The following list shows the allocation of service numbers to RFC/RAF rank and file (i.e. non-officers).
The RFC numbering system began at 1 in 1912 with the initial allocations being to men who had transferred in from the Royal Engineers. The RNAS commenced its own numbering system when it became a separate entity in July 1914 - again commencing with 1 but prefixed by the letter F.
When the RAF was formed on 1.4.18 RFC men kept their original service numbers. However as the RNAS numbering system had also begun at 1 all RNAS men inherited by the RAF had 200000 added to their original numbers and the prefix F was dropped. All RNAS personnel were renumbered in 1918 including the dead.
| Range | Category | Dates | Range | Category | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 515 | RFC | 1912 | 102744 - 109000 | Transfers | 11.17 | |
| 516 - 1013 | RFC | 1913 | 109001 - 110000 | Civilians | 11.17 | |
| 1014 - 2690 | RFC | 1914 | 110001 - 111000 | Cadets | 11.17-1.18 | |
| 2691 - 17400 | RFC | 1915 | 111001 - 113000 | Civilians | 11.17-1.18 | |
| 17401 - 39639 | Civilians | 9.16 | 113001 - 116000 | Transfers | 1.18 | |
| 39640 - 40300 | Transfers | 7.16-10.16 | 116001 - 117000 | Civilians | 1.18 | |
| 40301 - 45300 | Civilians | 1916 | 117001 - 118000 | Cadets | 1.18 | |
| 45301 - 47300 | Transfers | 7.16-8.16 | 118001 - 120000 | Civilians | 1.18 | |
| 47301 - 49300 | Civilians | 8.16-11.16 | 120001 - 122000 | Transfers | 1.18 | |
| 49301 - 49800 | Transfers | 8.16-10.16 | 122001 - 125000 | Civilians | 1.18-2.18 | |
| 49801 - 50800 | Civilians | 11.16-12.16 | 125001 - 128000 | Transfers | 2.18 | |
| 50801 - 51800 | Transfers | 10.16-1.17 | 128001 - 129000 | Cadets | 2.18-3.18 | |
| 51801 - 52800 | Civilians | 12.16 | 129001 - 131000 | Transfers | 1.18-2.18 | |
| 52801 - 52950 | AID Examiners | 12.16-1.17 | 131001 - 133000 | Civilians | 2.18-3.18 | |
| 52951 - 56950 | Civilians | 1.17 | 133001 - 137000 | Transfers | 2.18 | |
| 56951 - 57950 | Transfers | 1.17 | 137001 - 138000 | Cadets | 2.18-4.18 | |
| 57951 - 60950 | Civilians | 2.17 | 138001 - 140000 | Transfers | 3.18 | |
| 60951 - 61950 | Transfers | 1.17-2.17 | 140001 - 143000 | Civilians | 2.18-4.18 | |
| 61951 - 64950 | Civilians | 2.17-3.17 | 143001 - 149000 | Transfers | 3.18 | |
| 64951 - 65950 | Transfers | 2.17-3.17 | 149001 - 150000 | Civilians (Boys) | 8.17-3.18 | |
| 65951 - 68950 | Civilians | 3.17 | 150001 - 155000 | Canadians | 9.17-3.18 | |
| 68951 - 69000 | Cadets | 1.17-5.17 | 155001 - 160000 | Civilians (Boys) | 10.17-12.18 | |
| 69001 - 70000 | Civilians | 3.17-4.17 | 160001 - 166000 | Civilians | 4.18-5.18 | |
| 70001 - 75000 | Canadians | 2.17-9.17 | 166001 - 166500 | Transfers | 5.18 | |
| 75001 - 77000 | Civilians | 4.17 | 166501 - 170000 | Civilians | 5.18 | |
| 77001 - 77100 | AID Examiners | 1.17 | 170001 - 175000 | Canadians | 11.17-5.18 | |
| 77101 - 79100 | Transfers | 3.17-5.17 | 175001 - 185000 | Cadets | 5.18-10.18 | |
| 79101 - 80100 | Civilians | 4.17-5.17 | 185001 - 188000 | Transfers | 5.18 | |
| 80101 - 80200 | AID Examiners | 4.17 | 188001 - 200000 | Civilians | 5.18-6.18 | |
| 80201 - 84200 | Civilians | 5.17 | 200001 - 202902 | RNAS 1914 | 4.18 | |
| 84201 - 84400 | AID Examiners | 5.17 | 202903 - 210316 | RNAS 1915 | 4.18 | |
| 84401 - 87400 | Civilians | 6.17-7.17 | 210317 - 225060 | RNAS 1916 | 4.18 | |
| 87401 - 88400 | Transfers | 7.17 | 225061 - 244710 | RNAS 1917 | 4.18 | |
| 88401 - 90400 | Civilians | 7.17-8.17 | 244711 - 260000 | RNAS 1918 | 4.18 | |
| 90401 - 90600 | AID Examiners | 7.17 | 260001 - 270000 | Civilians | 6.18-7.18 | |
| 90601 - 93600 | Civilians | 8.17-9.17 | 270001 - 275000 | Canadians | 5.18-7.18 | |
| 93601 - 94600 | Transfers | 9.17 | 275001 - 300000 | Civilians | 7.18-9.18 | |
| 94601 - 95600 | Civilians | 9.17 | 300001 - 303000 | Transfers | 8.18 | |
| 95601 - 95700 | AID Examiners | 9.17 | 303001 - 307973 | Civilians | 9.18-10.18 | |
| 95701 - 98700 | Civilians | 9.17-10.17 | 307974 - 308085 | S Africans (26Sq) | 1918 | |
| 98701 - 99700 | Transfers | 10.17 | 308086 - 313000 | Civilians | 11.18-12.18 | |
| 99701 - 100700 | Cadets | 10.17-11.17 | 313001 - 316000 | RN att to RNAS | 4.18 | |
| 100701 - 102700 | Civilians | 10.17-11.17 | 316001 - 326000 | Cadets | 10.18 | |
| 102701 - 102742 | AID Examiners | 11.17 | 360201 - 361200 | Cadets (Canadians) | 6.18 |