The Royal Air Force was founded on April 1, 1918, by the merger of the British Army's Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Navy's Royal Naval Air Service, becoming the world's first independent air force distinct from army or naval command, and rose to global prominence for its central role in defending Britain during the 1940 Battle of Britain, when RAF Fighter Command's Hurricane and Spitfire squadrons repelled the Luftwaffe's attempt to achieve air superiority ahead of a planned German invasion. Prime Minister Winston Churchill's tribute to the RAF's pilots during that battle, that never was so much owed by so many to so few, cemented the service's central place in British national memory of World War II, alongside its subsequent strategic bombing campaign against Germany and its role in the Battle of the Atlantic through Coastal Command's anti-submarine operations. In the postwar era the RAF maintained Britain's independent nuclear deterrent through the V-bomber force before that role transferred to Royal Navy submarines, and the service has continued to operate fighter, bomber, transport and reconnaissance aircraft in conflicts from the 1982 Falklands War to the Gulf War and subsequent operations over Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria. The RAF remains one of the world's most capable and historically significant air forces, organized today around a modern fleet including the Typhoon and F-35 combat aircraft.
Facts
Force TypeAir and space force formed by the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service 1 Founded Year Force Type
Force Type (category) Royal Air Force
Filter Results1 entry
Connections
Associated With
The Avro Lancaster was the Royal Air Force's primary heavy bomber for its night bombing campaign against Germany in World War II
Source Wikipedia: Strategic bombing
The Supermarine Spitfire was the Royal Air Force's iconic fighter, central to its victory in the Battle of Britain
Commanders and Forces
The Royal Air Force's Fighter Command won the Battle of Britain in 1940, defeating the Luftwaffe's campaign for air superiority
Fought In
Operation Chastise was flown by RAF 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force using Barnes Wallis bouncing bombs
Source Wikipedia: Operation Chastise
Operation Jericho was flown by RAF de Havilland Mosquitos of the Royal Air Force
Source Wikipedia: Operation Jericho
The Royal Air Force was formed on April 1, 1918, in the final months of World War I from the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Air Force carried out Britain's air defense and strategic bombing campaign throughout World War II
Operates
Source Wikipedia: AGM-45 Shrike
Source Wikipedia: Brimstone (missile)
Source Wikipedia: Browning Hi-Power
Source Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: Boeing CH-47 Chinook
Source Cluster munition, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless
Source Wikipedia: De Havilland Firestreak
Source Wikipedia: de Havilland Mosquito
Source Wikipedia: F-35 Lightning II
Source Wikipedia: F-4 Phantom II
Source Wikipedia: Ferret armoured car
Source Wikipedia: Grand Slam (bomb)
Source Wikipedia: Hawker Hurricane
Source Wikipedia: L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle
Source Wikipedia: Lanchester submachine gun
Source Wikipedia: Lewis Gun
Source Wikipedia: M1911 pistol
Source M1919 Browning machine gun, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: M60 machine gun
Source Mark 54 lightweight torpedo - Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
Source Wikipedia: Naval mine
Source Wikipedia: Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
Source Wikipedia: P-51 Mustang
Source Wikipedia: Panavia Tornado
Source Rapier (missile) (Wikipedia)
Source Rose turret, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: Scarff ring
Source Wikipedia: Seacat (missile)
Source Wikipedia: Stratus (missile family)
Source Wikipedia: Supermarine Spitfire
Source Wikipedia: Tallboy (bomb)
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Royal Air Force
WikipediaLead paragraph 1
It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918 through the merger of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).
- Per the entity's own name and sourced description.
View the Source Wikidata: Royal Air Force
Wikidata Q165862, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
Wikipedia: Strategic bombing
Associated With: Strategic Bombing Doctrine, World War II RAF practice sectionQuote, Associated With: Strategic Bombing Doctrine, World War II RAF practice section
the RAF adopted an area-attack strategy, by which it hoped to impede Germany's war production, her powers of resistance (by destroying resources and forcing Germany to divert resources from her front lines to defend her air space), and her morale.
