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| | [[Image:GASJV.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A restored RAF Supermarine Spitfire. This type of aircraft played a major role in World War II (photo copyright Ian Older -- Used with permission)]] | | [[Image:GASJV.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A restored RAF Supermarine Spitfire. This type of aircraft played a major role in World War II (photo copyright Ian Older -- Used with permission)]] |
| − | The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force of the United Kingdom and is the oldest air force in the world. Formed on the 1 April 1918 via a by a merger of its predicessor the RAC and the naval RNAS, the RAF has been a continuous force in the military history of the United Kingdom. <ref>http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/raftimeline19181929.cfm</ref>
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| − | The RAF is most famously known for its role in the defence of the [[British Isles]] during the [[Battle of Britain]], over the course of the summer of 1940. The battle was fought against the the German [[Luftwaffe]] and the Italian Regina Aeronautica and was successful in maintaining air superiority over British soil, preventing an the planned German invasion of Britain code named 'Seelowe' or Sealion.<ref>http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/F21D57C4_9913_5321_BB9830F0BB762B4E.pdf</ref> Commenting on the actons of the RAF during this period the Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] famously said:
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| − | :''"Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few"''<ref>http://century.guardian.co.uk/1940-1949/Story/0,,128255,00.html</ref>
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| − | The RAF continued to play a significant part throughout the remainder of the war, predominantly be waging a night-time bombing campaign against German cities.
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| − | The RAF currently operates 1,112 aircraft, making it the largest airforce in Europe, the second largest in NATO and the fifth largest overall. <ref>http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=48&thiscontent=160&date=2010-03-12&pubType=1&PublishTime=09:30:06&from=home&tabOption=1</ref>
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| − | <references/>
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| | ==see also== | | ==see also== |
