The Royal Australian Air Force will mark 90 years since the title of ‘Royal’ was bestowed on 13 August 2011. Although the RAAF celebrates its birthday on 31 March 1921, on this date the service was officially known as the Australian Air Force. But the decision had already been made, in February, to ask the King to grant the ‘Royal’ title. The approval of ‘Royal’ appeared in the Commonwealth Gazette on 18 August 1921, but what was printed there was the order signed by the Governor-General five days earlier. This stipulated 13 August as the date from which the service was to be known as the Royal Australian Air Force.

Courtesy of the National Archives of Australia collection www.naa.gov.au (click to enlarge).

90 Years of Air Force

Defence Media Operations