Ceremonial events are an integral part of life in the RAF, and our personnel consider it a privilege to take part in them. Not only are they important events, they’re also a source of tremendous national pride.

On these special days, we can show the world who we are and what we do, highlighting our various contributions to the defence of the UK and to life in general.

Both aircrew and ground crew participate in ceremonial days – usually in addition to their regular duties. As well as being very enjoyable, they’re an opportunity for those involved to feel the respect of the public at first hand.

A Royal day out

As you’d expect, some of the most important ceremonial duties we perform are connected to the Royal Family:

Queen's Colour Flypast and Parade 2008

• On 11 July 2008 , the RAF marked its 90th anniversary in style with the biggest ever parade for the presentation of a newQueen’s Colour to the RAF Regiment.
  
• Months of dedicated preparation and weeks of drill practice for around 800 personnel fell into place for the presentation made by the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, during a visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
  
• Over 60 squadrons displayed their standards. RAF personnel welcomed the Queen in the presence of 5,000 invited guests, including proud families, serving members of the RAF and its various associations and charities.

63 Squadron

Day-to-day role – RAF Regiment Field Squadron
In its non-ceremonial role, this squadron’s main operational purpose is defending airfields. The squadron has completed missions in Iraq and it also operated under the United Nations flag in the former Yugoslavia.

Ceremonial roles
Drill displays: 63 Squadron personnel are best known for their superb ‘continuity’ drill displays, made in total synchronisation without a single spoken word of command. Participants memorise up to 400 separate drill movements and the resulting displays delight and amaze audiences everywhere.

Escorting the Queen’s Colour
The squadron is responsible for guarding and escorting the Queen’s Colour, which is blue and has the Union flag in the top left-hand corner. The RAF’s Roundel is in the bottom right with the Royal Cypher in the middle.

Changing of the Guard
Occasionally, the squadron carries out the world-famous Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace. It has also carried out the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London.

Remembering

Some of the ceremonial events we take part in recall sombre or historic events. Notable among these is Remembrance Day.

Remembrance Day takes place in November each year – at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. This time marks the end of World War One and commemorates those who sacrificed their lives in that war and in all the conflicts since. It is an opportunity for us to remember and respect them – and to show our gratitude.

Remembrance Day is observed by all RAF personnel wherever they are in the world.

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF)

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight refers to a collection of historic aircraft. These take part in displays, state occasions, fly-pasts and Second World War commemorative events up and down the country.

All 11 historic aircraft within the BBMF are of the type flown in World War Two – Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster and Dakota. One of the planes at BBMF, a Spitfire, is the very last aircraft from the Battle of Britain still flying.

Who’s behind the BBMF?

The aircrew on the flight are mostly fully trained RAF volunteers. The Commanding Officer is the only exception, working full-time for the BBMF.

There are 25 full-time personnel among the ground crew. They are responsible for the maintenance of all the historic planes – and that includes the increasingly tricky job of finding spare parts.