UK NEWS

VIDEO: RAF 90TH ANNIVERSARY

The Red Arrows over London today

Tuesday April 1,2008

By Julia White for express.co.uk

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THE Royal Air Force celebrated its 90th anniversary today with a fly-past of Red Arrows and Typhoons.

The event involved a Red Arrows flight in formation with four Typhoon aircraft along the River Thames to the London Eye to mark the actual birthday.

The flypast started south of London City Airport, passing the O2, Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge and Tate Modern before flying over the London Eye.

The RAF Museum will later host a banquet in London for the Duke of Edinburgh and Air Force chiefs, with a fly-past of nine Eurofighters and a Spitfire as well as a marching display by the Queen’s Colour Squadron and the Central Band of the RAF.

***** EXPRESS VIDEO: RAF VETERANS LOOK BACK AT THEIR TIME IN THE RAF *****

A spokeswoman said “low-key” celebrations would be held in Afghanistan and Iraq, including a sunset ceremony, to mark the date.

A number of books have also been written to mark the anniversary including RAF Day By Day, Fighting Force and Britain’s Aviation Heritage.

The RAF was created when the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) merged on April 1, 1918.

That day marked the creation of a third force as the RFC had belonged to the Army and the RNAS was under Naval control.

The start of the Royal Air Force’s 90th anniversary celebrations was marked yesterday as a Chinook helicopter delivered badges to 25 veterans.

The servicemen, who between them flew in all major conflicts since the Second World War, were given their badges by Veterans Minister Derek Twigg.

Prince William will be presented with his RAF pilot’s “wings” by his father, the Prince of Wales, at a graduation ceremony later this month.

The young royal is coming to the end of a four-month attachment with the RAF which has taught him about the service’s ethos, traditions and military role as he prepares to, one day, head the Armed Forces.

Charles will present his son and more than 20 other RAF personnel with their wings at a ceremony on Friday April 11 at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.

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RED ARROWS

01.04.08, 3:56pm

the olympic committee should be hanging their head in shame now because they refuse to allow the red arrows to fly at the opening ceremony WHAT better representation could y ou have than a wonderful display like this . come on seb coe - be proud to be british. You will not get my support financial or otherwise until you allow this -- actually you should be down on your knees begging them to do this. They are honoured in every country but their own.

• Posted by: SRM • Report Comment