Editing Royal Air Force (section)

===Cold War era===
{{Further|Cold War}} {{Main|Structure of the Royal Air Force in 1989}}
Following victory in the Second World War, the RAF underwent significant re-organisation, as technological advances in air warfare saw the arrival of jet fighters and bombers. During the early stages of the Cold War, one of the first major operations undertaken by the RAF was the [[Berlin Airlift]], codenamed Operation Plainfire. Between 26 June 1948 and the lifting of the Soviet blockade of the city on 12 May 1949, the RAF provided 17% of the total supplies delivered, using [[Avro York]]s, [[Douglas Dakota]]s flying to [[Gatow Airport]] and [[Short Sunderland]]s flying to Lake Havel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/history/rafhistorytimeline194549.cfm |title=RAF Timeline 1945–1949 |year=2011 |publisher=Royal Air Force |access-date=15 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812131151/http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/rafhistorytimeline194549.cfm |archive-date=12 August 2012 }}</ref> The RAF saw its first post-war engagements in the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]]: during the withdrawal of the former [[Mandatory Palestine]] in May 1948 where British [[Supermarine Spitfire|Supermarine Spitfire FR.18]]s shot down four [[Egyptian Air Force|Royal Egyptian Air Force]] Spitfire LF.9s after the REAF mistakenly attacked [[Ramat David Airbase|RAF Ramat David]] airbase;<ref>Aloni 2001, p. 10.</ref> and during encounters with the [[Israeli Air Force]] which saw the loss of a single [[de Havilland Mosquito|de Havilland Mosquito PR.34]] in November 1948 and four Spitfire FR.18s and a single [[Hawker Tempest|Hawker Tempest F.6]] in January 1949.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spyflight.co.uk/operations/#IsraelvRAF |title=Israel v the RAF |website=Spy Flight |access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref><ref>Aloni 2001, pp. 18, 22.</ref>

Before Britain developed its own [[nuclear weapon]]s, the RAF was provided with American nuclear weapons under [[Project E]]. However, following the development of its own arsenal, the British Government elected on 16 February 1960 to share the country's [[Nuclear weapons and the United Kingdom|nuclear deterrent]] between the RAF and submarines of the Royal Navy, first deciding to concentrate solely on the air force's [[V bomber]] fleet. These were initially armed with nuclear [[gravity bomb]]s, later being equipped with the [[Blue Steel missile]]. Following the development of the Royal Navy's [[Polaris (UK nuclear programme)|Polaris submarines]], the strategic nuclear deterrent passed to the navy's submarines on 30 June 1969.<ref name="RAF 1960-69">{{cite web |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/history/rafhistorytimeline196069.cfm |title=RAF Timeline 1960–1969 |year=2011 |publisher=Royal Air Force |access-date=15 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812132827/http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/rafhistorytimeline196069.cfm |archive-date=12 August 2012 }}</ref> With the introduction of Polaris, the RAF's strategic nuclear role was reduced to a tactical one, using [[WE.177]] gravity bombs. This tactical role was continued by the V bombers into the 1980s and until 1998 by the [[RAF Tornado GR1|Panavia Tornado GR1]].<ref>Burnell, Brian. [http://nuclear-weapons.info/images/1984.PNG "Weapon detail and No. 15 Squadron data for 1984."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010045955/http://nuclear-weapons.info/images/1984.PNG |date=10 October 2017 }} ''nuclear-weapons.info''. Retrieved 19 January 2011.</ref><ref name="strategicdefencereview">[http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/65F3D7AC-4340-4119-93A2-20825848E50E/0/sdr1998_complete.pdf "Strategic Defence Review 1998: Full Report."] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121026065214/http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/65F3D7AC-4340-4119-93A2-20825848E50E/0/sdr1998_complete.pdf |date=26 October 2012 }} ''Ministry of Defence,'' 1998, p. 24.</ref>

