481133 RAF BOMBER CREW SEATED IN A/C (WWII) - 2 FIGURES

The RAF (full English name: Royal Air Force) is the British Air Force that began to bear this name in April 1918. Previously, it was known as the Royal Flying Corps. From April 1918, they also became an independent air force, not under the command of the army or navy. For a large part of the interwar period, the RAF did not take part in any major military conflict, mainly dealing with communication and transport tasks. However, in the face of the growing threat from Nazi Germany, in 1936 the RAF was reorganized, separating three commands within it: coastal defense, fighter and bombing. From the mid-1930s, the process of implementing new types of aircraft began, such as the Hawker Hurricane (prototype flight in 1935) or Supermarine Spitfire (prototype flight in 1936). The process of building a radar network in England and Scotland, which was later called Chain Home, was started and continued with considerable success. RAF squadrons took part in combat operations from the beginning of World War II, and the greatest success of the British Air Force is the victory in the Battle of Britain (1940), achieved despite the numerical superiority on the German side, and with the support of pilots from many countries - in the ones from Poland. It is worth adding that in the course of these struggles the hunting tactics were subjected to a profound reform. The RAF also made great contributions to the air defense of Malta against the Italian and German air forces. He also participated in virtually every major British land offensive from 1942 to 1945. Independently, and later together with American bombers, it carried out strategic bombing of Germany. There is no doubt that the RAF during World War II proved to be one of the most powerful air force in the course of this conflict.