They were there for us in our darkest days. We must not fail them in theirs.

The Royal Air Forces Association provides life-changing help and support to serving RAF personnel, veterans and their families. Established in 1930 as the ‘Old Comrades of the Royal Air Force’ the charity became known as the RAF Association in 1943, at the height of the Second World War.

The RAF Association, its clubs and branches created an integral support network for those who served during the Battle of Britain, providing a place for people to find companionship and to maintain connections with those they had served alongside.

THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN 1940 (HU 54418) Pilots of 'B' Flight, No. 32 Squadron relax on the grass at Hawkinge in front of Hurricane Mk I P3522, GZ-V.

Sergeant Mortimer, Flight Officer Henderson and Sergeant Turner, who all received the Military Medal for gallantry after staying at their posts during a Luftwaffe attack on Biggin Hill, September 1940. ©IWM

During demobilisation, the RAF Association established legal departments and bought in specialists to provide employment advice. The charity also introduced a pensions department, aimed at supporting those who had been left with life-changing injuries, a service that is still offered by the Association today.

The RAF Association has incredibly strong ties to the Battle of Britain. Since 1940, the Association has not only played a vital role in supporting the Few and the Many who secured victory, it has worked to ensure their service and sacrifice is not forgotten and that their legacy is passed on from generation to generation through the Wings Appeal.

Did you know?

  • In 1949, 180 RAF Association and Royal Observer Corps members formed part of a parade that marched from Wellington Barracks to Westminster Abbey for a Service of Thanksgiving to commemorate the Battle of Britain. That service is still held annually today.
  • In the aftermath of the Battle of Britain and the Second World War, the RAF held “At Homes” events, which provided an opportunity for members of the public to visit and learn about the RAF’s operations and personnel. Money was raised at the events to help fund the RAF Association’s work supporting veterans and families of the battle. In 1948, over 600,000 people attended an “At Homes” raising £10,000 at the time for the RAF Association. By 1956 the number of attendees had risen to 1.3 million, raising over £27,000.
  • Throughout the 1940s, in the years following the Battle of Britain, RAF Association branches carried out fundraising activities during ‘Battle of Britain week’. Events ranged from whist drives (a sociable way of playing card games) to seven-day fairs catering for thousands of people.
  • In 1949 the RAF Association held its first festival at the Royal Albert Hall (then called the Albert Hall) to commemorate the Battle of Britain. 190 RAF Association standard bearers were in attendance. A second event was held in 1950 as part of the tenth anniversary commemorations.

Published in Air Mail in 1944, four years after the Battle of Britain.

The RAF Association Battle of Britain festival held at the Albert Hall in 1949. Over 150 Branch Standards were paraded at the festival that year.

In 1951, the RAF Association produced a Battle of Britain brochure to raise funds to support their vital work.

An old Wings Day advert from 1956

  • The first ever Wings Appeal was held in 1951 to raise money to support veterans, widows and dependants of those who had served during the Battle of Britain. The Wings Appeal began as a nation-wide Wings Day Appeal. Since then, it has gone on to raise over £180 million (allowing for inflation and valued at today’s rates).

  • In 1954, over 600 RAF Association branches took part in activities to mark the 14th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and raise money to support the charity’s work, a record number of branches at that time. That record was broken in 1956 when more than 780 branches held commemorative events.

  • In 1956, to support the 6th Wings Appeal, a promotional film was created that was shown at Gaumont-circuit cinemas across England. The film focused on the welfare services provided by the Association which, at the time, were centred around demobilisation services.

  • To mark the 17th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a new baptismal font was presented to the Battle of Britain Memorial Chapel at Biggin Hill. The font was presented by the then Association President, Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Lord Tedder. Children of past and present RAF personnel were regularly baptised in the Biggin Hill Chapel at the time. The font was seen as a way of further preserving the memory of the Battle of Britain from generation to generation.

Our support today

Our work today is as important as it has ever been. Over the last few years, the RAF Association has seen an increase in the number of working age veterans who require support, as well as a significant rise in the number of people who have numerous needs. There has also been a marked increase in the number of people from the RAF community who are struggling with their mental health. Last year, one in four of those who turned to the RAF Association needed mental health support. Four years ago, it was one in 10.

The Association exists to ensure that those who have given so much on our behalf can lead the dignified, fulfilled and independent lives they deserve.

From friendship calls for those who are lonely and isolated, to providing childcare for serving personnel, mental health resilience training and practical family support, the RAF Association is there for members of the RAF community when they need it most.