News

RAuxAF 100 – Stained-Glass Window

A stained-glass window commemorating the 100-year history of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) was unveiled by His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester  in the Royal Air Force Club (RAF Club) on 6th October 2024.

RAuxAF 100 – 9 October 1924 to 9 October 2024

On 9th October 2024, exactly 100 years to the day after the RAuxAF was founded, a wreath was placed on a War Memorial in Norfolk as a tribute to all those who had died whilst on duty or as a consequence of being on duty whilst serving in the Force.

RAuxAF 100 – Battle of Britain Service

On Sunday, 15th September 2024, the Annual Battle of  Britain Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication was held at Westminster Abbey.

603 Squadron Centenarian

On 16 August 2024, Joe McCulloch, a former pilot on 603 Squadron, celebrated his 100th birthday.

RAuxAF 100 – RAuxAF Centenary Service St Clement Danes

On 6 October 2024, the RAuxAF Foundation will be hosting a Service commemorating the Centenary of the RAuxAF at the RAF Church of St Clement Danes in London.

RAuxAF 100 – Vampire Tribute: 502 & 614 Sqns

During the first weekend in July, members of 502 and 614 Sqns RAuxAF attended the the Wales National Air Show in Swansea which paid tribute to the Centenary of the founding of the RAuxAF in 1924.

RAuxAF 100 – Honouring the Fallen

On 6 July 2024, members of the 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Squadron attended the 80th anniversary memorial service at Pic de Douly in the French Pyrenees to honour the six British and one Canadian aircrew of 624 Squadron who tragically lost their lives when their Halifax aircraft crashed in 1944 thick fog whilst on a mission to resupply the local French resistance.

RAuxAF 100 – Centenary Service of Remembrance

On 26th June 2024, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Foundation staged a Centenary Service at the National Memorial Arboretum commemorating the founding of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force in 1924.

RAuxAF 100 – A Royal Train Visit

On Saturday, 25th May 2024, the  the RAuxAF Foundation hosted an event at Nene Valley Railway’s Wansford Station  which involved a short journey on a vintage train hauled by a Battle of Britain steam locomotive.

RAuxAF 100 – 614 Squadron: Honours, Book and Painting

On 1st June, Wales’ only Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron staged a multiple celebration.

RAuxAF 100 – Buckingham Palace Parade

On17th May 2024, His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester took the salute at a Royal Auxiliary Air Force Parade at Buckingham Palace.

RAuxAF 100 – Royal Hillsborough Castle Gun Salute

On Monday 6th May, No. 206 (Ulster) Battery with support from No. 502 (Ulster) Sqn, Royal Auxiliary Air Force undertook a royal gun salute to mark the coronation of his Majesty King Charles III and the one hundredth anniversary of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

RAuxAF 100 – 607 Squadron Marks Centenary with Iconic Gift

To mark the centenary of the founding of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force in 2024, 607 (County of Durham) Squadron) presented the North East Land, Sea and Air Museum with an iconic gift

602 Squadron Enters the Space Age

At a ceremony held at the University of Strathclyde on 17 April 2024, 3 personnel from 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron were awarded Space Command Badges having completed a Space Foundation Course.

War Hero Receives Overdue Medal

Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank (Retd) who is 103 years old is the sole surviving holder of  the Victoria Cross from World War 2.

Top Award for Dowding Scholarship Winner

The Dowding Scholarship is a Chief of the Air Staff initiative which encourages, inter alia, members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force to undertake a course of advanced study.

RAuxAF 100 – A March for the Royal Auxiliary Air Force

Some 5 or 6 years ago, the Foundation Trustees debated as to whether the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) had its own march.

RAuxAF 100 – Centenary Dinner

A Dinner commemorating  the Centenary of the founding of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force was held at Royal Air Force Cranwell on 28th  February 2024.

RAuxAF 100 – 614 Squadron’s Tribute

At a moving Service held on 1st February 2024 at in Cathays Park in Cardiff’s Civic Centre, 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron planted a flowering cherry tree to mark the centenary of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and also the 10th anniversary of the Squadron’s reformation.

RAuxAF 100 – Locomotive Naming Ceremony Part 1

In early 2023, a Trustee of the RAuxAF Foundation, Squadron Leader Alfie Hall, worked in partnership with the Nene Valley Railway and the Battle of Britain Locomotive Society to rename the steam engine “92 Squadron” as “Royal Auxiliary Air Force”. 

