Air Force Act 1955
PART IEnlistment and Terms of Service
Enlistment
1Recruiting officers
2Enlistment
Enlistment for general or corps service
3Enlistment for general or corps service
Terms and conditions of service
4Terms of enlistment
5Change of conditions of service by extension of term or of air-force service
6Change of conditions of service by transfer to or from the reserve
7Re-engagement
Extension of service
8Continuance in service after term of re-engagement
9Postponement in certain cases of discharge or transfer to the reserve
10Continuation of air-force service in imminent national danger
Discharge and transfer to reserve
11Discharge
12Transfer to the reserve
13Postponement of discharge or transfer pending proceedings for offences
14Right of recruit to purchase discharge
15Right of warrant officer to discharge on reduction to ranks
16Discharge of airmen of unsound mind
Miscellaneous and supplementary provisions
17Forfeiture of service for desertion and restoration of forfeited service
18Validity of attestation and enlistment
19False answers in attestation paper
20Special provisions as to National Service men
21Service of aliens in regular air force
22Regulations as to enlistment
23Interpretation
PART IIDiscipline and Trial and Punishment of Air-Force Offences
Treachery, cowardice and offences arising out of air-force service
24Aiding the enemy
25Communication with the enemy
26Cowardly behaviour
27Offences against morale
28Becoming prisoner of war through disobedience or wilful neglect; and failure to rejoin forces
29Offences by or in relation to sentries, etc.
30Looting
Mutiny and insubordination
31Mutiny
32Failure to suppress mutiny
33Insubordinate behaviour
34Disobedience to particular orders
35Obstruction of provost officers
36Disobedience to standing orders
Desertion, absence without leave, etc.
37Desertion
38Absence without leave
39Assisting and concealing desertion and absence without leave
40Falsely obtaining or prolonging leave
41Failure to perform air-force duties
Malingering and drunkenness
42Malingering
43Drunkenness
Offences relating to property
44Offences in relation to public and service property
45Offences in relation to property of members of forces
46Miscellaneous offences relating to property
Offences relating to billeting and requisitioning of vehicles
47Billeting offences
48Offences in relation to requisitioning of vehicles
Flying etc. offences
49Dangerous flying, etc.
50Inaccurate certification of aircraft, etc.
51Low flying
52Annoyance by flying
Offences relating to, and by, persons in custody
53Irregular arrest and confinement
54Permitting escape, and unlawful release of prisoners
55Resistance to arrest
56Escape from confinement
Offences in relation to courts-martial and civil authorities
57Offences in relation to courts-martial
58False evidence
59Obstruction of constable arresting officer or airman
Miscellaneous offences
60Injurious disclosures
61Making of false statements on enlistment
62Making of false documents
63Offences against civilian population
64Scandalous conduct of officer
65Ill-treatment of officers or men of inferior rank
66Disgraceful conduct
67False accusation, etc.
68Attempts to commit air-force offences
69Conduct to prejudice of air-force discipline
Civil offences
70Civil offences
Punishments
71Punishment of officers
72Punishment of W.O.S, N.C.O.S and airmen
73Field punishment
Arrest
74Power to arrest offenders
75Provisions for avoiding delay after arrest
Investigation of, and summary dealing with, charges
76Investigation of charges by commanding officer
77Charges to be dealt with summarily or by court-martial
78Further proceedings on charges against N.C.O.S and airmen
79Further proceedings on charges against officers and warrant officers
80Dismissal of charges referred to higher authority
81Confession of desertion by warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or airman
82Officers who are to act as commanding officers and appropriate superior authorities
83Limitation on powers of summary dealing with charges
Courts-martial: general provisions
84Trial to be by general court-martial, district court-martial or in certain cases field general court-martial
85Powers of different descriptions of court-martial
86Officers having power to convene courts-martial
87Constitution of general courts-martial
88Constitution of district courts-martial
89Constitution of field general courts-martial
90Supplementary provisions as to constitution of courts-martial
91Place for sitting of courts-martial and adjournment to other places
Courts-martial: provisions relating to trial
92Challenges by accused
93Administration of oaths
94Courts-martial to sit in open court
95Dissolution of courts-martial
96Decisions of courts-martial
97Finding and sentence
98Power to convict of offence other than that charged
