RAF - Group Captain Bob Kemp

Wed, Mar 6th 2019 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

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Group Captain Bob Kemp gave a potted history of the RAF from its inception in 1918 to the present day.
In WW1 Scotland provided more military personnel than any other part of the UK.
The biggest improvement in arms was in the field of aviation.
A Scot Bertram Dickson was the first military pilot. At that time it was thought the best use for aircraft was in reconnaissance.
In 1912 the Royal Flying Corps was established followed 2 years later by The Royal Naval Air Service. Another Scot, David Henderson was the first commander of the RFC. They were based in Montrose. In 1914 when war broke out they were sent to France.
The German ace, Manfred von Richthofen, nicknamed The Red Baron, was credited with 80 allied aircraft sot down. At the time British aircraft were very inferior to German aircraft. In 1917 the battle of Arras was a particular disaster for the RFC Later in the war British aircraft improved greatly.
When the RFC and the RNAS were amalgamated in April 1918 to form The Royal Air force Hugh Trenchard became the Chief of Air Staff. The RAF had 114,000 personnel and 4000 aircraft at the end of the war.
In 1939 when WW2 broke out one of the first targets to be attacked were 3 warships lying off Rosyth. Pilots from the Auxiliary Airforce were successful in shooting down several enemy aircraft. Archie McKellan from Paisley had 21 kills during the battle of Britain.
Throughout the war Coastal Command fought against U boats. 11000 airmen were lost. John Cruikshank from Aberdeen won the VC and, at 98, still survives today.
Bomber Command under Arthur Harris was quite controversial especially for the raids on Dresden in 1945 where estimates for the casualties range from 35000 to 135000. A memorial to Bomber Command has newly been erected in Hyde Park. The Dambusters raid in 1943 was good for morale.  But 55 airmen were lost. Many people living round the dams also lost their lives.
In 1982, during the Falklands war, Vulcan bombers aided by 11 Victor tanker aircraft attacked the runway at Port Stanley.
It is coming up to the 75th anniversary of the Great Escape where 76 prisoners of war tunnelled out of their prison camp. 73 were re captured and, on the orders of Hitler, 50 of them were shot.
At present the RAF have 200 front line aircraft. Technology is playing a large part. Lasers are in use in many areas and head up displays are most helpful.
At Edinburgh Castle a time capsule is to be placed containing a circuit board.
One of the biggest threats the UK faces is the Russian Black Jack bomber against which we have little defence.
The vote of thanks was given by David Cormack.


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