RAF Stories

The King’s Colour Squadron is the RAF’s dedicated ceremonial unit, responsible for representing the RAF at both state and national ceremonial occasions, and providing Guards of Honour for the Royal Family, Heads of State, dignitaries and other VIPs. On the demise of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 the Squadron became the custodians of the King’s Colour and was renamed the King’s Colour Squadron on 27 October 2022.

Formed exclusively by the Officers and Gunners of the RAF Regiment, the King’s Colour Squadron holds a dual role capability as a regular field squadron under 63 Squadron RAF Regiment with personnel deployed actively on Operations throughout Europe and the Middle East.

The Squadron provided the Bearer Party and Guard of Honour when an RAF C-17 transport aircraft delivered Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin to RAF Northolt at London from Scotland.

By mid-1940 the only way for Britain to take the war to the enemy homeland was through the Royal Air Force’s Bomber Command. By 1945, the Command had helped deliver Allied victory, but at what cost? 55,573 of its aircrew were dead, over 8,000 were injured, hundreds of thousands of civilians had perished in Axis (enemy) and Allied bombing raids, and cities across Europe were in ruins.

From an unpromising start, volunteer Bomber Command aircrew faced a nightly battle to complete their assigned raids. Developments in technology and tactics helped increase their chances of survival. With increasing precision, the Command’s attacks on German industrial centres reduced the production of arms, ammunition, material and fuel, almost certainly shortening the war.

The legendary RAF Chinook HC6A ‘Bravo November’ has a distinguished career within the Royal Air Force. It was one of the original 30 Chinooks ordered by the RAF in 1978 and has been in service ever since, serving in every major conflict of the last 40 years. As a veteran of the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan, Bravo November has seen four of its pilots awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for actions whilst at the controls of the aircraft. The Chinook will be on public display for the first time ahead of the nation’s Falklands 40 anniversary celebrations commencing 2 April.

The iconic Boeing CH-47 Chinook entered RAF service on the 22nd November 1980. It has served in every major conflict since The Falklands as a battlefield helicopter, a troop carrier and a flying hospital. It has provided an immeasurable contribution to civilians from The Lebanon to Whaley Bridge.
Across the world countless people owe their lives to this much loved helicopter.