History of the Royal Air Force

The history of the Royal Air Force, the air force of the United Kingdom, is over 100 years long.

The RAF began on 1 April 1918, near the end of the First World War. It was made by joining the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. After the war, the RAF became smaller. In the years between wars, it helped keep order in the British Empire. The RAF grew quickly before and during the Second World War. In that war, it helped protect Britain from attacks from the air, bombed Germany, and supported soldiers fighting around the world.

During the Cold War, the RAF's main job was to protect Europe from possible attacks. It also held the British nuclear deterrent for some time. After the Cold War ended, the RAF joined many big operations. These included the Gulf War, the Kosovo War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War.

Formation and the inter-war years

The RAF is the world's oldest independent air force. It was founded on 1 April 1918 by combining the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. This happened because of World War I, where air power became very important.

After World War I, the RAF helped keep order in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. They used planes because it was cheaper than using soldiers on the ground. During these years, the RAF also worked hard to stay important by holding air shows and racing planes. In 1936, it was split into groups like Fighter Command and Bomber Command to better organize its work.

World War II (1939–1945)

Main article: Military history of the United Kingdom during World War II

See also: Air warfare of World War II and Circus offensive

When World War II started in 1939, the RAF grew very fast. Pilots from countries like Canada and Australia joined to help. A key moment was the Battle of Britain in 1940, when RAF pilots fought many enemy planes. Their brave efforts helped keep the United Kingdom safe.

The RAF also flew many missions over Germany. They used large planes for night attacks, sometimes with many aircraft. Some missions aimed at important places in Germany.

1948 Arab–Israeli War

Main article: 1948 Arab–Israeli War

After British control ended in Palestine, the country of Israel was created on 14 May 1948. After this, forces from several Arab countries, including Egypt, moved into the area. The Egyptian air force used small bombers and older fighter planes called Spitfires.

During this time, the Royal Air Force was involved in the conflict. Their bases were attacked, and sometimes their airplanes were shot down while flying over the area. This was a confusing time in the Middle East.

Cold War (1947–1990)

After World War II, the Royal Air Force got new jet fighters and bombers. One of the first things they did was help with the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and 1949. This brought supplies to the city of Berlin.

The RAF was part of several conflicts during the Cold War. The United Kingdom did not send RAF squadrons to the Korean War, but some RAF officers flew with the United States Air Force. The RAF also helped in places like Malaya, Kenya, and the Suez Crisis. In the 1960s, RAF planes were used in the Konfrontasi with Indonesia, but it was not a full war.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Belize had threats from Guatemala. The RAF sent helicopters and Harrier jets to help keep the area safe and support British troops.

The Falklands War in 1982 had RAF planes flying from bases in the mid-Atlantic and from Navy ships. They helped protect ships, attack the ground, and support the whole effort. After the war, the RAF kept protecting the Falkland Islands and built a new base at RAF Mount Pleasant.

1990–2000

Gulf War

Before the Gulf War, RAF fighters were in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. On 17 January 1991, the air campaign began, and over 100 RAF aircraft took part. This was important because it was the first time they used precision-guided munitions a lot. After the war, the RAF helped keep no-fly zones over Iraq and joined the Bombing of Iraq in 1998.

Balkans

In 1993, RAF Tornado F3s and AWACS planes helped with Operation Deny Flight, a NATO mission to control the sky over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This mission lasted until late 1995.

The Kosovo War in 1999 was the first time since World War II that the RAF flew over Europe. During the bombing of Yugoslavia, the RAF used Harrier GR7 and Tornado attack jets, plus many support planes.

2001–present

"War on Terror"

As part of the United Kingdom's efforts in the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the RAF helped the United States by using special aircraft for refuelling and watching for dangers. Helicopters carried supplies for soldiers. In 2004, RAF planes were sent to Afghanistan to support local forces.

The 2003 invasion of Iraq saw many RAF planes helping in the area. After the fighting, RAF helicopters and planes stayed to help keep things safe.

In 2013, the RAF helped a French operation in Mali by moving vehicles and watching for dangers. In 2014, the RAF searched for missing schoolgirls in Nigeria but were not able to rescue them at that time.

Today, the RAF is part of efforts against harmful groups, flying from bases in Cyprus to deliver aid in Iraq (2014–present) and Syria.

In 2015, RAF helicopters went to Afghanistan to help train local forces.

In 2018, RAF helicopters were sent to Mali to help with ongoing operations there.

Libyan civil war

In 2011, the RAF helped in Libya as part of a larger effort. Planes and helicopters were used to support the mission.

Other operations and activities

In 2004, RAF planes went to the Baltic States to help with safety duties. After a big earthquake in 2004, RAF planes helped bring supplies to areas that needed them.

The RAF celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2008 with special flights over London.

In 2016, RAF planes went to South Korea and Japan for training with other countries' forces.

The RAF celebrated its 100th anniversary on 1 April 2018 with special events.

In May 2026, an RAF plane dropped a team of medical workers to help someone on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha who was very sick. The team brought important medical supplies and oxygen.

Number of personnel

Main article: Personnel numbers in the Royal Air Force

After World War I, the Royal Air Force became smaller. It grew again before World War II. During the war, more than one million people served in the RAF. After the war, the number of people in the RAF slowly decreased.