Page 6 - RAF Magazine

THE RAF OWES A LOT TO

PEOPLE OF AFRICAN AND

AFRICAN CARIBBEAN

HERITAGE

Welcome to ‘The Little-Known Heroes of the help to defend the mother country in a show of
Royal Air Force’, a celebration of 100 years of patriotism, coupled with ambitions of a better life
excellence, diversity, inclusion and dedication. and hope of economic freedom.

The Royal Air Force (RAF), one of the three Being part of the RAF also afforded these
military services that make up the British Armed volunteers world-class training, keen discipline
Forces, first opened its doors on 1 April, 1918, and a brother/sisterhood-like spirit of teamwork
and since then has faithfully served in its mission that can only come from serving in intimate
of ‘policing the skies’ – ensuring the security and conditions that were often life threatening.
defence of the United Kingdom and overseas
territories. These attributes, that the RAF harnessed and
nurtured in them, were invaluable and would
If you are a person of African or African prove to be extremely impactful in equipping
Caribbean heritage in Britain and the RAF these men and women with the mindset and
means anything to you, it is likely that you know skills to go back to their homelands and make
someone who has served. Be it your grandfather, a progressive difference. And, similarly, those
dad, uncle, brother... Or, it could have been your who decided to make Britain their home,
grandmother, mother, aunty or sister. Or, maybe also contributed so much, actively laying the
it’s you? foundations of the nation’s black communities,

But the RAF should mean something to all fuelling the rich multiculturalism that continues to
people of African and African Caribbean heritage make Britain ‘great’.
living in the UK, and our hope is that by the The RAF has developed throughout the years as
time you have read this publication, it will mean an effective multi-ethnic force, with a rich history
something to you. of learning from past and present strengths and

Black people have played a integral part in the weaknesses in a bid to grow and engage with
RAF since its inception towards the end of the people from all backgrounds. And it continues
First World War, when thousands came to Britain to welcome volunteers of African and African
from the colonies of Africa and the Caribbean to Caribbean heritage.

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