99Rules of evidence
100Privilege of witnesses and others at courts-martial
101Offences by civilians in relation to courts-martial
102Affirmations
Offences: procedure
103Rules of Procedure
104Rules as to exercise of functions of judge advocate
105Taking of offences into consideration
106Rules of Procedure to be subject to annulment
Confirmation, Revision and Review of Proceedings of Courts-Martial
107Confirmation of proceedings of courts-martial
108Petitions against finding or sentence
109Revision of findings of courts-martial
110Powers of confirming officers
111Confirming officers
112Approval as well as confirmation required for certain death sentences
113Review of findings and sentences of courts-martial
114Reconsideration of sentences of imprisonment and detention
Review of summary findings and awards
115Review of summary findings and awards
Findings of insanity
116Provisions where accused found insane
Saving for functions of Judge Advocate General
117Saving for functions of Judge Advocate General
Commencement, suspension and duration of sentences
118Commencement of sentences
119Duration of sentences of imprisonment and detention
120Suspension of sentences
Execution of sentences of death, imprisonment and detention
121Execution of sentences of death
122Imprisonment and detention rules
123Supplementary provisions relating to regulations and rules under ss. 121 and 122
124Restrictions on serving of sentences of detention in prisons
125Special provisions as to civil prisons in the United Kingdom
126Special provisions as to carrying out or serving of sentences outside the United Kingdom otherwise than in air-force establishments
127Country in which sentence of imprisonment or detention to be served
128Application of enactments relating to coroners
129Duties of governors of prisons and others to receive prisoners
130Application to military establishments and custody
Trial of persons ceasing to be subject to air-force law and time limits for trials
131Trial and punishment of offences under this Act notwithstanding offender ceasing to be subject to air-force law
132Limitation of time for trial of offences under this Act
Relations between air-force law and civil courts and finality of trials
133Powers of civil courts
134Persons not to be tried under this Act for offences already disposed of
Inquiries
135Boards of inquiry
136Inquiries into absence
137Unit inquiries
Miscellaneous provisions
138Restitution or compensation for theft, etc.
139Appointment of judge advocates
140Promulgation
141Custody of proceedings of courts-martial and right of accused to a copy thereof
142Indemnity for prison officers, etc.
Interpretation
143Interpretation of Part II
PART IIIForfeitures and Deductions and Enforcement of Maintenance Liabilities
144Forfeitures and deductions: general provisions
145Forfeiture of pay for absence from duty
146Deductions for payment of civil penalties
147Compensation for loss occasioned by wrongful act or negligence
148Deductions for barrack damage
149Remission of forfeitures and deductions
150Enforcement of maintenance and affiliation orders by deduction from pay
151Deductions from pay for maintenance of wife or child
152Limit of deductions under ss. 150 and 151 and effect on forfeiture
153Service of process in maintenance proceedings
PART IVBilleting and Requisitioning of Vehicles
Billeting
154Billeting requisitions
155Premises in which billets may be provided
156Provision of billets
157Billeting schemes
158Accommodation to be provided and payment therefor
159Appeals against billeting
160Compensation for damage
161Refusal to receive persons billeted, etc.
162Application to civilians employed with the air force
163Local authority
164Suspension of laws against billeting
Requisitioning of vehicles
165Requisitioning orders
166Provision of vehicles
167Period for which vehicles to be furnished
168Payment for vehicles furnished
169Avoidance of hardship in requisitioning of vehicles
170Record and inspection of mechanically propelled vehicles
171Enforcement of provisions as to requisitioning
172Application to aircraft and stores
173Liability of Crown for damage by vehicles being delivered for requisitioning
General
174Bringing into operation of ss. 154 and 165
175Regulations and orders
176Interpretation of Part IV
PART VGeneral Provisions
Powers of command
177Powers of command
178Powers of command of members of co-operating naval or military forces
Attachment to naval or military forces
179Attachment of members of air forces to naval or military forces
Redress of complaints
180Complaints by officers
181Complaints by warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and airmen
Exemptions for members of regular air force
182Officers on active list not to be sheriffs
183Exemption from jury service
184Exemptions from tolls, etc.
