European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 1, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By so wet Sim Ali. Owed to so .,.--, a. A i v h r of the Raf spitfire wrote its name in history during the Battle of Britain in 1940. By Bob movers a . Bureau chief Britain s Royal air Force an Hon ored name in the world gallery of military services celebrates its Golden anniversary this  Pix months at Public and private events in Britain and at bases overseas the current custodians of Raf tradition will be reminded of a past that Span most of aviation history. Founded april 1, 191h, with amalgamation of the Royal Kly Injo corps and the Royal naval air service the Raf was launched in the Days of Wood and can Vas  this romantic Early Era the Raf grew under the Tutelage of mar Shal sir Hugh Trent hard into adulthood Between the  was during the difficult Days of world War ii that the Raf met it greatest Challenge. In the postwar Era it has continued to maintain an imposing posture. The latest transport and tactical Jet aircraft now serve in the Middle an far East and Are a part of nato s integrated defense Structure. From the tiny Sopwith Camel fighter an open cockpit biplane used against the trenches in world War 1, to the Maeh-2lightnings and american phantoms soon to be delivered of today the entire Panorama of a half Century in aviation is  s this Long flight history that 121,000 members of the Raf will review at variety of pageants exhibitions and memorial ceremonies in this anniversary year. He Story of the Raf actually Tor Gan prior to 1918 with one of its predecessors the Royal flying corps founded May 13, 1912. Four rec fighter squadrons a Force of some 50 aircraft provided support to British troops during the Battle of Mons in 1914 in Belgium. From this Early action the rec Andis naval counterpart the Hoyal naval air service were steadily expanded Andy the time of their merger in the Spring of 1918 boasted a Force of More than22.000 air planes and 22.000 officers. After the merger the Raf intensified activity against the German forces in the remaining months of the War. By the time of the armistice nov. 11, 1918, the British air forces had destroyed More than 8.000 enemy air planes and airships dropped 8,000 tons of Wimbs and fired More than 12 million rounds of ammunition at ground  future of Aerial warfare had been firmly established. The Raf College at Cranwell was founded in 1920 the Haf staff College was opened at Andover two years  the meantime planes were becom ing More refined and speeds were soar ing. The Haf won the Schneider trophy in 1927. 1929 and 1931. At speeds rising from 281 to 3-10  still a far cry from the 1,000 . Of current jets Kven As late As fikh Raf aircraft were All fabric covered biplanes with atop fighter Speed of 220 . Rut As the War Clouds drifted Over . Rapid changes were in the offing. By 1939, Jast before the outbreak of world War ii the eight gun spitfire had Yukon 82 is one of current stars of Raf s bomber command and one of the world s first Delta Wing heavy bombers. Hart bomber of 1930 comb Iisha with fabric in sleek biplane. Emerged with a Speed of 355  was joined by the hurried we and the Blenheim Wellington and Whitely bombers. It was the Tough Little up of hurricanes that turned the duh the German Luftwaffe in us Lajmer and fall of 1940 in the Britain a struggle that mixers and supporters for throughout the world. Fighter command with Sii than 1,001 planes opposed 3,m bombers and fighters in the twi smashed Hitler s plans to inva Tain. When the casualties of that were counted the Luftwaffe 1.733 aircraft and had suffered Irble damage to troop ships and which had been mustering on thei coast. Never again was Britai by invasion. The moment of been decided by the fighter in Raf. From this spirited defense rapidly expanded into a  British forces in the far Middle Hast and Europe i major role along with the. And russian forces in the eve feat of the Axis Powers. The casualty lists provide some ure of the Haf s world no Tributino. During the War 70,� r a in int a were killed 13.115 were taken Pris Oner and 22.925 were wounded. Today an inventory of 2.000  Guidell missiles As  weapons to aircraft provide the Hal with a potent Armenui. The Ajr transport ahle  surface to air missile i deployed with fighter command in uie a nixed kingdom and with the near Kast my far Mast at forces. The four Jet Vulcan and Victor a la Inicis v capable of refuelling in flight and of carrying the ulue steel s Andoff Dinh carry out their   a coi Maud. Many   have been made by a boat eth i routine training missions. A flight re fuel ii Vulcan flew nonstop from . To Australia at an average Speed of 57." ., and a Victor averaged Ftp a . From Farnborough. . To Malta. The . A single seat la Weathi Fri Lher is moving with fighter command in Del Many. Cyprus Ami the far Kat. It carries fire Streak or Lii d Tup air to air Inis Siles. Tvs the fabric and Wood Sopwith Camel was an Eaily Workhorse of the Raf in would War i Page 12 the stars and stripes Wiguton Churchill s ringing words of Proise for the Raf Are common shortened As above. Hoie Are the words he spoke in the commons the bitter summer of 1940 a the Battle of Britain climaxed the gratitude of ovary Home in our Uland in our Empire and indeed throughout the world except in the abodes of the guilty goes out the Brillh airmen who undaunted by Odd unwearied in their Coniton Challenge and mortal danger Are turning the tide of world War by their prowess and Devotion. Never in the Field of human Endeavor w to much owed by so Many to to  monday Tkv vast plan. Scheduled to join the Haf ranks is the american i Hanto int 4m Mach 2 two seat Jet which will be used for strike reconnaissance and interceptor roles in titling the Rolls Royce spey in Kines which will Power the phantoms Oxire than joint cent of la aircraft will be of British manufacture. Nine 100 of the phantom f4.\ls Are i order and the Raf expects to i m lik1 of the phantom f4ks on Uncle fur the u Yal Navy. The first f4ms Are scheduled to a i a in Britain in april. The first  to in s Hadrons Shuhl be operation. Din i the first half of 1%9. Sity Hawker Siddeley hairier Vitoi vertical Takeoff and Landing chef map it aircraft Are on  i j t 1968 order and thei u a Huw Kei hurricanes helped turn the tide during Battle of Britain As they beat Back the Luftwaffe assault. The stars and stripes Page 13