View the Source Rose turret, Wikipedia
Operates: Rose turret, infobox used_by/operator field: 'Royal Air Force'View the Source Wikipedia: Grand Slam (bomb)
Operates: Grand Slam, infobox used_by/operator field: 'Royal Air Force'View the Source Wikipedia: ASRAAM
Operates: ASRAAM, infobox used_by/operator field: 'Royal Air Force'View the Source Mark 54 lightweight torpedo - Wikipedia
Operates: Mark 54 Torpedo, Infobox, used by and service fieldsQuote, Operates: Mark 54 Torpedo, Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: Royal Air Force
View the Source Wikipedia: WE.177
Operates: WE.177, Infobox, used by and service fieldsQuote, Operates: WE.177, Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: Royal Air Force
View the Source Wikipedia: Brimstone (missile)
Operates: Brimstone (missile), Infobox, used by and service fieldsQuote, Operates: Brimstone (missile), Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: Royal Air Force
View the Source Wikipedia: Stratus (missile family)
Operates: Stratus (missile family), Infobox, used by and service fieldsQuote, Operates: Stratus (missile family), Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: Royal Air Force
View the Source Wikipedia: M1911 pistol
WikipediaOperates: M1911 Pistol, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: M1911 Pistol, Wikipedia article text
Britain ordered approximately 13,000 1911s in .455 Webley Auto during the First World War, with examples known to go to the Royal Air Force.
View the Source Wikipedia: Supermarine Spitfire
WikipediaOperates: Supermarine Spitfire, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Supermarine Spitfire, Wikipedia article text
Buckinghamshire, June 2024 The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II.
View the Source Wikipedia: P-51 Mustang
WikipediaOperates: P-51 Mustang, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: P-51 Mustang, Wikipedia article text
The aircraft was first flown operationally by the RAF as a tactical-reconnaissance aircraft and fighter-bomber (Mustang Mk I).
View the Source Wikipedia: F-4 Phantom II
WikipediaOperates: F-4 Phantom II, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: F-4 Phantom II, Wikipedia article text
The RN and RAF versions were given the designation F-4K and F-4M respectively, and entered service with the British military aircraft designations Phantom FG.1 (fighter/ground attack) and Phantom FGR.2 (fighter/ground attack/reconnaissance).
View the Source Wikipedia: F-35 Lightning II
WikipediaOperates: F-35 Lightning II, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: F-35 Lightning II, Wikipedia article text
June 2018; * Royal Air Force and Royal Navy (owned by the RAF but jointly operated), 48 F-35Bs received, of which 47 are operational after the loss of one aircraft in November 2021.
View the Source Wikipedia: Lewis Gun
WikipediaOperates: Lewis Gun, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Lewis Gun, Wikipedia article text
Lewis guns were also carried by the Royal Air Force's air-sea rescue launches.
View the Source Wikipedia: Boeing CH-47 Chinook
Operates: CH-47 Chinook, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: CH-47 Chinook, Wikipedia article text
In 1995, the Royal Air Force ordered eight Chinook HC3s, effectively a lower cost MH-47E for special operations.
View the Source Wikipedia: Hawker Hurricane
Operates: Hawker Hurricane, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Hawker Hurricane, Wikipedia article text
for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF).
View the Source Wikipedia: Naval mine
Operates: Naval Mine, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Naval Mine, Wikipedia article text
A total of 48,000 aerial mines were laid by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the European Theatre during World War II.
View the Source Wikipedia: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
WikipediaOperates: MQ-9 Reaper, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: MQ-9 Reaper, Wikipedia article text
A third MQ-9A was in the process of being purchased by the RAF in 2007.
View the Source Wikipedia: Browning Hi-Power
WikipediaOperates: Browning Hi-Power, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Browning Hi-Power, Wikipedia article text
Formally adopted by the British Army and Royal Air Force as the L9A1 in 1963, a replacement for Webley and Enfield revolvers in 1954 and by the Northern Ireland Security Guard Service in 1998..
View the Source Wikipedia: Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
WikipediaOperates: P-40 Warhawk, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: P-40 Warhawk, Wikipedia article text
When the Tomahawk was used by Allied units based in the UK from February 1941, this limitation relegated the Tomahawk to low-level reconnaissance with RAF Army Cooperation Command and only No.
