The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom’s aerial warfare force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).
Since its formation, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history. In particular, it played a large part in the Second World War where it fought its most famous campaign, the Battle of Britain.
He was only 17 years old when he joined the RAF in 1942 on his home island of Jamaica. He left his home in 1943 crossing the Atlantic to join the armed forces of Britain. [Read more]
SYDNEY “STEVIE” STEVENS – Fl. Lt., No. 57 Squadron RAF, Lancasters Sydney “Stevie” Stevens joined the RAF after his family’s home was bombed, parents surviving but everything he owned, down to a single pair of [Read more]
Decades later it is hard to fully comprehend the incredible story of Mr Jan Iwanowski. From Polish army to Red Army POW to PAF pilot via a Siberian Gulag and evacuation with ‘Anders Army’; his [Read more]
LES RUTHERFORD – British Army Dunkirk escapee, RAF Lancaster bomb aimer Les Rutherford joined the British Army in 1938 and found himself as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) fighting with with 51st Highland [Read more]
JOHN FRANCIS DURHAM “TIM” ELKINGTON – RAF Wing Commander Every step of the journey of the last 3 years has been remarkable and unparalleled. Mr. Tim Elkington emailed me personally, kindly agreeing to receive the [Read more]
JOHN “Jo “OLIVER LANCASTER – RAF Pilot, Testpilot, DFC John Oliver Lancaster DFC was introduced to me by Patricia Glensor from New Zealand. A name like “Lancaster” might place an undue burden on a youngster [Read more]
During the summer of 1942, George Johnson was posted to No. 97 Squadron at RAF Woodhall Spa as a reserve gunner, flying numerous operational sorties with different crews. Johnson subsequently elected to train as a [Read more]
Sqn Ldr Geoffrey Wellum DFC was a distinguished British fighter pilot and author, renowned for his courageous service during the Battle of Britain and his subsequent contributions to aviation history. As a young RAF pilot [Read more]
WILFRED SIDNEY KNOX – RAF Sub Lieutenant. Wilfred Sidney Knox Sub Lieutenant (a) RAF whose war service closely resembled that of my father’s in that he trained in Canada and later relocated to the UK [Read more]
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