Each year, to mark the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918, a service is held at St Clement Danes Church in London, with each service focusing on a theme from the history of the RAF.
2024 sees the 100th anniversary of the stand-up of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, resulting from Lord Trenchard’s vision of civilians serving their country by joining flying squadrons in their spare time.
RAF Volunteers have been an important part of the delivery of air power by the RAF ever since then, and today’s RAF Reserves provide exquisite and niche skills in diverse areas such as medicine, media, cyber and even space by bringing their expertise from civilian life to the RAF.
This year’s Founders' Day service, in recognising the unique contribution made by the RAuxAF over the last 100 years, paid tribute to the more than 41,000 RAF Volunteer Reserves who have lost their lives on active service in support of RAF operations.
The service was attended by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Ranald Munro Commandant General of the RAuxAF, and other members of the RAF Senior Leadership Team along with representatives of all ranks from across the RAuxAF squadrons.
Music was performed by the Band of the RAF Regiment conducted by Wing Commander Murray, Principal Director of Music (RAF), and the choir of St Clement Danes led by the assistant Director of Music Mr Newsome-Hubbard.
