PART 1

LEARNING
OUTCOMES
LO1: Know about the history and organisation of the Royal Air Force.

• Identify key developments in the history of the RAF.

2
 BEFORE THE ROYAL AIR Resource Book

FORCE Page 38

• The Royal Balloon School was the first “air force”.

• Formation of the Royal Flying Corps on 13 Mar 1912.

• Navy Wing splits to form Royal Navy Air Service in July 1914.

3
 Resource Book
THE FORMATION OF THE RAF Page 38

• Formed on 1st of April 1918 and Lord Trenchard is appointed Chief of

Air Staff.

• The RAF gets a new crest.

• The motto “Per Ardua ad Astra” means “Through Adversity to the

Stars”.

4
 THE DECLARATION OF WORLD WAR II

• The declaration of War in 1939 by Neville Chamberlain.

Hover over the picture and

press play to listen to part of
the radio broadcast given on the
declaration of war on the 3 Sep
1939

• World War II lasted until

1945.

5
 THE BATTLE OF Resource Book

BRITAIN Page 38

• The RAF defeats the Luftwaffe

in the Battle of Britain.

• The RAF lowers German moral

and disrupts manufacture with a
massive bombing campaign over
Germany.

6
 THE BATTLE OF Resource Book

BRITAIN Page 38

7
 THE COLD Resource Book

WAR Page 39

• Began in 1947 – ended in 1991.

Not really a war.

• Between The USA and it’s allies

(including Britain) and the
USSR (Russia) and it’s allies.

• A fear that one country might

invade and take over the other.
Between communism (Russia)
and capitalism (The USA).

8
 THE COLD Resource Book

WAR Page 39

9
 Resource Book
THE COLD WAR ARMS RACE Page 39

• The cold war created an arms race between the Allies and Russia.

• The Canberra aircraft, V-force aircraft and Thor missiles were all put in
place during the Cold War.

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 DURING THE COLD Resource Book

WAR Page 39

• The RAF became a largely standoff defence force as the country waited
for war to come.

• The V-Force were on constant standby, able to get airborne in 2 and a

half minutes 24 hours a day.

• Constant threat of nuclear attack.

11
 EXPEDITIONARY AIR Resource Book

FORCE Page 39

• The Falklands War in 1982 signalled

the return to an Expeditionary Air
Force.

• The RAF undertook key roles in the

Gulf.

• The RAF helped Peacekeeping in

Kosovo and Bosnia.

12
 THE RAF Resource Book

TODAY Page 39

• The RAF has around 35,000 personnel.

• Women now undertake front line jobs in the RAF.

• Increasing reliance on the RAF reserve forces.

13
 ANY QUESTIONS?

• Are there any final questions?

14
?
 LEARNING
OUTCOMES
LO1: Know about the history and organisation of the Royal Air Force.

• Identify key developments in the history of the RAF.

15
 QUESTION 1

Who is said to be the father of the RAF?

a. Adolf Hitler

b. Winston Churchill

c. JA Chamier

d. Lord Trenchard

16
 QUESTION 1

Who is said to be the father of the RAF?

a. Adolf Hitler

b. Winston Churchill

c. JA Chamier

d. Lord Trenchard

17
 QUESTION 2

The name of the organisation from which the RAF developed was?

a. Royal Naval Flying Corps (RNFC)

b. Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS)

c. Royal Flying Corps

d. Naval Flying Corps

18
 QUESTION 2

The name of the organisation from which the RAF developed was?

a. Royal Naval Flying Corps (RNFC)

b. Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS)

c. Royal Flying Corps

d. Naval Flying Corps

19
 QUESTION 3

When did the Cold War begin and end?

a. 1939 - 1945

b. 1947 - 1991

c. 1939 - 1980

d. 1918 - 1991

20
 QUESTION 3

When did the Cold War begin and end?

a. 1939 - 1945

b. 1947 - 1991

c. 1939 - 1980

d. 1918 - 1991

21
 QUESTION 4

Which aircraft was the first RAF jet engine bomber?

a. Canberra

b. Wellington

c. Meteor

d. Vulcan

22
 QUESTION 4

Which aircraft was the first RAF jet engine bomber?

a. Canberra

b. Wellington

c. Meteor

d. Vulcan

23
 LEARNING
OUTCOMES
LO1: Know about the history and organisation of the Royal Air Force.

• Outline the basic organisational structure of the RAF.