View the Source Wikipedia: de Havilland Mosquito
WikipediaOperates: de Havilland Mosquito, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: de Havilland Mosquito, Wikipedia article text
The Mosquito was also operated by the RAF in the Southeast Asian theatre and by the Royal Australian Air Force based in the Moluccas and Borneo during the Pacific War.
View the Source Wikipedia: Panavia Tornado
WikipediaOperates: Panavia Tornado, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Panavia Tornado, Wikipedia article text
The Tornado was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF), Italian Air Force, and RSAF during the Gulf War of 1991, in which the Tornado conducted many low-altitude penetrating strike missions.
View the Source Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Wikipedia
Operates: C-130 Hercules, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: C-130 Hercules, Wikipedia article text
The equivalent model for export to the UK is the C-130K, known by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as the Hercules C.1.
View the Source M1919 Browning machine gun, Wikipedia
Operates: M1919 Browning Machine Gun, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: M1919 Browning Machine Gun, Wikipedia article text
The Browning .303 was used as the RAF and Fleet Air Arm (FAA) primary fixed forward firing aircraft armament before the war, both in synchronized mounts (firing through a spinning propeller) on pre-war biplane fighters (Gloster Gladiator, Hawker Fury).
View the Source Wikipedia: Tallboy (bomb)
Operates: Tallboy, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Tallboy, Wikipedia article text
Tallboy or Bomb, Medium Capacity, 12,000 lb was an earthquake bomb developed by the British aeronautical engineer Barnes Wallis and used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War.
View the Source Cluster munition, Wikipedia
Operates: Cluster Munition, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Cluster Munition, Wikipedia article text
Of these, 531 were RBL755s dropped by the Royal Air Force.
View the Source Rapier (missile) (Wikipedia)
Operates: Rapier Missile System, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Rapier Missile System, Wikipedia article text
Rapier was later selected by the RAF Regiment to replace their Bofors guns and Tigercat missiles.
View the Source Wikipedia: M60 machine gun
Operates: M60 Machine Gun, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: M60 Machine Gun, Wikipedia article text
The M60D is also used by the British on Royal Air Force Chinooks.
View the Source Wikipedia: Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless
Operates: Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless, Wikipedia article text
Some were issued to the Royal Air Force.
View the Source Wikipedia: L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle
Operates: L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle, Wikipedia article text
L1A1s have been used by the British Armed Forces in Malaysia, Northern Ireland, and in the Falklands War (in opposition to FN FAL-armed Argentine forces), the First Gulf War (where it was still on issue to some second line British Army units and RAF personnel not yet issued with the L85A1), and by
View the Source Wikipedia: Lanchester submachine gun
Operates: Lanchester submachine gun, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Lanchester submachine gun, Wikipedia article text
It was primarily used by the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and to a lesser extent by the Royal Air Force Regiment for use in their training facilities.
View the Source Wikipedia: Ferret armoured car
Operates: Ferret armoured car, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Ferret armoured car, Wikipedia article text
It was widely used by regiments in the British Army, as well as the RAF Regiment and Commonwealth countries throughout the period.
View the Source Wikipedia: AGM-45 Shrike
Operates: AGM-45 Shrike, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: AGM-45 Shrike, Wikipedia article text
Although the Shrike missile did not enter regular service with the United Kingdom, it was covertly supplied by the United States to the RAF for use in the Falklands War of 1982.
View the Source Wikipedia: L42A1
Operates: L42A1, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: L42A1, Wikipedia article text
Used in the past by the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force RAF Regiment, the L42A1 entered service in 1970.
View the Source Wikipedia: Seacat (missile)
Operates: Seacat (missile), Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Seacat (missile), Wikipedia article text
Tigercat was used exclusively by 48 Squadron RAF Regiment between 1967 and 1978, before being replaced by Rapier.
View the Source Wikipedia: De Havilland Firestreak
Operates: De Havilland Firestreak, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: De Havilland Firestreak, Wikipedia article text
It was the first such weapon to enter active service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Fleet Air Arm, equipping the English Electric Lightning interceptor, de Havilland Sea Vixen naval fighter and the Gloster Javelin all weather interceptor.
View the Source Wikipedia: Scarff ring
Operates: Scarff ring, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Scarff ring, Wikipedia article text
As well as becoming a standard fitting in the British forces during the First World War, the Scarff ring was used in the postwar Royal Air Force for many years.
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