RAF Brize Norton’s Parachuting Reservists

In September 2023, as part of an adventurous training exercise, four members of 4624 Movements Squadron and three from 501 Logistics Support Squadron attended a parachute training course at the Army Air Training Wing at Airfield Camp, Netheravon.

Lord Selkirk

On 28th November 2023,  The Right Honourable Lord Selkirk of Douglas (James Douglas Hamilton) died in hospital in Edinburgh after a short illness.

KVRM / QVRM Dinner at Windsor Castle

On Saturday 2nd September, members of the King’s Volunteer Reserves Medal Association (KVRM), formerly the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal Association (QVRM), and their partners gathered at Windsor Castle for a very special event.

An Unknown Airman and a Remarkable Lady

On 10th September 2023, at All Saints’ Church in Staplehurst, Kent, the Rector, Revd Silke Tetzlaff, officiated at the Parish’s annual Battle of Britain Memorial Service.

New Air Commodore-in-Chief

On 12th August 2023, Buckingham Palace announced that His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester would succeed Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, as Air Commodore-in Chief of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

605 Squadron receives its new Standard

On 24 July 2023, the Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Richard Knighton,  was the Reviewing Officer at a Parade at Royal Air Force Cosford during which he presented 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron with its new Standard.

RAuxAF: 100 Year History

To commemorate the centenary of the RAuxAF in 2024, Dr Louise Wilkinson and Sqn Ldr Tony Freeman (a Foundation Trustee) have co-authored a book providing an in-depth account of the Force’s history since its founding in 1924 up to the present day.

600 Squadron Standard Presentation

On 24 June 2023, Sir Charles Bowman, the Representative Lord Mayor of the City of London, presented 600 (City of London) Squadron with its Standard at at the Squadron’s base at Royal Air Force Northolt.

King’s Birthday Honours List – 2023

Three members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force received awards in he King’s Birthday Honours List:

Foundation Memorial Service 2023

The RAuxAF Foundation held its annual Memorial Service at the National Memorial Arboretum on 21st June.

Locomotive Naming Ceremony – Part 1

A Battle of Britain class steam locomotive adopted the nameplate ‘Royal Auxiliary Air Force’ at an unveiling service held at the Nene Valley Railway on 27 May 2023.

Evacuation from Sudan

During the last two weeks of April 2023, 35 RAuxAF personnel from 4624 (County of Oxford) Squadron provided specialist air movements reinforcements at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and RAF Akrotiri, and Larnaca

Honorary Air Commodores’ Conference

Almost all RAuxAF Sqns and Units  have an Honorary Air Commodore (HAC). 

Coronation Garden Party

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force Foundation was delighted to have been invited to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III  at a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 9th May. 

KVRM Dinner 2023

The King’s Volunteer Reserves Medal Association held its Annual Dinner on 24th March at the RAF Club, Piccadilly, London.

Force Awards – 2022

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force awards for 2022 have recently been announced.

502 Squadron Nurse Awarded Top Honour

Squadron Leader Mary B O’Neill of 502 (Ulster) Squadron has been awarded the prestigious King’s Volunteer Reservist Medal in the 2023 New Year Honours List.

Commemorative Tree

On the 29th October 2022, the Queens’s Volunteer Reserves Medal Association (QVRM) planted and dedicated a Copper Beech in Windsor Great Park to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and to support the Queen’s Green Canopy project.

Treasured Links

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force enjoyed a long and much valued association with Her Majesty beginning in June 1951.

Farewell to The Air Commodore-in-Chief

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Foundation were greatly saddened to receive the news that Her Majesty The Queen, the Force’s Air Commodore-in-Chief, had died at Balmoral on 8th September 2022.

602 Squadron Receives New Standard

On 19th August 2022, No 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force was presented with a new Standard by Councillor Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Lieutenant of the City during a parade held in the grounds of the High School of Glasgow.

601 Squadron Receives New Standard

In 1954, in recognition of its outstanding peacetime and wartime service since its formation in 1925, 601 (County of London) Squadron was presented with a Standard by its Honorary Air Commodore, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

RAuxAF Foundation Memorial and Stone Dedication Service 2022

On 22 June, Reserve Forces Day,  RAuxAF Trustees hosted a RAuxAF Memorial and Memorial Stones Dedication Service at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Queen’s Birthday Honours 2022

In this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list, Wing Commander Howard Leader RAuxAF and Squadron Leader Mike Cairns RAuxAF, both from 7644 (Public Relations) Squadron RAuxAF, were awarded the prestigious Queen’s Volunteer Reservist Medal.

