 Ceylonese were recruited to the new RCyAF and several Ceylonese who had served with the RAF during world war 2 were absorbed in the force.Initial objective was to train local pilots and ground crew, early administration and training was carried out by exclusively by RAF officers and other personnel on secondment.The first aircraft of the RCyAF were de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunks used as basic trainers to train the first batches of pilots locally while several cadets were sent to Royal Air Force College Cranwell.