1924 (Shirley) Squadron Air Training Corps

Before World War One: pioneering days

In 1908, the first British Armed Forces aeroplane was built and flown by the American, Samuel Cody. His was the first powered flight in Britain and travelled 1,500 ft (450 m). This small success generated interest in military flight and, in 1911, the Air Battalion was formed. Shortly after, in 1912, the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was founded. It had its own military wing, a naval wing and seven aeroplane squadrons. In 1914, the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was created. This was the Royal Navy’s equivalent to the RFC. Both the RFC and the RNAS played key roles during the First World War.

The First World War (WWI), 1914–18: aces in the skies…

To be a pilot in WWI required astounding bravery. There was little time for training, and conditions were extreme, with open cockpits and no protective clothing. Frostbite was a common problem. Some pilots became the celebrities of their day and pilots (on either side) who shot down five or more enemy aircraft were given the nickname ‘ace’. Towards the end of the war, the War Cabinet inquiry into home defences was critical of the poor organisation of Britain’s air forces. As a result, the RFC and the RNAS merged to form a single organisation. On 1 April 1918, the Royal Air Force (RAF) was born.

The Second World War (WWII), 1939–45: defence and victory

One of the most important events in the history of the RAF – and a key turning point in the war – was the Battle of Britain. This was the first major battle to be fought entirely by air and it was a critical factor in preventing a Nazi invasion of Britain. The battle lasted from 10 July to 31 October 1940. It was a gruelling three months because RAF pilots were substantially outnumbered and outgunned. The Luftwaffe had about 3,000 fighters and bombers against the RAF’s 1,200.Despite these huge odds stacked against them, the RAF defeated the German Luftwaffe and led to Winston Churchill’s famous remark that ‘never in the history of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few’. RAF was able to parachute him a new leg (thanks to an agreement of safe conduct from the Luftwaffe). For the rest of the war, Bader sought to escape from various

The Dambusters Raid

The idea was an incredible one, the brainchild of Barnes Wallis – to obliterate heavily-defended German dams using ‘bouncing bombs’ to skip across the water and attack these otherwise inaccessible targets. Guy Gibson commanded 617 Squadron, created for this audacious mission. He made the very first attack on the dams and gave cover to his men while under intense enemy fire.By 1944, the RAF was no longer ‘the few’ and had grown to over a million people in service. Immediately before the D-Day landings (6 June 1944), dummy raids successfully concealed the real locations of the Allied landings. The RAF went on to play a major role during D-Day and was a critical part of progress to eventual Allied victory in 1945.

After World War Two: peace, progress and the Cold War

Jet fighters began to replace propeller-powered aircraft, and in May 1951 the first jet bomber came into service. Pilot safety was also updated, with the introduction of pilot ejection seats in 1946. This British invention is still saving lives today. During the Cold War, the RAF had responsibility for carrying Britain’s nuclear deterrent, with part of the force on permanent standby. This role was taken over by the Royal Navy in 1968. In the same year, on 30 April, the four commands – Fighter, Bomber, Coastal and Signals – were merged into Strike Command. The RAF HQ at High Wycombe was built; all air operations could now be controlled from a single location. In the 1950s and 1960s, the RAF took part in conflicts worldwide, playing a part in the Korean War (1950–53), and larger roles in both the Suez Crisis of 1956 and the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, 1962–66.

Recent history

• 1982 – The Falklands War: The raids on Port Stanley were the longest combat flights in history; RAF Vulcan bombers, flying from the British base on Ascension Island, had to refuel in mid-air several times.
• 1984 – Operation Bushell (Ethiopia famine): The RAF was the very first organisation to arrive at Addis Ababa (Ethiopia’s capital city), a 27-hour round trip from the UK. The RAF went on to deliver vast quantities of grain, medical supplies and tents.

1991 – Flight Lieutenant Jo Salter became the RAF’s first female pilot

Flight Lieutenant Jo Salter became the first female fast-jet pilot in 1994. Since then, many female pilots have followed in her footsteps.

• 1991 – The Gulf War: This was the first time that precision-guided missiles were used in combat by the RAF. Along with other members of the Allied coalition, we played a key role in both Operation Granby and the famous Operation Desert Storm. At the end of Desert Storm, Kuwait was liberated.