When one reflects that the Royal Air Force dates from 1918, it is a little surprising that it was almost seventy years before a society devoted to examining the history of the Service emerged. That is not to say, of course, that the RAF's history was being neglected. The official record was, and is, ably chronicled by the staff of the Air Historical Branch (AHB) and their efforts are amplified by painstakingly detailed research into practically every aspect of the RAF's composition, operations and equipment published by a variety of enthusiasts' organisations, not to mention the constant flow of books dedicated to particular aeroplane types, the histories of specific units, the careers of individuals and so on.

Nevertheless, while there was clearly no shortage of information, there was no public institution that was specifically dedicated to studying the history of the Service or which provided a forum at which it could be discussed. It is this gap that the Royal Air Force Historical Society (RAFHS) attempts to fill. It was established in 1986, the result of the labours of a small committee led by Air Mshl Sir Freddie Sowrey, and its inaugural event, a lecture by Prof R V Jones, was held in October of that year.

The Society has charitable status and, although it is entirely self-financing, it has, from the outset, had the blessing of the Air Force Board.

The society's activities have not changed greatly since its inception, although their style has perhaps become more firmly established. The society tends to focus, although not exclusively, on the post-war era with a cut-off at about 1990. It holds three events each year, two seminars, usually held at the RAF Museum at Hendon (although the society has occasionally played away in jointly-sponsored events at the RAF Staff College, at HQ RAF Support Command, at Newcastle University and with Rolls-Royce at Bristol) and an AGM held in London. Each seminar (which involves an attendance fee to cover the cost of catering) explores a specific theme and takes the form of papers read by interested parties, ranging from academic historians to veterans recalling their personal involvement. Provision for discussion is made via question and answer sessions and the entire proceedings are eventually published. The society thus produces three (A5) publications per year, the third reproducing the address by the guest speaker at the AGM plus a random selection of assorted papers culled from a variety of sources. Most publications are softbacks but a few are casebound - and for an annual subscription of only £18, these represent excellent value for money.

In pursuit of the Society's primary charitable aim, which is ‘to advance the education of the public . . . in the history of the Royal Air Force', the Society's back-catalogue of publications are eventually made available on-line courtesy of the RAF Museum website.

Some idea of the breadth of topics that have been addressed in the past can be gained from the following examples:

• the Strategic Bomber Offensive of WW II;
• the TSR2 project;
• the Suez campaign;
• Confrontation with Indonesia;
• the development of air transport in the RAF;
• the helicopter in the RAF;
• Reserve and Auxiliary Forces;
• the Battle of Britain;
• the evolution of Air Navigation;
• the air war in the Far East;
• the withdrawal from Aden;
• electronic warfare;
• the background to the Tornado project;
• the RAF's involvement with nuclear weapons;
• the history of the supply organisation;
• the Falklands campaign.

It is some indication of the calibre of speakers that the society can attract that participants in the last of these events included two former and the, then, current Chiefs of the Air Staff. Similarly eminent speakers at recent AGMs have included Lord Healey, Sir Michael Quinlan, Dr Alfred Price, Air Cdre Henry Probert (a former Head of the AHB) and Prof Peter Hennessey.

NEXT EVENT

The Society's next event is its AGM which will be held at the RAF Club (128 Piccadilly, London, W1V 0PY) at 1800hrs on Wednesday, 20th June 2012. Our guest speaker will be Prof Richard Overy of Exeter University, whose address will deal with an aspect of the Bomber Offensive in WW II.

As in the past, there will be an opportunity for a pre-meeting drink, and this year the meeting will be preceded, from 1630hrs, by the launch, in the President's Roon, of Air Cdre Graham Pitchfork's biography of the Sowrey family, which all members are also invited to attend.

JOIN NOW

Membership is open to anyone with an interest in RAF history, irrespective of whether they have ever had any direct connection with the Service. Just download the application form, complete Part A (and, ideally Parts B and C, because the first considerably eases our administrative workload and the second represents a substantial increase in our income - at no cost to the individual) and send it, along with your cheque for £18, to

the Membership Secretary
Silverhill House,
Coombe,
Wotton-under-Edge,
GL12 7ND.

Alternatively, you can write to the Membership Secretary who will send you the necessary form.