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The
Oldest Independent Air Force in the World |
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The
RAF___________________________________ |
| The Royal Air Force (RAF)
is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest
independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April
1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British
military history ever since, playing a large part in
World War II and in more recent conflicts. |
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| The RAF
operates almost 1,109 aircraft and, as of 31 March 2009,
had a total man power strength of 46,000 regular and
part time personnel making it the largest air force in
the European Union. The majority of the RAF's aircraft
and personnel are based in the UK with many others
serving on operations (principally Afghanistan, the
Middle East and the Balkans) or at long-established
overseas bases (Ascension Island, Canada, Cyprus, Diego
Garcia, Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands and Germany). |
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"Through
Adversity to the Stars" |
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Mission_________________________________________________________________________________ |
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The RAF's mission
is to support the objectives of the British Ministry of
Defence (MoD), which are to "provide the capabilities
needed: to ensure the security and defence of the United
Kingdom and overseas territories, including against
terrorism; to support the Government’s foreign policy
objectives particularly in promoting international peace
and security." |
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The RAF's own
mission statement reads as thus, to provide "An
agile, adaptable and capable Air Force
that, person for person, is second to none, and that
makes a decisive air power contribution in support of
the UK Defence Mission." |
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