The Royal Air Force

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The Royal Air Force
Uncontrolled copy not subject to amendment
Revision 1.01
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The Royal Air ForceLearning Outcome 1Know
about the history and organisation of the Royal
Air Force
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The Royal Air Force

• The History and Organisation of the Royal Air
  Force

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Aims and Objectives

• Understand the history of the RAF
• Understand the structure of the RAF today
• Understand the roles of the modern RAF
• Learn how an RAF Station is organised

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Before The RAF

• The Royal Balloon School was the first air
  force.

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Before The RAF

• The Royal Balloon School was the first air
  force.
• Formation of the Royal Flying Corps on 13 Mar
  1912.

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Before The RAF

• The Royal Balloon School was the first air
  force.
• Formation of the Royal Flying Corps on 13 Mar
  1912.
• Navy Wing splits to form Royal Navy Air Service
  in July 1914.

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The Formation of the Royal Air Force

• The RAF formed on 1st of April 1918 and Lord
  Trenchard is appointed Chief of Air Staff.

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The Formation of the Royal Air Force

• The RAF formed on 1st of April 1918 and Lord
  Trenchard is appointed Chief of Air Staff.
• The RAF gets a new Badge (crest). Its motto means
  Through Struggles to the Stars.

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The Formation of the Royal Air Force

• The RAF formed on 1st of April 1918 and Lord
  Trenchard is appointed Chief of Air Staff.
• The RAF gets a new Badge (crest). Its motto means
  Through Struggles to the Stars.
• The RAF gets a new Ensign to represent its
  authority.

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World War II
This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin
handed the German Government a final note stating
that unless we heard from them by 11.00 a.m. that
they were prepared at once to withdraw their
troops from Poland, a state of war would exist
between us. I have to tell you that no such
undertaking has been received, and that
consequently this country is at war with Germany.
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World War II

• The RAF defeats the Luftwaffe in the Battle of
  Britain

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Churchills famous speech on The Few
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World War II

• The RAF defeats the Luftwaffe in the Battle of
  Britain.
• The RAF lowers German moral and disrupts
  manufacture with a massive bombing campaign over
  Germany.

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The Cold War

• The Berlin Airlift
• The Cold War Begins

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The Cold War

• The Berlin Airlift
• The Cold War Begins

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The Cold War

• The Berlin Airlift
• The Cold War Begins
• The Cold War causes an Arms Race

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The Cold War

• The Berlin Airlift
• The Cold War Begins.
• The Cold War causes an Arms Race.
• The RAF Becomes a largely standoff defence force
  as the country waits for war to come.

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An Expeditionary Air Force

• The Falklands War signalling the return to an
  Expeditionary Air Force

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An Expeditionary Air Force

• The Falklands War signalling the return to an
  Expeditionary Air Force
• The RAF undertake key roles in the Gulf

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An Expeditionary Air Force

• The Falklands War signalling the return to an
  Expeditionary Air Force
• The RAF undertake key roles in the Gulf
• The RAF help Peacekeeping in Kosovo and Bosnia

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The RAF Today

• RAF Strength around 50,000

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The RAF Today

• RAF Strength around 50,000
• Women now undertake front line jobs in the RAF

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The RAF Today

• RAF Strength around 50,000
• Women now undertake front line jobs in the RAF
• What is the RAF involved in Today?

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RAF Organisation
Air Command
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Number 1 GroupAir Combat Group

• HQ RAF High Wycombe
• Units Which come under 1 Group
• Fast Jet Squadrons
• The Joint Harrier Force
• The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

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Number 2 GroupAir Combat Support Group

• HQ RAF High Wycombe
• Units Which come under 2 Group
• Force Protection which includes
• RAF Regiment
• RAF Police
• Tactical Transport and Refuelling
• Combat Intelligence, Surveillance, Target
  Acquisition Reconnaissance (CISTAR)

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Number 22 Group

• HQ RAF High Wycombe
• Responsible for all Training including
• RAF College Cranwell
• DCAE Cosford
• The Air Cadets
• Flying Training

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The Organisation of an RAF Station
Training, Supply, Catering, Accommodation,
Police, Regiment, PhysEd, Accounts, Personnel
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Expeditionary Air Wings (EAWs) and Joint Service
Elements in a Modern RAF

• EAWs are formed when needed and report directly
  to Air Command

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Expeditionary Air Wings (EAWs) and Joint Service
Elements in a Modern RAF

• EAWs are formed when needed and report directly
  to Air Command
• Joint Service Organisations help the RAF work
  efficiently with its fellow services

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Aims and Objectives

• Understand the history of the RAF
• Understand the structure of the RAF today
• Understand the roles of the modern RAF
• Learn how an RAF Station is organised

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Questions?