24
 STRUCTURE OF THE Resource Book

RAF Page 41

Defence Council

Air Force Board

RAF Air Command

1 Group 2 Group 22 Group 38 Group

RAF Air Cadets

25
 No. 1 GROUP– AIR Resource Book

COMBAT Page 40

• Units which come under 1 Group:

• Fast Jet Squadrons.
• The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

26
 Resource Book
No. 2 GROUP – AIR COMBAT SUPPORT Page 40

• Units Which come under 2 Group:

• Force Protection which includes:
• RAF Regiment
• RAF Police
• Tactical Transport and Refuelling
• Combat Intelligence, Surveillance,
Target Acquisition & Reconnaissance
(CISTAR)

27
 Resource Book
No. 22 GROUP – TRAINING Page 40

• Responsible for all Training including:

• RAF College Cranwell
• DSAE Cosford
• The Air Cadets
• Flying Training

28
 Resource Book
No. 38 GROUP – ENGINEERING, LOGISTICS, Page 40
COMMUNICATION AND MEDICAL

• Reformed in 2014

• Brings together the Royal Air Force units:

• Engineering
• Logistics
• Communications
• Medical Operations

29
 EXPEDITIONARY AIR WINGS
(EAWs)
• Expeditionary Air Wings are formed when needed and report directly to
Air Command.

30
 WORKING WITH
OTHERS
• Joint Service Organisations help the RAF work efficiently with its
fellow services.

31
 ANY QUESTIONS?

• Are there any final questions?

32
?
 LEARNING
OUTCOMES
LO1: Know about the history and organisation of the Royal Air Force.

• Outline the basic organisational structure of the RAF.

33
 QUESTION 1

What is the role of 1 Group?

a. Engineering, Logistics, Communications and Medical.

b. Air Combat

c. Training

d. Air Combat Support

34
 QUESTION 1

What is the role of 1 Group?

a. Engineering, Logistics, Communications and Medical.

b. Air Combat

c. Training

d. Air Combat Support

35
 QUESTION 2

What is the role of 2 Group?

a. Engineering, Logistics, Communications and Medical.

b. Air Combat

c. Training

d. Air Combat Support

36
 QUESTION 2

What is the role of 2 Group?

a. Engineering, Logistics, Communications and Medical.

b. Air Combat

c. Training

d. Air Combat Support

37
 QUESTION 3

What is the role of 22 Group?

a. Engineering, Logistics, Communications and Medical.

b. Air Combat

c. Training

d. Air Combat Support

38
 QUESTION 3

What is the role of 22 Group?

a. Engineering, Logistics, Communications and Medical.

b. Air Combat

c. Training

d. Air Combat Support

39
 QUESTION 4

What is the role of 38 Group?

a. Engineering, Logistics, Communications and Medical.

b. Air Combat

c. Training

d. Air Combat Support

40
 QUESTION 4

What is the role of 38 Group?

a. Engineering, Logistics, Communications and Medical.

b. Air Combat

c. Training

d. Air Combat Support

41
 INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

• This presentation is provided free of charge with the 1st class cadet training system
with no warranty or support.
• Every effort has been made to ensure the information is correct, but the author
accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions.
• Official information on Ultilearn or Bader SharePoint should be checked before
using these presentations.
• These presentations may be distributed to other Air Cadet squadrons free of charge,
but do not place them on the internet.
• For best results, use with the 1st class resource book and 1st class instructor
handbook, available from cadetdirect.com.

Version 19/04

42