Royal Auxiliary Air Force
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| Royal Auxiliary Air Force | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Unit name | Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Native name | RAuxAF |
| Caption | Ensign of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force |
| Dates | 1924–present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | Monarch of the United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Reserve |
| Role | Support and augmentation of RAF operations |
| Garrison | RAF Cranwell |
| Motto | Si vis pacem parapacem |
| Notable commanders | Sir Hugh Dowding; Sir John Salmond |
Royal Auxiliary Air Force is the volunteer reserve element of the Royal Air Force formed in 1924 to provide auxiliary flying, ground and support capability. It has served in peacetime and wartime, augmenting regular forces during the Second World War, Cold War, Falklands War and recent operations such as Operation TELIC and Operation HERRICK. The organisation comprises squadrons and wings distributed across the United Kingdom and maintains links with civil aviation, industry and community institutions including universities and professional bodies.
History
The RAuxAF was established under the Auxiliary Air Force Act 1924 to create a volunteer air arm alongside the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; early units mirrored squadrons of the Royal Air Force and recruited from civic and industrial communities such as Greater London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. During the Second World War RAuxAF pilots and groundcrew served in campaigns including the Battle of Britain, North African campaign, Italian campaign and the Burma Campaign; notable personnel served alongside figures associated with the RAF Fighter Command and the Bomber Command leadership. Post-war reconstitution saw the RAuxAF adapt to Cold War demands, integrating with NATO structures such as the British Army of the Rhine and contributing to air defence alongside Royal Observer Corps units. In the late 20th century the RAuxAF provided elements for the Falklands War and supported Operation GRANBY; 21st-century restructuring aligned it with expeditionary operations exemplified by deployments to support Operation TELIC and Operation HERRICK. Recent reforms modernised roles to reflect capabilities required by the Integrated Review (2021) and broader Ministry of Defence reserve integration policies.
Organisation and units
The RAuxAF is organised into specialist squadrons and wings co-located with RAF stations and civilian centres. Squadrons include flying, logistics, medical, intelligence, catering, operations support and Force Protection elements drawn from communities including London, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle upon Tyne and Cardiff. Wings provide command oversight and linkages with regular RAF groups such as No. 22 Group RAF and No. 2 Group RAF for training, readiness and mobilisation. Units maintain connections with professional institutions such as the Royal College of Nursing, Institute of Civil Engineers and Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport for specialist recruitment. The RAuxAF also fields University Air Squadrons that liaise with universities such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh and King's College London to foster officer pipelines.
Roles and responsibilities
RAuxAF squadrons undertake roles spanning personnel recovery, specialist logistics, intelligence, cyber, medical support, communications and force protection. They augment RAF capability in areas including air mobility with links to units operating types like the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Airbus A400M Atlas, maritime patrol coordination in conjunction with RAF Marham and RAF Lossiemouth, and air defence integration with systems and commands tied to Air Command (Royal Air Force). Personnel provide specialist services to operations, exercises with allies such as NATO partners, and surge capacity for homeland resilience cooperation with agencies including Ministry of Defence Police and devolved administrations. The RAuxAF also contributes to ceremonial duties associated with the State Opening of Parliament and public events alongside units such as the Royal Air Force Regiment.
Recruitment, training and resettlement
Recruitment targets professionals, students and reservists from sectors including aviation, engineering, medicine, logistics and cyber security across regions such as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Initial selection aligns with standards set by Royal Air Force recruitment processes and medical criteria derived from historical precedents such as wartime selection boards linked to figures like Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding. Training pathways include elementary flying instruction with links to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment curriculum, trade-specific courses at establishments such as RAF College Cranwell and continuative exercises with regular RAF units and multinational partners like Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force. Resettlement and career transition support engages organisations such as the Career Transition Partnership and professional accreditation bodies including Engineering Council and General Medical Council to assist movement between military and civilian careers.
Equipment and aircraft
Historically the RAuxAF flew types ranging from interwar biplanes such as the Hawker Hart to frontline fighters in the Second World War including the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane. Post-war, auxiliary aviation incorporated transport and training types tied to Vickers Varsity, Handley Page Hastings and later support with rotary platforms like the Westland Wessex. Modern RAuxAF units do not operate a fixed fleet independent of the RAF but provide trained personnel to regular squadrons flying Eurofighter Typhoon, A400M Atlas, C-130 Hercules and rotary types such as the Boeing Chinook. Equipment for support roles includes logistics vehicles aligned with British Army standards, medical kits compatible with NATO protocols and communications systems interoperable with Defence Equipment and Support procurement standards.
Honours and traditions
The RAuxAF retains regimental and squadron colours, battle honours earned during campaigns including the Battle of Britain and decorations awarded to members such as the Victoria Cross winners who served in auxiliary units during major conflicts. Ceremonial traditions include affiliation with civic dignitaries, Freedom of the City conferrals in municipalities like London and Leeds, and annual commemorations at memorials including the RAF Memorial and National Memorial Arboretum. Honorary appointments and awards involve ties to institutions such as the Order of the British Empire and service medals administered under the Armed Forces Act 2006 framework; the RAuxAF also celebrates anniversaries linked to founding dates and historic engagements through events hosted at bases including RAF Cranwell.