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The Royal Air Force Creation
The Royal Air Force (formerly Royal Flying Corps) and Womens Royal Air Force are formed. -
Red Baron Killed
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. -
The Last Intense Air Combat of WWl
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. -
VC For Major 'Mick' Mannick
WWl flying ace Major Edward Mannock is awarded the Victorias Cross. Major Edward Mannock VC DSO** MC* scored 61 kills in WWl. -
RAF College Opened
The Royal Air Force College is opened in Cranwell, Licolnshire. -
WRAF Dispands
The Womans Royal Air Force is dispanded -
Control Taken Over Mesopotamia (now Iraq)
The RAF assumes military control of Mesopotamia (now Iraq), allowing ruduced ground forces and the introduction of air-policing. -
RAF Andover College Opened
RAF Staff College opened at Andover -
Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service
The RAF Nursing Service is renamed Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service. -
RAuxAF Formed
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. -
ROC Formed
The Royal Observer Corps are formed. -
Testing The Bristol Bulldog
The Bristol Bulldog, destined to serve with the RAF well into the 1930's makes it's first flight. -
Control Of ROC Transferred
Control of the Observer Corps was transferred from the War Office to the RAF. -
Far East Command
Far East Command Formed -
Hawker Fury First Flight
The Hawker Fury, takes to the air for the first time. It went on to serve with three frontline squadrons until 1939. -
Last Open Cockpit Biplane
The Gloster Gauntlet, last open cockpit biplane to be used by the RAF, makes its maiden flight (first flight) -
Home Defence Expansion
A major expansion of the RAF Home Defence is announced, with the number of squadrons increased from 52 to 75. -
Supermarine Model 300 Maiden Flight
The Supermarine model 300 (later named Spitfire) made it's first flight at Eastleigh aerodrome -
Last Biplane Fighter
The last Biplane Fighter (The Gloster Gladiator) to serve the RAF enters service with Nos. 3 and 72 Squadrons. -
RAF Maintence Command Formed
RAF Maintenance Command is formed -
First Delivery Of Hawker Hurricane
No. 111 Squadron recieves the first delivery of Hawker Hurricanes -
Supermarine Spitfire Enters Service
The Supermarine Spitfire enters service with No. 19 Squadron -
WAAF Formed
The Womans Auxillary Air Force is formed to allow their male counterparts to be re-deployed for frontline duties. -
Britain Joines War
At 11 am Britain declares war on Germany, followed at 5pm by France. Australia and New Zealand also declare war on Germany. -
First Losses
The Royal Air Force records its first losses of World War Two, when five Wellingtons are shot down during a raid on German warships. -
First Blood
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. -
Introduction of IFF
The RAF introduces Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) signals to help identify friendly aircraft on radar screens. -
The Belgian Army Finally Is Defeated
The Belgian Army, hopelessly outclassed by the Germans, finally capitulates at midnight. -
Italy joins WWII
Italy declares war on Britain and France. -
Battle Of Britain Begins
First phase of the Battle of Britain begins. -
First London Bombing
German bombs fall on central London for the first time. -
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps constituted by Royal Warrant. -
Wellingtons drop Blockbuster
Wellingtons drop the first 4,000lb (1,814kg) Blockbuster bomb. -
Germany invades Russia
Germany begins the invasion of Russia. Italy and Rumania declare war on Russia. -
RAF Operations
In Europe, Royal Air Force operations are mainly concerned with attacks on German warships and naval facilities in the Atlantic and North Germany. -
Wellingtons Take Down U-Boat
A searchlight equipped Wellington records the first sinking of a German U-boat. -
USAAF Bomb Germany
USAAF bomber aircraft make their first raid on Germany. -
First Use Of Radar Homing Equipment
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 -
Operation Strangle
Allied air forces based in Italy begin Operation Strangle, designed to cut enemy supply routes in Italy. -
POW Breakout
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 -
D-Day
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. -
RAF Peak Strength
The RAF reaches its peak strength of 1,185,833 personnel (1,011,427 men and 174,406 women). -
German HQ Raid
25 Mosquitoes make a highly successful low-level attack on the Gestapo HQ in Aarhus, Denmark, killing 200 Gestapo officials -
Germany Surrenders
VE Day. Germany surrenders unconditionally, and the war in Europe ends -
WWII Is Over
VJ Day. The Second World War finally ends with Japans' unconditional surrender. -
Supply Drop
Airborne medical teams and supplies are dropped to prisoners of war in Burma and Siam (now Thailand). -
AAF Renamed
The Auxiliary Air Force is given Royal assent and is renamed the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF). -
WAAF Renamed To WRAF
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force is renamed the Women's Royal Air Force -
First Jet In Service
The RAF's first jet bomber, the Canberra, enters service. -
Hawker Hunter
The classic British single-seat jet fighter, the Hawker Hunter, enters service -
Gloster Javelin
The Gloster Javelin all-weather fighter enters service. -
The Bloodhound Surface-To-Air Missile
The Bloodhound surface-to-air missile enters service. -
The Lightning
The Lightning single-seat fighter enters service. -
Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty
The United Kingdom Government signs the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. -
The VC10 C1
The VC10 C1 transport aircraft enters service -
The Harrier
The worlds first vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Harrier, enters service -
The Puma
The Puma helicopter enters service -
Air Force Museum, Hendon
The Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon, North London is opened by Queen Elizabeth II. -
Evacuation
In the final hours of the Vietnam War, RAF Hercules are used to evacuate civilians from Cambodi -
Chinook HC1
The first Chinook HC1 helicopters for use by the RAF are officially handed over. -
ALARM Anti-Radiation Missile
The ALARM anti-radiation missile was ordered for the RAF. -
New Record
Two Phantoms set a new record for a flight from London to Edinburgh -
Supply Drops
Hercules and Chinook detachments operating from bases in Turkey deliver tons of food, clothing and medical supplies -
VC10 K4 Tanker
The first VC10 K4 tanker, ZD242, makes its maiden flight. -
Hostage Operation
A hostage rescue operation in Sierra Leone involved the Royal Air Force with Hercules and Chinooks being deployed into action -
Prince William Joins The Air Force
The RAF has welcomed its latest Royal recruit, Flying Officer HRH William Wales.