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Foundation’s Chairman has sent, on behalf of Trustees, a message of Loyal Greetings to Her Majesty.

Commandant General Attends QVRM Dinner

The Commandant General of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Ranald Munro, was the principal guest at the annual Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM) Association Dinner held at the RAF Club on 25th March 2022.

RAuxAF Officer Receives Two Accolades in One Day

On 30th September, Flight Lieutenant Amy Casey, a serving RAuxAF officer on 7644 Public Relations Squadron, received well-deserved accolades at two separate events.

Tribute to Heroic Airman

In November, 2020, Wing Commander Stuart Talton, Deputy Inspector RAuxAF, read in his local Lincolnshire paper that Spalding Council intended to dedicate a Memorial to Plt Off George Furniss who, whilst manoeuvring his stricken Meteor away from the built-up area of Spalding, ejected at too low a level to save his own life.

Grandsons of Battle of Britain fighter ace visit his old Squadron

Giles and Tim Carbury never knew their grandfather, Brian Carbury DFC*, who died in 1961.

610 Sqn Plaque Dedication

At a moving service held in Chester Cathedral on Friday, 6 August, a beautiful bronze plaque was dedicated in memory of the 79 pilots and ground crew of 610 (County of Chester) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force who gave their lives during World War Two.

Obituary – Sir Michael Oswald GCVO

A Memorial Service for Sir Michael was held at St Clement Danes Church on 25th April 2022.

HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

The RAuxAF Foundation Trustees were greatly saddened to receive the news that HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh had died at Windsor Castle on 9th April.

New Trustee

The Foundation Trustees are delighted to welcome Warrant Officer Shobha Earl as a new Trustee.

Air Vice-Marshal BH (Barry) Newton

It was with great sadness that we received the news that Air Vice-Marshal BH (Barry) Newton had passed away at [...]

The Kipper Patrol

During the war, 608 (North Riding) Squadron was part of Coastal Command flying principally Ansons, Hudsons and latterly Mosquitos. A […]

Moving Video

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of VE Day on 8th May 2020, Warrant Officer John Webster, a serving [...]

Flight Lieutenant Terry Clark DFM AE

On 7 May 2020, Flight Lieutenant Terry Clark DFM AE passed away at the age of 101. He was a [...]

Group Captain ‘Robbie’ Robins

It was with great regret that the Foundation learned that Group Captain ‘Robbie’ Robins, a father-figure of the Royal Auxiliary […]

Wing Commander Donald Perrens

A former wartime Spitfire pilot in the Royal Air Force and, after the war, as a member of the Royal [...]

Wing Commander Paul Farnes

Wing Commander Paul Farnes,  a member of 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron and the last surviving ‘Ace’ of  the Battle […]

Ely Cathedral Parade

The Standard of 2623 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment was paraded into Ely Cathedral on 16 January 2020 for […]

RAuxAF Annual Trophy Awards– 2019

The Robins Efficiency Trophy: Awarded Annually to the RAuxAF unit adjudged to have done the most to improve the good name [...]

Squadron Leader Bill Brodie

Squadron Leader Bill Brodie, a  pilot who began his Service career with 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron in March 1934, [...]

Ceremony Marks 95 Years of RAuxAF

RESERVISTS gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark 95 years since the founding of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. [...]

New Commandant-General

AVM RIT Munro was appointed as the new Commandant-General of the RAuxAF on 23 Sep 19.

Freedom of the City of Edinburgh

On Tuesday, 3 July 2018, 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAuxAF received the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh The [...]

The Dowding Service

On  3rd September, 2017, many gathered once again to pay tribute to Marshal of the Royal Air Force, the Lord Hugh […]

Death of Joe Parker – 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron

The Foundation was represented today by Group Captain Bob Kemp at the funeral of Joe Parker, 602 (City of Glasgow) […]

Funeral of Sqn Ldr Nigel Rose 602 Squadron

The funeral of Sqn Ldr Nigel Rose took place yesterday at St Eigon's Church in Llanigon, nestling in the beautiful [...]

Petition for Long Service Medal

The RN/Army/RAF Long Service & Good Conduct Medal is now being awarded to officers after 15 years’ service (with clasps […]

Group Captain Peter Harris CBE AE BSc CEng FIEE

6 September 1929 -16 January 2017 A chartered engineer who successfully combined a career in industry with being a part-time [...]

SAC SueSoutar

SAC Susan Soutar, a reservist with No 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force was killed on Saturday [...]