185Exemption from taking in execution of property used for air-force purposes
Provisions relating to deserters and absentees without leave
186Arrest of deserters and absentees without leave
187Proceedings before a civil court where persons suspected of illegal absence
188Deserters and absentees without leave surrendering to police
189Certificates of arrest or surrender of deserters and absentees
190Duties of governors of prisons and others to receive deserters and absentees
Offences relating to air-force matters punishable by civil courts
191Punishment for pretending to be a deserter
192Punishment for procuring and assisting desertion
193Punishment for obstructing members of regular air force in execution of duty
194Punishment for aiding malingering
195Unlawful purchase, etc., of air-force stores
196Illegal dealings in documents relating to pay, pensions, mobilisation, etc.
197Unauthorised use of and dealing in decorations, etc.
Provisions as to evidence
198General provisions as to evidence
199Proof of outcome of trial
200Evidence of proceedings of courts-martial
Miscellaneous provisions
201Restrictions on reduction in rank of warrant officers and non-commissioned officers
202Temporary reception in civil custody of persons under escort
203Avoidance of assignment of or charge on air-force pay, pensions, etc.
204Power of certain officers to take affidavits and declarations
PART VIApplication of Act and Supplemental Provisions
Persons subject to air-force law
205Persons subject to air-force law: general provisions
206Persons subject to air-force law: Commonwealth forces
207Persons subject to air-force law: Colonial forces
208Persons subject to air-force law: attached members of naval and military forces
209Application of Act to civilians
Application of Act to particular forces
210Application of Act to reserve and auxiliary forces
211Modification of certain provisions in relation to women
Application to different countries
212Application to Scotland
213Application to Northern Ireland
214Application to Channel Islands and Isle of Man
215Application to certain overseas territories
216Provisions as to Federation of Malaya
217Application to Republic of Ireland
Supplemental provisions
218Jurisdiction of courts
219Disposal of summary fines in England
220Provisions as to summary fines in colonies
221Execution of orders, instruments, etc.
222Provisions as to active service
223General provisions as to interpretation
224Short title, commencement and duration
SCHEDULES
FIRST SCHEDULEProcedure for Attestation
1The recruiting officer shall warn the person to be enlisted...
2He shall then read, or cause to be read, to...
3He shall then ask that person to make and sign...
4Upon signing the declaration and taking the oath the said...
5The recruiting officer shall by signature attest, in the manner...
6When in accordance with such regulations the recruit is finally...
SECOND SCHEDULEPersons entitled to object to Enlistment of National Service men on Regular Engagement
THIRD SCHEDULEAlternative offences of which accused may be convicted by court-martial
FOURTH SCHEDULESupplementary Provisions as to Payment for Requisitioned Vehicles
1(1) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, any payment...
2(1) As soon as may be after the furnishing of...
3(1) A person to whom a receipt or notice under...
4(1) Subject to the provisions of the last foregoing paragraph...
5The instructions of the Air Council referred to in paragraph...
6In the foregoing provisions of this Schedule, the expression "...
7Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this Schedule shall apply...
8A county court shall have jurisdiction to deal with any...
FIFTH SCHEDULECivilians outside the United Kingdom subject to Part II when not on Active Service
1Persons serving Her Majesty, or otherwise employed, in such capacities...
2Persons who are employed by, or in the service of,...
3Persons belonging to or employed by any other organisation so...
4Persons who, for the purposes of their profession or employment,...
5Persons forming part of the family of members of any...
6Persons forming part of the family of persons falling within...
7Persons employed by members of any of Her Majesty's naval...
8Persons employed by persons falling within paragraphs 1 to 6...
9Persons forming part of the family of persons falling within...
SIXTH SCHEDULEApplication of Act to attached Members of Naval and Military Forces
1(1) As respects the punishment of a person subject to...
2For the purposes of the provisions of this Act relating...
3As respects the reconsideration of any sentence of a court-martial...
4As respects the review of a finding or award made...
5In proceedings under this Act against a person subject to...
6In the application of this Act to a person subject...
7In relation to a person subject to air-force law as...
8In the application of sections one hundred and forty-four and...
9Sections one hundred and fifty to one hundred and fifty-two...
10In this Schedule— (a) references to a person's own service...
11In relation to officers, non-commissioned officers and marines of the...

Air Force Act 1955

1955 Chapter 19

An Act to make provision with respect to the air force.

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—