Royal Air Force

From Turtledove

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air arm of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918 the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in other conflicts.

[edit] Royal Air Force in Days of Infamy

The Royal Air Force had been greatly reduced in strength and number due to more pressing concerns in Europe; thus being completely unprepared for the Japanese attack. The British were pushed out of their pacific empire, and all the way back to India, where they fought a rough battle with the Imperial Japanese Air Force for control of the skies over Ceylon.

By early 1943, with British fortunes turning for the better in Europe, more attention was turned to the pacific and the Royal Air Force had retaken the offensive, bombing Rangoon and even Singapore.

[edit] Royal Air Force in Southern Victory

The British Royal Air Force debuted during the Great War in aerial combat across the Western Front and Canada with models such as the Sopwith Camel and the Sopwith Pup. It played a major role in the land and naval campaigns during the Second Great War including strategic bombing of German cities.

[edit] Royal Air Force in Worldwar

The British Royal Air Force was one of the many human air forces to suffer from the Race's Killercraft, which were far superior to their planes. The Royal Air Force may have fought well against the Germany Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain in 1940, but RAF pilots suffered heavily against the Race. Planes like Spitfires, Hurricanes, Mosquitos and Lancasters were thrown into the fight and many were shot down. The RAF slowly began to fight back as their Lancasters were used as the predecessors of AWACS, to guide RAF jet fighters like the Pioneer and the Meteor onto Killercraft.