Royal Air Force centenary

Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) – the world’s oldest independent air force – marks its 100th anniversary in 2018

April 1, 1918: RAF founded towards end of World War I by merging aviation branches of Royal Navy and British Army

1924: Fleet Air Arm formed from RAF units operating at sea 

1940: During World War II,RAF defends UK from Germanair attacks in Battle of Britain

1940-45: Campaign by RAFB omber Command includes night attacks on German cities such as Hamburg and Dresden,and “Dambusters” raid 

1948-49: In first Cold Warcrisis, RAF delivers 17 percentof supplies during Berlin Airlift

1956-69: RAF’s V Bomberforce carries responsibility for UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent

1982: RAF takes part in Falklands War alongside Fleet Air Arm, flying from Ascension Island in mid-Atlantic and Royal Navy aircraft carriers

Post-Cold War: Large-scale RAF operations include two Gulf Wars, Kosovo War in 1999, Afghanistan War and 2011 intervention in Libya 

Current: RAF flying combatmissions against so-calledIslamic State in Iraq and Syria

Sop-with Camel (1917)

Supermarine Spitfire (1938)

Douglas Dakota (1942)

Avro Lancaster (1942)

Avro Vulcan (1956)

Harrier Jump Jet (1969)

Panavia Tornado (1979)

Eurofighter Typhoon (2003)

Lockheed Martin F-35 (2018)

Picture: Getty ImagesSources: MoD, RAF Museum, Forces Network