sentences:  On 1 April 1918, the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service were combined to form the Royal Air Force, with personnel from the former services transferred to the new branch; Howell thus became a lieutenant in the new service from this date.Throughout the first half of 1918, Howell conducted several raids on ground targets, including one on an electrical power plant.From a height of approximately , Howell, with "great skill", scored three direct hits with his bombs on the facility.