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As we continue to face global uncertainty and an ever evolving operating environment,  emotional wellbeing remains a critical concern for the whole RAF Community - be they serving on deployment around the world today, families waiting at home, or veterans who are impacted by their service in previous conflicts. This is acutely relevant when you consider that they have been trained to be resilient, to deal with very challenging and complex scenarios, and so are often reluctant

The day has finally arrived! The printing has been done and we are now ready to go on sale. And what a great offer we have and a great way for all to have a piece of history whilst supporting the RAFBF So, what do we have… We have an A3 pencil drawing that commemorates 617 squadron deployment to HMS Prince of Wales on Operation Highmast, a seven month deployment to the Far East. From that drawing we have created a unique set of artist, Nick Trudgian, signed special edition p

Have you got any RAF connections? My father and uncle both served in the RAF during World War 2 so my love of aviation goes back as far as I can remember. In my childhood, if I wasn't building Airfix kits then I was drawing aeroplane pictures. I never dreamt I could make a living out of it but, amazingly, I have been doing just that for more than 40 years. What pleasure do you get from painting aircraft? For the most part World War Two was recorded in black and white because

Op Highmast, where to begin! Although the deployment started at the end of April 2026, the journey and work up for the Squadron began far earlier. I joined the Squadron as the Executive Officer in Aug 2023, and at that time, the focus for the unit was already on the deployment. Working groups and planning sessions were scheduled and around a year prior to leaving the wall, the work started in earnest. There are always many unknowns during the planning phase, what to train for

Since its formation in 1918, the Royal Air Force (RAF) and those who serve in it, like those in 617 (Dambusters) Squadron, have played a seminal role in world history, from turning the tide of the Second World War to patrolling the skies above Britain and its allies today. When the RAF was formed, life expectancy of those who served was just six weeks. Technological and medical advancements have extended life, creating new challenges. The RAF Benevolent Fund, founded in 1919,

This is the first in a series of blogs telling the story behind an idea that brought together a 30-year friendship, a chance meeting, a world-renowned aviation artist, an enthusiastic club, and the Royal Air Force — all to raise funds for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. How It All Started It’s a real pleasure to be able to share how a long-standing friendship, a bit of luck, and a shared passion for aviation came together to create something genuinely special. At its hea