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Britsh Royal Airforce formed (RAF)
The British Royal Airforce is formed, marking it as the oldest independent airforce. -
Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm formed (FAA)
The FAA is formed as a branch of the RAF, responsible for the naval aircraft. -
The Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire entered into the service. Designed by R. J. Mitchell, this single-manned fighter was used in a multitude of ways, but was most well-known as the staple fighter and intercepter of the RAF. -
The Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane enters service. Designed first by Sydney Camm, the Hurricane was a slightly heavier and slower than it's predesecors. Although easily overshadowed by the Supermarine Spitfire, it was a backbone of the RAF and could take damage and abuse and still return home. -
Inskip Award
The Fleet Air Arm was was returned to Admiralty control under the “Inskip Award" and renamed the Air Branch of the Royal Navy. -
The Battle Of Britain
During the Battle of Britain, in the summer of 1940 during WWII, the RAF fought against the German Luftwaffe by defending the skies over Britain. -
Small Force
By 1940, the RAF had accumulated about 1,070 functioning aircraft, compared to the Germans' 5,000+. -
The AS.58 Horsa Mk. II
The AS.58 Horsa Mk. II made it's first flight. It was named after Horsa, the legendary 5th century conqueror of southern Britain and was the main trasport aircraft. -
The Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster bacame the main heavy bomber. It was a four-engined aircraft designed and built by Avro for the RAF. This bomber dropped roughly 608,612 tons of various types of bombs during 1942-1945. -
Period: to
The Use of the Lancaster
Between 1942 and 1945, Avro Lancasters dropped a total of 609,000 tons of bombs. -
The Horsa in Combat
The Horsa was first used in combat on July 10, 1943 when 27 of them were used in the invasion of Sicily. -
14,000 Hurricanes
By this time, over 14,000 Hawker Hurricanes had been built, as Britian had started to produce many more aircraft. -
Pegasus Bridge
The ACC’s most successful mission during the war was the attack on Pegasus Bridge on June 6, 1944 prior to the landings on Normandy. -
Spitfire Leaves Service
It was only in the 1950's that the Spitfire left the service as a trainer and a fighter. -
Today's RAF
Today, the RAF is still functioning and operates upwards of 1,000 planes.
