RAF
United Kingdom fliers
The RAF is the Royal Air Force, the aerial warfare branch of the British Armed Forces, established in 1918 as the world's first independent air force.
The RAF played a crucial role in the Battle of Britain during World War II: RAF pilots defended against the German Luftwaffe.
The abbreviation appears in compounds like RAF base and RAF veteran. (Capitalized Raf is a given name.)
1940 aerial campaign over England
- SpitfireLegendary British interceptor
- LancasterEnglish dynasty, fifteenth century
- ChurchillManitoba's northern port
- Red ArrowsBritain's military aerobatic team
Blitz · Commonwealth · Empire · roundel
One who pilots aircraft
- aircrewAircraft operating personnel
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- navigatorRoute-directing crew member
- gunnerOne who fires artillery
ground crew · technician · engineer · armourer · rigger · fitter · mechanic · controller
Legendary British interceptor
- LancasterEnglish dynasty, fifteenth century
- HerculesLegendary Greek strongman
- VoyagerNASA interstellar mission name
- WellingtonSouthernmost national capital globally
Blenheim · Nimrod · Harrier · Vulcan · Victor · Canberra · Dakota · Poseidon
Armed raid outward
- missionPurpose-driven task
- scrambleMix into disorder
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- patrolRegular surveillance route
reconnaissance · bombing · air strike · deployment · operation · engagement · briefing · debriefing
Radio-wave object detection
- interceptorAircraft that intercepts threats
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
- airbaseMilitary aviation facility
- antiaircraftGround-to-sky weaponry
flak · bunker · fortification · camouflage · air defense · early warning · blitz
Pilot's control compartment
- runwayPaved path for planes
- hangarAircraft storage structure
- airspaceRegulated overhead flight zone
- navigationDetermining position and course
altimeter · turbulence · aerobatics · takeoff · landing · airspeed · altitude · throttle
Formally assigned a task
Battle of Britain
1940 aerial campaign over England
- SpitfireLegendary British interceptor
- LancasterEnglish dynasty, fifteenth century
- ChurchillManitoba's northern port
Red Arrows · Blitz · Commonwealth · Empire · roundel
airman
One who pilots aircraft
gunner · ground crew · technician · engineer · armourer · rigger · fitter · mechanic · controller · intelligence officer
Spitfire
Legendary British interceptor
- LancasterEnglish dynasty, fifteenth century
- HerculesLegendary Greek strongman
- VoyagerNASA interstellar mission name
Wellington · Blenheim · Nimrod · Harrier · Vulcan · Victor · Canberra · Dakota · Poseidon · drone
sortie
Armed raid outward
- missionPurpose-driven task
- scrambleMix into disorder
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
patrol · reconnaissance · bombing · air strike · deployment · operation · engagement · briefing · debriefing · tactical
radar
Radio-wave object detection
- interceptorAircraft that intercepts threats
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
- airbaseMilitary aviation facility
antiaircraft · flak · bunker · fortification · camouflage · air defense · early warning · blitz
cockpit
Pilot's control compartment
navigation · altimeter · turbulence · aerobatics · takeoff · landing · airspeed · altitude · throttle · fuselage
commissioned
Formally assigned a task
- RAFSpitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster, Battle of Britain, squadron
- Air Forceflying officer, squadron leader, wing commander, group captain, air marshal
- air forces by regionUS Air Force, Luftwaffe
- British AviationSpitfire, Hurricane, Harrier, Lancaster, Typhoon
- European MilitaryBritish Army, French Army, German Army, Bundeswehr, German Navy
- WWII ForcesWehrmacht, Red Army, British Army, US Navy, US Marines
Non-military aircraft operations