London Plaque Marks RAF Anniversary
The Royal Air Force’s 90th Anniversary has been marked with the unveiling of a plaque in the middle of London. The plaque is sited at 80 Strand, the location of the service’s very first headquarters.
Spokesman for the RAF, David Forsyth, stated: "Amazing progress has been made in just 90 years since we were born."
RAF London Flypast
As Armed Forces International recently reported, a number of events are taking place in coming months in connection with the 90th Anniversary. The most imminent of these takes place tomorrow, April 1st, when a flypast will be carried out over London.
The flypast will feature the Red Arrows, as well as four Eurofighter Typhoons.
The RAF was created when, in the final days of World War One, two existing organisations – the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps – fused into one.
Initially, the Cecil Hotel was used by the then-brand-new Royal Air Force as its first HQ. The RAF stayed there for a few months before moving on.
The Cecil Hotel, meanwhile, was in the main demolished some years later.
"Those early service men and women would be astounded by today's modern technology - jets, rockets, GPS-guided missiles and unmanned aircraft”, Forsyth added.
"But it all began with string, wood, canvas, a primitive engine and an idea that air power was not just for dreamers."
From S.E.5a, Sopwith Pup...
Aircraft types used by the service during those very first months included the S.E.5a, Sopwith Pup and the Avro 504K.
...to Eurofighter Typhoon
The RAF of 90 years later is equipped with modern fighter jets such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, heavylift aircraft such as the C-130J Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III, and helicopters such as the Chinook and Merlin.
The plaque was unveiled by Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy during a ceremony held on the 30th March.
Source – Armed Forces International’s Aviation Expert
Recent related News Items:
RAF to Mark 90th Anniversary with London Flypast
