Today marks the 30th anniversary of the first British air strikes carried out by RAF Tornados against the Iraqi Air Force as part of the US led Multi-national Coalition’s actions to liberate Kuwait following the Iraqi invasion on 2nd August 1990.

The conflict saw the largest use of British troops in a single deployment since World War 2.

Early on the 17th January 1991, RAF Tornados with Air-to-Air refuelling support, carried out the first British air strikes on Iraqi air bases, Bunkers and Ground to Air Defences.

#OpGranby #OpDesertStorm #DesertStorm30

Read more: https://bit.ly/2LRbcRl

United, we will support the most vulnerable in our RAF community.
We are living in unprecedented times – globally, as a nation, and for every one of us as we deal with the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in our own lives.
As a charity, we are facing a £10 million impact on our finances this year. But at the same time, we are acutely conscious that many RAF veterans and their loved ones are particularly vulnerable during these difficult times.
Members of our RAF community are struggling and we cannot stand by.
We are working tirelessly to mobilise volunteers to deliver four emergency projects to combat the issues we are finding daily.
Our new Operation CONNECT unites the following:

• Project OUTREACH – A telephone outreach service – contacting vulnerable individuals by telephone to check on their welfare, offer them ongoing telephone friendship from a regular volunteer and alert them to other support services
• Project HELPLINE – A friendship helpline (0800 018 2361) – for anyone in our RAF community to call if they are feeling isolated, are in need of more specific support or simply want a chat with someone friendly who understands.
• Project BAG DROP – A bag drop service providing vital provisions to the doorsteps of the most vulnerable members of our RAF community when their need is critical and desperate.
• Project ENTERTAIN – A daily online entertainment programme giving much-needed routine and happiness for anyone who is isolated.

Our new projects are up and running and we are seeing an increasing level of demand every day. We are finding truly desperate levels of isolation, loneliness and need.
More and more people need our support as the impact of the COVID-19 crisis grows.

Reposted from Steve Brew’s ‘The Pilots of 41 Squadron RAF, 1916-1946 (Link)

Ladies and gents, it is with great sadness that I advise that one of our remaining WWII veterans, Gp Capt Derek S. V. Rake OBE AFC and Bar passed away this morning, aged 98.
Derek led a fascinating RAF career, which spanned from 1941 to 1976. Shot down and wounded over Yugoslavia in 1944, he was found by partisans, who tended his wounds and returned him to Allied lines.
He was repatriated to the UK and from there was posted to 41 Squadron on the Continent in March 1945. Derek then advanced with 41 Sqn into Germany, and ultimately claimed 41 Squadron's 200th and last victory of the war.
He remained in the RAF, subsequently serving in India and Burma, and was then sent to Hong Kong, where he formed the Royal Hong Kong Air Force. When Derek returned home, he retrained on jet aircraft and was ultimately employed throughout the cold war in ELINT and reconnaissance both with the Air Ministry and in the air, undertaking a significant number of secret ops over the former Eastern Bloc, flying Canberras as a Flight Commander with 88 (Night Intruder) Sqn and as OC, 192 (ELINT) Sqn, for which he was awarded an AFC.
Derek was born in Alderholt, Dorset, 26 May 1922, and was educated in Wimbourne Grammar, Dorset, and Southampton University College. He joined Southampton University Air Squadron and enlisted in the RAFVR in April 1941. Commissioned in June 1942, he was posted to 32 Sqn in August 1942 and to 41 Sqn in March 1945. He retired as Group Captain on 26 March 1976.
Derek provided me a significant amount of first hand material and photographs for "Blood, Sweat and Valour", and gave a truly memorable talk in a mock interview he and I held between courses at a 41 Squadron’ 95th Anniversary dining in night at RAF Coningsby, for 41 Squadron's in 2011. He had the room spellbound and you could have heard a pin drop.
He was a lovely and a good friend, and Jacqui and I have had the pleasure of knowing him personally.
May he rest in peace.
Steve

Men and Woman of the Royal Air Force have been recognised for their public service in the Armed Forces Operational Honours List, November 2020.

Full list: https://bit.ly/OpHonsNov2020

This Remembrance Sunday will be different.You may be joining the nation at 1100 from your living room or your doorstep, but there will be a number of ways to join together online:

BBC Radio 4 Nov 8th 08:10: Hear moving stories and thoughts from personnel within the Royal Air Force in a special Remembrance Sunday service from RAF College Cranwell.

YouTube Nov 8th 1030: Remember the Fallen; those who paid the ultimate price from St Clement Danes Church: YouTube

BBC One Nov 8th 1015: The Government led Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph will continue to go ahead as a closed ceremony. It will be broacast live on as representatives of the Royal Family, the Government and the Armed Forces lay wreaths at the Cenotaph. You will also be able to watch a live stream of events from the Cenotaph on the RBL Facebook page.