Eli5. Why do military groups (101st airborne for example) seem to be numbered in random order
In: 1833
There are a few cases where British flying squadron numbering has started higher than just counting up from 1:
* The RAF was formed in 1918 by merging the (Army) Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. As these had a lot of squadrons with the same number, the RNAS units added 200 to their original number- so No. 1 Squadron RNAS became 201 Squadron RAF.
* Units of pilots in exile from occupied countries operating under RAF command in WW2 got numbers starting from 300. Some of these units kept those numbers when they returned to their home countries after the war, which is why (for instance) the Royal Netherlands Air Force has a 322nd Squadron and the Hellenic Air Force has a 335th.
* Numbers starting at 400 went to Commonwealth units, some of which also kept their numbers as part of their countries’ independent air forces (such as 401 Squadron RCAF in Canada)
* Various reserve squadrons got numbers starting at 500 and 600.
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