{"slug": "royal-air-force", "label": "Royal Air Force", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q165862", "qid": "Q165862", "description": "aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces", "entries": 28, "years": 21, "span": [1912, 2000], "span_label": ["1912 CE", "2000 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Disasters & Accidents", "count": 8}, {"title": "Technology & Infrastructure", "count": 7}, {"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 7}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 3}, {"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 2}, {"title": "Crime & Justice", "count": 1}], "also_known_as": ["British Air Force", "British Royal Air Force", "RAF"], "related": [{"slug": "united-kingdom", "label": "United Kingdom", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "london", "label": "London", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "cape-town", "label": "Cape Town", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "scotland", "label": "Scotland", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "republic-of-ireland", "label": "Republic of Ireland", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "atlantic-ocean", "label": "Atlantic Ocean", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "eamon-de-valera", "label": "Éamon de Valera", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "neutral-country", "label": "Neutral country", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "berlin", "label": "Berlin", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "lubeck", "label": "Lübeck", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": 1912, "year_label": "1912 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "May 13", "text": "May 13 – In the United Kingdom, the Royal Flying Corps (forerunner of the Royal Air Force) is established.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373503730#May", "title": "1912", "revid": 1373503730, "section": "Events › May"}}, {"year": 1914, "year_label": "1914 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "July 1", "text": "July 1 – The Royal Naval Air Service, a forerunner of the Royal Air Force, is established in the United Kingdom.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373518346#July", "title": "1914", "revid": 1373518346, "section": "Events › July"}}, {"year": 1918, "year_label": "1918 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "April 1", "text": "April 1 – The Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in Britain are merged to form the Royal Air Force, the first autonomous Air Force in the world.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373520023#April", "title": "1918", "revid": 1373520023, "section": "Events › April"}}, {"year": 1920, "year_label": "1920 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "February 1", "text": "February 1 – The South African Air Force (SAAF) is established, the second autonomous Air Force in the world, after the British Royal Air Force (RAF).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369258210#February", "title": "1920", "revid": 1369258210, "section": "Events › February"}}, {"year": 1920, "year_label": "1920 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "February 1", "text": "February 1 – The South African Air Force (SAAF) is established, the second autonomous Air Force in the world after the Royal Air Force (RAF).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1269184964", "title": "1920 in South Africa", "revid": 1269184964, "section": "Events › February"}}, {"year": 1924, "year_label": "1924 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Undated – Urney Chocolates moved to the disused World War I era RAF airfield of Tallaght Aerodrome, County Dublin. The site had been handed over to the Irish Air Service in May 1922.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369222594#Events", "title": "1924 in Ireland", "revid": 1369222594, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1925, "year_label": "1925 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "March 9", "text": "March 9–May 1 – Pink's War: The British Royal Air Force bombards mountain strongholds of Mahsud tribesmen in South Waziristan.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367485783#March", "title": "1925", "revid": 1367485783, "section": "Events › March"}}, {"year": 1939, "year_label": "1939 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "September 4", "text": "September 4 – The first bombing of Wilhelmshaven in World War II is carried out, by the British Royal Air Force (RAF).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372426050#September", "title": "1939", "revid": 1372426050, "section": "Events › September"}}, {"year": 1940, "year_label": "1940 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "August 25", "text": "August 25 – WWII: The first Bombing of Berlin is carried out, by the British Royal Air Force.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368818987#August", "title": "1940", "revid": 1368818987, "section": "Events › August"}}, {"year": 1941, "year_label": "1941 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": "February 21", "text": "21 February – First flight by a Royal Air Force flying boat through the \"Donegal Corridor\", neutral Republic of Ireland airspace between its base in Northern Ireland and the Atlantic Ocean, a concession secretly agreed by Éamon de Valera.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1286174033#Events", "title": "1941 in Northern Ireland", "revid": 1286174033, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1943, "year_label": "1943 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "October 22", "text": "October 22 – WWII: Bombing of Kassel in World War II: The British Royal Air Force delivers a highly destructive airstrike on the German industrial and population center of Kassel; at least 10,000 are killed and 150,000 are made homeless.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373526844#October", "title": "1943", "revid": 1373526844, "section": "Events › October"}}, {"year": 1943, "year_label": "1943 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "November 18", "text": "November 18 – WWII: Battle of Berlin – The British Royal Air Force opens its bombing campaign against Berlin with 440 planes, causing only light damage and killing 131. The RAF loses 9 aircraft and 53 aviators.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373526844#November", "title": "1943", "revid": 1373526844, "section": "Events › November"}}, {"year": 1943, "year_label": "1943 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "November 18", "text": "18 November – World War II: The Royal Air Force opens its bombing campaign against Berlin, with 440 planes causing only light damage and killing 131. The RAF loses 9 aircraft and 53 aviators.