The Royal Air Force

Objectives Describe the structure of the RAF Outline the history of the RAF List 3 threats to security Identify why security is important.

The RAF -Today The vision for today’s RAF is; 'An agile, adaptable and capable Air Force that, person for person, is second to none, and that makes a decisive air power contribution in support of the UK Defence Mission.’

Expeditionary Air Wings The RAF - Today HM The Queen Structure UK Government Ministry of Defence Air Command No 1 Group No 2 Group No 22 Group Expeditionary Air Wings

The RAF - Air Command Air Command Responsible for the overall command and control of the RAF Commands 3 groups Based at RAF High Wycombe.

The RAF – No 1 Group No 1 Group No 1 group – Sharp and pointy stuff! I.e Typhoons and Tornados or the teeth of the RAF

The RAF – No2 Group No 2 Group No 2 group – Stubby and fat stuff!! Support and logistics i.e. Transport, and includes main rotary wing assets

The RAF No 22 Group No 22 group - other stuff!! Training and recruitment branches and is where the ACO resides! Photos; Phys at RAF Halton, OASC at RAF Cranwell, Viking glider, Griffin helicopter, Tucano, ACO, Hawk, Grob Tutor and the Squirrel helicopter.

The RAF – 22 Group Structure of 22 group, showing the stations and the departments that fall under 22 group.

The RAF - History The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was formed in 1912 In 1914 the Royal Navy formed the Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS)and broke away The value of “Air Power” was proven throughout the First World War During WW1 aircraft were mainly used for reconnaissance until Germans began to use fighter aircraft to shoot down our reconnaissance machines that we countered with our own British fighters.

The RAF - History = + On the 1st April 1918 The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS)were rejoined and the Royal Air Force (RAF) was born. Lord Trenchard was the architect of this formation and he further drove the for the establishment of the first Air College.

The RAF - History RAF won the Schneider trophy in 1927, 1929 and 1931. Development of radio location to detect and locate aircraft- Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR) Between the wars the RAF was built upon and in 1920 the RAFC Cranwell was formed along with the Engineering Apprentices school (RAF Halton). In addition early RADAR was developed and deployed along the coastline of the UK. The Coupe d'Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider (commonly called the Schneider Trophy, or prize or cup) was a prize competition for seaplanes. Announced by Jacques Schneider, a financier, balloonist and aircraft enthusiast, in 1911, it offered a prize of roughly £1,000. The race was held eleven times between 1913 and 1931. It was meant to encourage technical advances in civil aviation but became a contest for pure speed with laps over a triangular course (initially 280 km, later 350 km). The races were very popular and some attracted crowds of over 200,000 spectators.

The RAF - History World War 2 War was declared in 1939 Squadrons from the RAF were sent to France with the Army to provide air support As the army withdrew from France (via Dunkirk) the RAF provided cover

The RAF - History The Battle of Britain began. World War 2 In the Summer of 1940 Hitler decided that to invade Britain complete air superiority was required The German air force (the Luftwaffe) was tasked with destroying the RAF The Battle of Britain began.

The RAF - History World War 2 - The Battle of Britain In 1940 six to seven hundred fighters mainly spitfires and Hurricanes flew daily against the Luftwaffe’s force of 1,000 fighters and 1,250 bombers. Pic left is a Hurricane (actually they outnumbered spitfires in the Battle of Britain!) on the right is a section of spitfires. Huge casualties were suffered with ; XX British aircraft lost XX German aircraft lost And XX British aircew killed.

The RAF

The RAF The RAF was successful and without Air superiority plans to invade were scrapped. The prime minister at the time (Sir Winston Churchill) said this of the RAF; “The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” “The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”

The RAF Post war years; the RAF reequipped with Jet aircraft The Canberra was the first jet-engined bomber to enter RAF service.

The RAF Viktor Vulcan Valiant Post war years; The cold War began soon after the second world war and this led to the UK building a nuclear deterrent The RAF element of this deterrent was delivered by the V bombers. Viktor Vulcan Valiant

The RAF In 1960 the first RAF supersonic fighter, the ‘Lighting” entered service’.

The RAF Recent RAF deployments Libya – Afghanistan – The Balkans – Iraq – Afghanistan – The Falklands – Libya – UN enforced action to protect democratic elections being suppress by the Libyan leader at the time. The RAF provided Strike packages and E3 Sentry over watch capabilities. Afghanistan – UN pace keeping fore to stabilise the region. The RAF provides troop movement capabilities, casualty evacuation, battlefield management and strike support. The Balkans – UN force to stop the ethnic civil war from the split up of the USSR state of Yugoslavia (1992) The RAF provided helicopter and strike support to the UN force in the region) Iraq – The first Iraq war was to remove Iraqi forces that unlawfully invaded Kuwait. The second was an invasion of Iraq to remove Saddam Husain from dictatorial power, therefore allowing a democratic government to be established by the population. There were in addition (Alleged) weapons of mass destruction being stored there. (91 & 2001) The Falklands – Argentina invaded the small islands and so a UK task force was sent to retake the islands (1982)

The RAF - Security There are 3 types of security threat; Direct Indirect Terrorism Indirect and Terrorist threats exist at all times not just in war!! Direct - is a war time threat and includes shooting or dropping bombs etc Indirect – Not as dramatic but equally as destructive i.e. Espionage, theft, vandalism Terrorism – Acts of violence against UK citizens or service personnel for political or religious reasons

The RAF - Security We are all responsible for security at our own Squadrons or when we visit RAF or Service establishments! Never leave bags un-labelled or unattended Never enter restricted areas Always report strange occurrences to staff Do not enter the HQ until staff have arrived When talking to people about the ATC then think “do they need to know?” If they don’t then stop talking! Close and lock doors and windows Refer to Bomb threats around unattended baggage Strange people around the HQ/TAC or people asking questions about the HQ (or camp if they are away at the time) Never discuss anything to do with weapons or ammunition! Be aware that as ACO members they will get to see thing that are secret and this is what “Need to Know” refers to

The RAF Questions ?

Objectives Describe the structure of the RAF Outline the history of the RAF List 3 threats to security Identify why security is important.

The RAF

The RAF