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The Royal Air Force (formerly Royal Flying Corps) and Womens Royal Air Force are formed.
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Baron Manfred von Richthofen, otherwise known as "The Red Baron" is shot down and killed.The Red Baron was the top scoring fighter pilot of WWl with 80 recorded kills.
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The 4th through 10th of November marked the last intense air combat of WWI. The Royal Air Force claimed 68 kills, in return for 60 losses.
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WWl flying ace Major Edward Mannock is awarded the Victorias Cross. Major Edward Mannock VC DSO** MC* scored 61 kills in WWl.
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The Royal Air Force College is opened in Cranwell, Licolnshire.
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The Womans Royal Air Force is dispanded
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The RAF assumes military control of Mesopotamia (now Iraq), allowing ruduced ground forces and the introduction of air-policing.
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RAF Staff College opened at Andover
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The RAF Nursing Service is renamed Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service.
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The Royal Auxiliary Air Force or Air Force Reserves are made up of reservists who are based around the United Kingdom. These reservists usually have a day job and do not work full time for the RAuxAF.
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The Royal Observer Corps are formed.
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The Bristol Bulldog, destined to serve with the RAF well into the 1930's makes it's first flight.
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Control of the Observer Corps was transferred from the War Office to the RAF.
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Far East Command Formed
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The Hawker Fury, takes to the air for the first time. It went on to serve with three frontline squadrons until 1939.
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The Gloster Gauntlet, last open cockpit biplane to be used by the RAF, makes its maiden flight (first flight)
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A major expansion of the RAF Home Defence is announced, with the number of squadrons increased from 52 to 75.
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The Supermarine model 300 (later named Spitfire) made it's first flight at Eastleigh aerodrome
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The last Biplane Fighter (The Gloster Gladiator) to serve the RAF enters service with Nos. 3 and 72 Squadrons.
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RAF Maintenance Command is formed
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No. 111 Squadron recieves the first delivery of Hawker Hurricanes
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The Supermarine Spitfire enters service with No. 19 Squadron
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The Womans Auxillary Air Force is formed to allow their male counterparts to be re-deployed for frontline duties.
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At 11 am Britain declares war on Germany, followed at 5pm by France. Australia and New Zealand also declare war on Germany.
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The Royal Air Force records its first losses of World War Two, when five Wellingtons are shot down during a raid on German warships.
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Sgt F Letchard, a gunner in a Fairey Battle, claims the first RAF victory of the war after shooting down a German Bf 109 during a patrol near Aachen.
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The RAF introduces Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) signals to help identify friendly aircraft on radar screens.
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The Belgian Army, hopelessly outclassed by the Germans, finally capitulates at midnight.
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Italy declares war on Britain and France.
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First phase of the Battle of Britain begins.
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German bombs fall on central London for the first time.
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The Air Training Corps constituted by Royal Warrant.
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Wellingtons drop the first 4,000lb (1,814kg) Blockbuster bomb.
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Germany begins the invasion of Russia. Italy and Rumania declare war on Russia.
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In Europe, Royal Air Force operations are mainly concerned with attacks on German warships and naval facilities in the Atlantic and North Germany.
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A searchlight equipped Wellington records the first sinking of a German U-boat.
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USAAF bomber aircraft make their first raid on Germany.
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First use of Serrate radar homing equipment fitted in Royal Air Force nightfighting aircraft. The receivers allowed Beaufighters to home in on German night-fighter Beaufighter VIF interception radars
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Allied air forces based in Italy begin Operation Strangle, designed to cut enemy supply routes in Italy.
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Fifty RAF and Dominion Air Force personnel are murdered by the Gestapo after a mass breakout by Prisoners of War (POWs) from Stalag Luft III POW Camp in Zagan, Poland
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Allied air forces flew a total of 14,674 sorties during the first 24 hours of Operation Overlord for the loss of 113 aircraft, many by friendly fire.
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The RAF reaches its peak strength of 1,185,833 personnel (1,011,427 men and 174,406 women).
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25 Mosquitoes make a highly successful low-level attack on the Gestapo HQ in Aarhus, Denmark, killing 200 Gestapo officials
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VE Day. Germany surrenders unconditionally, and the war in Europe ends
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VJ Day. The Second World War finally ends with Japans' unconditional surrender.
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Airborne medical teams and supplies are dropped to prisoners of war in Burma and Siam (now Thailand).
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The Auxiliary Air Force is given Royal assent and is renamed the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF).
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The Women's Auxiliary Air Force is renamed the Women's Royal Air Force
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The RAF's first jet bomber, the Canberra, enters service.
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The classic British single-seat jet fighter, the Hawker Hunter, enters service
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The Gloster Javelin all-weather fighter enters service.
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The Bloodhound surface-to-air missile enters service.
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The Lightning single-seat fighter enters service.
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The United Kingdom Government signs the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty.
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The VC10 C1 transport aircraft enters service
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The worlds first vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Harrier, enters service
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The Puma helicopter enters service
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The Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon, North London is opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
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In the final hours of the Vietnam War, RAF Hercules are used to evacuate civilians from Cambodi
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The first Chinook HC1 helicopters for use by the RAF are officially handed over.
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The ALARM anti-radiation missile was ordered for the RAF.
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Two Phantoms set a new record for a flight from London to Edinburgh
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Hercules and Chinook detachments operating from bases in Turkey deliver tons of food, clothing and medical supplies
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The first VC10 K4 tanker, ZD242, makes its maiden flight.
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A hostage rescue operation in Sierra Leone involved the Royal Air Force with Hercules and Chinooks being deployed into action
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The RAF has welcomed its latest Royal recruit, Flying Officer HRH William Wales.