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373073497#Events", "title": "1943 in Germany", "revid": 1373073497, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1944, "year_label": "1944 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "March 22", "text": "22 March – World War II: a Royal Air Force Halifax Bomber crashed soon after take-off from Hurn Airport.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369905692#March", "title": "1944 in England", "revid": 1369905692, "section": "Events › March"}}, {"year": 1944, "year_label": "1944 CE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": "March 24", "text": "March 24 – The \"Great Escape\": 76 Royal Air Force prisoners of war escape by tunnel \"Harry\" from Stalag Luft III in Silesia this night. Only 3 men (2 Norwegians and a Dutchman) return to the UK; of those recaptured, 50 are summarily executed soon afterwards, in the Stalag Luft III murders.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370022611#March", "title": "1944", "revid": 1370022611, "section": "Events › March"}}, {"year": 1945, "year_label": "1945 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "February 13", "text": "February 13 – Bombing of Dresden (Germany) by the British Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces; 25,000-35,000 are estimated to have died.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371513862#February", "title": "1945", "revid": 1371513862, "section": "Events › February"}}, {"year": 1945, "year_label": "1945 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "February 23", "text": "February 23 – Bombing of Pforzheim: The heaviest of a series of bombing raids on Pforzheim, Germany, by Allied aircraft is carried out by the British Royal Air Force. As many as 17,600 people, or 31.4% of the town's population, are killed in the raid and about 83% of the town's buildings destroyed, two-thirds of its complete area and between 80 and 100% of the inner city.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371513862#February", "title": "1945", "revid": 1371513862, "section": "Events › February"}}, {"year": 1945, "year_label": "1945 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "May 3", "text": "May 3 – The prison ships Cap Arcona (5,000 dead), Thielbek (2,750 dead) and Deutschland (all survive) are sunk by the British Royal Air Force in Lübeck Bay.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371513862#May", "title": "1945", "revid": 1371513862, "section": "Events › May"}}, {"year": 1950, "year_label": "1950 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "May 17", "text": "May 17 – Israeli Air Force Spitfires intercept a British Royal Air Force Short Sunderland when it inadvertently crosses into Israeli airspace, forcing it to land at Lod Airport. The Sunderland's crew have been issued maps that do not depict Israel, as Britain had not recognized the Jewish state at the time they were issued.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371638577#May", "title": "1950", "revid": 1371638577, "section": "Events › May"}}, {"year": 1950, "year_label": "1950 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "May 17", "text": "17 May – A Royal Air Force Short Sunderland is confronted by Israeli Air Force Spitfires and is forced to land at Lod Airport after it inadvertently crosses into Israeli airspace and overflies Ramat David Airbase. The Sunderland's crew had been issued maps that did not depict Israel, as Britain had only recently recognized the country.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1330937448#May", "title": "1950 in Israel", "revid": 1330937448, "section": "Events › May"}}, {"year": 1956, "year_label": "1956 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "October 15", "text": "October 15 – The British Royal Air Force retires its last Avro Lancaster bomber.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370022627#October", "title": "1956", "revid": 1370022627, "section": "Events › October"}}, {"year": 1957, "year_label": "1957 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "April 17", "text": "April 17- A Vickers Valletta C.1 (VW832) of the RAF crashes in Queria after the plane's left wing detached in turbulence 5 minutes after takeoff from Aqaba for Habbaniya, killing all 26 occupants. The crash is currently Jordan's deadliest.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1297424176#Events", "title": "1957 in Jordan", "revid": 1297424176, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 1959, "year_label": "1959 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": "July 9", "text": "July 9 – Wing Commander Michael Beetham flying a British Royal Air Force Vickers Valiant sets a record of 11 hours 27 minutes for a non-stop London-Cape Town flight.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370221732#July", "title": "1959", "revid": 1370221732, "section": "Events › July"}}, {"year": 1967, "year_label": "1967 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "March 29", "text": "March 29 – Torrey Canyon oil spill: British Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force aircraft bomb and sink the grounded supertanker SS Torrey Canyon.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370160888#March", "title": "1967", "revid": 1370160888, "section": "Events › March"}}, {"year": 1971, "year_label": "1971 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "November 9", "text": "November 9 – A Royal Air Force C-130 crashes into the Ligurian Sea near Leghorn, Italy, killing all 51 people on board.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369905382#November", "title": "1971", "revid": 1369905382, "section": "Events › November"}}, {"year": 1975, "year_label": "1975 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "October 14", "text": "October 14 – A British Royal Air Force Avro Vulcan bomber explodes and crashes over Żabbar, Malta after an aborted landing, killing five crew members and one person on the ground.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369955775#October", "title": "1975", "revid": 1369955775, "section": "Events › October"}}, {"year": 1994, "year_label": "1994 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "June 2", "text": "2 June - 1994 Scotland RAF Chinook crash: A Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter carrying almost all the United Kingdom's senior Northern Ireland intelligence experts, crashes on the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland, killing all 25 passengers and 4 crew members.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1328108636#Events", "title": "1994 in Northern Ireland", "revid": 1328108636, "section": "Events"}}, {"year": 2000, "year_label": "2000 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": "February 12", "text": "February 12 – Dominic Bruce, 84, British Royal Air Force officer and Colditz Castle escapee during World War II.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367004370", "title": "Deaths in February 2000", "revid": 1367004370, "section": "Deaths › February"}}]}