal" in Themiclesia. The Themiclesian Air Force Regiment has a uniform of similar cut but different collar.
There are three main versions of the dress uniform that all TAF servicepersons are expected to own—the main dress uniform (#1 right), smoking jacket (#2), and tail coat (#3). #1 was the working uniform of TAF members until the 50s, when the smoking jacket was adopted for day wear, since it appeared more in line with the rest of the armed forces. #3, introduced in 1921, is only used for dinners and other evening functions when females were expected to be present; though this rule is no longer enforced in the TAF's private functions.
The #1 includes of a collared jacket and waistcoat, neither of which is folded. That neckwear not clash with upstanding collars, a small knot is worn with a thin necktie, under fold-down shirt collars. Fastidious dressers have used detachable collars starched frequently, but these fell out of fashion in the 70s. Trousers with galons were tucked into boots. It seems most officers in the other forces appreciated the ensemble visually, believing it modern, sharp, and distinctive. However, because the waistcoat was invisible when the jacket was worn, many TAF personnel dispensed with it.
The smoking jacket (#2 on the right) was introduced for the stated purpose, that TAF officers and men could retire from work and socialize in a less stringent dress code. Initially, this was a private, non-regulation jacket, by convention made out of the same material as the dress uniform, but it was soon legitimated as official dress code.