[[File:100 years of the RAF MOD 45163618.jpg|thumb|left|The RAF [[V bomber|V bomber force]] was used to carry both conventional and [[nuclear bombs]].]]
For much of the Cold War the primary role of the RAF was the defence of [[Western Europe]] against potential attack by the [[Soviet Union]], with many [[RAF Germany|squadrons based in West Germany]]. The main RAF bases in RAF(G) were [[RAF Brüggen]], [[RAF Gütersloh|RAF Gutersloh]], [[RAF Laarbruch]] and [[RAF Wildenrath]] – the only air defence base in RAF(G). With the decline of the British Empire, global operations were scaled back, and [[RAF Far East Air Force]] was disbanded on 31 October 1971.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rafweb.org/Cmd_O3.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806113118/http://www.rafweb.org/Cmd_O3.htm|url-status=dead|title=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Overseas Commands – Iraq, India and the Far East|archive-date=6 August 2008}}</ref> Despite this, the RAF fought in many battles in the Cold War period. In June 1948, the RAF commenced [[Operation Firedog]] against Malayan pro-independence fighters during the [[Malayan Emergency]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1500005266|title=Operation Firedog : air support in the Malayan Emergency, 1948–1960|publisher=Imperial war Museum|access-date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231213455/http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1500005266|archive-date=31 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Operations continued for the next 12 years until 1960 with aircraft flying out of [[RAF Tengah]] and [[RAF Butterworth]]. The RAF played a minor role in the [[Korean War]], with [[flying boat]]s taking part.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rafseletar.co.uk/flying-squadrons/seletars-sunderlands/|title=Seletar's Sunderlands|publisher=RAF Seletar|access-date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614203049/http://www.rafseletar.co.uk/flying-squadrons/seletars-sunderlands/|archive-date=14 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1953 to 1956 the RAF Avro Lincoln squadrons carried out anti-[[Mau Mau rebellion|Mau Mau]] operations in [[Kenya]] using its base at [[RAF Eastleigh]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/flying-officer-jack-sherburn-pilot-awarded-a-dfc-for-his-gallantry-against-the-mau-mau-who-went-on-9681933.html|title=Flight Lieutenant Jack Sherburn: Pilot awarded a DFC for his gallantry against the Mau Mau who went on to serve in Suez and fly with Yuri Gagarin|date=20 August 2014|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101030003/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/flying-officer-jack-sherburn-pilot-awarded-a-dfc-for-his-gallantry-against-the-mau-mau-who-went-on-9681933.html|archive-date=1 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Suez Crisis]] in 1956 saw a large RAF role, with aircraft operating from [[RAF Akrotiri]] and [[RAF Nicosia]] on [[Cyprus]] and [[RAF Luqa]] and [[RAF Hal Far]] on [[Malta]] as part of [[Operation Musketeer (1956)|Operation Musketeer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://britains-smallwars.com/suez/untis.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205130842/http://britains-smallwars.com/suez/untis.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 February 2009|title=Suez Crisis|publisher=Britain's small wars|access-date=31 December 2017}}</ref> The RAF suffered its most recent loss to an enemy aircraft during the Suez Crisis, when an [[English Electric Canberra|English Electric Canberra PR7]] was shot down over [[Syria]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/21034 |title=Accident English Electric Canberra PR.7 WH799, 06 Nov 1956 |website=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=25 May 2021 |archive-date=25 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525091907/https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/21034 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1957, the RAF participated heavily during the [[Jebel Akhdar War]] in Oman, operating both [[de Havilland Venom]] and [[Avro Shackleton]] aircraft. The RAF made 1,635 raids, dropping 1,094 tons and firing 900 rockets at the interior of Oman between July and December 1958, targeting insurgents, mountain top villages and water channels in a war that remained under low profile.<ref name=GR>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/sep/08/britains-secret-wars-oman|title=Britain's secret wars &#124; Ian Cobain|date=8 September 2016|website=The Guardian|access-date=4 November 2021|archive-date=6 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106172444/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/sep/08/britains-secret-wars-oman|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=OmansInsurgencies>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wkUhBQAAQBAJ&q=moff%20oman&pg=PT43|title=Oman's Insurgencies: The Sultanate's Struggle for Supremacy|first=J. E.|last=Peterson|date=2013|publisher=Saqi|isbn=9780863567025|access-date=29 April 2018|via=Google Books|archive-date=23 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123033723/https://books.google.com/books?id=wkUhBQAAQBAJ&q=moff+oman&pg=PT43|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Konfrontasi]] against Indonesia in the early 1960s did see use of RAF aircraft, but due to a combination of deft diplomacy and selective ignoring of certain events by both sides, it never developed into a full-scale war.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19660812-1.2.2|title=Confrontation Ends|newspaper=Straits Times|date=12 August 1966|access-date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231214636/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19660812-1.2.2|archive-date=31 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The RAF played a large role in the [[Aden Emergency]] between 1963 and 1967. [[Hawker Hunter|Hawker Hunter FGA.9]]s based at [[RAF Khormaksar]], Aden, were regularly called in by the [[British Army]] as [[close air support]] to carry out strikes on rebel positions.<ref>Ritchie 2011, p. 87.</ref> The [[Radfan Campaign]] (Operation Nutcracker) in early 1964 was successful in suppressing the revolt in Radfa, however it did nothing to end the insurgency with the British withdrawing from Aden in November 1967.<ref>Ritchie 2011, pp. 86–87, 89, 92.</ref>

One of the largest actions undertaken by the RAF during the Cold War was the air campaign during the 1982 [[Falklands War]], in which the RAF operated alongside the [[Fleet Air Arm]]. During the war, RAF aircraft were deployed in the mid-Atlantic at [[RAF Ascension Island]] and a detachment from [[No. 1 Squadron RAF|No. 1 Squadron]] was deployed with the Royal Navy, operating from the aircraft carrier [[HMS Hermes (R12)|HMS ''Hermes'']].<ref name="Ashworth p26">Ashworth 1989, p. 26.</ref><ref name="Evans p74-5">Evans 1998, pp.&nbsp;74–75.</ref> RAF pilots also flew missions using the Royal Navy's [[Sea Harrier]]s in the air-to-air combat role, in particular [[Flight lieutenant|Flight Lieutenant]] Dave Morgan the highest scoring pilot of the war.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-history.net/F64argaircraftlost.htm |title=Argentine Aircraft Lost – Falklands War 1982 |publisher=Naval-history.net |date=15 June 1982 |access-date=23 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529052308/http://www.naval-history.net/F64argaircraftlost.htm |archive-date=29 May 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following a British victory, the RAF remained in the [[South Atlantic]] to provide air defence to the Falkland Islands, with the [[McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service|McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2]] based at [[RAF Mount Pleasant]] which was built in 1984.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/09/22/332609/raf-typhoons-arrive-for-falkland-islands-mission.html |title=RAF Typhoons arrive for Falkland Islands mission – 9/22/2009 |publisher=Flight Global |date=22 September 2009 |access-date=19 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226141143/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/09/22/332609/raf-typhoons-arrive-for-falkland-islands-mission.html |archive-date=26 December 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>